The
major matches of the week:
Bayern-Schalke 04: The two German teams still active
in the Champions League met each other in matchday 21 of Bundesliga. Total
dominance of the Munich team is what the match will be remembered for. The
score fully reflects the incidents on the pitch. However, the most memorable
moment of the match was
created by Schalke players. The newcomer Michel Bastos
almost sent the ball to a touch when shooting from a free kick in the first
half: such terrible free kicks are usually selected for funny football videos.
Robben and Ribery destroyed the defense of the
opponent. Schalke was helpless. After the fourth goal Neuer started demonstratively
to train with the reserve goalkeepers, implying on his idleness. Bayern’s hero
that evening was David Alaba, who became an author of a brace. Schalke is
continuing its free fall. Jens Keller’s team is now on the 10th
position, which means that the only hope to save the season is showing good
results in Champions League! Bayern is on the top of the table, 15 points above
Borussia Dortmund.
Juventus-Fiorentina: The old rivals were determined to
show a great performance and prevent each other of earning points. The
defending champions managed to do it better. It was one of the best matches of
Conte’s side this season. The team was compact, made only few number of
mistakes in the back, which was not the case in other matches without
Chiellini. The attackers looked also fine. Especially Matri’s good form is a
gift for the fans, who had already written the former Cagliari striker off.
Alessandro scored his 6th goal of the season. The first goal was
scored by the other forward, Mirko Vucinic. The visitors had a lot to say, too.
The attackers Jovetic and Toni were trying to do everything to score, but
Buffon kept the clean sheet that evening. What went wrong for Fiorentina was
the sloppy passing and poor positioning of its defenders. The final score didn’t
change since the 41st minute: 2-0.
Highlights
of the week:
- The English teams don’t
have much to fight for if they dream of the champion’s title. Manchester United
is obviously stronger and will hardly waste the advantage of minimum 12 points
over the other teams. The last beaten team was Everton, who invited Arsenal to
occupy its place in the top 5,
- the same 12 points are
what part Barcelona and its closest follower. Messi scored again. The record
looks like this now: scored in 13 consecutive La Liga matches,
- the Portuguese League
shows some extraordinary phenomenon. Porto and Benfica keep on earning the same
amount of points in each matchday. As Benfica failed to earn three points in
their match with a thrilling end, Porto got the chance to earn the extra points
in an easy match against Olhanense. The curse could not be removed though.
Jackson Martinez missed the penalty to help his team earn only one point. The
standings show 14 wins and 4 draws for the undefeated Porto and Benfica,
- Celtic won against the
closest follower Inverness, to make the difference between the two 17 points,
- the average position of
the 16 Champions League teams is now 2,56: slightly improved after the winter
break. This proves how important Champions League matches are for the teams.
The only team going down is Schalke 04 of Germany.
The
upcoming weekend:
Keeping the midweek Champions League matches in mind, we
are getting prepared to some attractive weelend football in the European arenas.
Bundesliga 2012-13 is interesting for its second place
intrigue. This week it is time for Borussia and Eintracht to fight for that
place.
Though the Juve-hating Zdenek Zeman is not in charge
of Roma any more, it is always interesting to watch matches between Roma and
Juventus. The match will take place on Saturday.
The Premier League will give a break to the teams.
Those participating in the FA Cup will not be idle though. The list includes
both Champions League teams Arsenal and Manchester United.
| Club | Last Matches | Next match | Position in the domestic league |
| Arsenal (England) | 09.02 Sunderland (A) 1-0 | 16.02 Blackburn (Cup) | 5 |
| Man. Utd. (England) | 10.02 Everton (H) 2-0 13.02 Real Madrid (A) 1-1 | 18.02 Reading (Cup) | 1 |
| FC Barcelona (Spain) | 10.02 Getafe (H) 6-1 | 16.02 Granada (A) | 1 |
| Real Madrid (Spain) | 09.02 Sevilla (H) 4-1 13.02 Manch. Utd. (H) 1-1 | 17.02 Rayo Vallec. (H) | 3 |
| Valencia (Spain) | 09.02 Celta (A) 1-0 12.02 PSG (H) 1-2 | 17.02 R. Mallorca (H) | 5 |
| Malaga (Spain) | 09.02 Levante (A) 2-1 | 16.02 Athletic (H) | 4 |
| Bayern (Germany) | 09.02 Schalke 04 (H) 4-0 | 15.02 Wolfsburg (A) | 1 |
| Borussia D. (Germany) | 09.02 Hamburger (H) 1-4 13.02 Shakhtar (A) 2-2 | 16.02 Eintracht Fr. (H) | 2 |
| Schalke 04 (Germany) | 09.02 Bayern (A) 0-4 | 16.02 Mainz (A) | 10 |
| Porto (Portugal) | 10.02 Olhanense (H) 1-1 | 15.02 Beira-Mar (A) | 1 |
| Galatasaray (Turkey) | 10.02 Antalyaspor (H) 2-0 | 15.02 Akhisar Bld. (A) | 1 |
| Juventus (Italy) | 09.02 Fiorentina (H) 2-0 12.02 Celtic (A) 3-0 | 16.02 Roma (A) | 1 |
| Milan (Italy) | 10.02 Cagliari (A) 1-1 | 15.02 Parma (H) | 5 |
| PSG (France) | 08.02 Bastia (H) 3-1 12.02 Valencia (A) 2-1 | 17.02 Sochaux (A) | 1 |
| Shakhtar D. (Ukraine) | 13.02 Borussia D. (H) 2-2 | 02.03 Volyn (H) | 1 |
| Celtic (Scotland) | 09.02 Inverness (A) 3-1 12.02 Juventus (H) 0-3 | 16.02 Dundee Utd. (H) | 1 |
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