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League Game 1 -
Barcelona 4 Marseille 1
Suicidal style set up from the visitors and yet we only went in goalless at half time. Thankfully we finally took advantage of the numerous chances we were creating in the 2nd half but we walk away feeling a little bit underwhelmed at the outcome. The likes of Roma would have hit double figures against this type of kamikaze approach.
Shouldn't moan I suppose but this game tells us nothing really, a testing trip to Atletico on Friday will give me a better idea of what kind of a season we're likely to have.
Before that a tricky cup game against Fiorentina. Under no illusions what kind of challenge that will be against an experienced and very capable manager particularly as we'll be without our star striker after he stupidly got himself sent off right at the death.
League Game 2 -
Atletico Madrid 2 Barcelona 5
The score line certainly flatters us, we had one more shot on target so obviously 5-2 isn't a fair reflection of how tight the game was.
Nevertheless we're delighted to pick up 3 points at such a tough venue and against one of the teams we'd be expecting to be competing with towards the top end of the table. Jesus was back from suspension and was electric today scoring with all 3 of his shots.
A good first week for us but we know how quickly things can change so we're certainly not getting carried away.
Unlucky Marshy
League Game 3 -
Barcelona 2 Napoli 1
A far from vintage performance but we did enough to merit the win and are one of the five EFL1 clubs who enjoy a 100% record at this very early stage of the season. Good to see Mahrez and Malinovskyi both finally break their duck.
Next up an extremely tough EFL Cup clash against PSG. Feels like we've drawn them in the early rounds of this competition for the last 4 seasons or so. We've a very good record against them but as always we go in as underdogs and will need to be at our very best to progress.
League Game 4 -
Barcelona 2 Lazio 2
An open and action packed game of football with a share of the spoils the right result. Lazio set out to counter us and immediately took the lead but they changed their approach thereafter and we got level. A first half injury to our best defender didn't help and when Lazio took the lead again in the 84th minute I feared the worst but thankfully substitute Aubameyang got us the point that we deserved in injury time.
It's a game we were looking to win but Lazio are a strong side and on their day can cause anyone a problem. The main positive we can take is that we didn't lose again on the back of our midweek cup exit.
Christensen will miss our trip to Leverkusen so we'll need to shuffle the pack for that one.
Played Drum/Gaz
League Game 5 -
Bayer Leverkusen 0 Barcelona 4
The home side had tactical advantage quite a few times during the course of the game and there's no question the score line is extremely harsh on them. We merited the win but certainly not by that margin.
Defender Berchiche with another double and at this early stage of the season he finds himself as our top scorer. However it was back up midfielder Drexler who was the real star of the show. He only started due to Christensen being suspended but helped himself to 3 assists and a MOTM performance.
Next up a trip to Manchester to face City in the Champions League and it'll be a real privilege to lock horns with the absolute GOAT of FFO managers.
League Game 6 -
Barcelona 0 Paris Saint Germain 0
We lost narrowly to PSG's ultra negative 7 man defensive counter attacking approach in the cup so we weren't falling into that trap again and matched their C tactic but with a 42112 set up.
It was actually a reasonable game for a goalless draw with a good few chances and unquestionably the draw was the right outcome. It's not a brilliant result for us but it's far from a disaster against a team that probably only 2 or 3 of our players would get into.
It's been an interesting start to the league season with a couple of surprise packages leading the way and we're content enough with how we've performed in our first 6 games.
Played Ed
League Game 7 -
Real Sociedad 0 Barcelona 4
A good performance away to a side who have started the season well. We set up to pass knowing we’d probably get countered but hoping that having superior players would make the difference and no doubt that was the case.
Pleased to see all of our front 3 amongst the goals but the main thing was the 3 points as we try to keep track with the teams above. We’ve had a pretty kind start to the season in terms of who we’ve played but that is about to change from this point on.
All the best for the rest of the season Freddie
League Game 8 -
Barcelona 4 Real Madrid 5
The closeness of the final score doesn’t reflect the dominance that Madrid had, we rattled in 3 late goals to make it look more respectable but we were well beaten.
In fairness I’m abroad at the moment and my last 3 sheets have just been resubmitted as I don’t have time or access to do one properly. I would probably have played C as we did against PSG recently but that’s on me.
Home tonight so no excuses for tomorrow’s game.
Played Steve
League Game 9 -
Red Bull Leipzig 1 Barcelona 2
We fell behind immediately but didn't panic and were level soon after. Thereafter it was an even game that genuinely could have gone either way but with both sides switching to attacking late on it was our prolific defender Berchiche who struck in the 90th minute to snatch us a fortunate win (even if some managers would say we deserved it as we won the 'shot count')
Very hard luck on the home side who worked our GK on several occasions and I certainly wouldn't have begrudged them a share of the spoils but we're extremely grateful for the 3 points particularly with a horror run of games coming against 4 sides in the top 8.
A few of our players are attracting attention elsewhere so we have a few decisions to make. We've been a bit quieter in the transfer market of late but the temptation is always there...
Unlucky Matty - sorry mate
Barcelona 4 Marseille 1
Suicidal style set up from the visitors and yet we only went in goalless at half time. Thankfully we finally took advantage of the numerous chances we were creating in the 2nd half but we walk away feeling a little bit underwhelmed at the outcome. The likes of Roma would have hit double figures against this type of kamikaze approach.
Shouldn't moan I suppose but this game tells us nothing really, a testing trip to Atletico on Friday will give me a better idea of what kind of a season we're likely to have.
Before that a tricky cup game against Fiorentina. Under no illusions what kind of challenge that will be against an experienced and very capable manager particularly as we'll be without our star striker after he stupidly got himself sent off right at the death.
League Game 2 -
Atletico Madrid 2 Barcelona 5
The score line certainly flatters us, we had one more shot on target so obviously 5-2 isn't a fair reflection of how tight the game was.
Nevertheless we're delighted to pick up 3 points at such a tough venue and against one of the teams we'd be expecting to be competing with towards the top end of the table. Jesus was back from suspension and was electric today scoring with all 3 of his shots.
A good first week for us but we know how quickly things can change so we're certainly not getting carried away.
Unlucky Marshy
League Game 3 -
Barcelona 2 Napoli 1
A far from vintage performance but we did enough to merit the win and are one of the five EFL1 clubs who enjoy a 100% record at this very early stage of the season. Good to see Mahrez and Malinovskyi both finally break their duck.
Next up an extremely tough EFL Cup clash against PSG. Feels like we've drawn them in the early rounds of this competition for the last 4 seasons or so. We've a very good record against them but as always we go in as underdogs and will need to be at our very best to progress.
League Game 4 -
Barcelona 2 Lazio 2
An open and action packed game of football with a share of the spoils the right result. Lazio set out to counter us and immediately took the lead but they changed their approach thereafter and we got level. A first half injury to our best defender didn't help and when Lazio took the lead again in the 84th minute I feared the worst but thankfully substitute Aubameyang got us the point that we deserved in injury time.
It's a game we were looking to win but Lazio are a strong side and on their day can cause anyone a problem. The main positive we can take is that we didn't lose again on the back of our midweek cup exit.
Christensen will miss our trip to Leverkusen so we'll need to shuffle the pack for that one.
Played Drum/Gaz
League Game 5 -
Bayer Leverkusen 0 Barcelona 4
The home side had tactical advantage quite a few times during the course of the game and there's no question the score line is extremely harsh on them. We merited the win but certainly not by that margin.
Defender Berchiche with another double and at this early stage of the season he finds himself as our top scorer. However it was back up midfielder Drexler who was the real star of the show. He only started due to Christensen being suspended but helped himself to 3 assists and a MOTM performance.
Next up a trip to Manchester to face City in the Champions League and it'll be a real privilege to lock horns with the absolute GOAT of FFO managers.
League Game 6 -
Barcelona 0 Paris Saint Germain 0
We lost narrowly to PSG's ultra negative 7 man defensive counter attacking approach in the cup so we weren't falling into that trap again and matched their C tactic but with a 42112 set up.
It was actually a reasonable game for a goalless draw with a good few chances and unquestionably the draw was the right outcome. It's not a brilliant result for us but it's far from a disaster against a team that probably only 2 or 3 of our players would get into.
It's been an interesting start to the league season with a couple of surprise packages leading the way and we're content enough with how we've performed in our first 6 games.
Played Ed
League Game 7 -
Real Sociedad 0 Barcelona 4
A good performance away to a side who have started the season well. We set up to pass knowing we’d probably get countered but hoping that having superior players would make the difference and no doubt that was the case.
Pleased to see all of our front 3 amongst the goals but the main thing was the 3 points as we try to keep track with the teams above. We’ve had a pretty kind start to the season in terms of who we’ve played but that is about to change from this point on.
All the best for the rest of the season Freddie
League Game 8 -
Barcelona 4 Real Madrid 5
The closeness of the final score doesn’t reflect the dominance that Madrid had, we rattled in 3 late goals to make it look more respectable but we were well beaten.
In fairness I’m abroad at the moment and my last 3 sheets have just been resubmitted as I don’t have time or access to do one properly. I would probably have played C as we did against PSG recently but that’s on me.
Home tonight so no excuses for tomorrow’s game.
Played Steve
League Game 9 -
Red Bull Leipzig 1 Barcelona 2
We fell behind immediately but didn't panic and were level soon after. Thereafter it was an even game that genuinely could have gone either way but with both sides switching to attacking late on it was our prolific defender Berchiche who struck in the 90th minute to snatch us a fortunate win (even if some managers would say we deserved it as we won the 'shot count')
Very hard luck on the home side who worked our GK on several occasions and I certainly wouldn't have begrudged them a share of the spoils but we're extremely grateful for the 3 points particularly with a horror run of games coming against 4 sides in the top 8.
A few of our players are attracting attention elsewhere so we have a few decisions to make. We've been a bit quieter in the transfer market of late but the temptation is always there...
Unlucky Matty - sorry mate
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