There are
three matches played in the Champions League group stage. Two of most
interesting teams represent the northern part of Germany – Gelsenkirchen and
Dortmund. Schalke 04 and Borussia will be in the focus of the next article telling
about Champions League participants. But before we need to sum up the
performance of Champions League 32 in the previous week-end and see what to
expect from the upcoming.
The
major matches of the week:
Before enjoying
the Champions League week 3 matches, we had all eyes on Italian Serie A, where
the two leaders had to meet face to face.
Napoli is considered to be the only
force able to stop Juventus, so the clash was expected to be cruel. Napoli
suggested some harsh football, and Juventus had to accept. There were 41 fouls
committed during the match. The teams were pretty solid and concentrated. Not
losing seemed to be a big achievement for both, judging by the way the teams
played. It was football with no risky counterattacks and no mistakes. And
exactly when the hope to see a goal in the central match of the week was
diminishing, Angelo Alessio, just back from a ban, made two crucial substitutions. Caceres and Pogba substituted Asamoah and Vidal, and scored goals right away; the Uruguayan scored two minutes after appearing on the pitch, and the Frenchman – 7 minutes. This was the end. Napoli could do nothing. The Old Lady won thanks to its long bench and proved that there is no team around in Italy ready to take the Scudetto away from Turin.
In the
second match of the week Lazio was hosting Milan. Sometimes teams create lots
of chances, but the score remains low. This time it was the opposite. The teams
were trying to play a cautious football, but Milan didn’t turn to be good in
it. By the 50th minute the Roman side was already in front by three
goals to nil. The league runners-up showed some courage and scored twice, but
the last important goal didn’t come. Too few chances were being created. In
this match of the Serie A week 8 Nigel de Jong became only the third player to
score for Milan after El Shaarawy and Pazzini. The rossoneri are now on the 15th
position.
Germany: Borussia Dortmund was ought to show up to the Revierderby without Goetze, Schmelzer, Gundogan and Blaszczykowski. Klopp introduced a three-man defense, which didn’t turn to be effective. On the other hand, Stevens’s Schalke 04 could professionally adjust their attacking tactics into time wasting after scoring two goals. In fact, they could make it 3, but Matip managed to miss from a meter just a minute before Borussia’s goal. The rest of the match was the high time for Schalke’s compact defenders, lead by captain Benedikt Hoewedes. On the 5th minute of the injury time Schalke missed a one-on-one chance. The free-kick following this episode could level the match, but it was not Borussia’s day. The home side was out of concentration, probably keeping the Champions League match against Real in mind. Still, thanks to Iduna Park attendants for ensuring yet another great atmosphere in the stadium. Bayern has got twice as many points as Dortmund after this matchday.
Germany: Borussia Dortmund was ought to show up to the Revierderby without Goetze, Schmelzer, Gundogan and Blaszczykowski. Klopp introduced a three-man defense, which didn’t turn to be effective. On the other hand, Stevens’s Schalke 04 could professionally adjust their attacking tactics into time wasting after scoring two goals. In fact, they could make it 3, but Matip managed to miss from a meter just a minute before Borussia’s goal. The rest of the match was the high time for Schalke’s compact defenders, lead by captain Benedikt Hoewedes. On the 5th minute of the injury time Schalke missed a one-on-one chance. The free-kick following this episode could level the match, but it was not Borussia’s day. The home side was out of concentration, probably keeping the Champions League match against Real in mind. Still, thanks to Iduna Park attendants for ensuring yet another great atmosphere in the stadium. Bayern has got twice as many points as Dortmund after this matchday.
One of the
most intriguing London derbies of the season took place at White Hart Lane,
where Andre Villas-Boas’s Tottenham hosted his former assistant Roberto Di
Matteo’s Chelsea. The first scoring came from Gary Cahill after Gallas
unluckily cleared the ball during a Chelsea corner. Gallas and Defoe could help
the home side take the lead in the first 10 minutes of the second half; a
period, when Chelsea was already dreaming of Champions League. Fortunately for
Chelsea fans, the in-form trio of Hazard-Oscar-Mata was able to clinch the
victory in the last 30 minutes. Chelsea needs to be more focused, if they want
to earn trophies this season. In most of the matches they lose their concentration
for some period of time. As for now, they top the Premier League.
Spartak had
to take a long journey to meet Russian League leaders Anzhi. They started the
match in a good spirit, determined to take something tangible from there.
However, they were unlucky enough to score a goal first. After the 35th
minute, when Bilyaletdinov helped his team take the lead, Unai Emery’s side got
confused in many theories of keeping the score. It was obvious, that Anzhi’s
goals were on their way, especially when Kirill Kombarov got sent off on the 46th
minute. Spartak conceded the second goal on the 93rd minute, when
Insaurralde scored an own goal after a dubious free-kick appointed against
Spartak.
Highlights
of the week:
- The big troubles within Barcelona defense
continue. Last weekend Deportivo managed to score whole four goals to them. Fortunately
for Vilanova, his mentees are still good in attack. The final score of the
match was 4-5 in favor of the league runners-up. Jordi Alba opened and closed the
score in this match; the last one was an elegant own goal. Thanks to a
hat-trick, Leo Messi is now the topscorer of top 5 European Leagues.
- In a
match that got famous for some poor refereeing decisions, Valencia managed to
clinch the victory over Athletic, despite losing 1-2 on the 87th
minute. They are up to the 9th position now.
- The
English champions managed to score twice and take all three points at West
Bromwich, despite being a man down for 3/4 of the match. It was Edin Dzeko, who
scored twice in the last 10 minutes of the match.
- The other
Manchester team managed to remain on the second position, winning over Stoke.
Rooney could register a hat-trick in his account, had the first goal been scored
in the right goal.
- Ajax missed the chance to get closer to the
league leader Twente. The Amsterdam team had a comfortable advantage of two
goals on the 78th minute of the match, but conceded two, to earn
only one point in the match against Heracles.
- Despite
being modest in Champions League, Galatasaray is pretty attractive in the
Turkish league. This time their match with Genclerbirligi ended 3-3, with the
champions saving the match 4 minutes before the final whistle.
- PSG finally
climbed onto the top of the table, winning 1-0 over Reims. Thanks to Ancelotti’s
team, there are 12 Champions League participants who lead in their leagues now.
However, the average position of all 32 teams has gone into the wrong side of
4, where no team in any league would qualify for the Champions League.
The
upcoming week:
The week
will start with an important match in Denmark, where Champions League heroes of
the week Nordsjælland will host AaB. The teams are on the Superliga 3rd
and 2nd positions respectively.
Bayer will
try to stop the Munich machine that has won 8 matches in a row so far. The Dutch
Eredivisie will witness one of the most remarkable encounters of the league;
Ajax will pay a visit to Feyenoord. And
finally, the match of the week is going to take place in London. Chelsea will
play against Manchester United and try to rehabilitate for the Champions League
loss in Donetsk earlier this week. Don’t miss this big match starting at 17:00
CET on Sunday, the 28th of October.
| Club | Last Matches | Next match | Position in the domestic league |
| Ajax (Netherlands) | 20.10 Heracles (A) 3-3 24.10 Manch. City (H) 3-1 | 28.10 Feyenoord (A) | 4 |
| BATE (Belarus) | 18.10 Slavia (A) 2-1 23.10 Valencia (H) 0-3 | 28.10 Brest (H) | 1 |
| Anderlecht (Belgium) | 19.10 Waasland- B. (H)2-0 24.10 Zenit (A) 0-1 | 27.10 Sp. Charleroi (A) | 2 |
| Dinamo Z. (Croatia) | 20.10 Inter Z. (A) 2-0 24.10 PSG (H) 0-2 | 27.10 Cibalia (A) | 1 |
| Arsenal (England) | 20.10 Norwich (A) 0-1 24.10 Schalke 04 (H) 0-2 | 27.10 QPR (H) | 9 |
| Man. City (England) | 20.10 West Brom. (A) 2-1 24.10 Ajax (A) 1-3 | 27.10 Swansea (H) | 3 |
| Man. Utd. (England) | 20.10 Stoke (H) 4-2 23.10 Sp. Braga (H) 3-2 | 28.10 Chelsea (A) | 2 |
| Chelsea (England) | 20.10 Tottenham (A) 4-2 23.10 Shakhtar (A) 1-2 | 28.10 Manch. Utd. (H) | 1 |
| FC Barcelona (Spain) | 20.10 Deportivo (A) 5-4 23.10 Celtic (H) 2-1 | 27.10 Rayo Vallec. (A) | 1 |
| Real Madrid (Spain) | 20.10 Celta (H) 2-0 24.10 Borussia (A) 1-2 | 28.10 Real Mallorca (A) | 5 |
| Valencia (Spain) | 20.10 Athletic (H) 3-2 23.10 BATE (A) 0-3 | 27.10 Betis (A) | 9 |
| Malaga (Spain) | 20.10 Real Vall. (H) 2-1 24.10 Milan (H) 1-0 | 27.10 Espanyol (A) | 3 |
| Bayern (Germany) | 20.10 Fortuna (A) 5-0 23.10 Lille (A) 1-0 | 28.10 Bayer (H) | 1 |
| Borussia D. (Germany) | 20.10 Schalke (H) 1-2 24.10 Real Madrid (H) 2-1 | 27.10 Freiburg (A) | 4 |
| Schalke 04 (Germany) | 20.10 Borussia D. (A) 2-1 24.10 Arsenal (A) 2-0 | 27.10 Nurnberg (H) | 3 |
| Benfica (Portugal) | 18.10 Freamunde (Cup)4-0 23.10 Spartak (A) 1-2 | 27.10 Gil Vicente (A) | 2 |
| Porto (Portugal) | 24.10 Dynamo K. (H) 3-2 | 28.10 Estoril (A) | 1 |
| Sp. Braga (Portugal) | 19.10 Leixoes (Cup) 3-0 23.10 Manch. Utd. (A) 2-3 | 28.10 Maritimo (A) | 3 |
| CFR Cluj (Romania) | 18.10 Viitorul (H) 0-1 23.10 Galatasaray (A) 1-1 | 27.10 Turnu Severin (A) | 10 |
| Galatasaray (Turkey) | 19.10 Genclerbirligi (A)3-3 23.10 Cluj (H) 1-1 | 27.10 Kayserispor (H) | 1 |
| Juventus (Italy) | 20.10 Napoli (H) 2-0 23.10 Nordsjælland (A) 1-1 | 28.10 Catania (A) | 1 |
| Milan (Italy) | 20.10 Lazio (A) 2-3 24.10 Malaga (A) 0-1 | 27.10 Genoa (H) | 15 |
| Montpellier (France) | 20.10 St. Rennais (A) 1-2 24.10 Olympiacos (H) 1-2 | 27.10 Nice (H) | 16 |
| PSG (France) | 20.10 St. Reims (H) 1-0 24.10 Dinamo Z. (A) 2-0 | 27.10 Nancy (A) | 1 |
| Lille (France) | 19.10 Bordeaux (A) 1-1 23.10 Bayern (H) 0-1 | 27.10 Valenciennes (H) | 11 |
| Nordsjæland (Denmark) | 19.10 Silkeborg (H) 3-0 23.10 Juventus (H) 1-1 | 26.10 AaB (H) | 3 |
| Olympiacos (Greece) | 20.10 Xanthi (H) 4-0 24.10 Montpellier (A) 2-1 | 29.10 Aris (A) | 1 |
| Shakhtar D. (Ukraine) | 19.10 Illichivets (H) 2-1 23.10 Chelsea (H) 2-1 | 27.10 Tavriya (A) | 1 |
| Dynamo K. (Ukraine) | 20.10 Metalist Kh. (H) 1-3 24.10 Porto (A) 2-3 | 28.10 Illichevets (A) | 3 |
| Zenit (Russia) | 20.10 Kuban (H) 1-0 24.10 Anderlecht (H) 1-0 | 27.10 Alania (A) | 4 |
| Spartak M. (Russia) | 20.10 Anzhi (A) 1-2 23.10 Benfica (H) 2-1 | 27.10 Mordovia (H) | 7 |
| Celtic (Scotland) | 20.10 St. Mirren (A) 5-0 23.10 Barcelona (A) 1-2 | 27.10 Kilmarnock (H) | 1 |
No comments:
Post a Comment