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| Champions League | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 1 2008, 07:30 AM (4,236 Views) | |
| Winslow | Feb 24 2009, 01:59 PM Post #151 |
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Tuesday's scores... . . . . . . Arsenal 1, Roma 0; Atletico Madrid 2, Porto 2; Inter 0, Man United 0; Lyon 1, Barcelona 1. So, lots to play for in the second legs. Both Inter and Man U must be kicking themselves tonight--the Red Devils for not taking an early lead, and the Nerazzuri for not taking advantage early in the second half. Julio Cesar saved Inter's bacon in the first half with big saves on C. Ronaldo and Giggs, but after halftime Inter carried most of the play, wasting some good chances. A very even match, putting some pressure on Man U to keep yet another clean sheet at home. Otherwise, van Persie converted a penalty for the only goal after Mexes took him down at the Emirates, a Henry header saved Barca after Lyon took the lead on a Juninho free kick, and Atletico led twice at the Mestalla (the second goal was a comical goalkeeper error) but couldn't hold the lead. |
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| Simon | Feb 24 2009, 02:41 PM Post #152 |
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I thought United would have got the points decision on that one, particularly based on the first half. Inter then came out and had a real go at us in the first 20 or so minutes of the second half but afterwards United had chances again. I thought we were unfortunate in the second half when Ronnie fired in his low cross and Berbatov couldn't get there because he was pretty well rugby tackled by Cordoba. Still, I come away frustrated, as I think we should have been about two up by half-time. It was a shame they took that lad Rivas off, he was absolutely dreadful. I was obviously worried about our defence but O'Shea and Evans passed fitness tests and played well, albeit Evans was limping in the final 15 mins. Inter hardly touched the ball in the first half, mainly IMO thanks to great performances from Carrick, Fletcher and Park. Of course Vidic will be back for the second leg and Rooney will be fit enough to start (actually he did more than well enough in his 7 mins to suggest he should have been subbed on earlier, but I won't quibble too much with SAF). My feeling is that although the tie is finely balanced, I think we're the better team and I'd always back us to beat anyone at OT. I just hope that lack of an away goal doesn't come back and bite us. I've only seen highlights of the Arsenal-Roma game, but it looked like it was all Arsenal, and some wild finishing from Bendtner denied the Gunners a healthier margin of victory to take to Rome. Perhaps Eduardo will be fit again for the second leg? |
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| raconteur | Feb 24 2009, 07:22 PM Post #153 |
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I think Porto is the team most happy after Tuesday's first legs, an away draw with 2 goals scored. But I only saw highlights of the goals so will leave it to those who watched it to describe the game in more detail. Porto's goalie Helton let a Forlan shot slip through him and into the net for Atletico's 2nd goal while Lisandro Lopez netted twice for Porto. I agree with Winslow Inter-Manchester United was a pretty even match with each team having the better of play in each half. Overall a pretty cagey match which will be decided in Old Trafford. I was impressed with the poise shown by Inter's teenage left back Davide Santon who did not look out of place in the match even though United often tried to attack him with Cristiano Ronaldo. Lyon-Barcelona was similar to Inter-Manchester United in that each team ahd the better of play in a half. Again a draw was a just result in my mind. Lyon expended a lot of energy in the match and wore out at the end but while fresh they really took Lionel Messi out of the match with double and triple teams. Mexes with a stupid foul to give Arsenal the penalty which decided that match. Not surprising coming from Mexes who often makes rash challenges. |
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| Dr. Z | Feb 24 2009, 09:47 PM Post #154 |
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From a Barcelona perspective it was a satisfactory result at Lyon. The French club scored on a Juninho angled free kick to the far post. Valdes probably should have done better with the shot as he first stepped forward thinking it was a cross into the small area but instead it went to the upper portion of the far post. Even if he had stayed on his line it is still questionable if Valdes could have saved the shot but after last weekend's league blunder it is natural some fingers will point at Valdes. Guardiola though absolved his goalie of blame in the post game press conference. raconteur is correct that Lyon would put 2 or 3 defenders on Messi almost every time he touched the ball but Guardiola I thought made a smart move midway through the second half switching Messi to the center of attack and Etoo out wide as Messi then had more room as he did not have the sideline acting as an extra defender. Overall I thought it was a pretty interesting game and while Lyon still have a chance to win, the advantage has swung to Barcelona after the 1-1 draw in France. |
| Poniendo el pecho a las balas! | |
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| Merengue | Feb 24 2009, 10:36 PM Post #155 |
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I think raconteur has a point that Porto is the team which should be the happiest after Tuesday's results. They outplayed Atletico at the Vicente Calderon and exploited Atletico's defense frailities. But as raconteur mentioned, Helton's mistake gifted Atletico their 2nd goal. I was not familiar with Porto's Brasilian attacker nicknamed Hulk, yes that is right Hulk (because he's a strong guy of course!) but he is pretty good and makes a good partner in attack for Lisandro Lopez. Other than Helton who always looks shaky to me I thought Porto looked good and they are in good shape for leg 2. I don't have much to add to the discussion of both Inter-Manchester United and Lyon-Barcelona, the draws in both games I thought were fair results as each team controlled one half in their respective games. Bottom line to me is all four of Tuesday's series are still up for grabs in leg 2 which should make those matches extremely interesting. |
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| historyman | Feb 24 2009, 11:59 PM Post #156 |
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Yes, I think that's the most important factor in all of the games played last night. I watched the Inter/Man Utd game and I have to say was disappointed with Inter's attacking performance, given the fact that this was the first time that I had seen them in a live game this season. They did rally in the second half, but by the end of the game I was thinking that Utd could comfortably win the second leg at Old Trafford. I was impressed though with with the two teenagers in defence for Inter - Santon and Balotelli - and thought that Zanetti showed his class and experience on a number of occasions. Two great goals in the Lyon/Barca game, from Juninho and Henry respectively. |
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| cafetero | Feb 25 2009, 12:06 AM Post #157 |
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What the hell was Mourinho doing playing Nelson Rivas when Ivan Cordoba was available for the game? Rivas is one of those guys who must have some incredible luck. He was to me just an average defender in Colombia with Deportivo Cali, somehow River Plate signed him and after a good preseason there he was a flop once the games began for real. Yet in spite of that he was signed by Inter Milan and here he is starting last night against Manchester United in the Champions League! Notice that once Cordoba came on for Rivas that Manchester United's attacks were less threatening. |
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| Sporting | Feb 25 2009, 12:31 AM Post #158 |
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I saw the Inter - Man Utd game and thought that Man Utd were on the whole a bit unlucky not to score. Maybe Rooney should have been introduced earlier, though he would probably have got a second yellow card given more minutes; he was unfortunate to be given the first one but with the way he lunges into tackles at times, he's on dangerous ground. Man Utd fans will be remembering the last minute equaliser by Porto against their team which put Mourinho's team through to the next round in their cup-winning year...and 0-0 draws in Europe are always dangerous with the away goal rule. On balance, Man Utd should have too much for the Italians based on what I saw last night, but as we know football doesn't always follow logic! The Spanish sports daily Marca are very honest about Atlético Madrid this morning, saying the best thing about the game was the result, given that the Portuguese could have scored 2 or 3 more goals. |
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| Don Balon | Feb 25 2009, 08:57 AM Post #159 |
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Marca and objectivity usually are mutually exclusive but this time they are correct I believe. Atlético were outplayed by Porto at the Calderon. Helton's goalkeeping mistake is what enabled Atlético to earn the draw. I too was impressed with Hulk, he was incredible! Actually he was quite good, strong and fast he gave Atlético's fragile defense plenty to worry about. And Lucho Gonzalez also did well in controlling midfield for Porto. Tonight Villarreal are home to Panathinaikos and they need to make their home pitch advantage count. |
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| Winslow | Feb 25 2009, 01:54 PM Post #160 |
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And Wednesday's first legs... . . . . . . Chelsea 1, Juventus 0; Real Madrid 0, Liverpool 1; Sporting Lisbon 0, Bayern Munich 5; Villarreal 1, Panathinaikos 1. Three nail-biters (sort of) and a blowout. Bayern had to clear a ball off its line early before Ribery gave the Muncheners a halftime lead; Klose, Ribery again, and a pair from Toni finished the rout. Juve came out flat as a frittata and Drogba could've had a hat trick in the first 20 minutes; he did get the only goal of the game after 12 minutes, taking a through pass from Kalou and beating Buffon from close range. Juve did keep it close through a dull second half. Karagounis put the Greeks in front on the road in the second half, but then Rossi converted a penalty (Pires was taken down) for the draw. And a great result for Liverpool--what happened? |
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| Simon | Feb 25 2009, 02:28 PM Post #161 |
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I'm not surprised by the result at the Bernebeu, I've developed this kind of fatalistic acceptance over the last 5 years that Liverpool will beat whoever they play in Europe, be it Barcelona in 07, Inter in 08 or this time Real Madrid in 09. I watched the game, it was a pretty dull one, but I was really disappointed with Madrid's slow tempo and their over-reliance on long balls that were always going to be easily cut out by Carragher and Skrtel. Liverpool held Real at arm's length and sporadically threatened when going forward. My hopes were raised when Torres went off, but for most of the game I was thinking that Liverpool would have won it if Gerrard and Torres had been fit, and then they bloody go and win it anyway thanks to that tosser Heinze. United basically had to force him to go to Real Madrid with one arm up his back, as he was so determined to go to Liverpool instead. He's never been forgiven in Manchester for that cardinal sin, and now it feels like he's put one over United after all by needlessly giving Liverpool the free-kick from which they scored. :angry: . It's not over yet, but I don't hold much hope for Real turning it around at Anfield, where Liverpool are so strong on European nights. I hope I'm wrong. Sounds like Chelsea should have won more comfortably against Juve, which leads onto another galling situation - that United were the only English team who didn't win and yet we quite possibly gave the best performance! I don't remember Van der Sar having a shot to save last night while Julio Cesar was probably Inter's best player (along with Cambiasso who did well). Never mind, we have a cup final to look forward to on Sunday! When the CL returns in two weeks time, all but one of the ties remain very much alive so we should see a couple of dramatic evenings. |
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| Manzanares | Feb 25 2009, 08:09 PM Post #162 |
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I am a little behind so I gripe a little about Atletico's tie on Tuesday. yes helton's gaffe gave Forlan a goal. Atleti atatcked all right but nobody really understands why Aguero was pulled off unles she had aslight injury. But with Perea out for the enxt month with a concussion, the defense is even more vulnerable than it ahs been previously. Pablo showed against Porto why Aguirre was not playing him. I don't understand why Heitinga is not getting time. There is a reason why he starts for the Netherlands. Everyone has loved talking about Hulk and I can see why, in addition to his great nickname, he is an impressive player, very skillful but also direct. It will require a great effort from Atletico in 2 weeks time if they are to have any chance to advance to the quarterfinals. A better effort defensively will contribute to that. Somebody discussed how we could ignore league form and that seems right in retrospect, slumping Liverpool and Bayern Munich pulled off excellent results while hot streaking Real Madrid, Sporting and Inter all disappointed. |
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| raconteur | Feb 25 2009, 08:48 PM Post #163 |
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I agree with Simon, Real Madrid looked like they had no idea how to break Liverpool's defense down. They relied on Robben's dribbling but he was pretty much going it alone. And as Simon asks, why continually try and cross the ball against Liverpool's big centerbacks? I thought Chelsea-Juventus was a pretty even match after Drogba's goal. But Chelsea came out flying and took it to Juve early on. But the rest of the game leads one to think the second leg should be an intriguing match. I didn't see the game, only the highlights, but looked to me like the penalty which enabled Rossi to tie the game up for Villarreal was a real gift. |
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| Merengue | Feb 25 2009, 09:37 PM Post #164 |
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I won't defend Madrid's lackadaisacal play because it is indefensible in my view. The team played without urgency and as others noted kept pumping crosses into the penalty box. Why? Did Juande Ramos think he was back with Spurs? I liked the idea of putting Guti on for the start of the 2nd half as I thought it would improve the passing and enable Madrid to penetrate Liverpool's defense but Guti was ineffective. I thought Pepe did a good job in defense but on the opposite side so did all of Liverpool's backline and give credit to Xabi Alonso and mascherano for controlling the midfield. Heinze did commit a silly foul which led to the goal and darn Martin who watched the game with me and many others at a Spanish restaurant turns to me just before the Liverpool free kick and said, "I think they will score here." It was a correct prediction and look who scored it Benayoun one of the smallest players on the pitch! If Madrid wants to end their streak of not making it past the octave finals they will need a much better performance at Anfield. But by then Liverpool should have a healthy Torres and Gerrard. This was to em a lost opportunity for Madrid. I agree with raconteur, it looked to me too that the penalty in favour of Villarreal was a gift. Panathinaikos had until then effectively bottled Villarreal up. I guess Bayern had some stored up goals in them! |
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| historyman | Feb 25 2009, 11:30 PM Post #165 |
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Yet another textbook Liverpool performance in Europe under Benitez. But I've come to expect narrow 1-0 victories from them now, so I was resigned to last night's result almost from the kick-off. :rolleyes: However it was Real Madrid who really disappointed me. Robben aside, it was nearly impossible to see who was going to step forward and breach the packed Liverpool midfield and defence. This has happened to me a number of times over the last few CL seasons. I don't get much of a chance to watch many Liga and Serie A matches live, so the CL is often my only opportunity to watch the top Spanish or Italian sides in action. But after watching Inter and Real's lacklustre displays I feel that I've been short changed. Let's hope they make more of a fight of the match in the second legs. |
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Actually he was quite good, strong and fast he gave Atlético's fragile defense plenty to worry about. And Lucho Gonzalez also did well in controlling midfield for Porto.
5:04 PM Jul 10