Post Match Reaction - Round 23

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing Sheets
N/A

Errors

Error Points

[Derek]

Roma 3 0 Lyon

You never know what you are going to get from Jason - but 451P wasn't on the possible list!

We kept it simple and probably deserved a few more goals but we'll settle for the 3 points which keeps us in the title mix, after our rivals stumbled.

Off to the 2nd best team in Germany next to collect another 3 points.

gg Jase

[Steve@Chelsea]

Marseille 0 - 0 Real Madrid

Two points dropped for sure, but can't complain at a 5-23 shot count. Should have been an easy two or three nil victory on any other day. Seemed to be Marseille's cup final though as they switched tactics for the first time all season which stopped us getting TA. From 60 minutes on though we had A vs L and verses ten men we really should have got the winner. We didn't though, so credit to Marseille particularly their goalkeeper who we are known big admirers of. GG Euan.

Big game against PSG coming up. We beat them at home last time in the CL but we have 5 players on the cusp of a suspension and 2 on the edge of a 2 game suspension which would rule them out of the CL QF 2nd leg, so we may choose to rest Diaz and Mendy for the next 2 games.

[Drum@Villa]

Lazio 1 - 2 Borussia Dortmund

yet another poor result. And a result that puts us on the verge of losing place in dpt positions.

we (probably) stupidly, went A. But this is what happens when your struggling for results. But it is now time to start getting results and earning points or we could easily be dragged into relegation,

not a word I thought I’d be using.

we did only have 10 first teamers. Marouzi and pulisic both missing out,

Niall played well and patiently

gg mate

[Marshy@Atletico]

Atletico Madrid 5 Celtic 2

A real open ended game this one with 61 total attempts at goal overall. Madrid shaded the shots on target and with the better keeper Henderson and striker Vinicius a step above the opposition they made it count on the day.
A good day all round with plenty of abs for both sides and some vital minutes for some of Madrid's fringe players.
A vital win with the majority of the top-8 also winning. Defeat for Rangers gives us effectively a 12-point cushion over 09th. Looking up we are only the 6 points off the top so whilst we stay in touch we can keep dreaming for now.

Manager Simon Marsh commented "It was important to get back to winning ways and to get 5 goals is great for us. Diaby has moved up to 19-rated and we are hoping to have a complete set of 19+ raters by the end of the season".

GG Sam

[Ray@Wolves]

Eintracht Frankfurt 2
F_Dimarco (79), C_Kouame (86)

Booked: P_Ng (2), F_Dimarco (88)

AC Milan 5
A_Griezmann (10,15,41 pen,46), L_Messi (52)

Booked: M_Skriniar (21)
Injured: X_Schlager (79)

MotM: A_Griezmann (AC Milan)
HT: 0-3

This was a disaster for us and is a game we need to forget about as quickly as possible and move on. As far as the stats went we were the slightly better side, but Milan were just far sharper in front of goal. In reality they are the better side so the result shouldn't really surprise me, it's just the manner of the defeat. If I were a cynical sort and with a touch of hindsight I'd have been well advised to have sent DiMarco out early to put a bit of a marker down Griezmann's shin!! The two bookings won't help us long term either. But at least the results of those around us in the table haven't hurt us.

Well played Mati.

Next game is another tough one (aren't they all at this level) that see's us travel to Glasgow to face Sam Bradwell's Celtic side.

[Johnboy]

Valencia 3 - Monaco 4

After the dull match in Glasgow last time, we had our principal strikeforce back for the trip to Spain meaning we could revert to our strongest eleven.

Valencia took the lead in the 7th minute as Rodrigo got his 4th of the season, before an entertaining period aound the 15 minute mark saw Monaco equalise before immediately falling behind again! Smalling's effort immediately being cancelled out by a goal from Gaspar as Valencia retook the lead.

Aubameyang got his first of the game on the half hour with a stunning volley from distance, goal of the month contender certainly, and we got to half time with the teams level.

Just after the hour mark Monaco took the lead for the first time in the tie as Jovetic scored, looking much more at home in midfield than he did playing up front against Rangers. 5 minutes later Monaco captain Hradecky fouled his opposite number Gnabry in the box to earn himself a yellow card and gift Valencia a penalty which Gnabry himself took and scored to make the game even again.

Five minutes before the end Aubameyang scored his second of the game to restore a lead for Monaco which we managed to hold onto until the final whistle and saw us come away with a just about deserved 3 points which pushes us back into the DPT places for next season.

Good game Sanchez, good luck for the rest of the season.

[Gary@Millwall]

Sporting Lisbon 2 Juventus 0

The most successful ever Real Madrid manager, Andy Banks brought his side to the Estadio Jose Alvalade looking for revenge from the defeat they suffered at home in game 2 of the season.

Juventus setup to attack with Windebank setting up his side to pass the ball.

The opening exchanges were very even but it was Sporting Lisbon who scored the opening goal in the 19th minute Rensch connected with a cross from Boateng to hit the back of the net with a wonderful scissor kick to send the home faithful wild.

Both sides did not change a thing and Juventus dominated the next 20 minutes as they searched for the equaliser to no avail. With Sporting Lisbon weathering the storm they took control of the remaining minutes of the half but the score remain 1-0 at half time. However Rensch lost his mind getting sent off for elbowing Adli in the 44th minute meaning that Sporting Lisbon would need to play the whole 2nd half with only 10 men.

Despite Juventus having a numerical advantage the game remained very even with Sporting Lisbon's passing approach giving them a slight advantage.

In the 73rd minute Frenkie De Jong secured the three points for the Portuguese side when he showed great skill to rifle the ball into the net via a great bicycle kick.

With Windebank making a formation and tactical change Sporting Lisbon easily controlled the remaining 20 odd minutes of the game to complete an impressive double over Andy Banks.

Sporting Lisbon bossed possession with 55% and created 17 shots to Juventus 16 of which 12 were on target to Juventus 9.

Windebank Post Match Comments

I am a very happy man following that great performance and result. To complete the double over one of the best managers in the game who has a side full of quality is a great achievement from my players today.

With Real Madrid failing to win today despite the endless line of superstars at Steve T's disposal we remain 4th in the table but now only four points off of the leaders.

Roma managed yet another win and I am sure Derek will be ready to pounce if Steve T has a wobble due to nerves brought on by a trophy less season last year.

With Barcelona losing their 2nd game in the last three and the rest of the top 8 winning the table is starting to get very tight at the top.

Good Game Andy its always a pleasure playing you and fucking brilliant if we beat ya. Best of luck for the rest of the season mate

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Leverkusen 3-1 Rangers

I have to keep reminding myself that Rangers aren’t an awful side, I keep thinking of rangers from last year, same with Lazio. Should really know this by now.

We dominated the game and came away with a good 3 points but didn’t feel it at times, Rangers took the lead and it took a while for us to get anything back.

All these mid table games feel like six pointers and a big win has helped us through.

Good game Burrows

[Guest]

Barcelona 1 - 2 Inter Milan

Always a difficult game against my fellow Scot and one of the best managers this games seen but i dont have much to say apart from we were lucky, we went down to 10 men after taking the lead in the same minute and tbh im not sure how we dealt with that, when barcelona scored on the 50th minute i feared the worst but we got the goal and seen out the game which we did not deserve anything from we got outplayed and came away winners i have been on the end of that many a time and its never a good feeling but we take it as we have been unlucky in our opening two games since my return where i think we should have perhaps won. livi will feel hard done by and rightfully so the best team never won today.

GG mate

[Livi@Liverpool]

Barcelona 1 Inter 2

I had to read the match report twice because I couldn't believe my eyes the first time around. Unfortunately nothing changed after the 2nd reading!

I mean I've managed on here long enough to know how it works, from time to time you're going to get shafted. Today was one of those days for us. Their GK with 109 abs, ours with minus 6 says it all really. Maybe we should bring our 18 rater back in. A tough loss to take given our dominance.

Anyway welcome back GS, the old C and D routine serving you well

[Guest]

Sevilla 0 - 2 Bayern Munich

Bad day at the office - we can't seem to put a consistent run of performances together ..

I thought we were going to get at least a point but allowed them to score twice in the final 3rd of the game ..

We tried a combination of C and L , moving to A late in the game ...

Nunez was MOM but I would have given it to Garcia who has been on great form since he was "available for transfer"

GG JB

[AB@Juventus]

Sporting Lisbon 2 - 0 Juventus

Another defeat for the Old Lady, this time against one of this season's surprise packages. Usually Gary sets his teams up to attack us so we did the same, not really expecting much from the game however they didn't set up like this. Perhaps being in a title race has changed their thinking.

After an even opening to the game, Sporting Lisbon took the lead just before the 20 minute mark and we felt it would be very hard to turn the game around from there.

The game continued to be even until the 44th minute, where the hosts were reduced to 10 men after scorer D_Rensch was shown a red card. Perhaps a route back into the game?

Unfortunately for us this wasn't the case, with Lisbon doubling their lead and sealing the points 17 minutes from time.

Statistically it was a fairly even game, with the home team controlling the ball, however it seems like games like these just aren't going our way this season and we might need to rethink the all out attack game plan because we're not even gaining good abs atm.

Good game Gary, go on and win the league.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 8 Napoli 3
Napoli are the only team we have managed to win away this season so i was hopeful of a relatively easy game. We almost matched the away score of 8-2, but an inspired hat-trick from Mane prevented Felix from getting his customary MoM. 7of the 8 goals to the front 4, and Pino hits 21 rated. Nice to see all our midfield hit 20 before our upcoming CL game. Just the GK left.
GG Napoli