Barcelona, Bordeaux Jump Ahead in UCL Ties
by Richard Farley on Feb 23, 2010 6:39 PM EST
4 comments
Barcelona got a scare from from Stuttgart when Cacau headed the Germans ahead in the first half, the culmination of five minutes of threats from the home side. Barcelona would get a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal in the second half to garner a 1-1 result in what was otherwise an display from the holders.
That is not to say Barcelona was second best; rather, they weren't up to their normal standards. While they dictated the game's pace and were poised, at the beginning of the second, to make the match into a typical Barcelona affair, Stuttgart's strong first half justified their confident strut going coming off the pitch at intermission. Late the second, presumedly to counter Barcelona's ascent, Stuttgart became noticeably more physical, a tactic that worked, getting Barcelona out of their rhythm.
Credit to Stuttgart for playing well, their best performance of the Champions League campaign. Barcelona was not themselves, but they also were not bad, and although they got a road goal and a draw before the return leg in Barcelona (March 16), Stuttgart have them reason to believe leg two must be taken seriously.
The day's other favorite, Girondins de Bordeaux, lived up to expectations. Unfortunately.
The Ligue 1 leaders got a late first half goal - Yoann Gourcuff's set piece finding Michael Ciané at Olympiacos's near post - to go up 1-0 ahead of the second leg in Bordeaux.
It was Girondins' 11th 1-0 win of the season.
The second half saw a lot of fouls from Bordeaux and, though the home team had a number of shots, a paucity of equalizing opportunities. In other words, just as Bordeaux has come to write 'em.
While getting a 1-0 result on the road is undeniably good, Bordeaux has kept a capable team within striking distance. Olympiacos is a strong defensive unit (as evidenced today), and if they can maintain their performance at the back, they are one sequence of play away from equalizing. While that phraseology could always be applied whenever there's a one goal lead, it is more apt in this case, where strong defenders are playing against a side that has often lacked the appetite for a second goal.
If Bordeaux's strong Champions League form is persent at kickoff on the 16th, they'll find another goal quickly and put Olympiacos away. Else, Girondins' supporters will have ninety nervous minutes three weeks from now.
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not really related to the topic but..
Anybody know why Dani Alves didn’t play today?
Stuttgart is a pretty good team
but Barça will take them out in the Camp Nou. Barça is in a bit of a slump, after a League loss against Atlético Madrid and an unspectacular win over Racing Santander, and this draw with Stuttgart. Some of the players are a bit tired, and a couple of them have had minor tweaks (Alves, Abidal, and Iniesta, for example). Ibrahimovic hasn’t recovered his Inter Milan form yet.
But they’ll be back. You know you’re good when people say you’re in a slump after you went 1-1-1 in your last three games. This team is just too talented, with above-average players at every position, and several international superstars. They still must be considered the favorite in both the League and the Champions.
Barça’s backup team, including Pinto; Chigrinski, Milito, Maxwell, and Márquez; Busquets, Keita and Jeffren; and Pedro, Bojan, and Jonathan would probably come in about fourth in the Spanish league.
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
Barça note:
On Saturday night they outplayed Málaga, who spent the whole game defending in their own half, but only got a 2-1 victory; goals by Pedro and Messi. They still have a five-point lead over Real Madrid in the standings.
I think Henry is gone after this season and that a combination of Pedro and Iniesta will take his spot. Henry’s still playing pretty well, but he’s past his peak and earns a ton of money. If they sell him at the end of the season, somebody dumb like Man City will pay top dollar.
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
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