Post Match Reaction - Round 37

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing Sheets


Errors
Sevilla - Dardar suspended


Error Points
Napoli = 1
Lazio = 1
Sevilla = 2

[Derek]

Celtic 5 1 Roma

We've got a very hard run in - but that wasn't supposed to include relegation-bound Celtic.

Looks like Martinez has been broken by his failure against Madrid where he conceded 5 goals as well.

The DM experiment continues to underwhelm. Might need to have another go at selling supposedly the best DM in the game.

gg Sam - good luck with the relegation fight

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Leverkusen 3-1 Marseille

Absolutely huge three points for Leverkusen, against bottom of the league, but the huge figure of Donarumma in goal and their recent giant killings made it easier said than done.

centre back De Vrij came up with the goods as he put two passed the big man.

This takes Leverkusen into the European spots again with a one point advantage over Dortmund, we need to continue this run of form, although the fixture list gets trickier here on in.

The key fixture is away to Dortmund, R40.

Good game Euan.

[AB@Juventus]

Juventus 3 - 1 Borussia Dortmund

A quality win against a good team. We went for it with Dortmund missing one of their strikers and that gamble paid off early on as we took the lead in the first minute and switched up to L for some reason...Just like Dortmund. Within 5 minutes we'd doubled our lead and took control of the game.

10 minutes before the break, the visitors pulled a goal back and it was back to L vs L heading into the break.

10 minutes after the break, Dortmund changed tactics to P giving them TA but then 3 minutes later they were reduced to 10 min after Weigl saw red.
We restored our 2 goal advantage 3 minutes after and saw out the game to record the win.

Statistically it was a dead even game other than possession so I'd put the win down to HA and the numerical advantage.

Good game Niall.

[Steve@Chelsea]

Real Madrid 4 - 2 Inter Milan

Inter were missing two defenders which limited their tactical choices in this game. I feel that, as Madrid have been in that spot of missing 2 or 3 key players in a few games. We also had Sterling out for this game but former Inter player Olmo stepped up to the plate and scored against his former club alongside Diaz, Kimpembe and another former Inter player J_Cuadrado who scored again proving a revelation for Los Blancos since his move to Madrid.

We continue on with the eye on the prize, and will take each and every game as it comes, with laser eye focus.

[Livi@Liverpool]

Rangers 3 Barcelona 1

Really feels like we're just limping our way towards the end of the season now with another poor result here albeit against an underrated Rangers team who find themselves in the top 8.

I could moan about stats etc but the bottom line is we lost and we have to do better. The huge amount of C tactics we've faced is understandable but the way we've struggled against them is a concern and definitely something that we're going to have to look at next season as our preferred P approach just isn't getting the job done.

Definitely a 2 horse race for the title now. Fair play to Lisbon for hanging tough but Madrid have been absolutely relentless of late and you have to respect the way they play in such a positive manner. Worthy champions and the rest of us are going to have to raise our level next season.

[Ed@PSG]

Monaco 2 PSG 0
Probably one of our worst performances of the season. In terms of chances it was pretty even at 19-16, and with the far better shooting stats I would have expected to edge it, with a draw at worst. However, we were on the wrong end of the tackle% and on_target%, and ended up with half the number of shots on target that our host did. Our 16 game unbeaten run comes to an end, we brush ourselves down, and go again. 2nd place now looking very unlikely, but we will fight until its mathematically impossible, just in case Lisbon have a wobble.
GG JB

[Marshy@Atletico]

Atletico Madrid 7 Sevilla 1

GG Stew

Always a pleasure to welcome my old side and good to see them still holding their own in the top flight. The game on the day was a flattering victory for the home side who were very clinical on the day whilst Sevilla were wasteful. Fati (3), Vini, Frimpong, Romagnoli and Diaby were the scorers but the game was over inside 20 minutes.

Manager Simon Marsh commented "Great to see us smash past the 100 goals barrier for the league season and to have scored more than Roma at this stage of the season is a great achievement in itself. It is very likely we will end up in the top4 scoring machines. If we could concede 25 goal less then we in business!. Really pleased with the win which sees us needing only 2 points now to guarantee a top-8 finish. We have a horrible finish to the season with trips to Roma, Inter and Real all to come so its a relief to almost be there with a poor points tally expected over the last 5-games".

In other news Atletico dropped to 06th in the wages behind Juventus. The top-three mega giants wage bills are obscene especially when one considers their bank balances to boot!

[Guest]

Real Madrid 4 - 2 Inter Milan

two defenders out there wasnt much we could do today apart from take the game to Madrid with the attackers we have as defending wouldnt go well, the game wasnt so bad we were competitive for a long time but the champions elect found a way, i think Madrid have it sewn up, we are already prepared for next season with a couple more tweaks and ready to go again. gg mate

[Gary@Millwall]

Eintracht Frankfurt 1 Sporting Lisbon 3

Sporting Lisbon travelled to Germany where a win was the only outcome for the Portuguese outfit if their faltering title charge was to go into the final games.

Frankfurt setup to play the European way with Windebank preferring a attacking looking formation with the passing cultured passing tactic.

Lisbon dominated the opening 20 minutes but despite multiple efforts they could not get an advantage on the score board and Windebank ordered his players to go for the throat. This lead to endless attacks for Lisbon but it was Frankfurt who took the lead just before half time when Dimarco found Juanmi who hit the back of the net.

Frankfurt parked the bus and the half ended 1-0 to the German side despite Lisbon dominating the game.

Sporting Lisbon needed to get into the game quickly and it only took three minutes into the 2nd half for Lisbon to draw level. Devyne Rensch found Matteo Politano who unleashed a pile driver that the Frankfurt keeper could do nothing about.

In the 63rd minute the Frankfurt keeper brought Lewandowski down in the area and the Lisbon top scorer made no mistake to score his 30th goal of the season and give Lisbon an important 2-1 lead.

The game was put out of sight in the 90th minute when Rensch again became provider this time finding Rick Karsdorp who lobbed the keeper to make the score 3-1.

Sporting Lisbon dominated possession with 57% creating 14 chances to Frankfurt's 11 with Lisbon having 8 shots on target to Frankfurt's 5.

Windebank Post Match Comments

We had to dig really deep today and I am very happy that despite going a goal down against the run of play and with Frankfurt deciding to park the bus we were able to turn the game around and secure three points.

The Real Madrid winning machine keeps chuffing along and although it is not mathematically impossible for us to still win the League it is now looking very unlikely the Spanish Giants are going to drop points.

We need to forget about that and try and win as many of the last 5 games and see where that takes us.