Tag Archives: football preview

Schalke, a beautifull surprise!

on March 12, 2011 None comments

One of the best Spanish team, Valencia, stands in front of match that could make history. Unai Emery’s team is dreaming of qualifying in the next act of the League. Last time they met Schalke was in 2007, a year that turned to be a good year for them, being victorious.

Nowadays the situation is more complicated. The first match was 1-1, and the qualification ticket will be played in Germany. Schalke on the other side has an advantage against Valencia: Raul Gonzales. There is no one who knows Valencia better.

The game starts in speed and in 17th minute, Ricardo Costa puts number one on the scoreboard for Valencia. After a freekick perfect executed with five minutes before the break, Farfan puts Schalke back in game.

Tired of delaying the inevitable, Schalke’s player Gavranovic takes the score to 2-1 for his team. To seal the deal and not leaving any doubt of their value, Farfan adds goal number two in his backpack, qualifying Schalke with 3-1 against Valencia, into the next stage of UCL.

Starting teams:
Schalke: Neuer 1, Escudero 3, Howedes 4, Raul Gonzales 7, Kluge 12, Farfan 17, Jurado 18, Gavranovic 19, Metzelder 21, Uchida 22, Matip 32

Valencia: Guaita 13, Bruno Saltor 2, D. Navarro 4, Mehmet Topal 5, Joaquin 7, Mata 10, Aduriz 11, Pablo Hernandez 19, Ricardo Costa 20, Ever Banega 21, Mathieu 22.

Share

Milan out!

on March 12, 2011 None comments

A game with a lot of expectations for Milan turned them from favorites to losers. With confidence and great names on their side, the Italians took it like an easy job, enter – play – victory.

Straight from the beginning, the Rossoneri started to attack in waves Spurs ground, hit after hit, with the hope in mind to find a breach in their defensive.

Led by Seedorf, the Italian army struggled to succeed in its conquest but without any luck on their side.
Robinho tried the pitch with a few hits but nothing passed through Tottenham’s “Chinese Wall”
A game that was sure to provide spectacle, done exact the opposite.

The second period was a little bit more agitated, a rain of occasions on both sides and yet, the goal was nowhere to be seen.
The game ended in tears for some of the Milan players, unsuccess of qualifying in the next round of UEFA Champions League, place took by Tottenham Hotspur.

Share

Barcelona-killin’ spread!

on March 9, 2011 None comments

A clash of the titans, but even titans fall. The game starts with optimism on both sides, but soon everything changes. In 17th minute, Szczesny, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, after a free-kick by Alves is replaced with Almunia. And the show begins……

In the extra-time of the first period Messi scores the first goal of the evening, making Arsenal fans go mute. Camp Nou on its knees, in minute 53, auto-goal Merxes, after a good execution of a corner, signed Nasri. Arsenal hopes.

After a stupid act, Van Persie is eliminated, with a second yellow card, because he hit tha ball after Busacca’s whistle. Min. 69, goal Xavi after a superb run for Iniesta.

Koscielny stopes Pedro with the price of a penalty, Messi prepares and scores, taking ta table at 3-1 for Barca. Arsenal spares another chance in the last minutes and walks away kneeled from Camp Nou.

Starting teams:

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Djorou, Koscielny, Clichy; Rosicky, Diaby, Cesc, Wilshere, Nasri;  Van Persie

Substitutes: Almunia, Denilson, Squillaci, Arshavin, Eboué, Chamakh, Bendtner

Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Busquets, Abidal, Adriano; Mascherano, Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa

Substitutes: Pinto, Bojan, Keita, Milito, Maxwell, Afellay, Thiago

Share

Shakhtar, the Eastern Star

on March 9, 2011 None comments

Shakhtar opens score early in the game,through Willian’s cross-shot, killing all hopes for Roma. Roma has a chance to revive,a penalty given by the English referee, but Shakhtar’s goalkeeper stands in front Marco Borriello’s goal.

Showing absolutely nothing, Shakhtar comes over the Italian defensive like a tsunami, wave after wave. Even with a low budget play, Roma remains in 10, loosing Merxes, after the second yellow card. De Rosi makes a grotesque gesture, hitting the opponent team captain, a red card fault, but Howard Web forgives him, showing just a yellow card.

Second part of the game starts almost the same like the firs, Shakhtar raising the bar at 2-0(5-2), through Wilian’s superb goal, leaving Doni without a reaction. Eduardo seals the future in this edition of Champions League for Roma in the 85 minute, going thru the entire defensive, putting the ball in the net.

Mircea Lucescu:
“Italians have underestimated us in the first match, when they took us from up and they thought they were winners before the match started. In return, we have taken seriously, but it was very difficult for them to change the result. If I expect to win with 6-2 on aggregate? No, but I trusted my team. We played great in both parties. At this level there is nothing accidental ”

Man of the game, Srna.

Share

Shakhtar- Roma, the beasts unleash!- last minute info

on March 8, 2011 None comments

Hours before game, the declaration battle overflows. Shakhtar’s romanian coach, Mircea Lucescu also known as ”Il luce” tries to put fear in Europe’s titans, remark that Barca, Roma or Arsenal aren’t above his boys.

Being a favorite on qualifying in the first quarter of the League, over Roma, Lucescu puts aside modesty and insists on the belief that his team reached the giants Barcelona and Arsenal, the opponents in the other 8th scheduled tonight.

Lucescu said: “There is no team better than us, we lost to Arsenal 5-1 in the fall, but with unbelievable arbitration mistakes against us and the result did not reflect the physiognomy of the game. Two weeks later we dominated and won 2-1. As recently saw Arsenal beat Barcelona … And we’ve already defeated them on their stadium. ”

As a reply, Francesco Totti, AS Roma‘s captain, is convinced that his team can beat Shakhtar Donetsk, cancel the one-goal advantage and that may qualify in the Champions League quarterfinals “We know what to do to put Shakhtar in difficulty. Vicenzo Montella changed the system. We returned to a tactic that we know very well ” Totti said.

The facts promise an awesome game so, keep in touch!

Share