Category Archives: UEFA Champions League

Overworked Kieran Gibbs is Arsenals unlikely hero against Anderlecht | Michael Cox

UEFA Champions League

Arsenal were uncertain in possession and found themselves increasingly stretched, but mustered a remarkable turnaround

Arsenal are often criticised for their defending and sometimes for overplaying on the edge of the oppositions area but it is unusual for Arsène Wengers side to encounter problems with passing, traditionally their strongest suit. On a difficult night in Brussels, they struggled to control the midfield zone and rarely enjoyed significant spells of pressure.

Wenger fielded a relatively cautious side, with Mathieu Flamini at the base of midfield. The Frenchman is considered a superior player defensively to club captain Mikel Arteta, who is returning from injury and was only on the bench, but he struggles to match Artetas reliability in possession. Twice in the first half Flamini squandered possession in bizarre circumstances, mistakenly assuming a pass towards him was intended for a team-mate, underlining Arsenals uncertainty. Arteta lacks Flaminis battling qualities but he ensures Arsenal dominate matches against weaker opposition.

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Anderlecht 1-2 Arsenal | Champions League match report

UEFA Champions League

For Arsène Wenger, on the occasion of his 65th birthday, and everybody connected to Arsenal, the beauty was in the scale of the surprise. The clubs number had looked up as this contest ticked down towards the bitter end and no-one was under any illusions as to what a defeat would have meant. Arsenal have an incredible record of navigating their way out of Champions League groups but their escapology stood to face the acid test.

Everything changed inside the last two minutes and Wenger could go from feeling another worry line in his brow to creasing into broad smiles afterwards. He suggested that it had been all about making it into the last-chance saloon of those finals minutes while still within touching distance the dying embers of a top-level tie can play havoc with the nerves, he noted and, having narrowly done so, his players started swinging.

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Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid | Champions League match report

UEFA Champions League

Sometimes in football there is nothing for it but to accept the other team are vastly superior. Liverpool inflicted that feeling on many opponents in the years when they earned the right to hoist a banner on the Kop with the words European Royalty, but it is a while since they wore that crown and this was a night when Real Madrid reminded them just how far back it is.

Real did it devastatingly and clinically with three first-half goals and so much refinement that when Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted a crowd who once regarded him as a sworn enemy applauded him off the pitch. It was a wonderful show of appreciation and the same followed shortly afterwards when Toni Kroos and Marcelo were withdrawn. Liverpool had been beaten in a manner that had left the crowd marvelling at the oppositions gifts with great sportsmanship.

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Olympiacos – Juventus: Official Formations / Lineups, Wednesday 23 October 2014, Champions League

Juventus, UEFA Champions League

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Olympiacos CFP Olympiacos – Juventus Juventus FC

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Here are OLYMPIACOS vs JUVENTUS official formations / lineups for the UEFA   Champions League game, Olympiacos vs Juventus in Group A  on Wednesday 22 October 2014 in Athens, Greece.

Olympiacos (4-3-3): Roberto; Elabdellaoui, Botía, Abidal, Masuaku; Maniatis, Milivojević, Nding; Kasami, Afellay, Mitroglou.

Subs.: Megyeri, Giannoulis, Avlonitis,Afellay, Durmaz, David Fuster, Diamantakos.

Coach.: Míchel.

Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Ogbonna, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Lichtsteinter, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Asamoah; Alvaro Morata,  Carlos Tévez.

Subs.: Storari, Evra, Pereyra, Marchisio, Llorente, Giovinco, Coman.

Coach.:  Massimiliano Allegri.

 

Before the game, Atletico Madrid are in Group A 1st position with 3 points and Juventus down to the 2nd position also with 3 points.

UEFA Champions League
Group A Standing after Matchday 2		 P W D L F A +/- Pts
Club Atlético de Madrid 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
Juventus 2 1 0 1 2 1 1 3
Malmö FF 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
Olympiacos FC 2 1 0 1 3 4 -1 3

 

 

 


“Roma historic lost with Bayern Munich. Olympiacos – Juventus today. Fernando Torres crisi,”Front Pages La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, and Tutto Sport from Wednesday 22 October 2014

AC Milan, ACF Fiorentina, AS Roma, Chievo Verona, Front Pages Newspapers, General Soccer News, Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Palermo, Parma, Sampdoria, SSC Napoli, Torino FC, Udinese, UEFA Champions League

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Hello my friends.  I am not even able to say “good morning” because it is not a good morning at all for Italian football.  It’s actually awakening from a nightmare.  Mamma mia, the least thing I wanted to do today was to check the Italian front pages after the humiliating defeat of AS Roma. Yep.  Roma with a historical lost against Bayern Munich at the Olimpico di Roma Stadium in Champions League.

Result AS ROMA 1 – 7 BAYERN MUNICH

On a positive note, I like the headline encouraging Juventus to win the away game in Greece against Olympiacos! You bet I am rooting for Juventus to win!

Oh oh spaghetti oh…. another bad headline.. bad news is the possible crisis of Spanish forward Fernando Torres with AC Milan.. hum? what? yep.. Reportedly, Di Matteo even calling Torres to join Schalke 04… oh oh…. should Torres transfer?

Come on guys, I won’t offer you Coffee today, but a Chamomile Tea to calm down and forget Roma’s humiliation!

A headline making me happy is the renewing of Colombian midfielder Juan Cuadrado with Fiorentina until 2019.  That’s a good news… so, good morning Viola fans!

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Here are the front pages from Italy main Sports newspapers La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, and Tutto Sport from Wednesday 22 October 2014

 

La Gazzetta dello Sport
Front Page, Prima Pagina
Wednesday 22 October 2014

 

  • Champions, it’s the worst home game lost by an Italian team in Europe

The sack of Roma
Guardiola, lesson to Garcia
Historic ko with Bayern: 7-1
Ready, go… the Germans closed the game: 5 goals in the first 36 minutes
The Giallorosso coach: “It’s all my fault”
Draw CSKA – Man City, the Romans second in the group.

  • A night in the land of myths

Tevez-Achille guide Juve: Heroes are needed in Athens
Bianconeri against Olympiacos, they play in a hot field
Allegri: “I target on a great Vidal”
Attack, Morata favorite than Llorente

  • Platini energize

“Bianconeri turn, in Europe the younger ones do not know who you are”

  • Here Fiorentina

Cuadrado signed: Renewing until 2019 with double salary

  • Here Inter

Hernanes scores, pray, and love, he has become a prophet

  • Here Milan

Abbiati or Lopez?
Pippo, who will be in the goal?
Photo: Front Page, La Gazzetta dello Sport<br /> Wednesday 22 October 2014 - Mercoledi' 22 Ottobre

 

Corriere dello Sport
Front Page, Prima Pagina
Wednesday 22 October 2014

 

  • Champions

Juve to the assault, there is Tevez
To defeat Olympiacos and the away game tabu.
Allegri: “Tough game”

  • Roma not like this

Giallorossi humiliated by Bayern: 7-1
paid for the too many errors of presumption against a formidable team
The Germans score 4 goals in 13 minutes
Garcia: “Wrongful tactic, it’s my fault”
A gift by CSKA, make a comeback and draw with Manchester City

  • Chelsea overwhelming: 6 goals

Barca defeat Ajax
Super Cavani launches PSG

Photo: Front Page, Corriere dello Sport<br /> Wednesday 22 October 2014 - Mercoledi' 22 Ottobre

 

 

Tutto Sport
Front Page, Prima Pagina
Wednesday 22 October 2014

 

  • Roma what a crash!

Bayern overwhelming at the Olimpico
The Giallorossi concedes 7 goals (in vain the goal by Gervinho) and thank CSKA what a comeback with Man City 2-2

  • Hell at Athens: Juve still rely on Tevez

The Exorcist
Everybody with the Apache who does not know whether he will have Morata or Llorente.
Allegri: “Forbidden to err”
Michel energizes Olympiacos: “We will be bad”

  • The Spanish forward in crisis

Di Matteo calls Torres to Schalke, Milan think about it

  • The controversy with the fans

The fury of Gasperini embarrasses Genoa
Now up to Preziosi
Photo: Front Page, Tutto Sport<br /> Wednesday 22 October 2014 - Mercoledi' 22 Ottobre