Post Match Reaction - Round 3

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing Sheets


Errors
Byl - Horvath not in roster

[Steve@Chelsea]

Real Madrid 2 - 0 Sevilla

Sevilla are always a tricky team to play against as you never know what you're going to get. Like a box of chocolates... We went into a two goal lead at half time and I was hoping to see us push on and grab a 3rd in the 2nd half but the second 45 minutes was a stalemate and we walk away with the three points and a 100% record, sitting ontop of the league alongside the other big 2 who have also won all three games.

Decided not to sub on Mendy on 60 minutes in this one for rotation, and it paid off as Guimares came off injured on 62 minutes. So instead of a 14 rater coming on we got Mendy coming on which is an advantage of that way of doing things and one we will probably do going forward depending on our opponents and the game situation.

[Derek]

Roma 4 3 Dortmund

The game with everything. 8 FW's. 7 goals. Sending off. 2 own goals and a late winner.

Credit to Niall for having a good go at Roma and was nearly rewarded with a draw. Maybe proving attack is the best form of defense?

Firmino popped up with a late winner to keep us in touch with the big boys.

gg Niall

[Freddie]

Lyon 2-2 Sociedad

Excellent result where we nearly nicked three points. A relatively even game with the home side just edging the possession, we looked dangerous on the counter and Dolberg up front was in lethal form. Lyon are a classy side though and showed their ability to get back into the game.
Four points after three games is not bad at all and it we can keep picking up points like this we have a good chance of staying up.
Played Jason, good game.

[Marshy@Atletico]

PSG 2 Atletico Madrid 0

GG Ed

The first big test of the season against a side who had a fortress throughout last season. These trips need careful planning and some fortune to come away with a result. Plans were ripped up when losing Mancini for the game and fortune was not in the away sides favor. Overall a shot count of 13-11 would have been taken all day prior to kick off and 6-7 times out of 10 would perhaps be enough to gain a result. Unfortunately PSG scored with their opening attack, were awarded a penalty and win seemed more straight-forward than the statistics suggested. Atletico's situation was not helped by losing their DM Sessegnon on 50 minutes to be replaced by an attacking midfielder, something for the manager to think about in future teamsheets.

Manager Simon Marsh commented "We are naturally disappointed to fail today but the performance overall was decent. It already feels like the title race is 3-way with those sides on 9 points but we will scrap and battle the best we can".

Positives are the increase in passing to Mbabu now a 19-17-4 player.
Further negative was the news that Sessegnon misses 3 games with injury starting with Man City away in the champions league.

Manager Simon Marsh added "Probably the second least player we would have chosen to be missing for the difficult game but we will have to try and find a way around it. Its a devastating blow as the champions league draw was terribly cruel so we need full sides to give us a chance. The draw was rather bizarre also with us having 3 away games in the first 3 games, likely facing an uphill struggle in the second half of the mini-league".

[AB@Juventus]

RB Leipzig 1 - 2 Juventus

A close game which we didn't expect today. We came in with an all out attack mindset looking at the quality difference between the two teams.

It took just 5 minutes against TA for us to take the lead, but then the hosts came at us and we switched up to P, leading to Leipzig's goal just 3 minutes after we'd taken the lead.

Back to C vs our A and we started to control the game, leading to the eventual game's winning goal 8 minutes before the break.

Into the second half and we continued to control the game but at 2-1 the game was still in the balance but we managed to see out the game to win the game.

Statistically we were the better team and well worth the win. After a tough start we've gained some valuable points, hopefully this can continue.

Good game Mike.

[Livi@Liverpool]

AC Milan 3 Barcelona 2

Terrific game and one we're extremely unfortunate to have lost but c'est la vie.

Milan took a 2 goal lead within TWO minutes with their counter attacking approach and promptly switched to D. We proceeded to throw the kitchen sink at them for the next 80 mins upon which Saint_Maximin notched his 2nd goal to make the score 2-2. Our late equaliser awoke Milan from their slumber and they joined our attacking approach and lo and behold it was the home side who were rewarded with an 87th min winner. A 21-8 shot count in our favour not enough as we were taught a lesson in making the most of your chances.

Tough to take but we've got to be better defensively if we want to win these types of game.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 2 Atletico Madrid 0
Not a great performance but its the result that matters. Stats were pretty even and i presume our better GK and FWs were the difference. Faced a lazy C and we managed to get our noses in front on our first attack. We then managed to miss a penalty and a single goal lead is always precarious. But we stood firm and kept a second clean sheet. we seem to have managed to tighten up after last seasons kamikaze approach, with only lazio conceding less goals. Annoyingly the missed penalty costs up top spot. Next up another likely lazy C from Leverkusen, who surprisingly sit in 4th place.

GG and Unlucky Marshy

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Napoli 3-4 Leverkusen

A topsy turvy side against a good team managed by Chris Waters. 1-0 down to 1-1. 3-1 down, to then switch to A and score 3 goals within 10 minutes to make it 4-3.

The game looked very even, but we are delighted to take 3 points away from home to make it 7 points from 3 games, our best start in years.

Up next we have PSG away from home….. guaranteed win last season.

Good game Chris

[Matias@Barca]

AC Milan 3 - 2 Barcelona

We hit first, we hit hard and then went to sleep.

It was a bad setup for tactical to throw the game while winning, should have thought of a more offensive stance. We gave them the chance to tie us, and they could have won it, lucky for us we woke up from the nap with enough time to give a last punch and keep the 3 points at home.

Good to be back on the victory track after two defeats, now to keep the good week up with a win vs Brighton.

GG Livi.

[Drum@Villa]

Lazio 1 - 0 Bayern Munich

absolutely dominated the boss lol,

well on the stats we can see that’s a crap statement,

somehow someway we actually managed to score and somehow run out winners,

jb will somehow scratch his head with his 10 shots on target and wonder how he didn’t score even 1,

one of the days gaffer.

Aouar scores the winner on 8 minutes but Semedo shows how Bayern attacked by getting MOM.

gg jb.

[Guest]

Marseille 2 - 1 Inter Milan

On paper we knew we had the stronger side and had an idea that Marseille wouldnt change from what they have did to maximise the GK abs so we had a fantastic chance to get an away win here today but we never got going, we countered Marseille and found ourselfs one nil down, we then opened up ans found ourselfs 2 nil down, it was one of those games that just wasnt making sense and well we scored on the 49th minute and had the stats heavily in our favour but found ourselfs losing, it seems a theme so far this season as we have now lost 2, drew 1 and won 1 which is poor by our standards. GG mate and well played

[ChrisS]

Posted in wrong forum this morning....not enough coffee yet.

Sporting Lisbon 2 - 2 Schalke

Sporting jumped to a quick lead but the lads were resilient and managed to grab the lead with just over 15 minutes left. A tactical change by Sporting caught us off guard and ultimately led to an equalizer in the closing minutes.

Auction signing V_Castellanos opened his account for the campaign scoring a brace. He was later awarded Man of the Match. Looks as though Castellanos is finding his footing in the squad. There has been no shortage of attempts but until this match he has come up empty.

Statistically, Sporting dominated which is going to be expected for us as the newcomers to the league. Points are still going to be hard to come by but getting our first 3 matches in is a nice boost.

Good game Gary.

[Johnboy]

Rangers 3 - Monaco 0

Following a disappointing, but not unexpected, result at home to PSG we retained faith in the formation that lost against PSG but with Pereira restored to the starting 11 following his suspension.

As happened against PSG within 12 minutes of the match starting we were 2-0 down as Weghorst bagged a brace for Rangers. As against PSG that prompted Monaco to try and shut up shop and we got to to half time without conceding again.

Just before the hour mark Rangers scored a third through Torres following a massive deflection but that was the only goalmouth action of the second half.

As with the Napoli game earlier in the season this is a game that we should have got something out of but it wasn't to be. 1 shot on target and only 4 attempts on goal suggest that the problems are in the attacking third but the money just isn't there to bring in more strength.

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