Post Match Reactions - CL Round 1

[JB@Norwich]

Post Match Reactions - CL Round 1

Errors
Arsenal - cant bring on a 3rd DM
Man United - cant bring on a 5th FW

[Ian]

Real Madrid 0-0 Leeds United

I expected a tough game here and got one. Tims Leeds United don't have the fine record they do over the years in the Premier League by chance, they are a well run outfit. For the majority of this tie we played against a tactical advantage and that certainly suppressed our efforts but with 5 games to go we have no reason for concern.

[Steve@ManUtd]

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-4 Arsenal

There is no way this one should've ended up a 4 goal defeat but it's the way the game goes. There is something just not clicking with us, we gave a decent account of ourselves but unfortunately seem to have gone back a few seasons to a feeble defence. YEs, a rushed sheet lead to a few odd changes but even so, man for man we was in the tie as much as anything and now we're right up against it. I've bemoaned our luck with C, we got countered for most of the game for sure, but when we utilise that tactic its neither here nor there even with the old fashioned tactical advantage.

It's the way it goes, we'll keep going is all we can do, the results need to improve but performance wise we're doing enough surprisingly.

The error picked up by JB, wasn't picked up in the checker again, so looks like we could end up with more points if the tool isn't compatible enough for the game engine.

[Tim@Leeds]

Real Madrid 0-0 Leeds United

This was a very close contest which probably ended fairly for all involved. They had more shots on goal but we had more on target, possession was negligible. So it probably finished about right.
They initially went E to counter our C which I thought was quite brave and was interested to see how it panned out but they quickly changed tactics so that we had the advantage. I’ll take a point away in Madrid any day of the week so we are pleased with the draw here in the first game of this impossibly difficult group.
It gives us a solid platform, Burnley beating Juve makes for an interesting start. I think, if we can win our 3 home games we should have done enough, so that needs to be our focus.

Played Ian.

[Steve@Chelsea]

Chelsea 2 - 1 Sporting Lisbon

This was a game in which it was vital that we didn't lose even at this early stage. Deploying a 19 rated goalkeeper didn't fare well verses Barnsley so our hopes were tempered going into this one. We went behind in the game on 32 minutes and we feared the worst. Thankfully we restricted Lisbon's shots, and Odegaard and Berchiche scored for us to turn the tables our way mid way through the second half. A 25-8 shot count shows a solid enough win, but with the chink in your armour between the nets, you can never be confident so we are delighted to pick up three points from our first game in the group.

[AB@Juventus]

Burnley 1 - 0 Juventus


A really poor way to start the group stage, against a team who we’ve had our way with in the previous two Champions League campaigns.

We both set up similarly with us both playing C. The hosts flicked between C and E and at half time it was level at 0-0 but shortly after the restart Burnley took the lead. Not while playing E and countering us but C and matching us, frustrating.

We switched to A but couldn’t find a way through the Burnley defence and we were sent packing back to Italy with our tail between our legs.

Statistically it was a very even game so we’re disappointed not to pick something up from the game as we feel we have the stronger squad. Perhaps Camavinga being injured was a bigger blow for us than we had expected.

A very stop/start beginning to our season, we need to become more consistent and grind these kinds of results out like Burnley have today. And our lack of goals is something I’d pointed to in a previous PMR and it seems to be an issue still with us failing to score from 9 shots on target.

Good game Simon

[Darren]

Manchester United 0 - 4 Arsenal

Away at Man Utd isn't the ideal fixtures to start this seasons Champions League but we return back to North London with the best possible outcome, a four nil win and clean sheet to boot.

A slightly different set up from our point but everything clicked and to be leading three nil at half time with a double from Asprilla and one from Pino, we knew that we had the game in the bag and then it was capped off soon into the second half when Pino got his second of the game to make it four.

All in all, a solid performance away at a tough place, were the stats worthy of a four nil win ? Im not sure but we more than deserved the three points to get our Champions League campaign off to the best possible start which will go a long way with the quality of side in our group.

Played Steveo.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 7 - 2 Newcastle

PSG were in seventh heaven, winning their 7th game from 8 in all competitions, scoring seven goals for the 3rd time this season. The visitors held their own in the opening exchanges, equalising twice inside the first 11 minutes. The game was uneventful for the next 20 minutes until the hosts changed gears in the 30th minute, adding another five without reply. The goal difference could prove to be useful in determining who tops the group.