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Champions League
Topic Started: Jan 23 2007, 11:32 AM (2,295 Views)
Manzanares
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What a hammering Liverpool gave PSV. Ok, we knew PSV would be hurt by their injuries and lack of depth but they looked like fish out of water against Liverpool. A very good show from them but until they play a better team we don't know if this lopsided score was a result of Liverpool's excellent work or PSV's awful display. I think Liverpool could play Kevin Keegan and John Toshack in the return leg and still come out easy winners.

As Winslow said Milan-Bayern was much closer. Milan started off well and Kahn's backup made a couple of very good point blank saves, then after eventually scoring Milan seemed to ease up a bit and that was Bayern's invitation. As they did against Real Madrid, they brought in Claudio Pizarro off the bench and he lifted the team and van Buyten got the two late goals. As noted, Milan's penalty was an absolute joke. Lucio got the ball first then the man. So in the end justice was probably served with Bayern's injury time tying goal.
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xeneize
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Milan have themselves to blame for letting up against Bayern. As Manzanares said that was the same error Real Madrid did against them. But Bayern are showing to be a tough road team, scoring twice in both Madrid and Milan is quite an accomplishment. They are well placed for leg 2.

Liverpool were dominant. True PSV were bad, no make that very bad. But credit also to an orderly show from Liverpool. This Riise has one of the better left footed shots around. His goal today was no fluke.
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rosarino
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I'd say Bayern's tie with Milan was just. They did enough to earn at least a tie before the gift penalty given to Milan. Kahn's backup made a couple of great saves but was probably out of position on Pirlo's looping header for Milan's first goal. And by the way, Pirlo, scoring a goal with his head? That's even rarer than a headed goal from Ronaldo or Henry. Bayern's centerback van Buyten finished his two opportunites really well. Looks like he'd make a good center forward! The bad news for Bayern is Sagnol hurt his knee and likely is out for the rest of the season.

I was happy to see Mascherano in midfield for Liverpool and he played a strong game, the way we had grown accustomed to seeing him play before his ill fated move to West Ham. But PSV were simply outclassed. Liverpool were way too much team for them.
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kevin
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valenciano,Apr 2 2007
04:00 PM
Let me add that I also think Simon's commentary is on target.  I'll just add a few things to this game which for obvious reasons is of the most interest to me.  Morientes' loss is a major one and will deprive Valencia of somebody with size in the attack.  But with him out the team will gain in speed and mobility which is where I think they can trouble Chelsea.  Also look at Joaquin as a player who will be a handful defensively.  His form the past month is what we were expecting from him since his preseason signing.  And now that he's healthy Vicente is another player who will be tricky to handle.  I'd watch though for Chelsea to try and nip at his ankles since that is his weakness now.

Manchester United-Roma is a game like Valencia-Chelsea which does have the potential to be a very exciting back and forth type of matchup.  Ronaldo & Rooney against Totti and Mancini.  These are the type of games you want to see in a Champions Leagues.  Tuesday's games look less interesting to me simply because of the teams' style of play.  Hopefully I am mistaken.

To be honest, United hasn't often captured the attacking, free flowing football we've seen in league play this season when they are in Europe. That's especially true for away games. I wouldn't bet on an exhilarating match, but it should be a very hard fought, close one.
'Tis better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
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valenciano
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You may be right Kevin as you follow Manchester United more closely than I do but any team with players like Ronaldo, Rooney and Giggs in it will at the least be good on the counter attack. Although Vidic's absence for Manchester United and Pizarro's for Roma take away two important players behind the teams' recent success both should have the depth to adequately replace them.

It is the Chelsea-Valencia game that will have the more notable absentees, as Chelsea will be missing Robben, Essien and Joe Cole while Valencia are without Marchena, Morientes and long term injuries to Gavilan and Regueiro. Still I think this could be a very interesting game. Ok, it may not be a game where both teams are constantly attacking but it is a matchup of two smart teams which play a technical style. Valencia will go with a more defensive lineup in this one, using centerback Albiol alongside Albelda in central midfield and moving fullback Moretti inside to play with Ayala while Del Horno will play on the left. Valencia's creation will come from the wings with Vicente and Joaquin and through Silva playing off of Villa.

Not much to say about Liverpool's crushing of PSV. It looked more like an early group stage game and not a quarterfinal due to the disparity between the teams. Sadly Fabio Aurelio of Liverpool, an ex Valencia play, blew his achilles tendon out and will be gone for the season. Another bad break for a talented but injury prone player. Mascherano is a very good addition to Liverpool's team.

Good game between Milan and Bayern and like the other commentators here I also think the result was fair as Bayern were harshly punished by the penalty but even apart from that they took the play to Milan in the San Siro in the last half hour of the game.
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Winslow
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And Wednesday's first legs...
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Chelsea 1, Valencia 1; Roma 2, Man United 1.

The Ches are well-placed to move on after opening the scoring at Stamford Bridge on a screamer by David Villa a half-hour in. Drogba tied it in the second half by heading in a loose ball from Ashley Cole, who had capitalized on a terrible clearance by Valencia keeper Canizares. (Wish I had a tilde on this keyboard.)

Meanwhile, United was shorthanded at Stadio Olympico for nearly the last hour thanks to two Scholes bookings. The first one, a roaring two-footed tackle from behind on Wilhelmsson, deserved red by itself IMO. Just before halftime, a Roma corner gradually found its way to Taddei in the box, and his shot nicked off the static Man U defense and into the net. Rooney tied it on the hour; C. Ronaldo started on the counter and made a nice run, passing to Solskjaer, who crossed to Rooney, who looked a tiny bit offside when he trapped it on his chest and scored with his right foot. Nice goal, though. Roma won it a few minutes later when a shot blocked by van der Sar went straight to Vucinic, who put it in the net.

The early stories from Rome say there was crowd trouble inside and outside the stadium. Simon, are you okay?
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Manzanares
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Winslow has summed up both of today's games quite well. David Silva's goal was sensational for Valencia. I thought Valencia dealt pretty well with Chelsea's aerial game for most of the match even if Caņizares did flap at a few crosses and as noted miskicked a ball which Cole played forward to Drogba, as Ayala missed an attempt to clear and Caņizares was caught in no man's land, Drogba put away the goal. Afterwards Chelsea pressured Valencia but didn't cause that much danger. A good road result for Valencia but the return leg should still be a compelling one.

Again I'm with Winslow in that Scholes first yellow could easily have been red. You don't expect such an experienced player to be so reckless. Roma did take the play to Manchester but they might be kicking themselves for only scoring 2 goals on a 10 man team at home. But I liked how Roma passes the ball. They won't be easy to beat in England.

So it looks like the return legs from both of today's games should be very good next week, while yesterday's 2nd games will be less so even if I hold out hope Bayern-Milan can still be a competitive match.
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cafetero
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Ayala and Canizares did botch that goal by Drogba but other than that I thought Valencia played a near flawless game and although their attack died down in the 2nd half, they did control Chelsea pretty well and kept them from threatening the Valencia goal. But you guys kept talking about Vicente's injuries and he went down hurt again in this one.

I'm agreeing with Manzanares, Roma played a nice passing game but may live to regret not scoring a 3rd goal against a 10 man team. Rooney had about Manchester's only opportunity of the game but he put it away. Could prove to be a vital goal.
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enganche
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I was disappointed Ayala, who otherwise played an impecable game, mistimed his clearance and allowed Drogba to run on to that long ball and head it past Canizares. As others already said, other than that Valencia did a very good job in containing Chelsea. But at the same time Valencia also didn't cause too many worries for Cech other than Silva's great goal. While Valencia are in pretty good shape returning home they still have a lot of work to do.

Roma are better counter attacking than taking the game to their opponent so actually I think they can do quite well at Old Trafford. True they contained Ronaldo and Rooney for most of the game but the one time they broke free they combined for the goal. Again, this is another 2nd leg which should be fascinating and one which is far from being over although I believe Roma's counter's will really come into play next week.
Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado
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Merengue
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Valencia are very good at neutralizing the opposition, they did it against Inter and did it again versus Chelsea. Albelda was magnificent in midfield breaking up everything Chelsea tried to do up the middle. But Chelsea found the weakness in Valencia's defense, that they could go over the top and let Drogba's speed and strength work on Ayala and Moretti. Overall I thought it was a good game, played by two very astute teams. And despite Mourinho once again trying to stir things up beforehand, it also was a game which went off without incident. Sets up a very good 2nd leg next week.

I give Manchester United credit for converting one of their rare opportunities in front of goal but overall that was a game Roma controlled. I tend to agree with enganche that they do even better counter attacking so they'll be extremely dangerous in the return leg when Manchester United will have to attack them. But you also have to wonder if Roma will be able to handle Ronaldo as much as they did in this match? Odds are against that happening twice.
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garbaggio
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Great cracker of a shot by Villa for Valencia.

And Cristiano Ronaldo showed his great value by carrying that ball the length of the field to set up Soulshark (I like spelling it that way) and Rooney for a very important goal. Based on the run of play and Scholes' early dismissal, Man U coulda been facing a scoreline similar to what PSV experienced against Liverpool.

But most importantly, I hope Simon got back from Rome OK. The press accounts of the "security" at the game are pretty disturbing.
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rosarino
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Villa's goal was worth all the praise it is receiving here. And the comments on Albelda's influence in midfield are right in my opinion too. But Merengue is correct, Ayala's one weakness is footspeed and Drogba troubled him on that long ball which Ayala missed and allowed Drogba in to score. But what was Canizares thinking then? And anybody else wonder why Terry's backpass to the goalie wasn't called?

Roma did control the play even before Scholes was sent off but the comments on Ronaldo and Rooney despite being marked out of most of the game, still finding the ability to conjure up a vital away goal are right on the mark. Both teams have quick, mobile attackers but they both seem to lack that penalty box presence. But contrasting styles always make for an interesting battle and this second leg should be a good one.

I too hope Simon is well. Somehow I don't think he was one of those to go wading into a group of Italian policemen or throwing projectiles at opposing fans.
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Winslow
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Winslow,Apr 4 2007
12:52 PM
The Ches are well-placed to move on after opening the scoring at Stamford Bridge on a screamer by David Villa a half-hour in.

My mistake keeps getting repeated. :unsure: As Manzanares and enganche correctly note, David Silva was Valencia's goalscorer. It was too good a strike to deny him credit.
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valenciano
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Yes David Silva does deserve credit for the fantastic goal! That's OK Winslow for confusing he and David Villa, but evidently you're the pied piper of the board as almost everyone else followed your lead! :blink:

It was a hard fought game between the two as we all expected. I'm satisifed with the 1-1 tie. Sure there is still a lot of work to be done but I like Valencia's odds playing at home. Poor Vicente though, he tore his hamstring and will be out at least a month. This guy has the worst luck in the world. But with Angulo, Silva and Joaquin around there are players to fill his void.

Manchester United gave themselves a chance in the 2nd game with that Rooney goal and playing down a man that is really all they could ask for. It is true Roma are an effective counter attacking team but any team with Ronaldo and Rooney on it will also create danger themselves. Looking forward to Tuesday's return games.
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Manzanares
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Vicente's injury history is incredible. Such a shame as he's as talented a winger as there is in the game today. I thought Ayala played very well in this game except one distraction and miskick and Chelsea got their goal. Such is the life of a defender (or goalkeeper) as many times people remember your one mistake much more than the otherwise good game you played. I don't think Valencia can just sit back and absorb pressure and try to counter, like they did at home against Inter, in this 2nd game versus Chelsea. Valencia has some skilled passers and they should try and take the play to Chelsea like they did in the first half yesterday. Inviting Chelsea to attack you is not a wise stretegy in my opinion especially with a team which has Drogba, Shevchenko, Ballack and Lampard who can all finish. If they score they'll close up the back and will be very hard to score upon.
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