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| Champions League 09/10 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 23 2009, 05:46 AM (4,892 Views) | |
| Don Balon | Mar 19 2010, 11:26 AM Post #271 |
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Look for a series of stories to run in the press about Barcelona's interest in signing Cesc Fabregas just before the Arsenal-Barca matches. That is an old Spanish trick which Real Madrid have also run with in the past to try and unsettle their opponents' star player. Absolutely right both Madrid and Barcelona are known to do this before key games whether in Europe or in the league. Shameful in my opinion. Arsenal-Barcelona though should be an enjoyable two games to watch. I wonder if Arsenal will have the offense to really trouble Barcelona? |
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| ursus arctos | Mar 19 2010, 12:51 PM Post #272 |
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Barca doesn't need to do anything to create those stories; the English and Catalan press have been running them all season. That said, the El Mundo Deportivo headline on the draw is "Cesc Comes Home!" |
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| rosarino | Mar 19 2010, 01:55 PM Post #273 |
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Merengue already commented on the 1999 final being repeated but Arsenal-Barcelona also is a replay of the 2006 final. After meeting Chelsea the previous round i am sure Inter are relieved to have been drawn with CSKA Moscow. Of course you do not want to overlook CSKA but compared to the other possible opponents, for a quarterfinal matchup that is as good as you could hope for. |
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| Dr. Z | Mar 19 2010, 11:12 PM Post #274 |
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I am happy with Barcelona's pairing with Arsenal, while I do not expect it to be a completely open game, Arsenal are the sort of club who are more willing to let their opponent play and that could make for an entertaining game with each midfield being key. Fortunately Xavi will be ready to play again in time for the two legs against Arsenal and in fact his 2 week break should ensure he is well rested for the Gunners! ursus made a valid point about Ibrahimovic's value to Barcelona in that he gives the team a different look than what they have had in the past. This Arsenal match could be one where Ibra's skills are put to good use. |
| Poniendo el pecho a las balas! | |
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| Pepe | Mar 24 2010, 08:17 PM Post #275 |
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Well UEFA have slightly loosened eligibility rules for the Champions League as now if you played for a team eliminated in the preliminary, pre group, stages you may play later in the Champions League for a new club. But players whose teams were eliminated in the group stages will not be eligible to play for a new club in the Champions League elimination rounds. |
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| raconteur | Mar 24 2010, 08:22 PM Post #276 |
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Well there could be a market opened up for players from clubs like Anderlecht, Celtic or Fenerbahce but I do not imagine there will be much call for players from teams like Dinamo Tirana or Slovan Bratislava! |
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| raconteur | Mar 29 2010, 07:19 AM Post #277 |
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Here are the quarterfinal, first leg games set for this week and the disciplinary situation in each: Playing on Tuesday Olympique Lyon v Girondins Bordeaux Suspended: Alou Diarra (Girondins Bordeaux) Misses next match if booked: Sidney Govou, Lisandro Lopez, Cris, Miralem Pjanic (all Olympique Lyon); Marc Planus, Michael Ciani (both Girondins Bordeaux) Bayern Munich v Manchester United Suspended: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) Misses next match if booked: Mark van Bommel, Danijel Pranjic (both Bayern Munich); Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) Playing on Wednesday Arsenal v Barcelona Misses next match if booked: Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie (all Arsenal); Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique (both Barcelona) Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow Suspended: Thiago Motta, Lucio (both Inter Milan) Misses next match if booked: Walter Samuel, Maicon, Javier Zanetti (all Inter Milan); Chidi Odiah, Milos Krasic, Yevgeny Aldonin, Alexei Berezutsky, Mark Gonzalez (all CSKA Moscow) Diarra, Schweinsteiger and Lucio are all significant losses for their clubs. Add to them possible injury absentees like Fabregas and Iniesta and these clubs will be etsting their depth this week. |
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| Nkono | Mar 29 2010, 10:15 AM Post #278 |
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These are the absentees for both Lyon and Bordeaux ahead of their match, "Lyon will be almost at full strength, with only defenders Francois Clerc and Cleber Anderson sidelined with long-term injuries, and coach Claude Puel will be able to field his best-possible lineup. Things are not that simple for Blanc, with holding midfielder Alou Diarra serving suspension after being sent off in the previous round against Olympiakos and defender Marc Planus nursing a knee injury." For fans of Ligue 1 this should be a really intriguing game, the until recently kings of the French league mountain Lyon against the new rivals for that title, Bordeuax. The prize is a spot in the Champions League semifinal, something neither club to my knowledge has ever achieved. |
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| Merengue | Mar 30 2010, 09:20 AM Post #279 |
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Before tonight's Bayern Munich-Manchester United matchup I found this "Where are they now" article on the players from each side from that memorable 1999 final between them: http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=g...=goal&type=lgns Oliver Kahn does some work on a Chinese reality show finding goalkeeping talent???!!! Peter Schmeichel works on Disocvery Channel's European version of "Dirty Jobs!" while Teddy Sheringham is a poker player. |
| http://twitter.com/#!/SocrFutbolForum | |
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| Winslow | Mar 30 2010, 01:11 PM Post #280 |
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Tuesday's first legs... . . . . . . Bayern Munich 2, Manchester United 1; Lyon 3, Bordeaux 1. A very interesting evening indeed at the Allianz. Rooney put Man U ahead after just a couple of minutes, and that was it until well into the second half, when Ribery's free kick nicked off Rooney and into the net to tie the score. Then in injury time, Olic stole the ball from Evra and beat van der Sar one on one to win it. But most interestingly, Rooney limped off just before the whistle after a strong challenge from Gomez. We'll have to wait for the medical report. At Stade Gerland, Lopez put Lyon ahead after ten minutes, but a Chamakh header tied it four minutes later. At the half-hour, Bastos scored to give the home team the lead again; a second-half penalty by Lopez sealed it. |
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| raconteur | Mar 30 2010, 03:54 PM Post #281 |
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Both games tonight were highly entertaining. Manchester United had their chances to put Bayern away but could not and I thought once Gomez came on Bayern improved. Ribery's goal was a fortunate deflection but Bayern were putting United under pressure until Olic was quickest to the ball in injury time and won the match. Sets up a good return game next week when you wonder how healthy Gomez, Robben and Rooney will be? Lyon-Bordeaux was also an interesting game, especially in the first half, Lisandro Lopez' speed and mobility really caused Bordeaux troubles but he picked up a cheap yellow which will cause him to miss the 2nd game. Didn't look to me like he even touched the Bordeaux player who tripped over himself. Bordeaux also had their chances when it was 2-1 but were denied by the post/bar and Lloris in Lyon's goal. Then a handball gave them the penalty which effectively ended the game. Gives Lyon a two goal margin to work with but without Lisandro Lopez they are far from being safe just yet. |
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| Yogi | Mar 30 2010, 10:11 PM Post #282 |
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I thought Manchester United were a little too cautious after going in front early in the game but at the same time they were able to stop Bayern Munich from creating much danger of their own. I agree with raconteur that Gomez' entrance helped make Bayern more dangerous as it gave them some penalty area presence. I thought Van Bommel had a great game in midfield and Bayern's efforts eventually paid off with tose two late goals. Sets up a very intriguing leg 2 as we wait on the health of Rooney and Robben, arguably the best players for each club. I think Lloris the Lyon goalie showed why he is France's first choice in goal. He came up with several spectacular saves to keep Bordeaux off the scoreboard when it was 2-1 for Lyon. Nice advantage for Lyon going to Bordeaux but they should not try and simply sit on that 2 goal lead. The Lyon counter attack should eb a useful weapon in leg 2. Looking forward to Barcelona-Arsenal. |
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| Mr. Pither | Mar 30 2010, 10:25 PM Post #283 |
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I thought Bayern were the better team for most of the match. It all began well for United when Demichelis slipped and left Rooney alone to score after 2 minutes. But Yogi may have a point that United let up a bit after that, perhaps with this weekend's game vs Chelsea on their minds. Without Robben and either Gomez or Klose, Bayern's attack was a little toothless although as noted van Bommel did play extremely well. Gomez entrance did help though and also helped free Olic to roam around in attack more which led to him nicking the balla way from evra and scoring the match winner. It does not make p for 1999 but you know Bayern fans were pleased with an injury time game winning goal vs Manchester United. Ferguson said that by later today (Wednesday) they will know more of the extent of Rooney's ankle injury. Gomez should be more fit by next week and I would expect Robben will be held out of this weekend's match vs Schalke so that he is prepared for enxt week. Hm, as I think of it both clubs have very important weekend league matches against clubs who are challenging them for their domestic league titles, so maybe neither can really afford to rest star players this weekend. Lloris did produce a couple of superb saves and that helepd turn the tide in Lyon's favour. This loss was Bordeaux' first in the Champions League this season. Any team with Gourcuff and Chamakh will be a threat even with a 2 goal disadvantage. |
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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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| Johnbuildr | Mar 31 2010, 05:26 AM Post #284 |
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Yes Mr. P., even though Bayern was behind 0-1 until finally scoring in the second half, I kept wondering until then 'why?'. Well, the "why" was because even though they had the better, if not quite all-controlling midfield play, they had no one to finish off their consistent pressure on the MU back line. But even then that was one flukey free kick to pull even, as well as a the quintessential last second match winner in the 3rd minute of extra time..... Two other observations: 1. Tremendous "no call" by the center ref a slpit second before the injury time game winner by Olic. Many a ref(if not most) would have instinctively blown their whistle on the take down foul that led to the loose ball which Olic hustled to pick up and slot home. Can't say enough about how surprised and pleased I was that he diod not mistakenly whistle that paly dead. 2. Rooney: If I were a MU and/or England fan I would be near a full state of panic right about now. He did not just "limp off", he could put no weight whatsoever on that right foot and needed two people to support him. So, it was apparently far more than a stinger, and could be really serious. Ever since the draw were announced, I have thought that the one English player who the US has no answer for is Mr. Rooney. If he were lost to the World Cup, it would be a real shame for World Cup fans everywhwere, and probably the worst single player loss that could possibly happen to England in my mind. But I, to speak for one US fan, hope he makes it back full speed. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| Winslow | Mar 31 2010, 12:53 PM Post #285 |
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Word is Rooney will miss two to four weeks. Wednesday's first legs... . . . . . . Arsenal 2, Barcelona 2; Inter Milan 1, CSKA Moscow 0. Not sure yet what happened at the San Siro, but Barca was in the catbird seat at the Emirates until the Gunners pulled off a hell of a comeback. The visitors swarmed the home side in the first half, and only miraculous goalkeeping by Almunia kept it scoreless. However, he was to blame when Barcelona scored in the opening minute of the second half, as an Ibrahimovic lob caught him off his line. The Swede/Bosnian added another at the hour mark, taking a through ball in alone and blasting into the top right corner. It was shortly after this (I think) that Walcott came on and the game changed. The sub pulled one goal back with 20 minutes left, taking a through ball and putting it under the keeper. Then in the closing minutes Fabregas was dumped by Puyol in front of goal; the ref pointed to the spot (and sent Puyol off) and Cesc scored the penalty to even things up. Barca will still have the advantage at home, but will be missing some key players next week, so who knows? |
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