#Madrid's Title Defense (Highlights Madrid's goal)

[football-emperora]

Best football trios we'd miss

The definition of "trio" is "the group of three people or things". Today, the word trio only resonates in our heads when these three stick together. While these players have phenomenal individual stats, they have blended really well to create good teammates that can wreck havoc on the opponent on the pitch. In this post we'd be talking about the greatest football trio in recent times, how they got separated, and their current status. Here's a list of football trios (in recent times) that will greatly be missed. If you didn't get to witness them, I advise you to watch their highlights on YouTube!

Messi - Neymar - Suarez The Trinity was brought together by Luis Enrique (ex-Barcelona coach). During their time, Messi was the best number 10, Suarez was the best number 9, and Neymar was the best number 11. You can imagine the kind of chaos FC Barcelona cooked for the world with that combo. This football trio scored more goals than the entire Madrid squad in 2015 with 122 goals! They went on to break their own record the next year with 131 goals. They are arguably the best goal scoring trio in football They have one Champions League, two La Liga titles, and one Club World Cup, including a treble. All these in four seasons. The fun fact about this trio? They are good friends off the pitch. It ended when Neymar left for PSG for a record-breaking fee of 222 million as the most expensive signing at the time. Currently, Neymar and Messi play for PSG, while Suarez is yet to find a new club after leaving Atletico Madrid.

Mo Salah - Roberto Firmino - Sadio Mane Jurgen Klopp brought Liverpool back to it's glory days with these three. This football trio were so fast, they could tear defense apart in minutes. Roberto Firmino helped with his intelligence while Salah and Mane with their dribbling skills and speed. They complemented each other so well that the broke plenty of goal records under Klopp. They helped Liverpool win their first league title in about 30 years, entered the champions league finals three times in four years, winning one of them, and a club world cup. The trio scored a total of 250 goals together. In 2022 they got broken apart by Mane who forced a move to Bayern Munich. Salah and Firmino still remain at Liverpool.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale At the time of MSN, Real Madrid needed something similar to match up their arch rivals FC Barcelona. The BBC trio proved to be competent enough to do so. The football trio scored 97 goals in their first year together. They spear-headed the record breaking Champions League three-peat, all having note worthy UCL final goals. And four Champions League trophies in total. In addition to the two La Liga titles won. They redefined the counter-attacking style of football in their time. They broke apart after five years when Cristiano moved to Juventus. Currently, Benzema is still playing for Madrid, Bale plays for an American team, MLS, while Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to his childhood team, Manchester United.

Xavi, Iniesta and Busquest We still don't know how Pep Guardiola cooked this but they'd go down as the most perfect Midfield trio in recent years. The fun part? They are all Spanish players, meaning they played together for club and country and the three were starters! They were know for their great passing abilities and vision. They were the heart of the team at the time. Xavi and Iniesta remain the only two midfielders to appear in the Ballon d'or top 3 more than once! From 2008-2015, they won't 3X UCL, 5X La Liga, and 2X CWC, excluding some other minor cups not mentioned. They broke up when Xavi left in 2015. Currently, Xavi coaches FC Barcelona, Iniesta plays for a Chinese club and Busquest still a Barcelona player. In conclusion, it is a dream of every football club to have their players team up together, to create magic that beautifies the moment. The easiest way this can be achieved is when players have a good relationship on and off the pitch. Also, getting more playing time together. Other trios not mentioned above include:

Neymar - Mbappe - Cavani: They got broken up when Cavani left for Manchester united. Currently, Neymar and Mbappe still play for PSG while Cavani is yet to find a new club as he has run out of contract with Manchester united. Ribery - Robern - Robert Lewandoski: They got broken up in 2019, when Ajren Robben and Franck Ribery left the club at the same time. Currently, Lewandoski plays for FC Barcelona, Ajren Robben came back from retirement to play for his boyhood club Groningen while Franck Ribery plays for Serie A club Salernitana. Don't forget Modric, Kroos and Casimero. I didn't add them because they are yet to be separated. Which of these trio do you consider the greatest? drop your thoughts in the comment box below. Read the full article

[jbaeteng]

David in BOA #2 Mar 2019

What do you lose if you win everything? David Alaba and Jérôme talk about victories and defeats - on and off the pitch

The Munich Glockenbachviertel on a mild February afternoon. David Alaba appears with mirrored sunglasses in the photo studio, where the shoot for this issue is to take place. Jérôme is already there, receiving his teammate in the dressing room. A handshake, a smile, then the funk starts. Jérôme says to the make-up artist: "Please put a lot of make-up on David's skin." David soon gets his revenge in the photo studio as he grunts at Boateng with a grin. The native Viennese and the native Berliner do not need a long warm-up to get in the mood. It's Travis Scott. Between the recordings David Alaba dances in the studio, Jérôme raps.

Both of them actually came here to talk to us about a big topic of life: about victories and defeats, sporty and personal. As defenders, they are at least sporty, so our guess. On the plus side: Both won together with the team of FC Bayern six German championships, three DFB Cups and a Champions League trophy. But they also know what it means to lose. The tragic »Finale dahoam« 2012. The repeated defeats in the European Champions League against Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. And if the individual form did not fit, the critics did not deal with the two tenderly. As a professional footballer they learned early that even fame and recognition can be lost quickly. As people, they learned how difficult it is to make friends and meet women when you can not even walk on a street unrecognized. So what do you lose when you have won almost everything? We have a few questions. Here we go.

David and Jérôme, is winning an addiction?

D Maybe already, but a positive addiction. J To win a big title in a big stadium is like a rush, an absolute feeling of happiness. And if I'm not allowed to play, for example because I'm hurt, I can not wait to get back on the pitch. It tingles in me. I do not know many addictions, but maybe the term is actually quite good. You give your all to get back in the field as fast as possible, to play, and yes, to win. It was a dream as a child.

What's better: playing in front of 70 000 spectators in the stadium or sex?

J Depends on how sex is. But if you ask me for the best feeling I can remember, the answer is not difficult. That was the moment when we became world champions in Rio de Janeiro. Even in Brazil, where football is almost a religion. I still can not believe it.

David, was triple-year 2013 the biggest in your career for you? D Yes, clearly, that was enormous. When I think about how much power that cost back then, how many victims we had to bring, physically and mentally, to collect the harvest in the end, to become German Champion, Champions League winner and cup winner. But equally emotionally were my two debuts at Bayern and in the Austrian national team. These were events that I did not dare to  even dream about as a little boy in Vienna. I also think there are many different highlights in a career, sometimes they can be very small, but they are meaningful to you personally. J That's right. For example, if you can save the ball on the goal line in a game and know that this really helps the team in the situation, because this again forces are released. As at the EM 2016.

Is a big stadium necessary for great feelings of victory, or is this also possible on a football pitch? D victories in front of great audience, of course in the home stadium in particular, but also in the legendary arenas such as Madrid, London or Dortmund are always something incredible that I can hardly get used to. The feeling of victory on the football field can also be moving. I still remember how I kicked in the small squares of Vienna as a teenager. Since I never thought that it is about nothing. On the contrary, buffets are about something that most even consider most sacred - honor. J I can only confirm that. Emotions take place in the huge stadium as well as on a small playing field. If I bet with my friends on the pitch, who wins, it can get down to business.

When were you last on a football field?

J I gambled with mates in my garden in Munich in September. We played three against three. Although I watch a bit in a duel, you do not want to hurt yourself - but I have to win already! D He then chooses the teams so that he does not have to do much, but still wins.

How long does the feeling of happiness last after winning a trophy? D Our profession is fast-paced. When the new season comes, the last title is immediately forgotten. In addition, you should not lose as a Bayern player actually. Otherwise, the pressure will quickly increase and everything in the media will be called into question. This has been seen again in the first round. J One must also remember that one was hardly used to defeats at Bayern. This is not supposed to sound overbearing, but controlling the League as much as our team for several seasons changes the mindset of all players and maybe even the people around it. Victories are the norm. If, as in this first round, we suddenly do not win in almost every Bundesliga game but lose ourselves at home, it is suddenly a new feeling that we all have to deal with. That also unsettled us as a team. It is all the better if you can fight back, as at the beginning of the second half, when we approached Dortmund. That gave a boost.

Do defeats have a longer after-effect than victories? J In any case. I can not lose, I've never been able to, not even in my youth. If I lose, my mood is often legendary lousy for days. It can happen that I can not speak for anyone, listen to music, nothing else. Only my two daughters can get me out of this condition, for example if they want to get on my arm. Then I feel better.

Do not you also console all the titles you already have? D Unfortunately not. What lies behind us does not matter anymore. If Jérôme and I slip through in the defense, it does not help much that we both won the triple years ago. But that's also the cool thing about sports. With every kick-off, it starts again.

David, how do you deal with setbacks? D defeats affect me very differently, depending on how the game was. If you lose in the first round against Borussia Mönchengladbach, that's not nice. Worse, the defeat last season felt in the semifinals in the Champions League. That's where we went against Real Madrid, even though we were the better team. This is especially bitter. You work towards the goal of winning the Champions League for so long - and suddenly it's all over, even though you were better.

These weeks will decide if you will end this season as a felt winner or loser. Does it also depend on you feeling like a winner or loser for one summer? D At least I can say that if you win the Champions League then you're in a different mood for a summer. In the summer of 2013, I definitely shot down a few rockets! J Yes, but if I fly out of such an important competition unhappily, I need my peace first. Then I can not go on holiday with friends and celebrate parties, but stay with the family, which brings me to other thoughts. Everyone has their own methods to deal with disappointments. I am a believer, draw my strength from it. I pray and read in the Bible. I do that in front of almost every game in the hotel room and afterwards when I get home.

Do you always want to win when playing Monopoly, Cards or PlayStation? J As I said: I can not lose, no matter where. I get extremely angry then. Especially if I feel that I have been treated unfairly. D I'm fine too. If I lose, everything is unfair. But you have to explain that we both play rather little. In the team, others are the gamer.

Do you have the feeling that you are winning or losing on important match days in the morning?

J Yes, I have. And mostly the feeling comes true.

D I have it too, but if I have a bad feeling in the morning, I try to deal with it, leave the negative thoughts aside, and concentrate on more positive things. This sometimes works.

Is it true that the coaching in the half-time break can decide on victory or defeat? J The speeches are very important. The team listens closely to how the coach talks about individual players. That makes a huge difference. When the coach proves to be sensitive and sets the right tone, we attack players in a different way.

Which coaches have reached you the best? D Hard to say, everyone has their own style.

J For me, Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola were the best coaches. Tactically, Pep was the best I met. He just saw almost everything in the square. Jupp and Pep have personally motivated me most in the cabin.

Who did not do that well? D I want to clean up with a common misconception. If it does not work, it is often said that the coach does not reach the team anymore. That's true in the rarest cases. Most of the time it's up to something else. J I have seldom experienced that. If anything, there was a language barrier. That was the case with Carlo Ancelotti, who spoke a lot of Italian. Since we could not communicate so well. In addition came the getting used of Peps football to Carlos football. These were two different ways of looking at the way you play football. The transition was very complex.

When do you get more WhatsApp messages from friends and acquaintances: when you won or when you lost? D I get more news on wins. J In my case, that keeps the balance. More importantly, the bigger the game, the more messages I have on my phone. If we've lost, there are actually only two varieties: either "head up, well played" or "Can I be in the next game?"

Many well-known people report that success and fame also lead to a very different profit, namely to a significant increase in new friends, acquaintances and those who would like it. Can you confirm that? D Yes, there is something in it. There are so-called friends who are only there for you if you give them the crème de la crème of one. And there are the real friends who always there for you. So I had to learn to deal with it. I had to build up human knowledge. And I also had to part with one or the other. J I imagine that I am careful enough and only slowly open myself to new people. That's my protection.

Do you sometimes notice how other professionals are flocking gold diggers, ie people who only or mainly want to gain the assets of the players? J I can see that already. At Bayern or at the national team I know no player who surrounds himself with these gold diggers. But abroad I see in some restaurants, colleagues, where I creeps this dull feeling that it is not everyone honestly means. What sometimes sit there for funny people at the tables!

David, how do you protect yourself from false friends? D I'm always traveling with the same people With the Kobli (Philipp Koblischek, editor's note) I played together in Austria at Austria Wien. We have known each other since we were ten. Two or three years ago he moved from Vienna to Munich. That makes me very happy.

How many best friends do you have? D For me it's the Kobli! J I have only one best friend, Alex. I've known him since I was six. Our friendship deepened over the years. Alex lives in Berlin. He also has a family, two children, a job. We call every day. We exchange ideas, we really talk about each other. He knows me inside out. He just remembers me writing him on Whatsapp, whether I'm good or bad. With the latter, he also knows that he should rather not call now.

Back to our magazine motto "Win & Lose": Which sacrifice you had to make for your professional career was the hardest for you? J First, there were the typical victims as a teenager. When my friends went to the disco, I usually went to bed early. As a professional footballer we have to give up a part of our private life. I can not go to the swimming pool or the cinema with my children without being disturbed or without my children noticing that they are being watched. D That's why I've got more mixed feelings of fame now than I used to, when I was happy to see myself in the paper. I remember how much I, as a child, dreamed of having my own poster in Bravo Sport. That has completely settled.

You can also win and lose in love. Do you have any tips on how to conquer the hearts of women? J I can not say I have a specific method that always works. Women have different tastes. Some like a cool look, others humor or clever, profound conversations. I always try to show good manners, to behave like a gentleman, to hold the door. D I also do not know if it's just about impressing someone. It is more important to me to find a woman who does not want to get to know the professional footballer David Alaba, but the person David. I still remember my first relationship, my childhood sweetheart. Since I had no problem at all to build trust. I did not have a known name back then. In my second relationship, I needed much longer for that. And today it takes even longer before I can totally open myself.

J I'm fine too. In the meantime, I prefer it best if the woman does not understand football at all, does not even know who I am. But that is mostly the case abroad and not everywhere anymore.

Is that why you travel to the US so often because footballers are more likely to be left alone? J Both of us are mainly going to America because of the lifestyle: we like the people, the sports, the fashion and the music. And I personally like that so many nationalities come together in cities like New York and Los Angeles. D We do not go to America to meet ladies! (:D)

One day, the question will ask you how you want to end your careers. And with it, how you will cope with the loss of your favorite occupation. Some ex-professionals have lost their sense of life in these turmoil, others lost their wealth. How do you deal with it? D Sorry, but I do not think about such things. Even though I've heard that one should plan the life after the football out and provide accordingly, I must say: I think only from week to week. J Maybe you notice the four-year age difference that separates David and me. Because I have to say that I know only one fear: the end of my career. I am seriously concerned with the question of what will happen if one day I can no longer play football. Football is my life. I can not imagine this feeling that I will have after my retirement. I'm afraid of that. I know that one day I will have to retire. But on the other hand, it does not want to go right into my head.

People who had to rebuild their lives, it should have helped to look forward to something that they had to give up a long time. What would you think? J I would take a long trip around the world after the end of my career, look at everything, start in Australia, I always wanted to go there. That would be the first. You can still do a coaching certificate later. D Maybe you can train me then yes. Because then I will definitely still play. But seriously: I do not look that far ahead. I hope that I can live my dream for a few more years.

[walkonwalkonwithhopeinyourheart]

Tactical Analysis- How Liverpool won the 2019 CL via /r/LiverpoolFC

Tactical Analysis- How Liverpool won the 2019 CL

Despite being touted as an uninspiring snoozefest by critics, neutrals, and media outlets I decided to do a tactical analysis on the UCL final as I feel it deserves major attention since it was our first major cup win since 2005 and minor cup win since 2012. Additionally, it was an anomaly from a strategic perspective as Jürgen Klopp approached the game with a counter-attacking setup with limited application of his usual and trademark high-press style. Liverpool finished the game with an astonishing 35.4% ball possession, a clear contrast with the 2018/2019 season average of 62.13%. Prior to the final the team trained and practiced in Marbella, Spain with Benfica’s B team-rejecting other clubs along the way due to confidentiality concerns-and because Liverpool’s assistant manager Pep Lijnders identified numerous similarities between Tottenham’s and Benfica’s B-team. The team had time to condition and acclimate to the temperature disparity between England and the much warmer Marbella/Madrid where humidity levels also become a physical factor. During the training session, Benfica’s players replicated Tottenham’s 4231 lineup and mimicked key players’ movements. Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce(the primary club correspondent & journalist) also published live photos from the Marbella training sessions which showcased a variety of tactical lineups with an emphasis on different strategies (eg. possession based drills as opposed to long-ball play).

Coming into the game, Klopp’s original gameplan was to play defensive and conservative football with a long-ball approach. In the same vein, Pochettino’s goal was to bait Liverpool’s high-press and find spaces forward as a result. He benched the in-form Lucas Moura hoping to bring him on in the 2nd half with fresh legs to try to outpace the Liverpool defense or catch them out of position. However, the 22 second penalty marked all the difference in the game. Going up 1-0 early, Klopp stuck to the original plan and conceded possession to Pochettino’s team with Mané, TAA, and Robertson being the focal points defensively. Fortunately for Liverpool, Pochettino had no backup plans in place and continued to play hardball. In Tottenham’s defensive-third Liverpool contained Spurs to their half by shaping up as a 442 as shown here[https://imgur.com/a/IUQKYhq]. Because Vertonghen and Alderweireld played a low-block while on the ball and because Trippier and Rose pushed up the halfway line hugging the sidelines; Firmino and one of Salah/Mané forced a stalemate by leading a 2-man line with minimal pressing following the ball path and covering passing lanes. Hugo Lloris’ poor distribution woes meant that Tottenham spent the entirety of the first-half passing the ball in their own half or were forced to pass it back whenever their gaps closed.

When Tottenham attempted to move the ball forward to the middle of the pitch and Liverpool’s third, Sadio Mané would fall back to congest the midfield and Liverpool would shape up as a 451 as exemplified here [https://imgur.com/a/TLITABV]. Looking at the average player position map from the game [https://imgur.com/a/GfA1PjY] you can see the 451 shape with a slight 442 lean. Interestingly, during this transition phase Liverpool chose to purposely leave Kieran Trippier wide open on the wing as shown here [https://imgur.com/a/GzYved9]. Klopp identified a glaring weakness in Trippier’s build-up play and crossing and chose to leave him unmarked the entire game. The following clips highlight some of Trippier’s weaknesses (poor spatial awareness, crossing/passing, and movement) during the final, whenever he was targetted. [https://streamable.com/s4o0n] . Despite being unmarked the whole game, Trippier hardly received passes from his teammates. This clever approach meant that Eriksen was marked out of the game since Liverpool occupied most of the spaces in the midfield. The only way Tottenham could go forward was with long balls to Kane and Alli. Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip had a relatively easy time marking Kane winning most aerial duels (3 & 3 respectively) with Matip racking up a whopping 14 clearances (compared to Virgil’s 5[https://streamable.com/flm7d]). Matip more so than Van Dijk, was instrumental in keeping the clean sheet and keeping pressure off the back. He had significant key interceptions, key passes, and played the role of a competent midfielder while having the physical and mental composure of a world-class defender[https://streamable.com/kccwt].

TAA and Robertson were strictly instructed to stay in their defensive halves. Comparing their UCL final heatmaps[https://imgur.com/a/J6UuaUC] to their seasonal averages you can see that their overall placement was uncharacteristic [https://imgur.com/a/NwcfqCI]. Even moreso when you compare to the last meeting between the two teams: [https://imgur.com/a/NTa5Dre]. In the recent encounters between Klopp and Pochettino, Jurgen utilized his traditional 433 with a 343 shift coupled with his famous gegenpressing system. In Klopp’s gegenpressing, the fullbacks are normally instructed to camp up into the opponents half either simultaneously or one at a time while a defensive mid falls in between the two center-halves thus mimicking a 3-4-3 shape . This shape normally allows the fullbacks to generate an incredible amount of crosses while also supressing counter-attacks with ease (ironically, Liverpool completed a shocking 1/16 crosses or 6% succesfully in the final). What’s more interesting is that the fullbacks while on the ball were explicitly instructed by Klopp to play the ball out immediately from the back as opposed to building their way up the pitch as they normally do. The defenders were often targeting Mané with long-ball passes. [https://streamable.com/85gcz]

Personally, Mané was my MOTM. If we ignore the fact the he won a penalty within the opening seconds of the match, he was the link holding the team together defensively and offensively during the transition periods and through admirable bouts of athleticism. Mané won key duels in the front against the likes of Trippier, Eriksen, Vertonghen, and Alderweireld and was important in linking the midfield both ways. Alisson however was just as important for his late-game heroics and contributions. Several critics claimed that the quality of the shots were lousy and essentially directed straight at him. However, nothing could be further from the truth as his world-class positioning and footwork contributed to his excellent shot-stopping making challenging saves look too ordinary. [https://streamable.com/4pgai]

Despite converting the penalty Salah had a poor night. Partial fault lies on Salah’s own selfishness. However, Salah was specifically instructed by Klopp to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible and to not hold it as he usually does in a high-press system. Salah took some very uncharacteristic shots as a result and failed to improvise in key moments when better and wider options were available. If we look at the following xG graph, we can visualize the quality (or lack thereof) of the shots and key plays, the majority which came from or centered around Salah. [https://imgur.com/a/eCJan3Q]. Fortunately, Tottenham was kept quiet during the first half and had zero shots on target.

Coming into the 2nd half Klopp struck first and decided to make two important substitutions by subbing on Divock Origi for the unfit Firmino and James Milner for the quiet Giorgino Wijnaldum. Immediately, Divock and Milner contributed defensively and Klopp switched to high-press defense and build-up attack as shown here[https://streamable.com/b2cl5]. Pochettino’s team was beginning to become overwhelmed once again. While he did try to alleviate this issue with substitutions of his own; in the grand scheme of things his substitutions made little to no difference. Lucas Moura was subbed on in hopes of outrunning Liverpool but Klopp’s first-half conservative approach meant that his players had plenty of energy to spare. Eric Dier came on for the injured Sissoko as a man-for-man substitution but Dier was largely and not surprisingly anonymous. It wasn’t all rainbows and sunshines for Klopp however as the German manager did make a poor late substitution taking off Mané for Gomez in the 90th minute of regular time. In just those 5 minutes of added time, the rusty Gomez gave up 2 chances with 2 shots on target (marking 25% of the chances Tottenham created all game). In hindsight, the most obvious and logical change should have seen Salah off for Shaqiri or Oxlade-Chamberlain as the Egyptian international looked fatigued at that point.

Pochettino’s last life line was subbing on Fernando Llorente in the 81st minute to try to nick a goal off a set-piece or cross presumably. However, substitute Divock Origi sealed the game at the 87th minute after brilliant contributions from both Van Dijk and Matip. The game finished 2-0. Statistically speaking, it was a complete irregularity compared to previous seasons and European campaigns. The biggest takeaway from this game was the exposition of Jurgen Klopp’s growth as a football manager. Opting to set aside his usual “heavy metal” approach(a choice that might have arguably cost him previous European titles) and instead choosing a low-risk high-reward strategy he showed the world how much he has developed as a manager. At times he’s been unfairly labeled as a pure man-manager; a manager who’s triumphs come mostly from the fact that he can motivate his players to perform for him without much thought to tactics. However, on June 1, 2019 he proved to the world that he’s all that and much more.

TL;DR: Kieran Trippier won Liverpool the CL.

Submitted January 09, 2020 at 07:49AM by PaoloMustafini via reddit https://ift.tt/35yyeQP

[savetopnow]

2018-03-19 09 SPORTS now

SPORTS

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Michigan State's Matt McQuaid turns his own blocked shot into a buzzer-beating three

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[newsexplored]

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique: How Lionel Messi made the difference against Real Madrid

New Post has been published on https://newsexplored.co.uk/barcelona-boss-luis-enrique-how-lionel-messi-made-the-difference-against-real-madrid/

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique: How Lionel Messi made the difference against Real Madrid

Luis Enrique hailed his superstar forward who rose to occasion at the Bernabeu to secure a dramatic victory.

Barca prevailed 3-2 winners to keep themselves in the La Liga title race and break Madrid hearts.

Messi did not let an elbow to the mouth from Marcelo in the first half faze him, bouncing back to score twice.

GETTY

Lionel Messi netted his 500th Barcelona goal to pout Luis Enrique's side back at the top of La Liga

After Sergio Ramos was dismissed for a two-footed challenge on the Argentinian, he popped up in the final seconds to slot past Keylor Navas.

In doing so, Messi bagged his 500th career goal for Barca – and manager Enrique highlighted it was a perfect finish for his team.

“Messi always generates an imbalance in the middle field and we tried to get him involved as much as possible,” Enrique said.

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi takes massive blow to the face in El Clasico Sun, April 23, 2017

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi took a elbow to the face from Marcelo during El Clasico

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SKY SPORTS 1 of 7

Lionel Messi has been in the wars during El Classico

The fact that it won the game will be a beautiful milestone for Barca

Luis Enrique

“It might be more difficult in the middle of the fields because of the density of players.

“To allow him to participate, we have to keep players on the defensive line.

“He scored his 500th goal here in the 92nd minute, and the fact that it won the game will be a beautiful milestone for Barca.”

Barca have now edged back in front of Madrid on goal difference at the top of the league.

Original Article

[footballghana]

FEATURE: How Arsenal target Partey could solve Chelsea's midfield imbalance

On the face of it, Chelsea have made smart buys this transfer window and look set to make more with the expected addition of Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen likely to go through in the coming days.

Despite having the third-best attack in the Premier League last season with 69 goals scored, as well as being the third side behind Manchester City and Liverpool to create the highest volume of big chances, Frank Lampard’s added another playmaker in Hakim Ziyech and a prolific goalscorer in Timo Werner.

Indeed, both moves have their merits. Even though the raw statistics suggest the West London side didn’t necessarily need to prioritise their attacking options this summer, they sometimes looked short of ideas in the final third and suffered a bit when Tammy Abraham declined in the second part of 19/20.

Statistics provided by Understat also shows that the Blues underperformed their Expected Goals by 7.23, only four sides beat this in the entire division. In short, had the five-time Prem winners converted more really promising chances, they’d have rivalled the eventual tally of champions Liverpool.

The other major concern for Lampard was at the back, and signings of primary left-back target Ben Chilwell has been completed, as has Thiago Silva at centre-back who, despite his advanced years, they hope would significantly improve a team that allowed 54 goals last season.

While these signings are reasonable, an area that seems to be ignored is defensive midfield, where the Premier League giants lack a true holding midfielder.

The potential arrival of Havertz from Leverkusen, despite being considered a generational talent, only adds to positions that already look filled, while the club don’t have an all-rounder that can play at the base of their midfield.

Thus, it has been surprising that Chelsea haven’t considered Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey as the perfect anchorman for a side that currently looks attack-heavy. While many observers will balk at this suggestion given the presence of the much-maligned Jorginho and World Cup winner N’Golo Kante, neither provide what the Blues necessarily require in that role.

The Brazil-born Italy international, despite his adeptness in recycling possession, lacks the defensive awareness required to dominate as a blue-collar midfielder in front of the defence.

His inability to be alive to danger is well-known and was badly exposed in a cameo vs Crystal Palace, where a last-ditch Kurt Zouma tackle prevented a Palace goal, while a weak challenge to stop Andrew Robertson vs Liverpool at Anfield was simply shocking.

Both instances highlighted the weaknesses of the regista without the ball, situations in which Kante thrives.

However, regardless of the campaign by many pundits to have the Frenchman deployed in front of the defence, his limitations in possession remains a weakness. To be fair, he did give decent-to-good performances in that position post-lockdown, with the team’s impressive showing against Manchester City particularly notable.

Still, Kante’s best football has come when partnered with a deeper midfielder or natural anchorman. This was the case with Danny Drinkwater at Leicester City in 2015/16 and alongside Nemanja Matic at Chelsea the following season.

There are also doubts about the 29-year-old playing a more measured role in midfield different to his natural tendency to hunt for the ball higher up the pitch. This was evident in the Blues’ 3-2 defeat by West Ham United in July where two-time Prem winner was caught high up the pitch in the build-up to the fast break that won the Hammers the game.

Interestingly, what Jorginho and Kante lack in their skill-set, Partey possesses in his repertoire.

Every indication in the last few months has pointed to a move to Arsenal but with the North London side unable to complete the transfer yet, it’s been surprising that other clubs haven’t made a move for the Ghana star.

Partey’s awareness and astute positioning see him put out fires before they prove destructive and he’s rarely one to come out second-best in a tussle, an area of concern for Jorginho since his move in 2018.

The former Napoli man won 45 percent of his duels in the league last season compared to the West African’s 64 percent in La Liga. Curiously, even Kante didn’t fare well here winning only 41 percent of total duels in the previous campaign.

An area of importance will be Partey’s strength in aerial duels. He won 71 percent of battles in the air last term, significantly better than Kante (37 percent) and Jorginho (26 percent), and a statistic that’ll impress Lampard given his voiced concerns about the side’s weaknesses in such tussles.

For all that strength in ground and aerial duels, the 27-year-old isn’t only a midfield destroyer but is an expert in recycling possession and progressing the ball upfield. The African played the highest volume of passes into the final third for Diego Simeone’s side last season and he ranked third for progressive passes, behind Kieran Trippier and Saul Niguez.

He’s fairly press-resistant and isn’t one to be caught in possession repeatedly. He was dispossessed 15 times in La Liga in 19/20, fairly superior to Jorginho (22), Kante (32) and Mateo Kovacic (27).

Also, Partey surprisingly completed the most dribbles in the Atletico side with 47 from 56 attempts, a success rate of 83.9 percent. This was better than Kovacic’s 76.6 percent, as well as Jorginho and Kante, whose percentage of dribbles completed read 70.8 and 60.9 respectively.

In an attempt to find the right balance in midfield last term, Lampard tried different combinations in the middle of the park but most didn’t provide stability for a sustained period owing to the deficiencies of the personnel available.

The team played its best football with Kovacic and Jorginho pairing in midfield but neither offered the protection of Kante. The introduction of the France ball-winner saw the side lose some panache in the middle of the park while a midfield anchorman in a three proved unsuitable due to the aforementioned strengths and weaknesses of Chelsea's midfielders.

Partey offers solutions in that he’s equally adept as a lone defensive midfielder or in a pairing, which provides Lampard with the chance to be flexible with his selection with someone of the Ghanaian’s profile in the team.

The Blues have made sensible transfers so far but adding a defensive foil for their fragile backline hasn’t been considered yet. With Partey, the London giants could instantly solve midfield issues that could threaten their push to close the gap on Liverpool and Man City...and ultimately challenge for the title again.

Source: goal.com

source: https://footballghana.com/

[soccernetghana]

Drogba vs Eto’o: Who was the greater African striker?

[caption id="attachment_798459" align="alignnone" width="512"] Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast National Soccer Team, left, with Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon National Soccer team reacts during a meeting before a training session in St-Gratien, outside Paris, France. Friday, May 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)[/caption] Each gamer outlined a technology and are more likely to go down because the continent’s most interesting…however who’s primary? Soccer rivalries give the game an additional edge; simply assume Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi, Pele vs Diego Maradona and even Patrick Vieira vs Roy Keane. Whereas debates over who’s the higher might typically be taken too far by critics or followers of the aforementioned gamers, it offers the sport extra spice and which means. In Africa, there’s in all probability no debate higher than Didier Drogba vs Samuel Eto’o, two contrasting strikers whose influence at residence and overseas within the 2000s and early 2010s can’t be understated. The previous was a late bloomer, finest identified for his tempo and energy at Olympique Marseille and Chelsea, who possessed an uncanny knack for delivering within the massive video games. The opposite was probably the greatest exports from Cameroon within the final twenty years, taking part in with the perfect and thriving in varied methods and successful practically each main trophy for membership and nation. When he appears to be like again on his profession, the Ivory Coast legend will probably keep in mind a quick encounter with Jose Mourinho within the Stade Velodrome tunnel when Marseille hosted Porto within the 2003-04 Champions League marketing campaign. The Portuguese coach supposedly praised the frontman and promised to signal him when he had the assets…an assurance he delivered on when he turned Chelsea boss. It was the ex-Porto coach who turned the striker into one of many feared frontmen in Europe, along with his ingenious man-management getting the very best out of the highly effective striker. Whereas Drogba’s numbers over the course of his profession might not have been prolific, and there have been additionally persistent diving accusations thrown at him, there’s a faculty of thought which believes his influence shouldn’t be measured by numbers alone. Folks with this notion have a tendency to have a look at the frontman’s all-round contributions to Chelsea from 2004 to 2012 which included his defensive enter, hold-up play, selflessness and fairly spectacular help numbers. He had the persona and affect to alter video games without having to attain and help, traits that don’t fairly present up on shiny metrics at the moment. Nonetheless, he scored targets; massive targets that helped the Blues win lots of their trophies to determine the West London membership as one of many main sides on the continent. None got here larger than his immaculate show of management and cojones within the London aspect’s 2012 Champions League run which culminated of their first and solely winners’ medal to this point. Drogba scored decisive strikes of their last group stage sport with Valencia on the Bridge, however, added vital targets towards Napoli, Barcelona and Bayern Munich within the last. Granted, he rode his luck just a little, having conceded penalties within the semi-final and last, however he was in all probability due some fortune after close to misses in earlier years and the 2008 last crimson card towards Manchester United. The key sticking level was his Ivory Coast profession which noticed him fail to win any worldwide titles, regardless of having the posh of the so-called Golden Technology that included the Toure brothers, Kolo and Yaya. Whereas the two-time African Participant of the 12 months had no title to point out for 65 worldwide targets, nevertheless, his function in ending a five-year civil warfare in his nation will ceaselessly paint him a hero within the eyes of his compatriots. He netted 168 targets and 86 assists in 381 matches for Chelsea, secured 4 Premier League titles in addition to a number of cup wins in England and successes in Turkey and the US over the course of his profession. 44 UCL targets, 14 greater than Eto’o managed, additionally confirmed he turned it on European nights, which is totally no shock for somebody as clutch as Drogba. Eto’o, then again, had the pure expertise and did terribly nicely to reside as much as his precocious potential. It’s not everybody who will get an opportunity for a World Cup debut at 17, simply over a 12 months after his maiden worldwide look as a 15-year-old. His superiority over Drogba is mirrored within the worldwide area, the place he loved success taking part in for the Indomitable Lions; successful Olympic gold as soon as, and claiming the Africa Cup of Nations on two events. No one has extra Afcon targets than the previous Actual Madrid ahead (18) and it’s no shock he’s received double the Ivorian’s Footballer of the 12 months awards. Even in membership soccer at Barcelona and Internazionale, the ahead claimed two trebles in 2008-09 and 2009-10 – the fourth participant in historical past to attain the feat – and his tendency to thrive in a number of tactical schemes highlighted his well-rounded nature. That is an antithesis of Drogba who solely thrived as a centre-forward and infrequently thrived when paired with one other striker. What made Eto’o additional particular wasn’t simply his spectacular trophy haul, but additionally his big-game mentality to ship at any time when his sides have been in difficult conditions. A pertinent instance was in Barcelona’s 2006 Champions League last win over Arsenal, a sport the Cameroon star was named Man of the Match. He received the free-kick that led to Jens Lehmann’s early dismissal earlier than netting the equalizer with 15 minutes to play within the Spanish aspect’s eventual 2-1 victory. As well as, he scored the opening aim within the 2009 last win over Manchester United too, opening the scoring within the 10th-minute of a 2-Zero success, whereas he confirmed his selflessness a 12 months later by giving his all in a defensive proper wing function as Mourinho’s counter-attacking Inter Milan beat Bayern 2-0. In addition to the aforementioned moments, the ex-Cameroon frontman scored vital strikes within the 2000 Afcon last towards Nigeria and scored one of many targets within the Olympics last win over Spain to erase a two-goal deficit and pressure extra-time – the Central African nation have been to win on penalties. Eto’o not solely possessed the big-game nous of Drogba, however had the method and tactical data to function and thrive in several ways and formations. The ex-Barca star scored a aim each two video games over the course of his membership profession (359 targets in 718 video games) versus the Ivorian who managed a aim each 2.three matches (300 targets in 686 appearances). Nonetheless, the Chelsea legend arrange extra targets – 122 to 116 – regardless of taking part in fewer video games and accruing lesser minutes over the course of their careers. The Ivory Coast legend will in all probability go down as one of many nice African forwards of all time however Eto’o is definitely a step above on this rivalry. The Indomitable Lions’ high scorer just isn’t solely the best ever African striker, however arguably additionally the very best ever to have graced the continent. source: https://ghanasoccernet.com/

[tonyajnolanma]

Liverpool vs. West Ham: live stream, squad, team news, kick off, venue, preview, prediction & watch online

Liverpool vs West Ham: English Premier League (24-02-2020)

 The English Premier League leader; Liverpool, will serve 18th place, West Ham, at Anfield in the 27th week of the Premier League 2019/20, Monday (2/24/2020). The Reds are very favorite to achieve three points.

In their last match, in the middle of last week, Liverpool lost 0-1 against Atletico in the last 16 of the Champions League first leg. In that match, Jurgen Klopp’s troops did not record a single shot on target.

However, it is unlikely that this will be repeated when serving West Ham in the league. Because the defense of the team made by David Moyes is not as solid as the previous opponent.

West Ham is at its worst, without a win in seven matches in all competitions. West Ham has also lost all of their last four away matches in the league.

Against Liverpool, who have not been beaten in the Premier League this season, and are believed to not be hampered by waiting for the championship ladder, West Ham is likely to be prepared to accept the worst.

 Source: standard.co.uk

More Info:

The Reds have won 17 matches in the Premier League in a row. 

Liverpool only needs five more victories to win the Premier League title this season. 

Liverpool managed to gain three full points in the 26th match of the Premier League. 

Facing Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday (02/16/2020), the Red squad won 1-0 victory over Norwich.

They are 25 points ahead of Manchester City in second place and only underwent 25 matches.

 Head-to-head (Premier League)

Meeting: 47

West Ham wins: 9

Gol West Ham: 41

Draw: 10

Liverpool wins: 28

Liverpool’s goal: 87

 The Reds have arrived 💪🔴#LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/SshvnTL45j

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2020

 Liverpool’s last 5 matches

Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool 1-0 

Norwich City Vs Liverpool 0-1 

Liverpool Vs Shrewsbury 1-0 

Liverpool Vs Southampton 4-0 

West Ham vs Liverpool 0-2 

   West Ham United’s last 5 matches

Manchester City Vs West Ham 2-0 

West Ham Vs Brighton 3-3 

West Ham vs Liverpool 0-2

West Ham Vs West Bromwich Albion

Leicester Vs West Ham 4-1

  Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson; Wrong, Firminho, Chamberlain.

Manager: Jurgen Klopp

   West Ham: Fabianski, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks, Masuaku; Noble, Soucek, Rice; Antonio, Snodgrass.

Manager: David Moyes.

 Our team to take on @LFC tonight…#LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/HXZ1HQlDVM

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 24, 2020

  🔴 Our team to face @WestHam 🔴@JamesMilner is out as a precaution due to a slight muscle strain.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2020

Liverpool vs West Ham Match Info

Match date: 24th February 2020

Kick-Off: 8:00 p.m. (UK Time)

Venue: Anfield

Watch Goals and Highlights from Here.

  How to Watch Liverpool vs West Ham Live Stream?

fubo TV (7 days free trial still available) has the right to stream this match live. 

 Liverpool vs West Ham Score Prediction

Liverpool 2 – West Ham 1

The post Liverpool vs. West Ham: live stream, squad, team news, kick off, venue, preview, prediction & watch online appeared first on 7up Sports.

source https://www.7upsports.com/football/2020/02/25/liverpool-vs-west-ham-live-stream-squad-team-news-kick-off-venue-preview-prediction-watch-online/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=liverpool-vs-west-ham-live-stream-squad-team-news-kick-off-venue-preview-prediction-watch-online from 7upsports https://7upsports.blogspot.com/2020/02/liverpool-vs-west-ham-live-stream-squad.html

[7upsports]

Liverpool vs. West Ham: live stream, squad, team news, kick off, venue, preview, prediction & watch online

Liverpool vs West Ham: English Premier League (24-02-2020)

  The English Premier League leader; Liverpool, will serve 18th place, West Ham, at Anfield in the 27th week of the Premier League 2019/20, Monday (2/24/2020). The Reds are very favorite to achieve three points.

In their last match, in the middle of last week, Liverpool lost 0-1 against Atletico in the last 16 of the Champions League first leg. In that match, Jurgen Klopp’s troops did not record a single shot on target.

However, it is unlikely that this will be repeated when serving West Ham in the league. Because the defense of the team made by David Moyes is not as solid as the previous opponent.

West Ham is at its worst, without a win in seven matches in all competitions. West Ham has also lost all of their last four away matches in the league.

Against Liverpool, who have not been beaten in the Premier League this season, and are believed to not be hampered by waiting for the championship ladder, West Ham is likely to be prepared to accept the worst.

  Source: standard.co.uk

More Info:

The Reds have won 17 matches in the Premier League in a row. 

Liverpool only needs five more victories to win the Premier League title this season. 

Liverpool managed to gain three full points in the 26th match of the Premier League. 

Facing Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday (02/16/2020), the Red squad won 1-0 victory over Norwich.

They are 25 points ahead of Manchester City in second place and only underwent 25 matches.

  Head-to-head (Premier League)

Meeting: 47

West Ham wins: 9

Gol West Ham: 41

Draw: 10

Liverpool wins: 28

Liverpool’s goal: 87

  The Reds have arrived 💪🔴#LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/SshvnTL45j

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2020

  Liverpool’s last 5 matches

Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool 1-0 

Norwich City Vs Liverpool 0-1 

Liverpool Vs Shrewsbury 1-0 

Liverpool Vs Southampton 4-0 

West Ham vs Liverpool 0-2 

      West Ham United’s last 5 matches

Manchester City Vs West Ham 2-0 

West Ham Vs Brighton 3-3 

West Ham vs Liverpool 0-2

West Ham Vs West Bromwich Albion

Leicester Vs West Ham 4-1

    Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson; Wrong, Firminho, Chamberlain.

Manager: Jurgen Klopp

      West Ham: Fabianski, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks, Masuaku; Noble, Soucek, Rice; Antonio, Snodgrass.

Manager: David Moyes.

  Our team to take on @LFC tonight…#LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/HXZ1HQlDVM

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 24, 2020

    🔴 Our team to face @WestHam 🔴@JamesMilner is out as a precaution due to a slight muscle strain.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2020

Liverpool vs West Ham Match Info

Match date: 24th February 2020

Kick-Off: 8:00 p.m. (UK Time)

Venue: Anfield

Watch Goals and Highlights from Here.

  How to Watch Liverpool vs West Ham Live Stream?

fubo TV (7 days free trial still available) has the right to stream this match live. 

  Liverpool vs West Ham Score Prediction

Liverpool 2 – West Ham 1

The post Liverpool vs. West Ham: live stream, squad, team news, kick off, venue, preview, prediction & watch online appeared first on 7up Sports.

from 7up Sports https://www.7upsports.com/football/2020/02/25/liverpool-vs-west-ham-live-stream-squad-team-news-kick-off-venue-preview-prediction-watch-online/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=liverpool-vs-west-ham-live-stream-squad-team-news-kick-off-venue-preview-prediction-watch-online

[torentialtribute]

Arsenal news: Pre-sesason review as Unai Emery gets tough

Arsenal Will hope to finally return to the top four and the Champions League as they are prepared for a new campaign.

The Gunners have missed a route back to Europe & # 39; s largest club competition in the last three years and will seek a winning start when they travel to Newcastle United on Sunday for the first game of the season Premier League .

But how did it go last summer? Here are 10 things we learned from the campaign for the Arsenal season.

Unai Emery wants to guide Arsenal back this season in the Champions League

ARSENAL EN EMERY GET TOGETHER

Arsenal was considered one of the most comfortable clubs under Arsene Wenger. Not anymore. The start of the Arsenal tour was overshadowed by Laurent Koscielny's decision to go on strike. But after he had not received the free transfer, he demanded that he was then instructed to continue to report to Arsenal's head office, to train with the children and to stay there until a resolution was reached that the club was happy with.

CAPTAINCY ISSUE

The sling from Koscielny has given Emery a headache about who to choose as captain. He wants to form a new group of up to five players and three members, Granit Xhaka, Nacho Monreal and Mesut Özil, the entire bracelet in the three ICC games from Arsenal. It is the Swiss star Xhaka who is expected to replace Koscielny as chief captain.

Laurent Koscielny must be replaced as Arsenal's captain after refusing to go on a pre-season tour

ROB HOLDING

Central defender Rob Holding handed Arsenal a big lift by returning to full training in LA, before Arsenal & # 39; s Bayern Munich friendly after the knee injury he suffered in December. Not only does he come closer to a return after having played for the Under 23 & # 39; s on the weekend, but he is also in line to be part of Emery & # 39; s group of captains.

EMERY HINTS

Arsenal has broken their transfer record with the £ 72m signing of the much sought-after winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille. Looking back, there seemed to be a hint from Emery when he revealed Arsenal's intention to & # 39; very large, very expensive players & # 39; to sign.

Nicolas Pepe arrived in Arsenal this summer as their record purchase at £ 72 million from Lille "class =" blkBorder img-share "/>

Nicolas Pepe arrives in Arsenal this summer and buys his record at £ 72million from Lille

EDDIE & READY FOR REGULATING FOOTBALL

Striker Eddie Nketiah was another youth highlight on the Arsenal tour and scored three goals in two matches against Bayern Munich and Fiorentina. He had always been small before, but is now larger and has filled it in. He has shown that he is physically ready for senior football in the United States – whether through a loan or reliable as a backup for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette – especially when winning a physical fight with Bayern Munich giant Niklas Sule.

JOE WILLOCK

Emery gave midfielder Joe Willock enough minutes, especially in Arsenal's three biggest friendships with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona and is clearly a big fan of the younger one. Willock benefited from the fact that more midfielders were absent to risk his claim for more playing time this season. Arsenal is trying to keep an eye on the 19-year-old murmur, but if it is not yet, the secret will soon be revealed.

Joe Willock would be an important this season can play a role in Arsenal's first team

MUSTAFI IS NOT THE ANSWER

Emery gave all his players the chance to impress in the United States. Shkodran Mustafi did not succeed. His name was greeted by hunters against Colorado Rapids and then he had to forget a night against Bayern Munich, losing Robert Lewandowski to the Germans' equalizer. If necessary, it was confirmed how error-prone Mustafi is and underlined the need for a replacement. Arsenal tries to take him further, although the German may need it in the beginning because of the Koscielny situation and the injury of Holding. In the long run, however, he is not the answer.

PLEASANT OZIL

Özil rarely speaks with the media, but gave a rare interview while in the United States, albeit via a conference call. Conclusions are drawn about Özil based on his attitude on the field. The fact that he is rarely heard means that those perceptions rarely change. But he came across very well – relaxed, funny, confident and determined while joking about his new blonde hairstyle, but also speaking relatively openly about his desire to win titles this season after a difficult first year under Emery.

Mesut Özil is ready to kicking at Arsenal this term in landing great silverware

RAPID RAUL

Head of football Raul Sanllehi left the early tour of Arsenal with a number of deals still ahead. Within a week or so, Arsenal's transfer plans accelerated. Deals, for William Saliba, Dani Ceballos and Pepe, were quickly linked to Sanllehi and focused on Arsenal's defense. No hassle with Sanllehi

ARSENAL BIG DRAW

Charlotte was completely dominated by Arsenal fans before, during and after the friendly against Fiorentina was some face. It was also proof of their continued attraction abroad.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding pose for fans in Charlotte, North Carlolina during the pre-season tour of Arsenal through the United States

] RESULTS FOR THE SEASON

July 16: Colorado Rapids (Dick & # 39; s Sporting Goods Park, Colorado) – won 3 -0

July 18: Bayern Munich ( International Champions & Cup – Dignity Health Sports Park, California) – won 2-1

July 20: Fiorentina (International Champions & # 39; Cup – Bank of America Stadium, North Carolina) – won 3-0

July 24: Real Madrid (International Champions & # 39; Cup – FedExField, Maryland) – drew 2-2 (2-3 lost on pens)

July 28: Lyon (Emirates Stadium) – lost 1-2

July 31: Angers (Stade Raymond Kopa, Angers) – drew 1-1 (won 4-3 with pens)

August 4: Barcelona (Gamper Trophy – Nou Camp, Barcelona) – lost 1 -2

Probably first choice XI

4-2-3-1: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Chambers, Kolasinac; Torreira / Xhaka, Ceballos; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette.

Arsenal will hold back Hector Bellerin and Holding to strengthen their defense during the first half of the season and they will be part of the first-choice rear guard when they return. A new senior center-back could also arrive, but until then Calum Chambers could get the chance to impress.

He seems to have startled Mustafi after his return from his loan at Fulham, while the future of Wantaway Koscielny is in the air. Their front four is an exciting quartet that offers so much in terms of target threat, flexibility and creativity. Having such options in and around him should work perfectly for Özil.

Prospects for the coming campaign – and what will ensure a good season for the club?

Emery asked for realism before the new season and, understandably, wanted to emphasize that a title challenge was out of the picture. That will not surprise anyone, especially the fans of Arsenal after three years of missing the Champions League qualification. Instead, the goal will be to get themselves back into the top four they just missed last season with a point and a few goals. They will also have a stronger team for the Europa League. Going far and, ideally, that winning plus returning to the top four will be a successful campaign for Emery.

Arsenal hopes to go one move on to the Europa League after losing the final in May

Important factors that will decide whether they have a good season

Towards the last few days of this summer transfer window , it is vital that Arsenal reinforces their central defense options. Holding has such a promise as a potential partner for Sokratis, but it can be too much to get any hope that he will fall back seamlessly after such a serious knee injury. A fit and fully adapted to Emery & # 39; s methods Ozil will also be a decisive factor in the Arsenal season with the kites in front of him. A good start is also vital. Arsenal was on the back foot after losing its first two games last season. They must be maximum points from Newcastle and Burnley, before facing successively Liverpool and Tottenham.

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[gadgetsrevv]

European transfer review: Where did your club fail?

The transfer window for Europe’s major leagues is closed again for the rest of the year, but how did your team do? Did they leave any gaps?

Our correspondents assess how the top clubs failed to address their weaknesses this summer.

Jump to: Real Madrid | Atletico Madrid | Juventus | Inter | PSG | Bayern | Dortmund

BARCELONA: Too few attackers, too many midfielders

Barcelona did a lot of good business this summer. Much of it was done early, too. Frenkie de Jong helps rejuvenate an aging midfield and Antoine Griezmann brings quality in attack. The arrival of goalkeeper Neto cancels out the departure of Jasper Cillessen and Junior Firpo provides competition at left-back for Jordi Alba.

They managed to shift a number of players, too, with Malcom bringing in a good sum of cash and Philippe Coutinho‘s loan to Bayern Munich shifting a big earner from the wage bill. However, those two left with the idea another attacker would join — namely Neymar. That didn’t happen and they’re left with just four (admittedly very good) forwards for three positions: Griezmann, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele. The problem is, Messi and Suarez are both now 32 and Dembele is injury prone. Youngsters Carles Perez and Ansu Fati could have a bigger role to play than they expected.

The opposite is true in midfield, where seven players will compete for three places. It may be a long season for one of Ivan Rakitic, Carles Alena or Arturo Vidal.

At the back, they stick with what they’ve got having missed out on Matthijs de Ligt to Juventus. An injury to Gerard Pique — who’s also the wrong side of 30 now — would leave them at the mercy of Samuel Umtiti‘s knee. Umtiti is the only real backup to Pique and Clement Lenglet, with young Jean Clair Todibo still untested. — Sam Marsden.

REAL MADRID: A weaker midfield and no leader in attack

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane did not add Paul Pogba from Manchester United as he wanted, nor were the club successful in acquiring Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes or Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen.

Madrid, in fact, weakened a midfield line they meant to strengthen. Los Blancos sold Marco Llorente, Casemiro’s natural replacement, to Atletico while Dani Ceballos, the alternative to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, was loaned to Arsenal. Much is expected from Federico Valverde but he has clocked just eight minutes in Madrid’s opening three league games. After being widely expected to leave, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez stayed with Madrid not receiving suitable offers.

Madrid spent over €300m in the transfer market but only one of their six-summer signings, Eden Hazard, is expected to start. Newcomers Ferland Mendy, Luka Jovic and Eder Militao are set to be back-ups to Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane, respectively, while Rodrygo will play for Madrid’s reserves until he gains some experience.

The loss of Marco Asensio to an ACL injury, a lack of spark from Vinicius Jr. and the absence of an injured Hazard in the opening three games, has highlighted another weakness in Madrid’s team: there is no leader in attack. Hazard will provide quality but is far from reaching the goal-scoring numbers that Cristiano Ronaldo once did. Neymar could have filled that void. — Adriana Garcia.

ATLETICO MADRID: Nothing. But another striker would have been nice

Atletico got pretty much everything they needed in the summer window, including beating off the whole of Europe to sign wonderkid Joao Felix from Benfica for a club record €126m — arguably the biggest scoop in La Liga, and that includes Eden Hazard’s €100m transfer to Real Madrid!

Atletico had plenty of work to do after losing defensive trio Diego Godin, Juanfran and Filipe Luis as free agents, while Lucas Hernandez, Rodri and Antoine Griezmann departed as Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Barcelona, respectively, activated their release clauses.

But the Rojiblancos delivered by signing eight players for €245m — spending less than what they pocketed from sales. Atletico bought defenders Mario Hermoso, Kieran Trippier, Renan Lodi and Felipe, then added Hector Herrera and Marcos Llorente in midfield. They strengthened the attack with Ivan Saponjic and secured Alvaro Morata‘s permanent transfer from Chelsea in July 2020.

The only negative was that Atletico were unable to offload Argentine forward Angel Correa despite weeks of negotiations with AC Milan, and that scuppered a move for Rodrigo. Atletico and Valencia had reached a verbal agreement on a €60m deal but Correa had to leave first. Atletico also were interested in adding James Rodriguez from Real Madrid but again needed Correa to depart. James or Rodrigo would have been the cherry on top on what was a great window. — Adriana Garcia.

JUVENTUS: An aging front line and failure to sell well

The €75m signing of Matthijs de Ligt feels like an awful long time ago now but don’t lose sight of it. The Ajax centre-back had his pick of Europe’s elite and chose Juventus, while the acquisition of fellow centre-back Merih Demiral from Sassuolo for €18m should also go down as one of the bargains of the summer

Sporting director Fabio Paratici continued Juventus’ tradition of working the free transfer market with aplomb; Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey, in theory, skill-up a midfield that lacked angles and imagination last season. The team looks stronger and the squad deeper than ever. But therein lies a problem. 

Selling proved very difficult for Juventus this summer. Gonzalo Higuain dug his heels in, as did Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic. Moving on Sami Khedira and Daniele Rugani also hit obstacles. A fortnight ago, Juve vice-president Pavel Nedved insisted the club were under no pressure to sell but their actions up until deadline day suggested otherwise.

Juve’s attack in particular looks old after the sale of Moise Kean to Everton and hard choices await the Old Lady when it comes to deciding who’s in and who’s out of the 23-man Champions League squad. New manager Maurizio Sarri has never been big on rotation and the risk of disgruntlement among a number of high profile players is high. — James Horncastle.

INTER MILAN: Depth still not enough to challenge Juve

Inter Milan may have had strengthened in almost every area — including the manager — this summer, but that does not mean they are necessarily ready to challenge Juventus for the Serie A title.

Last season they were short in attack, after the exclusion of Mauro Icardi, leaving only Lautaro Martinez to play up front and the 22-year-old only managed six goals Serie A goals in 27 appearances. While Inter have brought in Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United for a club-record fee of €80 million, the Belgium international arrives simply as a replacement for Icardi, who left for Paris Saint-Germain on loan.

Lukaku’s ex-United teammate Alexis Sanchez has also joined on loan — and he can play in attack as well as on the wing, where Inter lost Ivan Perisic following the Croatia international’s loan move to Bayern Munich. Injuries could prove fatal to any title bid for the Nerazzurri. In central defence, they have superb options for Antonio Conte’s preferred back three in Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar and Godin. However, injury to De Vrij meant Conte had to call upon ex-Hull City man Andrea Ranocchia. — Andrew Cesare Richardson.

PSG: Both full-back positions needed upgrading

Understandably, PSG’s summer business is being interpreted as risky by some less familiar with the French champions’ peculiarities — mainly the loan addition of attacker Icardi to a troubled dressing room in recent years.

For those well-versed with the Ligue 1 giants’ recent issues, however, arguing that this summer has not been a success is hard. PSG added quality in depth in certain areas and regenerated others, with central midfield getting a long overdue boost through Ander Herrera and Idrissa Gueye‘s arrivals, while restructuring with Keylor Navas, Sergio Rico and Marcin Bulka ends years of farcical goalkeeper uncertainty.

Abdou Diallo brings depth and versatility in defence, while Pablo Sarabia and Icardi give coach Thomas Tuchel options in attack – particularly after Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani‘s recent injuries and the ongoing Neymar saga.

One minor complaint is that both full-back positions have not received greater attention this summer, despite sporting director Leonardo’s efforts to restock, as well as an exodus of homegrown talent.

Overall, though, PSG finish the summer with a very strong squad on paper, particularly after keeping hold of Neymar, and authority over an unruly dressing room finally appears to have been restored through Leonardo’s return at the expense of the inept Antero Henrique. — Jonathan Johnson.

BAYERN MUNICH: A lack of options up front

Bayern spent most of the summer chasing a big money move for Leroy Sane. But once the Manchester City winger sustained a long-term knee injury, the club turned to brilliant loan deals for Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Perisic, two experienced internationals to fill the gaps left by Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

There was a changing of the guard at the back as the arrival of France’s 2018 World Cup winners Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard replaced Mats Hummels, who returned to Dortmund, and Jerome Boateng, who has dropped down the pecking order. While Michael Cuisance came in to take the place of the ineffectual Renato Sanches, sold to Lille, in midfield.

Bayern have added some depth in the middle of the park, however they are still too reliant on Robert Lewandowski. The 31-year-old is Bayern’s most important player and is indispensable up top. He already has six goals in three league games and, with only 19-year-old Fiete Arp joining as his backup from Hamburg, he is still without any competition. They’ll probably have enough to claim another Bundesliga title but any long-term injury for the Pole could serve as a major blow to Bayern’s hopes of winning the Champions League.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Also lack of options up front

Dortmund stormed out of the blocks and took an early lead in the transfer market to sign Germany internationals Nico Schulz and Julian Brandt, as well as Belgium international Thorgan Hazard, right after the end of the season.

They also re-signed Mats Hummels from Bayern Munich but, with focus shifting to offloading high-earning fringe players such as Andre Schurrle, Maximilian Philipp, Shinji Kagawa and Omer Toprak, Dortmund roughly invested some €130m (which included Paco Alcacer‘s permanent transfer from Barcelona) and just about broke even if you add Christian Pulisic‘s €64m move to Chelsea in January.

Yet despite adding quality and reducing squad numbers, Dortmund still have a few things to work on. In Alcacer and Mario Gotze, BVB have two attackers who aren’t a No. 9. Coach Lucien Favre has said he does not need a target man in the box but the lack of alternatives up front could become a major problem.

At right-back, Lukasz Piszczek remains Dortmund’s first-choice. But with age slowly taking its toll, the 34-year-old club legend could become a liability. Real Madrid loanee Achraf Hakimi has yet to show he is mature enough to both defend and attack, while 19-year-old Mateu Morey, who joined on a free from Barcelona, is the future but his start to life at the club has been delayed by a shoulder injury. — Stephan Uerseld.

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Chelsea legend leaves behind a catalogue of glowing memories for fans to cherish - opinion

This is the third instalment in Football FanCast’s Legacies series, which pays tribute to those players and managers who leave a compelling story behind as they move on to pastures new.

Eden Hazard, who’s left Chelsea for Real Madrid after seven years in west London, follows Aaron Ramsey and Peter Cech into the FFC spotlight.

The Belgian forward is undisputedly one of the most talented players in the world, so it’s no surprise that Los Blancos were willing to pay a reported £130m to secure his services when he had just one year remaining on his Chelsea contract.

Hazard arrived with bags of potential and a reputation that surpassed most in his age bracket. Since he touched down in London from Lille, there have been highs and lows, a multitude of different managers watching over him, heartbreak and success, goals ranging from routine to extraordinary, and an unsurprising barrage of transfer rumours to accompany his ascension to stardom. 

But how will Hazard be remembered and what is his overarching Chelsea legacy?

An Overview

Hazard’s announcement of his transfer on Twitter perhaps highlighted his immaturity at that age as he played up to the coverage and popularity his transfer saga was gaining.

The player himself admitted that the Blues were engaged in a battle for his signature with Manchester United, but it was the then Champions League winners who got the deal over the line. 

The forward was introduced to a typical Chelsea season very quickly as trigger-happy Roman Abramovich sacked European Cup winner Roberto Di Matteo before his successor, Rafael Benitez, ultimately led the club to Europa League glory.

Jose Mourinho’s return to the club induced another level from Hazard during their title-winning campaign in 2014-15. He registered 14 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League and averaged at 2.29 points per game, starring in a season which saw him play more league minutes than in any other Chelsea campaign.

Hazard went on to win the title again under Antonio Conte, similarly finding some of his best form in the 3-4-3 formation, and also managing to register 17 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

Maurizio Sarri then arrived at the Bridge with the Belgian an established star in world football, and it’s under the Italian that his goal contribution return spiked, with a tally of 31 – 16 goals and 15 assists – marking his best league return.

Stat Breakdown

Hazard’s trophy cabinet filled up significantly during his Chelsea days, and the two Premier League titles will surely be the pick of the bunch. Though in terms of his overall individual numbers, there’s a lot to admire in the forward as well.

During his time in the Premier League, the Belgian tallied 139 goal contributions in 245 appearances at a staggering rate of one contribution per 141 minutes played. The numbers are even more impressive when you consider that Chelsea’s turbulent history and tendency to play as a European powerhouse one season and an erratic underachiever the next.

In his final season as the club, Hazard was in his most clinical form and it’s no coincidence it arrived under a manager in Sarri who typically promotes a fluid approach. Under Mourinho and Conte, Chelsea’s number 10 often had to compromise for a pair of pragmatic managers who typically champion structure and defensive awareness over attacking expression.

“It reminds me of a bus seat!” – Watch a damning verdict on Chelsea’s new kit in the video below…

Memorable Moments

With some players there are simply just too many to count. Hazard’s greatest moments were not only the trophy wins and great teams he was part of but more the sheer moments of genius that left defenders searching for their own legs in a bamboozled state of embarrassment, tantalising and stunning the supporters who regularly spend hundreds of pounds just to see the wizard working his magic in the flesh.

This happened almost every time he got the ball in a one on one situation, forcing fans to creep forward to the edge of their seats, expecting to be surprised yet still remaining dumbfounded when their expectations became reality.

If we’re singling out just a few in particular, then you have to talk about his wonderful solo effort against Arsenal in which Francis Coquelin made two attempts to win the ball back only to drop to the ground each time as Hazard danced through the Gunners’ defence.

He teased West Ham defenders just a few months ago with an unforgettable dribbling sequence, slicing through with poise, balance and ethereal quick-feet before converting with a thumping drive.

In fact he did a similar thing to Liverpool in the 2018/19 instalment of the Carabao Cup, turning past Naby Keita before nutmegging Alberto Moreno and drilling the ball into the far corner of the net.

The man has delivered so many moments of magic and Chelsea memories will perennially store these in a safe place, never to be forgotten or taken for granted.

What is Hazard’s Chelsea legacy?

Hazard may have taught the Blues’ hierarchy a valuable lesson though, one which perhaps shapes his legacy more than his stats and golden moments do.

The lesson being that they were dependent on the recently departed hero’s verve and creativity and they must avoid falling into that trap moving forward.

Chelsea’s season may well have withered away into nothing these past few months had it not been for their star man’s performances helping them through and that is a prescient warning for the future.

It would be far too dismissive of other stars to call the west London outfit a one-man-band but there was certainly a severe over-reliance on Madrid’s shiny new Galactico, and with a looming transfer ban expected to restrict Chelsea of any incoming signings this summer, the club could yet pay a short-term price for relying so heavily on their number 10.

There’s a plethora of big names who roll off the tongue when speaking of Chelsea greats, but Hazard may well be the best of them all.

John Terry and Frank Lampard will rise above him in the debate for the greatest of all time, but in terms of sheer talent and ability it’s impossible to overlook the Belgian.

His status among Chelsea fans is secure – he’s undoubtedly a club legend.

Legacy: Legend

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Women's World Cup 2019: Megan Rapinoe scores twice as USA struggle past Spain

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Women's World Cup 2019: Megan Rapinoe scores twice as USA struggle past Spain

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Highlights: Spain 1-2 USA

The United States came through a testing last-16 tie against Spain to set up a tantalising Women’s World Cup quarter-final against France.

The world’s number-one side and pre-tournament favourites were given a scare by the Spaniards but survived the first nervy match of their title defence with a narrow win thanks to two penalties.

Megan Rapinoe’s early goal from the spot gave the USA the lead but Spain hit back when Jennifer Hermoso capitalised on a defensive mix-up to equalise brilliantly.

Jill Ellis’ side were awarded another penalty in a tense second half, with the decision standing after a lengthy review from the VAR officials; Spain unhappy at what they saw as the soft nature of midfielder Rose Lavelle’s tumble in the box.

Relive the action from Reims

Player Rater: USA v Spain

Rapinoe held her nerve to fire in from the spot for a second time and ensure the holders will face the hosts in Paris on Friday, in what promises to be one of the games of the competition.

A potential semi-final against England could follow, with the winner of the Lionesses’ quarter-final against Norway in Le Havre on Thursday set to meet the victors from the USA and France’s clash.

Relief for the favourites

Mapi Leon (left) tripped up Tobin Heath which resulted in Megan Rapinoe’s opener

The three-time champions were made to work hard for their last-eight spot, and briefly gave their fans reason to fear they might not extend their record of having always at least reached the semi-finals.

There was a shocked reaction when Hermoso levelled for Spain, as the USA conceded for the first time this summer, having gone 648 minutes of football without letting a goal in since April.

And the USA, who have only lost once since 2017, looked slightly vulnerable in defence under pressure from an improving Spanish outfit.

Nevertheless, the holders created the better chances and were once again strong going forward, with Rapinoe denied by a near-post save in the first half.

The game’s decisive moment came as Lavelle poked the ball beyond Virginia Torrecilla in the area and went down.

Hungarian referee Katalin Kulcsar initially awarded the spot-kick without hesitation, before taking a further look at the replay following guidance from her VAR colleagues. She opted to stick with her original call, much to the frustration of the Spain fans at a passion-fuelled Stade Auguste-Delaune.

Brave Spain go home with pride and frustration

USA striker Alex Morgan (left) was well marshalled by the Spanish defence

On a hot and humid evening in Reims, Ellis’ formidable USA squad were made to sweat by one of the world’s improving teams.

Spain – labelled as 6-1 outsiders for this tie by some bookmakers, with the USA 1-10 on – had caused problems as early as the first minute, when Patri Guijarro’s shot was blocked by Becky Sauerbrunn.

Playing in only their second World Cup and having reached the knockout stages for the first time, they were led from the back by resolute Paris St-Germain defender Irene Paredes, while Atletico Madrid star Hermoso played a key role in building their counter attacks.

Having finished second in Group B behind Germany, the side ranked 13th in the world will leave France with their heads held high, but with a tinge of frustration at the decision to award the USA’s second penalty.

The first spot-kick – which came when Mapi Leon brought down Tobin Heath – was comparably clear cut, but opinions were divided on the significance of the contact made with Lavelle for the crucial second.

Boos rang around the stadium as Spain’s fans expressed their dismay at the outcome of the VAR review, but Rapinoe – who replaced Alex Morgan as the USA’s penalty-taker during the long pause for the review – was nerveless.

‘We were the equals of the world’s best team’ – what they said

USA head coach Jill Ellis:“There’s not flawless soccer to be found in this world. That’s part of the game.

“We knew we could be sharper in the final pass, but Spain are a very good team.

“This was a really tricky game – probably the hardest in the last 16. It was good and it has energised our players.”

Spain manager Jorge Vilda:“On the pitch, I really feel that we should all be very proud of what we did. I am very proud.

“In terms of competitiveness we’ve been able to be the equals of the best team in the world. We’ve been able to give them a run for their money.

“We are a national team that – at the end of the day hasn’t walked away with a prize – but we have shown our potential for growth.”

‘There are so many things to question’

Former United States keeper Hope Solo on BBC Radio 5 Live:“I don’t know where to begin. There are so many things to question. You don’t always get a perfect win, sometimes it’s ugly and sometimes it’s hard-fought, which I understand as a player. But at the same time when you have that much attacking prowess, to not get a goal in normal play is concerning. It was two penalties and one I didn’t even think was a penalty, and if it was, it was soft.

“If you want to beat the USA you have to press the backline. That’s where they are truly vulnerable. It’s the decision making, it’s the quality of passing and I think there are nerves back there. I don’t think they are good enough to keep possession.”

USA on the spot again – stats

USA have reached the quarter-final stage in every edition of the Women’s World Cup between 1991 and 2019; the second nation to achieve this feat alongside Germany (eight).

Spain have won just one of their seven matches at the Women’s World Cup (W1 D3 L3), with this their first defeat and match in the knockout stage.

Only Germany (13) have scored more penalties (excluding shootouts) than USA (11). This is the second Women’s World Cup match in which USA netted two penalties (also 26 June 2003 v Nigeria).

Rapinoe is just the second player to score two penalties in a single Women’s World Cup match after Hermoso v South Africa (also at the 2019 edition).

Hermoso scored her first open play goal at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, with what was her 13th such attempt Hermoso is Spain’s leading scorer in WWC history (three)

Rapinoe has been directly involved in 12 goals in her 15 appearances at the Women’s World Cup (six goals, six assists).

BBC Sport has launched #ChangeTheGame this summer to showcase female athletes in a way they never have been before. Through more live women’s sport available to watch across the BBC this summer, complemented by our journalism, we are aiming to turn up the volume on women’s sport and alter perceptions.Find out more here.

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Tactical Analysis and Statistics: Copa del Rey: Levante vs Barcelona

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Tactical Analysis and Statistics: Copa del Rey: Levante vs Barcelona

Artwork by @chapulana

Although it might not be every club’s, or every fan’s, favourite competition, the Copa del Rey manages to surprise us every year. While it is not a surprise that smaller clubs beat the bigger ones, it always brings a special flavour along the way. Barcelona travelled to Valencia to face the other Blaugrana of La Liga, Levante and experienced a déjà vu of some sorts.

The Frogs have once again successfully leapt over the Catalan giants to secure a huge win at Estadi Ciutat de València but the away team got one back in the final stretch to keep their hopes of a yet another title defence alive and kicking.

This tactical analysis will use statistics to explain how the underdog overthrew the favourite in an open battle for the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Lineups

Barcelona (4-3-3)

Starting XI: Cillessen – Semedo, Murillo, Chumi, Miranda – Aleña, Busquets, Vidal – Malcom, Dembele, Coutinho

Bench: Ter Stegen, Lenglet, Wague, Arthur, Denis, Puig, Sergi

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

Levante (3-5-2)

Starting XI: Aitor – Mayoral, Chema, Simon, Prcic, Coke, Postigo, Rochina, Cabaco, Boateng, Campaña

Bench: Koke Vegas, Toño Garcia, Doukoure, Morales, Pedro Lopez, Raphael, Jason

Coach: Paco Lopez

Barcelona’s set-up

The first part of the season is now firmly behind us and the hectic schedule for those who want to compete on all fronts starts now and is not going to slow down anytime soon. Barcelona are one of those contenders that chase the famous treble but this time, Ernesto Valverde has decided to prioritize Champions League over the cup.

This resulted in a completely shuffled deck without many of the big names. Jasper Cillessen was back between the sticks and was guarded by a completely new back-four that saw the debut of Jeison Murillo in a completely new partnership with Chumi, the Barcelona B defender, and with Semedo and Miranda on the full-back positions.

Sergio Busquets was the captain on the night in a midfield trio with Vidal and Alena. The front-three comprised Malcom, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho. On paper, the Catalans operated in a 4-3-3 formation but swapped through different systems during the game.

Levante’s set-up

The hosts also decided to rest some of their key players but approached this game with maximum intensity and determination. The main man in front of the goal was Aitor Fernandez who had the experienced Postigo to marshal the defence in front with Cabaco and Chema.

The middle of the park was highly congested with a total of five players mostly occupying those positions, depending on Rochina who was playing just behind the front line. Campana was the only member of that four-man squad that is a regular first-team player while the front tandem was made of Mayoral and Boateng.

Levante operated in a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-1-2 system throughout the whole game with some exceptions depending on the situation on the field.

The cost of rotation

Ernesto Valverde is very well known for his tendency to not rotate the team, no matter what the situation currently is. Last year that meant that Barcelona got to lift the Copa del Rey trophy once again but the Catalans paid the price in the Champions League instead.

This time around, a different price was paid as the guests fielded a highly inexperienced squad that is not used to playing together. What followed was actually mostly expected but still disappointing.

Barcelona were not on the same page, which was seen from the very beginning but continued on throughout the whole game. “Only” 536 completed passes is below average for the Catalans and 94 losses of the ball might be the most glaring stats to prove that point.

Barcelona’s losses of the ball and the areas in which they happened. On the right, players with the most losses are shown.

Notice how the majority of lost balls happened in midfield (39%), and even the pillars of the team like Sergio Busquets were prone to errors. The Octopus of Badia was actually the one directly responsible for the first goal that happened extremely early in the game.

Busi fails to cover his man after a set-piece, and Cabaco rattles the net after just three minutes of play in Valencia. Barcelona’s weaknesses with set-pieces continued in Thursday’s game but the Catalans were not solely vulnerable in the air.

The problem with the midfield was partly in the personnel but also partly in the style and the system that was implemented. Sergio Busquets would regularly slot in-between the centre-backs for support while the full-backs would act as wing-backs to form a sort of 3-4-3 system when attacking.

Busquets would drop in-between the centre-backs but had no one to come collect the ball and carry it forward. As a result, the connection between the midfield and defence was extremely weak. Notice how much free space there is, and how there are no real passing options. In those situations, the press always yields a clearance or a goal-kick, which is exactly what Levante want.

The midfield-four would then comprise of Vidal, Alena, Miranda, and Semedo but the gap between the back line and the middle of the park was not covered by anyone. Notice in the image above how upon Levante’s press, no Barcelona player comes to collect the ball or give Cillessen a chance to build from the back.

As a result, the Dutchman has to clear the ball and send it far away up the pitch where Barcelona did not have a real target man to collect it. That was the second problem they faced or actually third if we count incoherence as one as well.

In this system, without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the front-three was made out of three wingers of sorts and Dembele had to compensate for the Uruguayan. While the Frenchman could do the job done fairly well, his off-the-ball movement and the impact Suarez usually has was lacking glaringly.

Barcelona’s front three had no natural striker and no target man. Both Coutinho and Malcom would often cut inside so any real width had to come from the full-backs.

Both Malcom and Coutinho would in general cut inside to occupy their respective half-spaces which would mean that the only real width came from the full-backs who were more of true wing-backs in those cases. Whether it was the pure inexperience in that position or something else, Dembele couldn’t give the team the attacking edge he usually provides.

The attacking trio was also a bit cut off the rest of the team, as can be seen in the pass map below. Dembele was the one furthest up the pitch but his communication with the midfield is non-existent, as is the one between the other two forwards.

Barcelona’s pass map.

Malcom only managed 10 passes with a low 58% success rate while Dembele and Coutinho were the players with most loses of the ball in the game with 13 and 12 respectively. Not really a great day in the office for the “new guys.”

The courageous hosts

Levante is by now a very well known thorn in Barcelona’s side. Sure, they themselves received a thrashing not so long ago in La Liga but the extraordinary 5-4 victory to take the “invincibles” title from the Catalan last season will not soon be forgotten.

Back then, they played attractive, open football and created and finished numerous chances. Thursday’s clash was not so different. Out of possession, Levante would press heavily and try to outnumber the opposition in a quick manner.

Congesting the midfield was key to cut off any threatening passing lanes. Pressing intensely and purposely was also key in executing this tactic.

Whether it was pressing the goalkeeper for a goal-kick or congesting the midfield to cut any passing lines, the Frogs of Valencia have done a great job at containing the opposition and setting up fast transitions.

Intercepting the passes, like in the image above, and forcing mistakes gave them chances for breaks and deadly counters.

Numerical superiority pays off once again as Levante capitalize on a misplaced pass.

Once again, notice how many home players surround the opposition when they are trying to build-up the play. The progress of the ball is almost impossible without long passes or through the air, either by goal kicks or clearances. Barcelona’s inefficiency in the air meant that Levante would benefit from those.

The unlikely heroes

As much as this Barcelona squad lacked cohesion and coordination, there were some bright moments as Carles Alena, Denis Suarez and Jeison Murillo showed some quality. The middle man, Denis, who is more likely going to leave this January was impressive in particular.

His Messi-esque run to get his team in a great position and eventually, to win the penalty that gave them the away goal, was maybe the highlight of their play. Still, the new man in defence was also solid and probably the best piece of the defensive puzzle.

Three clearances and three interceptions for Murillo along with 11 duels won made for a great debut, albeit in a pretty experimental back four, if we can even say that the Catalans had four defenders present at all times at all.

On the other side of the pitch was Borja Maroyal, the Real Madrid boy who had an inspiring night against the best possible opponents. It was not only the goal but also how key he was in the hosts’ attack.

Alongside rattling the net, he also gave two key passes and created one big chance. We can also see from the pass map how crucial he was in the system and for the victory itself.

Levante’s passmap.

Conclusion

Not all is lost for Barcelona as they head into the second leg that is to be played on 17 January at the Camp Nou, the Catalan’s fortress. The away goal from Philippe Coutinho means that there is a lot more football to be played between these two teams and more thrill to come.

There are also positives to draw from Thursday’s defeat. Key first-team players have been rested and some other players made the most out of this chance they got. Now it’s up to Messi and co. to seal the deal and bring the team back to Copa glory.

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[footballghana]

Baba Rahman – Chelsea’s forgotten man

It is amusing to think that by the end of Tuesday, the once highly rated Baba Rahman could be in no man’s land.

His loan move with Mallorca expires on June 30th and although he has a year left on his Chelsea contract, the Ghana left back doesn’t seem to be in Lampard’s plans.

Especially after various reports suggested that Chelsea will be in the market for a new left back this summer.

Last season, Rahman was deemed to be behind the pecking order; Alonso and Emerson and as a result was loaned to newly promoted Spanish side Mallorca.

However, his performances in the Balearic Islands of Eastern Spain didn’t raise the eyebrows of many, leaving his Chelsea future in doubt.

But how did Rahman move from a player coveted by so many top European clubs to an island where he is wanted by none?

The making of Rahman

A boy from Tamale with a dream, Rahman’s rise to prominence was rather rapid.

By 17, he had already starred for Dreams FC who were in the second division and caught the eye of giants Asante Kotoko.

Rahman’s exploits at the domestic scene attracted interest from top European clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester City and Parma.

Germany would be his next destination as the left back chose to play for newly promoted Greuther Fürth in the 2. Bundesliga.

“Greuther Fürth offered the best conditions in which to develop my career.”

Baba Rahman on why he chose Greuther Fürth

At that point, playing with a lower level European club was the ideal decision for Rahman.

A decision that paid off because Rahman would go on to become a household name in Bundesliga.

44 matches later, the Ghanaian left-back would leave Greuther Fürth. However, he saved his best for last scoring two goals in a 5-1 victory over FC Nürnberg in the Historisches Franken Derby.

That performance earned him a move to Bundesliga side Augsburg just 24 hours later.

At Augsburg, Rahman started to enjoy the spotlight after impressive performances against some of the best sides in Germany.

Augsburg finished fifth in the 2014/15 season and Rahman was very key to that feat.

The left back was one of the first names in the starting XI, starting 31 of the 34 games that season.

Rahman epitomised the ‘perfect’ full back who looked like he had combined the attacking traits of a modern full back with the old school defending of a classic defender.

Going forward, he made 5 assists and averaged 1.4 dribbles per game.

He made 108 tackles, more than any other player in the Bundesliga that season. Whilst averaging 2.9 interceptions, 3.5 clearances, 0.5 shot blocks and 4.8 tackles per match.

It came as no surprise when the Ghanaian was ranked as the sixth best player in the German Bundesliga based on his Bundesliga player index.

The stage was set, it was time for another move after truly becoming a household name in the Bundesliga.

AS Roma, Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich came calling but Rahman only answered Chelsea.

The Chelsea roller coaster

The time felt right, the environment absolutely conducive as Chelsea were enjoying the hangover of their title triumph the previous season.

It was never going to be easy defending a Premier League title, but for Rahman, the prospect of playing in a new league under a new coach was one he relished.

“I thank all the coaches and fans at Augsburg for their support last year. This is a chance to play at a top club in England, even if I had actually set myself on a long-term stay in Augsburg a year ago.”

Baba Rahman on his transfer to Chelsea via Chelsea website.

The transition was meant to be smooth as the Ghanaian was supposed to replace Filipe Luis, the Brazilian who returned to Atletico Madrid prior to the start of the season.

However, Rahman found himself in the middle of an upheaval in West London as Mourinho’s men just couldn’t put themselves together.

The defending champions picked just 11 points from their first 12 Premier League games.

Rahman was getting some game time, but standing out when the entire team seems to be down proved to be a herculean task for the Ghanaian.

The climax of his troubles with the Blues came during an away trip to the St Mary’s when a mistake by Rahman allowed Long to score before half time.

Rahman was substituted during the break as a result and despite starting seven games in the last stretch of the season, his performances weren’t enough to secure his place in the squad for the following season.

Antonio Conte was appointed as the new manager of Chelsea the next season and according to Rahman, the Italian advised him to leave on loan because he preferred more defensive players than him.

A decision which appeared contradictory with the benefit of hindsight because Conte would later switch to a 3-4-3 system which would not require so much defensive duties from the wing backs.

Period of Hiatus

Since 2016, Rahman hasn’t put on put on a Chelsea shirt although he is still under contract. His absence can be mitigated to the lack of consistency in any of his loan spells.

The Ghanaian has been on four loan spells in three different clubs in the space of four years

He’s made a total of 40 appearances for FC Schalke 04, Stade Reims and RCD Mallorca during these loan spells.

That’s an average of 10 appearances per season. Breaking this down further reveals that Rahman played just 2,831 minutes during his time away from Chelsea.

To simplify his involvement, if his total minutes of 2,831 minutes were attributed to full 90 minute games, Rahman would have started just 31.5 games in four years.

The main hindrance for the Chelsea left back has been fitness.

It all started with that bad knee injury he suffered with Ghana at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

An injury which got worse over time and forced Rahman off the pitch for over a year.

Throughout the 25-year-old’s career, he’s suffered seven injuries, missing a total of 971 days.

Out of the 971 days missed, 932 days were due to the recurrence of Rahman’s knee problems.

His latest injury was a knee injury sustained against Getafe last year which has prevented him from making any progress with La Liga side RCD Mallorca.

Despite being the side’s highest earner, Rahman has played just two La Liga games and one Copa Del Rey game.

What next for Rahman?

Rahman’s initial loan contract with Mallorca ends by the end of June 30th. However, the Spanish outfit have contacted the Blues for an extension of the deal till the end of the month.

The magnitude of Baba Rahman’s decline can be highlighted by Chelsea’s constant pursuit of a new left back this summer.

Lampard is adamant his side need to strengthen at the left side of defence with Leicester’s Ben Chilwell and Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico being prime targets.

Rahman has not popped up in the left-back options for Lampard because the former has not made a case for himself on loan.

Three games with Mallorca this season is not enough to convince any coach to call you back to first team action.

So far, Lampard has demonstrated that he prioritises meritocracy and has awarded the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Reece James with first team action because of their performances whilst on loan.

There is a possibility that Rahman’s Chelsea dream could be realised one day. All it takes is just one good loan spell.

His eye-catching performances with Reims last season where he made 11 appearances for the French side saw him earn a one year contract extension at Chelsea and a loan move to Mallorca.

He ended his stay in France on a high scoring and assisting against French giants PSG as his side beat Tuchel’s men 3-1.

With one year remaining, Rahman needs a good number of games in a league that isn’t so physically demanding.

Perhaps, that could be the psychological boost he needs to be able to overcome his knee problems.

Five years down the line, it is safe to say Baba Rahman’s Chelsea expectations were never matched, let alone exceeded.

However, the upcoming year will be pivotal in what happens next in his career.

Whether the boy from Tamale decides to move on from Chelsea or stay to prove a point, the key factor is that at age 25, he is still young and can reach the heights that were expected of him some time ago.

Source: Owuraku Ampofo (Joy Sports)

source: https://footballghana.com/

[mancitynoise]

Why Thomas Partey would be an excellent buy for Manchester City

According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City are interested in Atletico Madrid midfield ace Thomas Partey.

Manchester City are in a crisis. Consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester City saw Pep Guardiola’s side slump from top to the third position in the Premier League standings but are now back in second after the win over Southampton. Having bulldozed to 13 wins in their first 15 league games, their title defence is under serious threat having now fallen 7 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

And given City’s galaxy of attacking talents, it has become starkly apparent that Fernandinho is the team’s most important player. Though only a minor injury, Fernandinho’s absence has highlighted a major concern.

The Brazilian has been a crucial cog of this City side and his absence in the heart of midfield has coincided with a downturn in fortunes for the club of late.

With Fernandinho set to turn 34 in March, he cannot start week in and week out for long. And Guardiola identified this problem back in the summer when he wanted to sign Jorginho but the Italy international chose to follow his Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea instead.

So with cracks emerging at City, signing a replacement for Fernandinho in January has to be the top priority for Guardiola. And Thomas Partey fits the bill perfectly.

A graduate of Atletico Madrid’s youth system, Thomas Partey, 25, has grown leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. The Ghanaian played a crucial role in guiding Atletico Madrid to the Europa League crown and was a part of a team that boasted one of the best defences in Europe under Diego Simeone last season.

A defensive midfielder by trade, Partey excels at breaking up the play and starting counter-attacks from the base of the engine room. He is an excellent ball winner, distributor and an initiator of his team’s attacks.

The Ghana international is a rampaging midfielder who uses his intelligent positioning to influence the game and has an unbelievable eye for a pass.

The 25-year-old’s ability to create space for himself and his teammates remains underrated. Calm on the ball and possessing the technique to break the opposition with his movement and dribbling, Partey is also a brilliant long-range shooter. He has a habit of popping up with the odd goal, just like Fernandinho.

Read more: Why Man City would be shrewd to avoid splashing £50m on PL sensation and sign this Benfica star instead

Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, Partey could become one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.

Most importantly, he could solve City’s midfield conundrum for the next few years by replacing the ageing but excellent Fernandinho. And that’s why Guardiola should splash the cash to sign Partey in January.

The post Go for it Pep – This 25-year-old La Liga midfield general would be the perfect replacement for Fernandinho at Man City appeared first on SoccerSouls.