Post Match Reactions - CL Group Stage Game 1

[JB@Norwich]

Post Match Reactions - Group Stage Game 1

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[Steve@ManUtd]

Real Madrid 4-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

We deserved to lose but the scoreline is very deceptive and I don't think it was a 4 goal game. We certainly was in the tie with both teams plsaying cagey football. We lost the first goal and stayed in it but once we went gang ho, gaps appeared and 3 goals in the final quarter went in. Certainly was the wrong approach as once again we can't play expansive against counter attacking football, which has been out problem for a number of seasons.

What can I say, its another poor start in Europe for sure and its truely frustrating but it is what it is well just have to try and right the wrong.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 2 - 3 AC Milan

Farcical result which vindicates our decision to just play A every game. If we are going to concede 3 goals from 5 shots faced (17 from 54 for the season) we certainly wont be winning anything, so may as well just make the most of a bad situation. On paper this was the easiest of our 6 group games, so we best get as much as we can from the 6 group games. With the extra abs per save it is difficult to get negative abs in the CL, but our guy managed it, and is still on negative abs for the season.Can't really take any positives from the game, and the triple CL is now looking unlikely if we cannot beat the weakest team in the group on home soil.

[Freddie]

RMA 4-0 Man Utd

Professional job done. We got the early lead and to be honest didn't really look in much danger of conceding. United switched it up near half time to a normal tactical approach, then with about a quarter of the game left went all out attack and that's when we took full advantage to fire a further three goals home. Lots of good performances all round and a positive start the CL group stages.

[Ant]

Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich

A close game despite the 2 goal score line. Set up for TA as we thought they'd be too strong otherwise. They were too strong anyway! It will be interesting to try find a good formation and tactical balance for when we play stronger sides than us (everyone in the CL and about 8 sides in the league). Positive news we managed to get a defender's passing to 19. Europe is going to be super tough, and this group is insane.

Good game Darren, all the best.

[Steve@Chelsea]

Spurs 3 - 2 Chelsea

We took the lead early on through Doku having gambled on the old E away. The game ebbed back and forth 1-2, 3-2 to Spurs and was heading towards being a classic when unfortunately Lamptey got sent off for us on 38 minutes. Playing with 10 men away to the Prem Champions wasn't ideal. Funnily enough, there was no further goals and Chelsea still had a equal share of the stats despite being down to 10 men. We can count ourselves unlucky, as with 11 on the pitch I'd fancy ourselves to get back into it especially that early on. The red card killed the game and the ref should be having serious questions asked of him, as a 2nd yellow card for an alledged 'holding foul' is extremely harsh, and probably qute frankly corrupt.

[Marshy@Atletico]

Southampton 1 - 3 Atletico Madrid

Aletico Madrid probably go in to this seasons Champions League with their strongest chance of going deep. They missed out last season on a technically despite finishing 8th but gained some valuable european experience by winning the DPT. Marsh has set his side the target of reaching the semi-finals for the first time.

The journey started with a bang.......

8 minutes in and star defender Skriniar carried off the field 24-17-13 reduced to a 16-13-5
9 minutes gone and Martinez leaves the field for the third time this season in only 6 games and the goalkeeper skills is reduced 26 to 24.

Thankfully Atletico pulled ranks and dug in to more than match the home side and then in and around the half time interval the game changed.

Muani opened the scoring on 40
Southamptons Molina was sent off on 46
Osimhen made it 0-2 and the game was as good as won.

Atletico took advantage of the extra man winning the shot count 12-22 overall.

Marsh commented "Its a great start to win away at a side that did really well in the close season to rebuild a squad who are challenging at the top of the premier league. To do is against that early adversity was great character from the lads".

Skriniar will miss 2 matches with injury
Martinez has avoided any injury but there are concerns for his health given his repeated leaving the field.

[Livi@Liverpool]

Liverpool 1 Man City 0

Both sides started with fairly similar and conservative counter attacking approaches which led to a fairly dull encounter which is pretty much what we were aiming for - we aren't talented enough to open up against the better sides.

The hope was that we could keep things tight and maybe pinch a goal and that's pretty much how it played out with Grealish scoring just before the hour mark. We created very little and Nick will rightly feel hard done by at losing. That said it's a great result for us to kick off our first Champions League campaign in a long time. It really is only a good start though, there is still a long long way to go in a very tough group.

Paris Saint Germain next so it certainly doesn't get any easier especially as they will be desperate to get a result after losing to Milan.

[Darren]

Arsenal 2 - 0 Bayern Munich

We kick off this seasons Champions League off with a very good win at home against Bayern Munich, the side that very nearly tempted me to leave Arsenal for during the pre season. One of the best young rosters in the game and still a strong side, we didn't take it lightly and as Ant said, it was a pretty close game that fortunately went for us with goals coming from Giminez and Olise.

We yet again find ourselves drawn in a very tough group so to get started with a win and a clean sheet is exactly what we wanted. Next up is a journey to face Freddy and his new Real Madrid side who have also started well so we will need to be at our best for that one.

Played Ant, all the best for the season.