UEFA Champions League: Wednesday
by Richard Farley on Feb 17, 2010 2:11 PM EST
20 comments
After yesterday's classic match in Milan and compelling result at Stade Gerland, UEFA Champions League continues in one hour with Arsenal's trip to Porto while Bayern Munich hosts Fiorentina.
I'm a bit frightened, yet compelled, about the Bayern-Viola match. Bayern is arguably the best team in Europe right now, in arguably the hottest, winning twelve matches in a row. Fiorentina is down to 11th in Italy and might be the worst team still alive in Champions League. After Bayern's 12-1, Round of 16 result last year against Sporting Lisbon, I'm scared ... for Fiorentina, who will be without Adrian Mutu (suspension) and Alessandro Gamberini (injury).
Arsenal also has injury concerns against Porto. Andrei Arshavin is out, as is William Gallas and Manuel Almunia. Add in Alex Song, who is a doubt, and that's most of the team's spine. Eduardo is also out, compounding the forward problems that have never been solved after Robin van Persie's injury.
Thankfully for Arsene Wenger, he is not facing the Porto teams of year's past. This club is going to lost the Liga Sagres from the first time in six years, and although they have talents like Radamel Falcão and Hulk up top, there have yet to fully maximize the benefits of playing them together. With Cristian Rodríguez out, it may be difficult to get the kind of two-goal result Porto might need ahead of a trip to the Emirates (March 9)
Throughout the matches today, I'll be checking this thread to see if anybody wants to chat-it-up. Just let me know.
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Comedy goal!
What a horrible/hilarious goal conceded by Campbell/Fabianski! I haven’t laughed this hard since “The Hangover.”
Did you see the first one?
Not that it was any better or worse.
I swear Fabianski has money on this match.
by Richard Farley on Feb 17, 2010 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
Well, that away goal
leaves me still fairly sure that the Gunners will go forth from this tie. If the squad is close to full strength, I can’t see them failing at home.
I agree ...
… and, look at it this way: Porto never created a goal of their own accord.
by Richard Farley on Feb 17, 2010 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
In fairness
the only difference between the good and the great is a little luck. Arsenal have been lucky plenty of times this year, that first group game at Standard Liege being a good example.
I'm catching up on ...
… Bayern-Fiorentina now, though I already know the results, if anybody wants to talk about that, too.
How did Bayern play???
I know they won, but did they look good?
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Feb 17, 2010 4:54 PM EST up reply actions
Watching now, but early ...
… they look the better side, but Fiorentina have been holding their own.
Why the two teams, Cesare? Why can’t you get this out of your team in Italy? At least, often enough to get back into Europe.
Robben continues to show his class. It’s going to be sad when he gets hurt.
by Richard Farley on Feb 17, 2010 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks Richard...
Knock on wood, but does Bayern have a shot at winning the whole thing?
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Feb 17, 2010 4:58 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, IMO
If van Buyten and Badstuber play this well at the back, and Bütt maintains his form, absolutely.
And also, with Robben on the right, Robery on the left, and Müller in the middle and people who can physically test you up front (Gómez, Olic), I like their mix and I like their options.
What do you think?
by Richard Farley on Feb 17, 2010 5:02 PM EST up reply actions
Not sure...
I don’t get to see too much Bundesliga action. On paper, they seem to be a team capable of winning it all, but so does a team like Arsenal. Anyone that has seen Arsenal play, knows they aren’t winning anything this year.
It might be nice to see at least one non-English, Non-Spanish side in the final.
As an aside, why do they call these matchups “ties”? I kind of get it, but it is odd.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Feb 17, 2010 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
I'm afraid I don't ...
… in fact, with the podcasting duties at Major League Soccer talk, I’ve been trying to re-incorporate more North American terms into my football … I mean, soccer lexicon.
It will be nice when I’m able to go back-and-forth, depending on the broadcast. I’m not there yet.
I’ll ask around a bit, Esteban.
by Richard Farley on Feb 17, 2010 5:16 PM EST up reply actions
This is going to shock everybody ...
… so I’ll just come out and say it.
Mark van Bommel just got a yellow card, one that could have been a red.
So out-of-character :P
The officials were awful
Klose’s goal was offside. They should have waved advantage to Gomez’s goal instead of giving a penalty. van Bommel should have been sent off. The sending off for Fiorentina was a little harsh maybe, but I can see why he gave it. There were plenty of tackles flying in from Bayern that could’ve picked up yellows, but the referee just warned them countless times.
Daylight Ribery!
I heard that the guy in charge of that match
was the same assclown who officiated the Champions League 2nd Leg Semi last year between Chelsea and Barca. How exactly does he still have a job in this competition?
Klose should.....
…have been sent off for a high studs-up challenge on Kroldrup and wouldn’t have been on the pitch for that blatantly offside goal.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Feb 18, 2010 2:04 AM EST up reply actions
Klose was offsides...
Is that the ref’s call or the linesman’s call to make? If the ref is behind the run off play, it may not look like offsides. To be fair to the officials, it looked like Klose was onside for Roben’s (sp?) shot and after that it was a bang, bang play. Still a bad call.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Feb 18, 2010 7:12 AM EST up reply actions
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