Post Match Reaction - Round 36

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing Sheets
Napoli - T

Errors
Lazio - CHANGEPOS 7 = Illegal Formation


Error Points
Rom = 1
Napoli = 2

[Drum@Villa]

Lazio 1-3 RM

tried to see if we could catch talbot a bit cold.

changed it up as I felt nothing to lose. A gulf in class so I decided to attack the Madrid machine, and well it failed.

we pushed for the opener but Madrid snatched it, we chased and got into it then the class shone through.

2 more goals for Madrid and a red to pulisic meant the whole euro placing bunched up again. Nerves kicking in.

AC Milan next, so not easy to pick the results up.

gg Steve

[Guest]

Inter 10 - 1 Napoli

not much to say about this a T sheet from Napoli I hope for good of the game those nonsense is fixed next season and some common sense prevails with a set sheet.

[Derek]

Roma 2 - 1 AC

Totally dominated the match but we couldn't put the game to bed so it was a nervy one. PSG have us in their sights so we need to keep picking up the points.

With Locatelli likely to leave eos he put in a cracking performance to try and keep his place.

Disappointed by the ridiculous Inter game - hopefully we'll see a rule change.

gg Mati

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Frankfurt 1 - 2 Leverkusen

This was a battle and one we had to win if we have any chance of making Europe and unlike half the other teams in this league we don’t face the luxury to a T sheet and a barrage of goals. Instead, we faced a good manager in long term rival Ray, he’s done well since coming in at Frankfurt and they seemed destined to go down. If Frankfurt had won then they could have been in with a shot at Europe, great turnaround.

Good game Ray, I felt extremely nervy going into the final few minutes but we held our nerve for once.

Best of luck with both your teams for the rest of the season.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 6 Rangers 4
Rangers stuck with the 4213A resulting in a goalfest. disappointing to have a worse conversion ratio than our opponents, despite having better GK and forwards. 16 wins (and 1 draw) from last 17 games at home, shame our away form has let us down. As lisbon continue to implode, we now close the gap on 2nd to 5 points - if we can win them away then i fancy our chances of getting above them. 4 points behind Roma who still have away games at PSG and barca. The CL seed is still within reach and remains our target.
GG Burrows

[Steve@Chelsea]

Lazio 1 - 3 Madrid Machine

Before the kick-off, I would have been content with a draw against Rome's top team, but I remained optimistic about our chances of winning. Although Sterling was absent from the game, Olmo, who joined us from Inter Milan, has been outstanding and effortlessly took on Raheem's position as the 4th prong. Furthermore, Cuadrado, another player from Inter, has been a surprise and dependable defender who ensured Sterling's absence did not affect us much, our solid backup working a treat so far.

We took the lead with a goal from the rock that is Cuadrado before Lazio showed they was a contender to be taken seriously as they pulled it back level into the 2nd half. Further goals from Elliot andKimpembe though pulled us away and advanced the Madrid Machine towards victory and a priceless three points. GG Keith it was an enjoyable game.

I usually do a little bit of mind games here on our next opponents which often works, but next up is Inter. So I won't bother. Or did I? Nah I'll leave it and expect the unexpected.

[AB@Juventus]

Barcelona 3 - 2 Juventus

Another result that hurts, another game where my GK just doesn't make saves....3 defeats in a row, which had we won them we'd be in the top 8 now....Ah well.

We set up with P to the hosts' N, and with TA I knew the first goal would go against us and just before the half hour mark, we did.
Barcelona doubled their lead a minute before the break and we went on the attack.

After the break we searched for a way back into the game and on 67 minutes we were awarded a penalty which we scored to reduce the deficit and with 10 minutes remaining, we pulled level....Only for a Barcelona sub to break our hearts in the 91st minute.

Statistically it was a very even game, but 3 goals from 5 shots on target means the hunt for a new goalkeeper might have to start up again, because this has been the case all season.

Good game Livi.

[Marshy@Atletico]

Sporting Lisbon 1 Atletico Madrid 1

GG Gary

Lisbon lined up with a surprise counter attacking tactic in a must win game which gave them home and tactical advantage. However the game was relatively even throughout but it looked like Lisbon's special auction buy Lewendowski had won all three points with a 72' strike. Madrid were not finished though and their auction signing Fati soon equalised three minutes later for a share of the spoils.

Atletico manager Simon Marsh commented "Gary has had a great season at Lisbon and it was a shame on one hand to put a spanner in their title hopes but we have to look after ourselves and the point keeps us ticking a long. We have a difficult run-in so we need every point we can to try and hold off Inter Milans challenge for 6th whilst edging ever closer to Champions League football".

Atletico's 2 game experiment of playing Sessegnon in defence has paid off with him rising to 14.0-19.7-14.1

[Livi@Liverpool]

Barcelona 3 Juventus 2

Would love to say this was a tactical masterclass from us but it was anything but. Tried the same N approach that saw Monaco cuff our passing style earlier in the season and again for some reason it came up trumps here.

We led 2-0 before then getting the tactical advantage - following which we conceded a pen and then when Juve equalised with 10 mins to go I really couldn't have argued at a 2-2 draw. Lo and behold subby Weimann popped in a last ditch winner to give us a 3 points that we didn't deserve.

The stats were very even with 5 shots each on target but lady luck finally shone on us on our home patch so I can only apologise AB.

Looking forward to the season ending as we have been working away behind the scenes and deals for several new faces have already been agreed as we look to kick on again next season.

[Gary@Millwall]

Sporting Lisbon 1 Atletico Madrid 1

The Estadio Jose Alvalade was full to capacity and buzzing for the arrival of Simon Marsh's Atletico Madrid who beat Lisbon in the reverse fixture 3-0 despite being an even game.

Lisbon setup to play on the counter in the opening stages with Atletico Madrid opting for a more cultured passing game.

Sporting Lisbon edged the opening 35 minutes but Henderson was in great form when Sporting Lisbon managed to get shots on target with Lopes being equally impressive in the Sporting Lisbon goal.

In the 35th minute Windebank instructed his team to switch formation and keep hold of the ball as both sides were playing a cultured passing style and the game remained very even with the half ending 0-0.

With the game still even Windebank replaced Eden Hazard for Juan Mata and took the leash off of his players knowing a win was ideally needed to remain in the title race.

This had the desired effect and the stadium erupted in the 72nd minute when Rick Karsdorp found the ever reliable Robert Lewandowski who smashed the ball home to give Sporting Lisbon the lead they craved.

A formation and change back to passing tactic was barked by Windebank as he tried to bring a solidity to see out the game but Atletico Madrid are a great team with a great manager and within three minutes were back level via a superb goal from Fati.

Sporting Lisbon piled on the pressure but could not find a winning goal as their Title winning hopes took a kick in the bollocks following Real Madrid's impressive win at Lazio to extend their lead at the top to five points with only 18 points now available.

Sporting Lisbon edged possession with 52% and created 13 chances to Atletico Madrid's 11 with Sporting Lisbon having 10 shots on target to Atletico Madrid's 6

Windebank's Post Match Comments

We done everything we could today against a top side and great and classy manager. The players are a bit deflated in the dressing room but I have reminded them that on another day this would have been three points as we were slightly unlucky that only one of our ten shots on target hit the back of the net.

We have six games left and we are not really that much worse off than before the game as we still need Real Madrid to drop points in two games and they have to visit Atletico in the last game of the season.

We will pick ourselves up and keep plugging away and see where that takes us, I cannot ask anymore than that.

Great game Marshy as always and always a pleasure playing ya.