Source: Arsenal Look To Strengthen Backline Target Fulham Goalie Mark Scwarzer
Source: Football Blog
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Champions League Review « Football Blog – Football News
1ticketlive looks at the 2009/2010 Champions League season, from the arrangement changes to the distresses, inspiring attacking performances and their masterful planned counterbalances, and of course, fate.
Qualification
For the first time in the competition’s history the qualifying rounds were divided in to two audible sections: The Champions Path, for those who won their home league but didn’t automatically succeed for European rivalry, and The Non-Champions Path, which naturally contains those teams who did not win their own league.
Olympiacos made their way unhurried through the Champions Path, dispatching the luminously named Sheriff Tiraspol all along the way. The whereabotus of Deputy Tiraspol are as yet unidentified.
Their competitors Panathanaikos were in the middle of the uppermost profile casualties from the qualifying stage, deafening out after a tough draw against Atletico Madrid. Sporting CP went out to Fiorentina on away goals, whilst in an all British affair; Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal ensured their presence in the group stage with a thumping victory over Celtic. It was a bad start to what would show to be a catastrophic season for Tony Mowbray. Deposed French Champions Lyon kept up their run of successive Champions League appearances with a crushing conquest over Belgium’s Anderlecht.
The Group Stages
The group stage is frequently lambasted for being a unsurprising matter designed to churn the same old teams in to the knock-out phase. This year, though, there were a few results to lift continental eyebrows, starting in Group A, where a 4-1 conquest for Bayern Munich in Turin saw Juventus fall in to the Europa League. It was a consequence which safe Louis Van Gaal the bag, and was one of the first nails in the sarcophagus of Ciro Ferrara’s Juve reign. Maccabi Haifa was the group’s whipping boys, losing all six fixtures, at the same time as French Champions Bordeaux strut impressively from side to side as group winners.
Group B saw qualification for last year’s finalists Manchester United and CSKA Moscow, who were only denied an imposing conquest at Old Trafford by a 92nd minute Antonio Valencia equalizer. CSKA beat German Champions Wolfsburg to second rest – at the same time as the strike partnership of Brazilian Grafite and Bosnian Edin Dzeko frightened, a expensive home defeat at the hands of a Michael Owen hat trick ended any sensible hopes of qualification Wolfsburg might have had. Besiktas won just one of their six games, and of course finished the group base.
Real Madrid were ready and focused for their first break at the European Cup since the return of Florentino Perez, and in spite of a 3-2 home defeat to Leonardo’s AC Milan, finished contentedly as group winners. Milan came second in a impressive group, with Marseille, who’d later come out as French Champions, and FC Zurich sprawling behind.
Having qualified so remarkably, Atletico Madrid went on to do what they do best: radically let down. They failed to win a solitary game, with only their better results against the likewise poor APOEL qualifying them for third place in Group D and a spot in the Europa League – a rivalry they’d finally win. Two of Jose Mourinho’s former clubs, Porto and Chelsea, took advantage of Madrid’s malaise to come to an end in the top two.
Group E provided a additional sign of Liverpool’s frightening decline as they failed to reach the last stages, denying the Kop their conservative ‘great European nights’. Two theatrical home defeats to Lyon and Fiorentina, both to stoppage time goals and a 2-1 shoreline, preserved their destiny. The Italian and French teams qualified in Liverpool’s stead, with Debrecen propping up Scouse pride by concluding in fourth.
Group F was approximately turned on its head by Russian Champions Rubin Kazan, who pulled off a upset 2-0 win at the home of holders Barcelona. In the end, though, the Catalans edged from side to side, along with Mourinho and his Inter, whose decayed luck in Europe finally began to twist as they snuck through with just two wins from their six games. Kazan was eliminated, along with former source of power Dynamo Kiev.
Sevilla by far the strongest side in Group G. There were few surprises, as the Spaniards romped from side to side, thrashing Rangers 4-1 at Ibrox down the way. The Scottish Champions enjoyed the monetary relief provided by the group stages, but couldn’t get benefit of any bonus rounds, finishing bottom of the group. Unirea Urziceni won by the similar score line in Scotland, but a costly 1-1 home draw in the go back tie saw them miss out on qualification to a Christian Gross-revived Stuttgart.
Arsenal came through a comparatively safe way in Group H to qualify as group winners. Their toughest test arrived in their first game, when some trait defensive calamities saw them 2-0 down away to normal Liege after just 5 minutes. A forceful 3-2 comeback proved the means to their qualification, and they were joined by a defensively solid Olympiacos, with Liege and Dutch champions AZ slipping out of argument.
Second Round
Eight groups shaped eight mouth-watering second round ties. The headline stories were the way out of two European super-powers, though maybe both ought not to have approach as such shocks. Real Madrid’s Champions League form has been terrible in current years, but even so their exit to Lyon came as a upset. This 2-1 collective defeat, as much as their breakdown to extort the La Liga title from Barcelona, is what will be cited as the cause for Manuel Pellegrini’s inevitable dismissal. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, a finalist just a year before, were destined to be denied the possibility of contesting a European final on home turf.
Chelsea were one of the favorites to win the rivalry, what with having been finalists two years before and having as added Carlo Ancelotti, a coach with established Champions League winning qualifications. However, they came up against past Chelsea hero and vengeance of Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and his Inter Milan side. The view of facing his past club galvanised Mourinho and his team, and they produced a planned master class to win the tie 3-1.
Manchester United thumped AC Milan 7-2 on collective, and the second leg was more unforgettable for David Beckham’s return to Old Trafford than for United’s 4-0 win, which came with an awkward effortlessness.
Bayern Munich edged past Fiorentina on away goals, but the tie was blemished with argument as a Miroslav Klose goal in the first-leg was allowed to place in spite of the striker being obviously offside. Bayern’s German compatriots, Stuttgart, held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their tie, but any hopefulness was rapidly extinguished by a 4-0 defeat in the second leg.
There was a similar rotate between Porto and Arsenal. Two awful Lukasz Fabianski mistakes saw the Portugese side take a 2-1 lead to the Emirates Stadium, but a out of control Arsenal racked up five goals to cause to be their first defeat immaterial.
Somewhere else, a terrible blunder from Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop saw the Andalucians go out to CSKA Moscow. The usually dependable stopper punched a tame 30-yard free-kick in to his own net, at the same time sending the Russians through at his own team’s cost. Bordeaux, in the meantime, sustained their serene progress with a at ease win over Olympiacos.
The Quarterfinals
In recent years, the Champions League has been under enemy control by financially-doped English teams. By the Quarter-Final phase, Liverpool and Chelsea were out, leaving United and Arsenal holding the British stick. Their positions on conflicting sides of the draw destined that another all-English final, just as in 2008, was on the cards.
Not, though, for long. Man Utd’s tie with Bayern coincided not only with the German side hitting their most excellent form in years, but also with an injury to talismanic striker Wayne Rooney. A confused tie was finally decided by a finish of beautiful brilliance from Dutchman Arjen Robben, who skillfully volleyed a lofted corner in to the net from the edge of the area.
Arsenal, in the meantime, came up against the team in control of not only the European Cup but also the continents best footballer, Lionel Messi. Messi was comparatively quiet in the London-based first leg, but Barca was sparkling, and only some goalkeeping heroics from Manuel Almunia kept the tie spirited. A late Arsenal meeting meant the game ending at 2-2, but Barca was less compassionate at the Nou Camp. After an early fright when Nicklas Bendtner gave Arsenal the lead, Messi took centre-stage with an exceptional four-goal match-winning show.
Both English sides were not in, but France was certain a club in the semi-finals after Bordeaux were pitted against home rivals Lyon. A 3-1 conquest in the first leg proved sufficient for Lyon, as Bordeaux failed to put in to Marouane Chamakh’s towering header in their next meeting.
Inter, in the meantime, progressed in typical Mourinho fashion with two 1-0 wins. In the semis they were due to come up against Barca in what many neutrals had wanted as their final.
The Semis
Inter vs Barca was a fight of personalities, philosophies, and two of European footballs main clubs. The enticing entertainers of Josep Guardiola’s Catalan team faced off against the well-drilled soldiers of Mourinho’s Milanese. A tempting force thrown against an fixed object. Even so, such had been the overwhelming form of Barca against Arsenal that many pundits expected them to send off Inter with a similar strut.
Not so. Inter’s hard-hitting oppose attacking method caught Barcelona off-guard, and the Italians jagged an impressive 3-1 win in the first leg. The Barca-backing pundits begin to quietly sweat, but at ease their a variety of audiences that all would be put right at the Nou Camp.
Not so. in spite of going down to ten men after Sergio Busquets’ overreaction saw Thiago Motta red carded, Inter shaped a unforgettable back guard action to hold Barca to just the one goal and make sure their series to the final. Once again, El Traductor had returned to trouble his former club.
The other semi-final rutted Louis Van Gaal’s Bayern against French Champions League patrons Lyon. The attacking power of the German side proved too much for Lyon, with a 4-0 collective score line underlining the dissimilarity in quality.
The Final
And so to the final: Bayern vs. Inter. The sorcerer rutted against his trainee. After the late Sir Bobby Robson had been moved upstairs to become Director of Football at Barcelona, Mourinho had become Van Gaal’s third ranked assistant in their communal time in the Catalan assets. When asked in the build-up to the game if Mourinho was the best trainer of his generation, Van Gaal witticism that the Portugese was – mainly because Van Gaal himself was a decade older.
Although Mourinho claimed he learnt abundance from his Dutch master, it wasn’t right away obvious in his plans. Bayern are a side loaded with attacking aptitude – defensively susceptible, but rudely thrilling. Inter are built on the model of competence over activity that Mourinho urbanized at Porto and then Chelsea.
Having every won a home double before the final, both sides were chasing an unparalleled treble. Inter’s tough way to the final and Mourinho’s cold blooded nature made the Italians the bookies’ favorites, but football connoisseurs(including Arsene Wenger) plumped for the highest weaponry of Bayern.
In the event, the bookies, as so frequently, proved successful. In a lively final, Diego Milito scored with two of the most clinical finishes you’ll see to end the match and the contest with Mourinho on top. This time, the Portugese’s revels were not muted, he hut tears of joy as Inter ended their half century wait for Europe’s biggest prize.
Mourinho had completed his blot on the Bernabeu, and the people of Madrid cheered as if he was one of their own. In all likelihood, he soon will be. Bring the big cup to Real, and The particular one will be the most Galactic of them all.
Get your Cheap Football Tickets at a cheapest cost at 1ticketlive.com, also get Chelsea Tickets and Arsenal Tickets as well as Manchester United Tickets and Manchester City Tickets at a very low cost.
Source: Champions League Review
Qualification
For the first time in the competition’s history the qualifying rounds were divided in to two audible sections: The Champions Path, for those who won their home league but didn’t automatically succeed for European rivalry, and The Non-Champions Path, which naturally contains those teams who did not win their own league.
Olympiacos made their way unhurried through the Champions Path, dispatching the luminously named Sheriff Tiraspol all along the way. The whereabotus of Deputy Tiraspol are as yet unidentified.
Their competitors Panathanaikos were in the middle of the uppermost profile casualties from the qualifying stage, deafening out after a tough draw against Atletico Madrid. Sporting CP went out to Fiorentina on away goals, whilst in an all British affair; Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal ensured their presence in the group stage with a thumping victory over Celtic. It was a bad start to what would show to be a catastrophic season for Tony Mowbray. Deposed French Champions Lyon kept up their run of successive Champions League appearances with a crushing conquest over Belgium’s Anderlecht.
The Group Stages
The group stage is frequently lambasted for being a unsurprising matter designed to churn the same old teams in to the knock-out phase. This year, though, there were a few results to lift continental eyebrows, starting in Group A, where a 4-1 conquest for Bayern Munich in Turin saw Juventus fall in to the Europa League. It was a consequence which safe Louis Van Gaal the bag, and was one of the first nails in the sarcophagus of Ciro Ferrara’s Juve reign. Maccabi Haifa was the group’s whipping boys, losing all six fixtures, at the same time as French Champions Bordeaux strut impressively from side to side as group winners.
Group B saw qualification for last year’s finalists Manchester United and CSKA Moscow, who were only denied an imposing conquest at Old Trafford by a 92nd minute Antonio Valencia equalizer. CSKA beat German Champions Wolfsburg to second rest – at the same time as the strike partnership of Brazilian Grafite and Bosnian Edin Dzeko frightened, a expensive home defeat at the hands of a Michael Owen hat trick ended any sensible hopes of qualification Wolfsburg might have had. Besiktas won just one of their six games, and of course finished the group base.
Real Madrid were ready and focused for their first break at the European Cup since the return of Florentino Perez, and in spite of a 3-2 home defeat to Leonardo’s AC Milan, finished contentedly as group winners. Milan came second in a impressive group, with Marseille, who’d later come out as French Champions, and FC Zurich sprawling behind.
Having qualified so remarkably, Atletico Madrid went on to do what they do best: radically let down. They failed to win a solitary game, with only their better results against the likewise poor APOEL qualifying them for third place in Group D and a spot in the Europa League – a rivalry they’d finally win. Two of Jose Mourinho’s former clubs, Porto and Chelsea, took advantage of Madrid’s malaise to come to an end in the top two.
Group E provided a additional sign of Liverpool’s frightening decline as they failed to reach the last stages, denying the Kop their conservative ‘great European nights’. Two theatrical home defeats to Lyon and Fiorentina, both to stoppage time goals and a 2-1 shoreline, preserved their destiny. The Italian and French teams qualified in Liverpool’s stead, with Debrecen propping up Scouse pride by concluding in fourth.
Group F was approximately turned on its head by Russian Champions Rubin Kazan, who pulled off a upset 2-0 win at the home of holders Barcelona. In the end, though, the Catalans edged from side to side, along with Mourinho and his Inter, whose decayed luck in Europe finally began to twist as they snuck through with just two wins from their six games. Kazan was eliminated, along with former source of power Dynamo Kiev.
Sevilla by far the strongest side in Group G. There were few surprises, as the Spaniards romped from side to side, thrashing Rangers 4-1 at Ibrox down the way. The Scottish Champions enjoyed the monetary relief provided by the group stages, but couldn’t get benefit of any bonus rounds, finishing bottom of the group. Unirea Urziceni won by the similar score line in Scotland, but a costly 1-1 home draw in the go back tie saw them miss out on qualification to a Christian Gross-revived Stuttgart.
Arsenal came through a comparatively safe way in Group H to qualify as group winners. Their toughest test arrived in their first game, when some trait defensive calamities saw them 2-0 down away to normal Liege after just 5 minutes. A forceful 3-2 comeback proved the means to their qualification, and they were joined by a defensively solid Olympiacos, with Liege and Dutch champions AZ slipping out of argument.
Second Round
Eight groups shaped eight mouth-watering second round ties. The headline stories were the way out of two European super-powers, though maybe both ought not to have approach as such shocks. Real Madrid’s Champions League form has been terrible in current years, but even so their exit to Lyon came as a upset. This 2-1 collective defeat, as much as their breakdown to extort the La Liga title from Barcelona, is what will be cited as the cause for Manuel Pellegrini’s inevitable dismissal. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, a finalist just a year before, were destined to be denied the possibility of contesting a European final on home turf.
Chelsea were one of the favorites to win the rivalry, what with having been finalists two years before and having as added Carlo Ancelotti, a coach with established Champions League winning qualifications. However, they came up against past Chelsea hero and vengeance of Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and his Inter Milan side. The view of facing his past club galvanised Mourinho and his team, and they produced a planned master class to win the tie 3-1.
Manchester United thumped AC Milan 7-2 on collective, and the second leg was more unforgettable for David Beckham’s return to Old Trafford than for United’s 4-0 win, which came with an awkward effortlessness.
Bayern Munich edged past Fiorentina on away goals, but the tie was blemished with argument as a Miroslav Klose goal in the first-leg was allowed to place in spite of the striker being obviously offside. Bayern’s German compatriots, Stuttgart, held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their tie, but any hopefulness was rapidly extinguished by a 4-0 defeat in the second leg.
There was a similar rotate between Porto and Arsenal. Two awful Lukasz Fabianski mistakes saw the Portugese side take a 2-1 lead to the Emirates Stadium, but a out of control Arsenal racked up five goals to cause to be their first defeat immaterial.
Somewhere else, a terrible blunder from Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop saw the Andalucians go out to CSKA Moscow. The usually dependable stopper punched a tame 30-yard free-kick in to his own net, at the same time sending the Russians through at his own team’s cost. Bordeaux, in the meantime, sustained their serene progress with a at ease win over Olympiacos.
The Quarterfinals
In recent years, the Champions League has been under enemy control by financially-doped English teams. By the Quarter-Final phase, Liverpool and Chelsea were out, leaving United and Arsenal holding the British stick. Their positions on conflicting sides of the draw destined that another all-English final, just as in 2008, was on the cards.
Not, though, for long. Man Utd’s tie with Bayern coincided not only with the German side hitting their most excellent form in years, but also with an injury to talismanic striker Wayne Rooney. A confused tie was finally decided by a finish of beautiful brilliance from Dutchman Arjen Robben, who skillfully volleyed a lofted corner in to the net from the edge of the area.
Arsenal, in the meantime, came up against the team in control of not only the European Cup but also the continents best footballer, Lionel Messi. Messi was comparatively quiet in the London-based first leg, but Barca was sparkling, and only some goalkeeping heroics from Manuel Almunia kept the tie spirited. A late Arsenal meeting meant the game ending at 2-2, but Barca was less compassionate at the Nou Camp. After an early fright when Nicklas Bendtner gave Arsenal the lead, Messi took centre-stage with an exceptional four-goal match-winning show.
Both English sides were not in, but France was certain a club in the semi-finals after Bordeaux were pitted against home rivals Lyon. A 3-1 conquest in the first leg proved sufficient for Lyon, as Bordeaux failed to put in to Marouane Chamakh’s towering header in their next meeting.
Inter, in the meantime, progressed in typical Mourinho fashion with two 1-0 wins. In the semis they were due to come up against Barca in what many neutrals had wanted as their final.
The Semis
Inter vs Barca was a fight of personalities, philosophies, and two of European footballs main clubs. The enticing entertainers of Josep Guardiola’s Catalan team faced off against the well-drilled soldiers of Mourinho’s Milanese. A tempting force thrown against an fixed object. Even so, such had been the overwhelming form of Barca against Arsenal that many pundits expected them to send off Inter with a similar strut.
Not so. Inter’s hard-hitting oppose attacking method caught Barcelona off-guard, and the Italians jagged an impressive 3-1 win in the first leg. The Barca-backing pundits begin to quietly sweat, but at ease their a variety of audiences that all would be put right at the Nou Camp.
Not so. in spite of going down to ten men after Sergio Busquets’ overreaction saw Thiago Motta red carded, Inter shaped a unforgettable back guard action to hold Barca to just the one goal and make sure their series to the final. Once again, El Traductor had returned to trouble his former club.
The other semi-final rutted Louis Van Gaal’s Bayern against French Champions League patrons Lyon. The attacking power of the German side proved too much for Lyon, with a 4-0 collective score line underlining the dissimilarity in quality.
The Final
And so to the final: Bayern vs. Inter. The sorcerer rutted against his trainee. After the late Sir Bobby Robson had been moved upstairs to become Director of Football at Barcelona, Mourinho had become Van Gaal’s third ranked assistant in their communal time in the Catalan assets. When asked in the build-up to the game if Mourinho was the best trainer of his generation, Van Gaal witticism that the Portugese was – mainly because Van Gaal himself was a decade older.
Although Mourinho claimed he learnt abundance from his Dutch master, it wasn’t right away obvious in his plans. Bayern are a side loaded with attacking aptitude – defensively susceptible, but rudely thrilling. Inter are built on the model of competence over activity that Mourinho urbanized at Porto and then Chelsea.
Having every won a home double before the final, both sides were chasing an unparalleled treble. Inter’s tough way to the final and Mourinho’s cold blooded nature made the Italians the bookies’ favorites, but football connoisseurs(including Arsene Wenger) plumped for the highest weaponry of Bayern.
In the event, the bookies, as so frequently, proved successful. In a lively final, Diego Milito scored with two of the most clinical finishes you’ll see to end the match and the contest with Mourinho on top. This time, the Portugese’s revels were not muted, he hut tears of joy as Inter ended their half century wait for Europe’s biggest prize.
Mourinho had completed his blot on the Bernabeu, and the people of Madrid cheered as if he was one of their own. In all likelihood, he soon will be. Bring the big cup to Real, and The particular one will be the most Galactic of them all.
Get your Cheap Football Tickets at a cheapest cost at 1ticketlive.com, also get Chelsea Tickets and Arsenal Tickets as well as Manchester United Tickets and Manchester City Tickets at a very low cost.
Source: Champions League Review
Friday, May 21, 2010
Champions League Final Preview: Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan « Football Blog – Football News
Both Inter and Bayern Munich have enjoyed a season of great domestic achievement, but as the two colossal clubs move toward the final of the Champions League – the undoubted highlight of the European footballing calendar – both stand on the brink of a significant treble.
Unique success will not just lay at the feet of the players of each squad. Coaches Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, who are student and mentor in that order, can both join a best group of trainers who have guided two dissimilar teams to success in the most memorable of club competitions. Put quite simply, history is on the line in Madrid, appropriately the city most closely associated with the European Cup.
Inter have been the leading force in Serie A since the middle part of the 2000s, but in spite of preeminence in one of the continent’s toughest leagues, continental success has wholly escaped the Nerazzurri over the route of almost 50 years. Back-to-back European Cup victories in 1964 and 1965 are relics of a past age, and ‘the Big Eared Cup’ is preferred more than any other at La Pinetina.
With the Serie A circlet and the Coppa Italia previously safely on display in Inter’s growing trophy cupboard, all that remains to cap a extraordinary season is a win on Saturday.
The trail to the final has not been simple for the Beneamata. rutted against Barcelona in the group stages, Mourinho’s men needed a final day achievement over Rubin Kazan to see off the Russian champions and Dynamo Kyiv to maintain the second qualifying berth from a potentially ill at ease pool.
It was in the knockout stages where Inter truthfully began to thrive. A meeting with former club Chelsea provided Mourinho with a chance to showcase the Italian side’s title winning qualifications, with a 2-1 home accomplishment followed up by a textbook 1-0 triumph in London. CSKA Moscow provided obstinate but eventually powerless opposition in the quarter-finals as the Nerazzurri recorded a couple of 1-0 victories, before a rematch with Barcelona.
After falling 1-0 down in the opening leg, it seemed a case of business as customary for the reigning champions, but Inter graveled their teeth and raised their height to claim a unforgettable 3-1 victory at San Siro. The second leg at Camp Nou proved to be a planned master class from Mourinho and his Beneamata squad. Only in the closing stages of the match did Barca truthfully intimidate to turn over the two goal shortfall, but the Catalans’ luminous attacking unit couldn’t fathom a method by which to break down ten-man Inter twice.
PREDICTION
Inter Milan 3-0 Bayern Munich
Get your Cheap Football Tickets at a cheapest cost at 1ticketlive.com, also get Chelsea Tickets and Arsenal Tickets at a very low cost.
Source: Champions League Final Preview: Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Unique success will not just lay at the feet of the players of each squad. Coaches Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, who are student and mentor in that order, can both join a best group of trainers who have guided two dissimilar teams to success in the most memorable of club competitions. Put quite simply, history is on the line in Madrid, appropriately the city most closely associated with the European Cup.
Inter have been the leading force in Serie A since the middle part of the 2000s, but in spite of preeminence in one of the continent’s toughest leagues, continental success has wholly escaped the Nerazzurri over the route of almost 50 years. Back-to-back European Cup victories in 1964 and 1965 are relics of a past age, and ‘the Big Eared Cup’ is preferred more than any other at La Pinetina.
With the Serie A circlet and the Coppa Italia previously safely on display in Inter’s growing trophy cupboard, all that remains to cap a extraordinary season is a win on Saturday.
The trail to the final has not been simple for the Beneamata. rutted against Barcelona in the group stages, Mourinho’s men needed a final day achievement over Rubin Kazan to see off the Russian champions and Dynamo Kyiv to maintain the second qualifying berth from a potentially ill at ease pool.
It was in the knockout stages where Inter truthfully began to thrive. A meeting with former club Chelsea provided Mourinho with a chance to showcase the Italian side’s title winning qualifications, with a 2-1 home accomplishment followed up by a textbook 1-0 triumph in London. CSKA Moscow provided obstinate but eventually powerless opposition in the quarter-finals as the Nerazzurri recorded a couple of 1-0 victories, before a rematch with Barcelona.
After falling 1-0 down in the opening leg, it seemed a case of business as customary for the reigning champions, but Inter graveled their teeth and raised their height to claim a unforgettable 3-1 victory at San Siro. The second leg at Camp Nou proved to be a planned master class from Mourinho and his Beneamata squad. Only in the closing stages of the match did Barca truthfully intimidate to turn over the two goal shortfall, but the Catalans’ luminous attacking unit couldn’t fathom a method by which to break down ten-man Inter twice.
PREDICTION
Inter Milan 3-0 Bayern Munich
Get your Cheap Football Tickets at a cheapest cost at 1ticketlive.com, also get Chelsea Tickets and Arsenal Tickets at a very low cost.
Source: Champions League Final Preview: Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Manchester City Vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview « Football Blog – Football News
Fourth place will potentially be decided after this game at Eastlands.
Tottenham could guarantee fourth spot with a win over their near rivals. They currently a point ahead of Manchester City with just two matches left to play and so victory here will see them build an unassailable lead of four points.
For City, this is a must-win game as anything other than that will see them hand over Champions League football to Harry Redknapp's men. Victory will put the home side two points ahead of Tottenham and then they will just need to win their last game at West Ham to clinch fourth spot.
Last week, Roberto Mancini's men beat Aston Villa 3-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium to put the Claret and Blues out of the running for the coveted Champions League place. Liverpool's loss to Chelsea meant it is now just a two-horse race between City and Spurs.
City has lost just 1 game in their last 6, to near rivals Manchester United. They have only lost 2 games in the whole season at Eastlands, and will be hoping to pull off a famous victory on Wednesday night.
Tottenham, on the other hand, beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at the weekend. Tom Huddlestone scored the winner on that occasion. They have led the race for fourth for a long time now, but two defeats in the month of April saw City gain some ground.
Spurs have already been in this position before, when they were just a whisker away from gaining fourth spot in 2006. They led the race all they way, before a loss on the final day of the season at Upton Park saw Arsenal take home the accolade. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas said in interview recently that he never wants to have that feeling in him again.
Manchester City team-news:
Gareth Barry, who missed the game at the weekend against his former club, is all set tp return after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Joleon Lescott was recently ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, while Stephen Ireland will also sit out this game with an ankle problem.
Tottenham Hotspur team-news:
Centre-half and captain Ledley King, who suffers from a long-standing knee injury, played the game against Bolton but is a major doubt for this one.
Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes injured his muscle in the win at on Saturday and is unlikely to feature at Eastlands. Ben Alnwick is set to replace the Brazilian in goal.
When these two sides met earlier in the season at White Hart Lane, the Lilywhites ran out 3-0 winners, with Nico Kranjcar scoring 2. This also turned out to be one of the last games in the Mark Hughes era, as the Welshman was sacked just a few days later.
Man City: Nielsen, Fulop, Onuoha, Richards, Kay, Boyata, Kompany, Toure, Bridge, Garrido, Sylvinho, Adam Johnson, Cunningham, Zabaleta, De Jong, Barry, Vieira, Bellamy, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Ibrahim, Nimely.
Tottenham: Gomes, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Kaboul, Huddlestone, Bentley, Lennon, Modric, Pavlyuchenko Gudjohnsen, Defoe, Crouch, Jenas, Alnwick, Palacios, Bassong, Walker, Rose, Livermore.
My Prediction:
Manchester City at home has been brilliant this season, while Spurs have failed dismally against the top clubs away from White Hart Lane.
A narrow for the Blues from Manchester to take them into fourth place.
Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hostpur
Get Manchester City vs West Ham Tickets at 1ticketlive.com
Source: Football Blog
Tottenham could guarantee fourth spot with a win over their near rivals. They currently a point ahead of Manchester City with just two matches left to play and so victory here will see them build an unassailable lead of four points.
For City, this is a must-win game as anything other than that will see them hand over Champions League football to Harry Redknapp's men. Victory will put the home side two points ahead of Tottenham and then they will just need to win their last game at West Ham to clinch fourth spot.
Last week, Roberto Mancini's men beat Aston Villa 3-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium to put the Claret and Blues out of the running for the coveted Champions League place. Liverpool's loss to Chelsea meant it is now just a two-horse race between City and Spurs.
City has lost just 1 game in their last 6, to near rivals Manchester United. They have only lost 2 games in the whole season at Eastlands, and will be hoping to pull off a famous victory on Wednesday night.
Tottenham, on the other hand, beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at the weekend. Tom Huddlestone scored the winner on that occasion. They have led the race for fourth for a long time now, but two defeats in the month of April saw City gain some ground.
Spurs have already been in this position before, when they were just a whisker away from gaining fourth spot in 2006. They led the race all they way, before a loss on the final day of the season at Upton Park saw Arsenal take home the accolade. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas said in interview recently that he never wants to have that feeling in him again.
Manchester City team-news:
Gareth Barry, who missed the game at the weekend against his former club, is all set tp return after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Joleon Lescott was recently ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, while Stephen Ireland will also sit out this game with an ankle problem.
Tottenham Hotspur team-news:
Centre-half and captain Ledley King, who suffers from a long-standing knee injury, played the game against Bolton but is a major doubt for this one.
Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes injured his muscle in the win at on Saturday and is unlikely to feature at Eastlands. Ben Alnwick is set to replace the Brazilian in goal.
When these two sides met earlier in the season at White Hart Lane, the Lilywhites ran out 3-0 winners, with Nico Kranjcar scoring 2. This also turned out to be one of the last games in the Mark Hughes era, as the Welshman was sacked just a few days later.
Man City: Nielsen, Fulop, Onuoha, Richards, Kay, Boyata, Kompany, Toure, Bridge, Garrido, Sylvinho, Adam Johnson, Cunningham, Zabaleta, De Jong, Barry, Vieira, Bellamy, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Ibrahim, Nimely.
Tottenham: Gomes, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Kaboul, Huddlestone, Bentley, Lennon, Modric, Pavlyuchenko Gudjohnsen, Defoe, Crouch, Jenas, Alnwick, Palacios, Bassong, Walker, Rose, Livermore.
My Prediction:
Manchester City at home has been brilliant this season, while Spurs have failed dismally against the top clubs away from White Hart Lane.
A narrow for the Blues from Manchester to take them into fourth place.
Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hostpur
Get Manchester City vs West Ham Tickets at 1ticketlive.com
Source: Football Blog
Monday, May 3, 2010
Premier League Saturday Review « Football Blog – Football News
Results on Saturday mean that fourth place will be decided by the game on Wednesday.
Tottenham Hotspur beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at White Hart lane to stay on course for their first ever Champions League place while Manchester City all but ended Aston Villa’s fourth place hopes with a 3-1 win over Martin O’Neill’s side at Eastlands.
This sets up a mouth-watering encounter between the two sides on Wednesday at the City of Manchester Stadium.
City are a point behind their midweek opponents, and one can confidently say that the team to win this game will be the team to play in Europe’s elite competition next year.
After the game against Bolton, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said that he was extremely calm ahead of the crunch encounter against Roberto Mancini’s men.
'I don't feel any pressure at all, as we weren't a top four club when I came. We have a good team and play great football, the way it ought to be played, and I get great pleasure from watching that. We have a lot of internationals who have played in big games like this one, so we shouldn't be nervous.'
'It is so important and it will be like a cup final. I'm desperate to see us do it. It would be great.'
Mancini was delighted with his side’s result against Aston Villa, and said that they had a great chance to come fourth, especially because they play their game against Spurs at home, but admits that it will not all be easy.
'We wanted a final this season and now we have a final,' he said. 'It is our most important game of the year and we need all our players to be strong. It will be tough but we want to win it. It is about finishing in the top four, not my future. We must buy good players to come here and top players want to be in the Champions League. We hope that our fans can play a role as well by getting behind our backs.’
Adam Johnson, the young left midfielder, who was signed from Middlesbrough in the January transfer market, was the man who turned the game around, first winning a penalty and then, setting up Adebayor for the second.
Johnson is looking for a place in the England squad this summer at the World Cup, and his manager backs him and believes that he could be a great acquisition for Fabio Capello.
'I was happy with the way Johnson played. Johnson is young and exciting and I think next year he will be even better, for us and England.’
One more thing this win for City meant that now Aston Villa are very unlikely to finish fourth. They are two points behind City and three points behind Spurs, also having played a game more than both of them. A win for either side at Eastlands will see them out of the running.
Manager Martin O’Neill was obviously very disappointed after the game, and the Irishman referred to the Adebayor goal as the ‘pivotal point in the game.’
‘Up until they got the penalty, we were in command. We were playing exceptionally well and able to take any pressure they applied. We looked dangerous, got our goal and had good chances to make it 2-0. We then conceded a penalty and from kick-off we hit the bar and within seconds they had scored. It was a pivotal moment in the game.’
In the final round of fixtures played on May 9th, Tottenham and City travel to Burnley and West Ham respectively. Both these teams have nothing to play for, with one relegated and the other safe. Thus, both City and Tottenham will be expected to win their final games, meaning that the Wednesday fixture will be the one that decides their fate once and for all.
Get Cheap Football Tickets for the up-coming following fixtures
Arsenal vs Fulham Tickets 09 May 2010
Chelsea vs Wigan Tickets 09 May 2010
West Ham vs Man City Tickets 09 May 2010
Aston Villa vs Blackburn Tickets 09 May 2010
Man Utd vs Stoke Tickets 09 May 2010
Source: Premier League Saturday Review
Source: Blackburn Rovers squad: Robinson, Brown, Dunn, Olsson, Salgado, Pedersen, Samba, Emerton, Nzonzi, Nelsen, Andrews, Givet, Jacobsen, Grella, Hoilett, Roberts, Diouf, Kalinic, Chimbonda, Jones, Di Santo, Basturk.
Arsenal squad: Fabianski, Clichy, Silvestre, Campbell, Sagna, Walcott, Song, Nasri, Diaby, Rosicky, van Persie, Mannone, Traore, Vela, Eduardo, Eastmond, Eboue, Bendtner, Arshavin.
My Prediction: Both teams have anything to play for, and that will show on the pitch. This may just turn out to be one of those boring matches with the boring result – a draw.
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Arsenal
Blackburn vs Arsenal Tickets
Source: Blackburn Rovers Vs Arsenal Preview
Source: Football News
Tottenham Hotspur beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at White Hart lane to stay on course for their first ever Champions League place while Manchester City all but ended Aston Villa’s fourth place hopes with a 3-1 win over Martin O’Neill’s side at Eastlands.
This sets up a mouth-watering encounter between the two sides on Wednesday at the City of Manchester Stadium.
City are a point behind their midweek opponents, and one can confidently say that the team to win this game will be the team to play in Europe’s elite competition next year.
After the game against Bolton, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said that he was extremely calm ahead of the crunch encounter against Roberto Mancini’s men.
'I don't feel any pressure at all, as we weren't a top four club when I came. We have a good team and play great football, the way it ought to be played, and I get great pleasure from watching that. We have a lot of internationals who have played in big games like this one, so we shouldn't be nervous.'
'It is so important and it will be like a cup final. I'm desperate to see us do it. It would be great.'
Mancini was delighted with his side’s result against Aston Villa, and said that they had a great chance to come fourth, especially because they play their game against Spurs at home, but admits that it will not all be easy.
'We wanted a final this season and now we have a final,' he said. 'It is our most important game of the year and we need all our players to be strong. It will be tough but we want to win it. It is about finishing in the top four, not my future. We must buy good players to come here and top players want to be in the Champions League. We hope that our fans can play a role as well by getting behind our backs.’
Adam Johnson, the young left midfielder, who was signed from Middlesbrough in the January transfer market, was the man who turned the game around, first winning a penalty and then, setting up Adebayor for the second.
Johnson is looking for a place in the England squad this summer at the World Cup, and his manager backs him and believes that he could be a great acquisition for Fabio Capello.
'I was happy with the way Johnson played. Johnson is young and exciting and I think next year he will be even better, for us and England.’
One more thing this win for City meant that now Aston Villa are very unlikely to finish fourth. They are two points behind City and three points behind Spurs, also having played a game more than both of them. A win for either side at Eastlands will see them out of the running.
Manager Martin O’Neill was obviously very disappointed after the game, and the Irishman referred to the Adebayor goal as the ‘pivotal point in the game.’
‘Up until they got the penalty, we were in command. We were playing exceptionally well and able to take any pressure they applied. We looked dangerous, got our goal and had good chances to make it 2-0. We then conceded a penalty and from kick-off we hit the bar and within seconds they had scored. It was a pivotal moment in the game.’
In the final round of fixtures played on May 9th, Tottenham and City travel to Burnley and West Ham respectively. Both these teams have nothing to play for, with one relegated and the other safe. Thus, both City and Tottenham will be expected to win their final games, meaning that the Wednesday fixture will be the one that decides their fate once and for all.
Get Cheap Football Tickets for the up-coming following fixtures
Arsenal vs Fulham Tickets 09 May 2010
Chelsea vs Wigan Tickets 09 May 2010
West Ham vs Man City Tickets 09 May 2010
Aston Villa vs Blackburn Tickets 09 May 2010
Man Utd vs Stoke Tickets 09 May 2010
Source: Premier League Saturday Review
Source: Blackburn Rovers squad: Robinson, Brown, Dunn, Olsson, Salgado, Pedersen, Samba, Emerton, Nzonzi, Nelsen, Andrews, Givet, Jacobsen, Grella, Hoilett, Roberts, Diouf, Kalinic, Chimbonda, Jones, Di Santo, Basturk.
Arsenal squad: Fabianski, Clichy, Silvestre, Campbell, Sagna, Walcott, Song, Nasri, Diaby, Rosicky, van Persie, Mannone, Traore, Vela, Eduardo, Eastmond, Eboue, Bendtner, Arshavin.
My Prediction: Both teams have anything to play for, and that will show on the pitch. This may just turn out to be one of those boring matches with the boring result – a draw.
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Arsenal
Blackburn vs Arsenal Tickets
Source: Blackburn Rovers Vs Arsenal Preview
Source: Football News
Manchester City 3-1 Aston Vvilla: Post-Match Review « Football Blog – Football News
Manchester City all but end Villa’s Champions League hopes after a comeback win against the Claret and Blues.
Roberto Mancini’s men came from a goal down to beat Aston Villa 3-1 in a fiercely contested affair at Eastlands on Saturday.
John Carew opened the scoring for Villa, but then goals from the three Man City strikers – Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy swung the tie in favour of the home side.
Martin Fulop, who was signed as an emergency goalkeeper from Sunderland for the injured Shay Given, was a mere spectator early on, as City dominated. But out of nothing whatsoever, the Villans took the lead in the 16th minute. Following a City attack, they broke at lightning pace and Stewart Downing slipped the ball through to Carew, who got there ahead of Kolo Toure and slipped his shot through the centre-half’s legs. Fulop, who conceded 7 at Stamford Bridge on his last Premier League start, managed to get a hand to it, but could not prevent it from going in.
City looked for an immediate response, and had a penalty shout, when Tevez’s shot hit Stephen Warnock on the arm, but the linesman only pointed for a corner.
Brad Friedel also made some important saves to keep Villa ahead.
At the other end, James Milner tested Fulop with a long-range effort, but this time, the Hungarian was up to the task.
Downing then tried his luck from distance, but his well-struck shot went wide.
Referee Mark Clattenburg then once again denied Tevez a penalty when the Argentinean went down under Carlos Cuellar’s challenge.
In the 41st minute, City did get their spot-kick. Warnock’s rash tackle on Adam Johnson left ref Clattenburg with no alternative than to point to the spot.
Tevez stepped up and blasted his penalty down the middle, leaving Friedel with no chance.
Straight from the kick-off after the City goal, Villa almost went ahead again, when Carew hit the crossbar from an improbable angle.
From the same passage of play, City broke at the other end. Patrick Vieira played a brilliant through-ball to Johnson, who had the presence of mind to pick Adebayor and the Togolese tapped in to make it 2-1.
The away side were the much better team early on in the second half, with Ashley Young and Carew both being denied by brilliant saves from Fulop.
Then, City started to dominate, but neither side could find much of an opening. City went close through Bellamy, but Friedel pulled another magnificent save to deny the Welshman by tipping over his curling effort.
Martin O’Neil made his intentions clear with a double attacking substitution, bringing on Emile Heskey and Nathan Delfouneso for Stephen Warnock and John Carew respectively.
It was City though, who got their killer third in the last minute, when Wright-Phillips set up Bellamy, who curled an absolute beauty into the top corner to wrap up the points for the Blues.
With Tottenham also winning against Bolton, the midweek match at the City of Manchester Stadium is sure to be the one which decides who finishes fourth and who does not.
Aston Villa are now three points of the pace, and have played a game more. Liverpool are five points adrift of Tottenham, and anything but win against Chelsea will extinguish all their hopes of Champions League football.
Source: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Vvilla: Post-Match Review
Source: Football Blog – Football News
Roberto Mancini’s men came from a goal down to beat Aston Villa 3-1 in a fiercely contested affair at Eastlands on Saturday.
John Carew opened the scoring for Villa, but then goals from the three Man City strikers – Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy swung the tie in favour of the home side.
Martin Fulop, who was signed as an emergency goalkeeper from Sunderland for the injured Shay Given, was a mere spectator early on, as City dominated. But out of nothing whatsoever, the Villans took the lead in the 16th minute. Following a City attack, they broke at lightning pace and Stewart Downing slipped the ball through to Carew, who got there ahead of Kolo Toure and slipped his shot through the centre-half’s legs. Fulop, who conceded 7 at Stamford Bridge on his last Premier League start, managed to get a hand to it, but could not prevent it from going in.
City looked for an immediate response, and had a penalty shout, when Tevez’s shot hit Stephen Warnock on the arm, but the linesman only pointed for a corner.
Brad Friedel also made some important saves to keep Villa ahead.
At the other end, James Milner tested Fulop with a long-range effort, but this time, the Hungarian was up to the task.
Downing then tried his luck from distance, but his well-struck shot went wide.
Referee Mark Clattenburg then once again denied Tevez a penalty when the Argentinean went down under Carlos Cuellar’s challenge.
In the 41st minute, City did get their spot-kick. Warnock’s rash tackle on Adam Johnson left ref Clattenburg with no alternative than to point to the spot.
Tevez stepped up and blasted his penalty down the middle, leaving Friedel with no chance.
Straight from the kick-off after the City goal, Villa almost went ahead again, when Carew hit the crossbar from an improbable angle.
From the same passage of play, City broke at the other end. Patrick Vieira played a brilliant through-ball to Johnson, who had the presence of mind to pick Adebayor and the Togolese tapped in to make it 2-1.
The away side were the much better team early on in the second half, with Ashley Young and Carew both being denied by brilliant saves from Fulop.
Then, City started to dominate, but neither side could find much of an opening. City went close through Bellamy, but Friedel pulled another magnificent save to deny the Welshman by tipping over his curling effort.
Martin O’Neil made his intentions clear with a double attacking substitution, bringing on Emile Heskey and Nathan Delfouneso for Stephen Warnock and John Carew respectively.
It was City though, who got their killer third in the last minute, when Wright-Phillips set up Bellamy, who curled an absolute beauty into the top corner to wrap up the points for the Blues.
With Tottenham also winning against Bolton, the midweek match at the City of Manchester Stadium is sure to be the one which decides who finishes fourth and who does not.
Aston Villa are now three points of the pace, and have played a game more. Liverpool are five points adrift of Tottenham, and anything but win against Chelsea will extinguish all their hopes of Champions League football.
Source: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Vvilla: Post-Match Review
Source: Football Blog – Football News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)