Post Match Reaction - Round 24

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing Sheets
Valencia - T

Errors
Celtic - Navarro suspended

Error Points
Celtic - 2

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Monaco 1-0 Wolfsburg

Felt we set up well for this game, but a 1st minute goal from Monaco proved the decider. Striker got injured, midfielder sent off, a combined 5 games out, not the sort of outcome we are after.

This league is so tight and every game is of huge importance, Johnboy has taken Monaco one more step towards DPT. Good game, we never got going and were lucky to only walk out 1 goal down

[Derek]

Munich 1 1 Roma

We faced the Boring Bayern Way and I think most of the Roma fans fell asleep as Banks' back 7 snuffed any life out of the game.

We still edged the shot count though and might have deserved a little more here. However, Martinez conceded 1 of the 2 shots he faced so we had to settle for a point.

Some of the 2nd tier EFL managers are closing the gap and will be under the illusion they have a sniff this season. So we need to sort out our game for facing the lesser brother next.

gg Jon

[Gary@Millwall]

Rangers 0 Sporting Lisbon 2

A big night for one of the 2nd tier EFL teams and manager as Sporting Lisbon went to Ibrox needing a win to improve the all important Steve T PPG obsession ratio as well as trying to improve their points advantage over Rangers who are sitting in 9th place DPT position.

Both sides setup to pass the ball and in the 7th minute Robert Lewandowski scored his 22nd goal of the campaign to give the Lisbon Lions an important lead.

Rangers decided to switch to European tactic but the game remained very even with Rangers not really threatening the Sporting Lisbon goal and the first half ended 1-0 to the Portuguese side.

Sporting Lisbon were having the better of the 2nd half and Ibrox fell silent in the 61st minute with Rick Karsdorp doubled Sporting Lisbon's advantage after skinning two Rangers players before calming slotting the ball into the back of the net.

Sporting Lisbon eased to the final whistle and the players celebrated with the away end as final scores showed that the self entitled aristocracy in Real Madrid and Roma were held to draws in their games against PSG and Bayern Munich respectively.

Sporting Lisbon bossed possession with 57% and created 13 chances to Rangers 8 of which Sporting Lisbon had 7 on target to Rangers 3

Windebank Post Match Comments

That was a great performance by the team today against a good side and very good manager. To come to Ibrox and effectively dominate possession and keep the home team to just 3 shots on target is very impressive.

We stay in 4th place but draw level on points with the mighty Roma who have a far superior manager at the helm compared to poor Sporting Lisbon.

We also find ourselves now only two points behind the God King Steve T's wobbling Real Madrid. Pressure is mounting on social media with Real Madrid fans concerned that last seasons choke artist is at it again. There could be protest after their next League Game at the Nou Camp if Livi's Barcelona get three points off of the God King and leap frog them to the top of the summit.

With 18 games left Sporting Lisbon fans are still in dreamland as they punch above their weight with their 2nd tier manager still defying the odds being two points off the summit and a potential FFO EFL shock.

[Ed@PSG]

Real Madrid 2 PSG 2
We thought we had our noses in front in the 2nd minute, but the goal was disallowed then we shortly went behind. We eventually pulled level only to concede again shortly afterwards. Unfortunately, we were never able to lead, so many of the tactical changes we had planned became redundant. In the end the honours were shared, although we slightly edged the stats, which i am happy with away from home. But our inability to win away continues, with 22 games since our last away victory. Fortunately, there appears to be a buffer between the top 8 and the rest of the pack, although i have no idea what the parameters are for 8th to miss out on CL next season
GG SteveT

[Marshy@Atletico]

Atletico Madrid 13 (thirteen) Valencia 1

With Matt Rose absent, Valencia quickly called for failure Gary Neville to take over the reigns for the evening. The decision back fired with the club still struggling to get over his last "effort" in charge. The Valencia players were all at sea and Atletico took full advantage smashing 12 goals in with an own goal putting the icing on the cake.

Manager Simon Marsh commented "One or two other clubs have faced Gary Neville sides this season so whilst its never feels great beating them we can only accept the lucky gift that helps the club move forwards on the whole. We managed to get Frimpong to 11 shooting and at 20-14.6-11 he is looking an exceptional player for us now. Saint Maximin has moved to a 4-15.9-20 striker now. We are hoping to get Fati and Mbabu upgrades coming shortly".

Marsh added "The result of course wipes out the freak results we got against Roma and Juve that gave our goal difference an hammering. At +24 we are now well ahead of majority in 5th place and this might make a difference come the end of season.

Unlucky Matt. Hope to see you back fighting in the next game.

[Ray@Wolves]

Celtic 2
P_Coutinho (29), Antony (51)

Eintracht Frankfurt 0

MotM: P_Coutinho (Celtic)
HT: 1-0

We went into this game with hopes of getting something out of it even though we were away from home. But despite the fact that as a team we edged the game on possession and shots on goal, we were just too wasteful with the chances we made. Celtic looked far more cohesive as a unit and that was the difference between the two sides. I can only hope that our strike force turn up for the next game. At least most of the sides around us also lost, but then that just shows what an opportunity missed this was.

Well played Sam.

Next game see's us play hosts to 5th placed Atletico Madrid. It will be a tall order for us to get anything from this game, but at least we have a fully fit squad to select from.

[Livi@Liverpool]

Napoli 0 Barcelona 5

Very good win for us after a couple of recent wobbles - we played really well but in truth the score line is harsh on Napoli but I guess we've all been there. Hero for the day was Weimann with a hat trick - and he only played because Raphinha and Gotze were suspended. Pleasing to come away with a clean sheet too.

Nudges us back up to 2nd and top spot awaits if we can beat Real in the latest Clasico on Sunday. Easier said than done even allowing for our recent good run against them. These are the games you want to be involved in and we look forward to the challenge.

[Steve@Chelsea]

Real Madrid 2- 2 PSG

Real Madrid and PSG played out an enthralling 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. Both sides played attacking football, with PSG slightly edging possession and shots on target. However, Madrid took the lead twice through goals from Sterling and TAA. The visitors responded through Smith Rowe and a late Pingo goal to salvage a point. A hard-fought draw that leaves the title finely poised with Madrid set to visit 2nd placed Barcelona on Sunday.

Madrid have 5 players on the verge of a suspension ahead of the Champions League game with Arsenal on Tuesday. Will Madrid rest any of these players for the important CL match or will they throw the dice and gamble? Regardless, being an away game in particular, the Clasico will be a tough one but the pressure is on Barca to beat us if they want to take that top spot away from us.

[Drum@Villa]

Lyon 0 - 3 Lazio

Stopping the rot was important, we played ok, still had 2 guys missing but they return to boost the side for an upcoming s””t show of fixtures.

The game itself was relatively even in many aspects, 7 shot’s each and 5 on target, however we we gracious enough to the 3 that went in.

DDG did enough to keep the boss at bay and not look to bum him off.

semedo, aouar and mbappe with the goals.

Tanganga and aouar still sit 1 yellow away from a game suspension. Wonder if they will come in the same game as expected lol

gg Lyon

[Guest]

Inter Milan 4 - 1 Borussia Dortmund

On paper a fantastic result, clinical finishing but the game was fairly even, starting to turn a corner though, stopped the rot of losses under hamza and remain unbeaten since my return we just need more results like this, Olmo and lukaku both with a brace but we raced into a big lead after 1-1 and tbh it could have been more and i think Dortmund will feel hard done by with the scoreline but its a reminder to those out there who thought Inter were in trouble that at home we can beat anyone in this league.

We march on the top 8 although a long way to go looks set now its just a case of how high we can go, we are not out the title run although the bad run of results from the same sheet has dented that but we will fight on as we always do.

next up is Lyon

[AB@Juventus]

Juventus 6 - 1 Sevilla

A result that was ruined for me by some a*sehole in Germany....

Anyway, Sevilla jumped around from L to E to P in the first 15 minute and we took the lead after 23 minutes and to my own surprise we changed to A and doubled the lead 4 minute later.

Despite the good start, things took a hit just after the half hour mark as Y_Adli got himself sent off and will now miss the game vs his former team AS Roma.

Even down to 10 men, we were still too strong for Sevilla as we added a 3rd before half time.

2 minutes after the break and it was 4-0, quickly followed by a 5th for us on 55 minutes. Sevilla did get one back 6 minutes after that but the 3 points were already secure at this point and we restored our 5 goal advantage on 79 minutes.

Statistically we were much the better team so the result was deserved, probably not by 5 goals though. Good game Stew.

[Guest]

Juventus 6 - 1 Sevilla

A result that was ruined for me by some a*sehole in Germany....

Anyway, Sevilla jumped around from L to E to P in the first 15 minute and we took the lead after 23 minutes and to my own surprise we changed to A and doubled the lead 4 minute later.

Despite the good start, things took a hit just after the half hour mark as Y_Adli got himself sent off and will now miss the game vs his former team AS Roma.

Even down to 10 men, we were still too strong for Sevilla as we added a 3rd before half time.

2 minutes after the break and it was 4-0, quickly followed by a 5th for us on 55 minutes. Sevilla did get one back 6 minutes after that but the 3 points were already secure at this point and we restored our 5 goal advantage on 79 minutes.

Statistically we were much the better team so the result was deserved, probably not by 5 goals though. Good game Stew.

Well played Andy .. Sevilla's worst performance by far in my time in charge ... and we are now 4 pts away from even qualifying for the DPT next season ...

To not improve after getting a man advantage is disgraceful ... none of the subs made any impact ...

Back to the drawing board .... we were in for Henderson but with some creative valuations from the Roma value of 15s and 16s we decided to not increase our offer ... after this result though perhaps we should have !

[Johnboy]

Monaco 1 - Bayer Leverkusen 0

When we travelled to Leverkusen earlier in the season we came away with a slightly fortuitous 2-0 victory as they had a lot more of the ball but couldn't translate that into shots on target, and Hradecky in the Monaco goal was equal to everything that Leverkusen could throw at him.

We hosted Leverkusen with almost an identical starting eleven to the match in Leverkusen, the only change being the inclusion of Iago (who was on the bench in Leverkusen) replacing Yoshida who has long since completed his loan from Real Madrid.

We scored in the first minute through Aubameyang as he broke clear of the defence to put it past the keeper to score his tenth of the season. As the game progressed Monaco had more of the possession and were able to translate that into more shots on target, no doubt helped by an injury and then a red card to 2 of the Bayer Leverkusen front 4. Hradecky again was immense in the Monaco goal recording another clean sheet.

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