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| Champions League | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 1 2008, 07:30 AM (4,231 Views) | |
| robdog | Apr 8 2009, 01:11 PM Post #226 |
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Did it really matter w/ the devastating attack of Barca??? Onto good news, how was the wreck job at Anfield
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| Supporter for FCK, San Lorenzo, Chelsea, Pachuca, Corinthians & Real Betis | |
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| Winslow | Apr 8 2009, 02:00 PM Post #227 |
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Wednesday's results, as alluded to above... . . . . . . Barcelona 4, Bayern Munich 0; Liverpool 1, Chelsea 3. So Barca gives Bayern a taste of its own second-round medicine, scoring all four goals (Messi, Eto'o, Messi again, and Henry) in the first half. Not a tremendously surprising result, considering that even the Bayern management was downplaying the team's chances before the match. The only blemish for Barca was a red card given to Pep Guardiola after he chewed out ref Howard Webb for not giving a penalty. Liverpool actually took an early lead as Fernando Torres finished off a nice series of passes in the sixth minute, but after a half-hour Chelsea grabbed the game by the neck and never let go. The equalizer came before halftime as Ivanovic (who?) headed in a corner kick after evading Xavi Alonso's halfhearted defending. Then just after the hour mark, Ivanovic (again!) rose to another corner and put Chelsea in front, leaving Gerrard spinning. Five minutes after that, a Chelsea counterattack down the left side led to a low cross that Drogba turned in to make it 3-1. |
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| Simon | Apr 8 2009, 04:13 PM Post #228 |
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Fantastic result tonight at Anfield, and also a brilliant game. I think some feared that this game would be a bore, but that hasn't been the story recently between Liverpool and Chelsea and it certainly wasn't here either. Both teams played really attacking stuff and the tempo was great. But as robdog points out, this really serves notice of how big a threat Chelsea still are in all three competitions. Liverpool were actually excellent in patches, but this was a real masterclass from Chelsea. They are just so formidable all over the pitch, and when Lampard and Essien are in tandem like they were in this game they are unstoppable. I think Chelsea have missed Essien immensely when he's been injured this season. I'm smiling, because it was high time someone punctured Liverpool's rampant self-confidence. After the way Liverpool have been doing recently, going to Anfield, playing such a magnificent game and winning 3-1 is just a massive statement from Chelsea. I do hope it has a knock-one effect in the league for Liverpool at Blackburn on Saturday! I don't suppose the scoreline at the Nou Camp comes as such a surprise to anyone. If you concede five goals against Wolfsburg, letting four in against Barcelona almost seems like a decent day at the office! The main beauty of this for Barca is that they can take it easy in the second leg. |
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| raconteur | Apr 8 2009, 09:35 PM Post #229 |
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Smart move by Barcelona to go after Bayern Munich early in the game knowing they likely would be fragile mentally after the weekend debacle. Barcelona comes at you with so many offensive weapons but it was their passing which ripped open Bayern in this game. Liverpool looked like they were in control against Chelsea as after Torres goal they were playing well, particularly Kuyt, but Chelsea rebounded and as Simon pointed out Lampard and Essien began to stamp their control in midfield. But I thought Ivanovic did very well to free himself for both his headed goals and then Drogba finished it off. Chelsea certainly silenced the Liverpool crowd with their 2nd half play. Interesting that after Tuesday's two games ended in ties, Wednesday's games had two clear winners, two teams which have taken giant steps towards semifinal places. |
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| Mr. Pither | Apr 8 2009, 09:46 PM Post #230 |
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Take a deep breath and relax... Whooh, Ok after the hectic pace of Liverpool-Chelsea we can all relax a bit now. The match was played at an incredible pace but it was Chelsea who were eventually able to impose themselves on Liverpool. I too think Essien's return has been a major influence in Chelsea's improved play. Mikel did a pretty good job in his absence but he just does not have Essien's energy. Oh and that Dutchman on the sideliens is doing a pretty good job too but then we all expected that now, didn't we? Everytime I watch Lionel Messi play I shudder to think how young he still is. At an age where most players are simply trying to establish themselves, Messi is dominating games. Bayern's defense had some absences-Lucio, Van Buyten, Lahm, but even if they had been there the result would not have been much different from 4-0. |
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P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD | |
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| Merengue | Apr 9 2009, 07:06 AM Post #231 |
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Lionel Messi is still only 21 years old! That just needs to be said when watching how good he already is as a player. Bayern Munich still don't know what hit them. I have never seen them so completely outclassed in a European match before. I agree with Pither, even if Bayern's complete defense was there they were not going to stop the movement and through balls which Barcelona used to shred them apart. I am another who thought Liverpool were looking the better team until Ivanovic headed in that first goal of his. It was a major psychological blow to Liverpool and they never recovered after that. So much of our prematch discussion about Porto was centered on Hulk and how much he has meant to the club's play. Well Hulk was in my view one of Porto's least visible players in that first leg in Manchester yet the team still played well. I think United are going to need both Ferdinand and Berbatov back if they are to win at Porto. Adebayor's goal reminded me a little of Manuel Negrete's for Mexico against Bulgaria in the 1986 World Cup. A wonderful strike and a goal which does put Arsenal in good position coming home. Villarreal will need to finish better if they are to have any chance in London. |
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| Manzanares | Apr 9 2009, 02:12 PM Post #232 |
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I think Liverpool just ran into a team who were bigger, faster and stronger than they were. Typically it is Liverpool who wear their opponents down but this Chelsea team turned the tables on them. It will take a minor miracle for them to come abck from 3-1 down and win by 3 goals at Chelsea. Barcelona put on a clinic of passing, movement and finishing. Note how well their shots were placed, they didn't try hammering the ball into the net. Counts the same no matter what the speed of the shot and they placed their shots just perfectly. Poor Hans Jorg Butt comes in after Michael Rensing give sup 5 goals on the weekend, now Butt gives up 4 and he was fortunate Barcelona had some mercy on Bayern in the 2nd half! |
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| Yogi | Apr 9 2009, 05:28 PM Post #233 |
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Maybe Bayern's 3rd string goalie is thinking, "It is my chance now!" Overrun is a good description of what happened to Bayern Munich. Barcelona were a lot of fun to watch. It is not just Messi, although he was extraordinary, but Eto'o and Henry were threats and then of course there also are Xavi and Iniesta running things from midfield. Even a subpar game from Dani Alves was not felt by the club due to the outstanding play by the others. As Simon remarked, it sure gives Barcelona the chance to give a rest to a few player sin the return leg. Chelsea beat Liverpool based on their ability off of set pieces. Look at Chelsea's team, other than Ashley Cole and Michael Essien, they look like a basketball team. Makes them hard to defend on corners and free kicks. |
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| libero | Apr 9 2009, 07:34 PM Post #234 |
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Well I am not sure if Frank Lampard would qualify as a basketballer but I see your point, Chelsea do have a lot of size and they know how to use it. Liverpool certainly are not a team of midgets themelves but they did get beat twice off of corner kicks. I think instead of blaming Liverpool for giving up those goals, more credit should be given to Ivanovic for freeing himself for those two headers. Not every goal is by virtue of a mistake! Messi is of course Barcelona's biggest name but the guy I love watching on that team is Xavi. He's shown that his Euro 2008 MVP award was not a fluke. I do not think there currently is a better passing midfielder in the world. Check that I do not think presently there is a better passer in the game than Xavi. |
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| Martin | Apr 9 2009, 08:40 PM Post #235 |
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I do not have too much to add to the fine analysis already made of these games, I will just add a few comments about the games I saw, Barcelona's attacking play was of course brilliant but what impressed me about their play was how hard they worked to win the ball back when not in possession. Messi and Eto'o are both particularly skilled at doing that, two of the better forwards in the world at pressing opposition defenders. Barcelona are so hard to defend because if you double team Xavi that leaves Iniesta open to create play, and vice versa. Essien's play has been praised here and I think with reason as he was superb in this game. He took Gerrard out of the match thereby stopping not only one of Liverpool's main weapons but also cutting off supply to Fernando Torres, another of their principal attacking options. You always like to see clubs play away from home as Porto and Chelsea did this week. I am curious as to how Porto will play in the second leg. Sitting back against Manchester United would I think be suicidal. And can Porto's goalie Helton be expected to be as secure as he was in leg 1? |
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| Dr. Z | Apr 9 2009, 09:40 PM Post #236 |
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Barcelona's attacking play was of course brilliant but what impressed me about their play was how hard they worked to win the ball back when not in possession. Messi and Eto'o are both particularly skilled at doing that, two of the better forwards in the world at pressing opposition defenders. Barcelona are so hard to defend because if you double team Xavi that leaves Iniesta open to create play, and vice versa. I have to agree with this. Barcelona do pressure their opponents well and it starts with Etoo and Messi putting the clamps down on the opponents defenders. As the team progresses, Yaya Toure's strength and ball winning will also become increasingly more important. As for Barca's passing, it is not just Xavi and Iniesta but Messi's passing is greatly improved too. Barcelona are very good at finding openings in the seams behind a defense and that is what makes them so difficult to defend. And if you try and pressure them in midfield they can go long and use the speed of Henry, Etoo and Messi. |
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| Sporting | Apr 9 2009, 11:44 PM Post #237 |
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Chelsea's two goals from corners owed something to the zonal defence used by Liverpool. The movement of the Chelsea players meant that nobody was really sure who to pick up. As for Barça, nothing else to say except magnificent. A slight dropping off in the second half (I seem to remember it's not the first time this has happened this season; it's almost as if they're showing mercy to their opponents) but the tie is theirs. Bayern are shellshocked, and will do well to even draw the return, I think. |
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| Nkono | Apr 10 2009, 12:56 AM Post #238 |
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Excellent point Sporting about the zonal marking by Liverpool. Chelsea exploited that to the fullest. And I fully agree with the praise being given here to Michael Essien for his work in nullyfying Gerrard. I wonder how long Klinsmann will last with Bayern? That used to be a good defensive club but they seem to have forgotten how to defend. I am not just talking about the loss to Barcelona, as almost every team would have trouble containing them when they play as they did on Wednesday, but Bayern routinely give up a lot of goals, something which prior to Klinsmann's arrival did not happen. Sporting once more makes a relevant point about Barcelona easing up in the 2nd half but then again with a 4 goal lead, there was no need to kill themselves. Guardiola was smart to have them take it easy in the 2nd period. |
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| raconteur | Apr 13 2009, 08:46 AM Post #239 |
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Tuesday are the 2nd legs of Chelsea-Liverpool and Bayern-Barcelona. After the first leg convincing wins, everything seems in Chelsea's and barcelona's favor. But I still remember Milan going to Deportivo in 2004 with a 3 goal lead and losing it, so there still could be a surprise in store for us tomorrow. Not likely but enough to make us watch, right? |
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| Yogi | Apr 14 2009, 05:39 AM Post #240 |
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Guus Hiddink is saying he definitely will not remain as Chelsea coach next season, strange timing I think just before the 2nd leg of the quarterfinals. I wonder if that announcement will have any effect on Chelsea? |
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