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Champions League 09/10
Topic Started: Jul 23 2009, 05:46 AM (4,886 Views)
gaviota
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An interesting statistic, Barcelona as a team ran 10 kilometres less vs Inter than they did in their away match against Arsenal. And although he did not play the entire match, Ibrahimovic only ran 6 kilometres, about the same as goalkeeper Victor Valdes! A true sign of how static Ibra was in that match.
CHAMP13NS
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Simon
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Lyon were a great disappointment last night, they hardly looked like they were trying. Coach journey or no coach journey, playing that flatly and unadventurously, even while they were up a man, is criminal. Even in the final stretches of the game I thought they'd come round to how important an away goal would be to them, but they didn't take any calculated risks. I'm not saying they should have been gung ho, but they only had one shot on target all match!

That was never a red card for Toulalan though, both players raised their feet and Toulalan clearly won the ball. Schweinsteiger's OTT melodramatic reaction helped get him his second yellow, IMO. Not good. I've got to say as well, as good a player as Robben is I've always found watching him an incredibly aggravating experience.

Barcelona can certainly still go through. In fact their CL run this season has been based on their Nou Camp form, necessarily so as they've only won one of their six away games in the CL this season. If they win the second leg 2-0, it will still fit into the established pattern. Inter must be sorry they went behind in the game, they'd really be in the driving seat if they had a 3-0 lead to take out to Spain!

Mourinho has naturally had his say on the penalty debate! He said "a year ago Chelsea were crying and Barca were laughing with the referee. They laughed because he denied my Chelsea boys their rightful place in the final." Never one to sit on the fence, is he? It's about right though, the Alves claim was less clear cut than about four of Chelsea's claims in that semi last year!

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Yogi
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gaviota,Apr 22 2010
08:59 AM
An interesting statistic, Barcelona as a team ran 10 kilometres less vs Inter than they did in their away match against Arsenal.  And although he did not play the entire match, Ibrahimovic only ran 6 kilometres, about the same as goalkeeper Victor Valdes!  A true sign of how static Ibra was in that match.

I know Valdes did come off his line several times to cut out some Inter attacks but he ran 6 kms in the game? That is pretty impressive for a goalkeeper. My rec league team's goalie always used to say during our practices while we all went for a run that, "Goalies don't need to run!" :) Well, Valdes has proven him wrong.

But I agree with gaviota that is pretty embarassing for Ibrahimovic that he covered about as much ground in the match as the team's goalie. Earlier in the season we were debating who got the better of the Ibrahimovic for Eto'o trade, Barcelona or Inter? It is not just their recent play nor the truckload (lorryload for the Brits!) of money Inter got, but to me Eto'o is having much more of a positive influence for Inter than Ibrahimovic is for Barcelona. Next year things may change but so far I think Massimo Moratti and Inter are having a good laugh at Barcelona's expense.

Simon, and others are correct, Lyon especially for a club up a man for part of the game were very unambitious. A very disappointing attitude from them. They had nothing to lose, Bayern are the favorites, Bayern went down a man, Lyon could have greatly benefited with an away goal but instead they played passively.
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Pepe
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Quote:
 
Barcelona can certainly still go through. In fact their CL run this season has been based on their Nou Camp form, necessarily so as they've only won one of their six away games in the CL this season. If they win the second leg 2-0, it will still fit into the established pattern. Inter must be sorry they went behind in the game, they'd really be in the driving seat if they had a 3-0 lead to take out to Spain!


Excellent point Simon, we sort of forget about Barcelona not winning often on the road in the Champions League, but that has been what occurred. 2 goals down is not that great of a hill for them to climb at the Nou Camp, and in fact they have already defeated Inter 2-0 there last fall. But Inter do look like a more confident team now than they were then.

Again I will agree with Simon that Barcelona have no real basis for complaint about the oficiating especially after what happened last year at this stage. Now Lyon, on the other hand, have a very good basis for complaint about Toulalan's expulsion. But they did themselves no favours with their lack of ambition.
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Hector
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gaviota,Apr 22 2010
08:59 AM
An interesting statistic, Barcelona as a team ran 10 kilometres less vs Inter than they did in their away match against Arsenal.  And although he did not play the entire match, Ibrahimovic only ran 6 kilometres, about the same as goalkeeper Victor Valdes!  A true sign of how static Ibra was in that match.

These statistics are getting a lot of attention in Spain since Tuesday's game. I find it amazing Valdes ran as much as Ibrahimovic did in that game. I would caution about dismissing Barcelona's chances in game 2. While Inter will likely play very defensively in the 2nd game, a Barcelona goal will make it very tightand as others commented, Barcelona have been winning their series by dominating at home. And what are the odds both Xavi and Messi will have subpar games two matches in a row?
iPuerta amigo, Sevilla esta contigo!
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Sporting
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gaviota,Apr 22 2010
04:59 PM
An interesting statistic, Barcelona as a team ran 10 kilometres less vs Inter than they did in their away match against Arsenal. And although he did not play the entire match, Ibrahimovic only ran 6 kilometres, about the same as goalkeeper Victor Valdes! A true sign of how static Ibra was in that match.

Yes, true, but: while I'm not defending Ibra in any great way, it's not how far you run, it's the use you put those runs to.
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Mr. Pither
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Sporting,Apr 23 2010
11:27 AM
gaviota,Apr 22 2010
04:59 PM
An interesting statistic, Barcelona as a team ran 10 kilometres less vs Inter than they did in their away match against Arsenal.  And although he did not play the entire match, Ibrahimovic only ran 6 kilometres, about the same as goalkeeper Victor Valdes!  A true sign of how static Ibra was in that match.

Yes, true, but: while I'm not defending Ibra in any great way, it's not how far you run, it's the use you put those runs to.

That is very true but Ibra did not do much to put himself in dangerous positions in that match either.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
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Johnbuildr
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Sporting,Apr 23 2010
01:27 PM
gaviota,Apr 22 2010
04:59 PM
An interesting statistic, Barcelona as a team ran 10 kilometres less vs Inter than they did in their away match against Arsenal.  And although he did not play the entire match, Ibrahimovic only ran 6 kilometres, about the same as goalkeeper Victor Valdes!  A true sign of how static Ibra was in that match.

Yes, true, but: while I'm not defending Ibra in any great way, it's not how far you run, it's the use you put those runs to.

So true.

(Side story)
I had a lazy striker who seldom helped on defense on the team for 3 years. At first a I played him only sparingly for that sole reason. Could not get him to run, period. He'd go as far as 10 or 20 yards from the centerline to collect the ball though.
But he kept scoring all the time in scrimmages, so I started playing him towards the end of matches now and then. He always seemed to find the ball and score. Finally, he scored in several consecutive matches in the last 15 to the point where I had to play him more.
The second year he was on my team he not only led the team in scoring, he was near the top in the league. But he still didn't help out on defense, the little creep. :(
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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autogol
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Mr. Pither,Apr 23 2010
01:21 PM
Sporting,Apr 23 2010
11:27 AM
gaviota,Apr 22 2010
04:59 PM
An interesting statistic, Barcelona as a team ran 10 kilometres less vs Inter than they did in their away match against Arsenal.  And although he did not play the entire match, Ibrahimovic only ran 6 kilometres, about the same as goalkeeper Victor Valdes!  A true sign of how static Ibra was in that match.

Yes, true, but: while I'm not defending Ibra in any great way, it's not how far you run, it's the use you put those runs to.

That is very true but Ibra did not do much to put himself in dangerous positions in that match either.

Yes Ibrahimovic was doing his best impression of a statue in that game!

It was not just Zanetti and Maicon who others have already praised but Lucio and Samuel absorbed most everything Barcelona threw at them while in front of the defense Thiago Motta and Cambiasso, later helped by Stankovic, were excellent. I would be interested in seeing the statistics on how much Inter's players ran because they left the impression that they worked very hard. But they will need a similar output on Wednesday in game 2 if they are to suceed at the Nou Camp. Rest assured Guardiola will make adjustments.
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rosarino
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Any further word on Sneijder's thigh muscle injury which forced him out of Saturday's match vs Atalanta? Inter are a much different, and better, club when Sneijder is on the field. And with Stankovic also suspended, Sneijder's absence would really be felt on Wednesday.
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ursus arctos
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It's a strain, and the club have said that he is doubtful for Barcelona.

Then again, I would expect Inter to keep Barcelona (and us) guessing as to his actual condition until the last possible minute. I'm virtually certain that he will be on the plane.
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El Profe
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ursus arctos,Apr 26 2010
05:54 AM
It's a strain, and the club have said that he is doubtful for Barcelona.

Then again, I would expect Inter to keep Barcelona (and us) guessing as to his actual condition until the last possible minute. I'm virtually certain that he will be on the plane.

Jose Mourinho attempting to play mind games with the opposition???

Tell me it ain't so Jo(s)e!

You do wonder though how much a half fit Sneijder would really help Inter? To succeed against Barcelona you need all 10 field players moving and pressuring the opposition.
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ursus arctos
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Shocking, isn't it? Much like gambling in Casablanca.

The problem for Mourinho is that he really doesn't have anyone who can cover for Sneijder (this is a further indication of just how important he has been to Inter this year). Stankovic would be the obvious replacement, but doesn't hold the ball as well or create anywhere near as many opportunities as the Dutchman. Stankovic has also been struggling to complete games this season. And playing a midfield that includes both Thiago Motta and Muntari against Barca would run a very high risk of ending the match with ten men.
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Manzanares
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I don't think you can truly believe any club's injury list at this stage of the competition. What you can believe is who is supended and that will be Ribery and Pranjic for Bayern and Toulalan for Lyon. Both clubs do however have some doubts at centerback, Lyon's Cris and Bayern's Van Buyten may not be able to play. If true tha will be a major loss for each club. I am interested to see if Miroslav Klose, Bayern's weekend hero, will play in this game after a long period out of action. Lisandro Lopez criticized his club's tame approach to game 1, they'l need to be much more offensive on Tuesday night.
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Yogi
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ursus arctos,Apr 26 2010
05:54 AM
It's a strain, and the club have said that he is doubtful for Barcelona.

Then again, I would expect Inter to keep Barcelona (and us) guessing as to his actual condition until the last possible minute. I'm virtually certain that he will be on the plane.

Sneijder was named in Inter's 25 man team available for the game, as was Balotelli. So perhaps this is another of Mourinho's psychological ploys?

Bayern Munich may be missing the suspended Ribery but they will have Robben who has been their match changing player. If Bayern plays on the counter, imagne how dangerous Robben could become in this match?
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