UCL GW 3: REVIEW

Goals aplenty; Only three teams have 9 points and Lampard talks about the standard Chelsea has set. 

It was a goal-fest when the UCL came around in midweek. Strikers got in on it as they scored in 2s and 3s. Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris kept it perfect as GW 3 ended. They have won the three opening games of the group stages bagging all 9 points.

Chelsea made it 5 wins in their last 5 matches played away from home in all competitions when they took all 3 points from Ajax. Lampard's substitutions paid off when Michy Batshuayi got on the end of a Pulisic cross. The boys can only get better as Lampard spoke about the standards set by his team. They can only get better if the cyanotype is sustained. Manchester City was a goal down early in the game but came back to put 5 past Atalanta as Sterling got a hattrick.

Tottenham Hotspur put the Bayern thrashing behind them when Red Star Belgrade came around. Kane and Son scored a brace each as Lamela rounded the 5-star performance with a goal. Genk could not hold off Klopp's Liverpool at home in Belgium. Klopp went with a more dynamic midfield as Ox Chamberlain got a brace. Keita impressed and will be making a claim to start this weekend. The two fans who missed the game after going to the wrong city must be furious to not see their team's 4-1 victory.

Juventus got a win in Turin after Miranchuk scored a goal in the first half for the visitors but Dybala got two quick goals to seal the victory for Sarri's men late in the second half. Alvaro Morata's only goal got the victory for Atletico Madrid when Leverkusen visited. Galatasaray fell to a defeat at the hands of Real Madrid. Zidane finally got the win. It would have been devastating if this win was not registered.

Inter Milan slumped Dortmund to a defeat at the San Siro. Lautaro Martinez put the host in front midway through the opening 45 minutes. Dortmund did well to keep their cool but Inter put the cherry on the cake as a fine counter put Candreva in on goal. He smashed it into the top corner with little time left for Dortmund to pull a comeback. Barcelona was not so convincing but got the business done as Messi and Suarez made sure of the win.

I cannot have just one UCL POTW so my picks are Sterling, Mbappe and Di Maria. 


Goal of the Week: No doubt Marcel Sabitzer's technique and match-winner for RB Leipzig against Zenit. 


If you disagree, I am welcome to opinions.
Leave a comment.
 

UCL: GAMEWEEK 3 PREVIEW

Groups shaping up, Is it looking brighter at the end of the tunnel for the big guns? UCL: GW 3 Preview.

The International break has gradually been thrown out the window as club football has calmly walked in. We delve into the nice arts of European football as the UEFA Champions league comes yet to our screens in midweek. 

Atletico Madrid waits for the arrival of Bayern Leverkusen at the Estadio Metropolitano but Joao Felix has to sit this one out. Diego Simeone has the arsenal to see off the German outfit but the brilliance of Kai Havertz, Kevin Volland, and Alario should make this an enthralling encounter.

We must all be aware of Cristiano Ronaldo's good games against Galatasaray at Real Madrid but the scenes look more different now. Hazard will be fit to enter the fray, Benzema showing no signs of slowing down and Modric will be missing this game. Galatasaray will yearn for this as Real Madrid have not been consistent with their performances this season. A good game for the home side and all three points can be bagged. Babel will look to take his chances when the time comes. Paris SG are on the verge of sealing qualification so early in Group A when they win against Club Brugge. A feat achieved by none in the Champions League after just three games.

Lokomotiv Moskva will make a tough trip to the home of the Italian giants Juventus come Tuesday night. Ronaldo could be adding more goals to his 701 tally. Spurs must get the Bayern thrashing out of the way by making it right when Crvena Zvezda visits. Bayern's trip to Greece should be tough but not one they cannot dispense. Pep Guardiola feels his side can only lift the CL trophy if they are sharp in front of goal and that must be seen when they face Atlanta. 

Liverpool after the begrudgingly frustrating draw at Old Trafford and the scare in the last game week must be able to see off Genk to make chances of qualification possible. Erling Haaland got his fourth goal of the CL against Liverpool and will be hoping to add more when Napoli makes the flight to Salzburg in Austria. Napoli's draw in the last game week puts them on top of the group but another drop gets them off that spot.  

A good one at the San Siro when Inter and Dortmund face off. Lukaku and Martinez look the piece and Sensi is having an excellent season barring Dortmund without Alcacer still has more weaponry in their arsenal to be able to take on any side. A thrilling clash in the waiting. A likely 3 points should be on the cards for Lille but Valencia is in the way.

Then there is the contest of the boys with Erik Ten Haag and Frank Lampard on either side. Ajax has refined its approach to UCL games following their manager's care and their last win against Valencia away from home is proof of their strength. We will not keep Lampard's boys on the light-weighted side though. The young boys have been good at Chelsea and have the experience of Willian and Pedro if required. A long injury list for Chelsea but can they withstand the pressure from Ajax?

GW2: UCL REVIEW

Barca victorious despite Inter fight, a goal-fest at Spurs and Anfield, Zidane's woes continue and these Ajax boys😊. 

Barcelona took to the Camp Nou field in the hope to get their first UCL win this season only to be shocked by an early Lautauro Martinez goal. Inter managed to end the first half with the 1-0 lead just to be befuddled by a Luiz Suarez brace in the second half. Antonio Conte would have best hoped for the draw after Barca pulled parity but Messi had the better of two Inter players as he slotted a pass to Suarez to get his second.

Spurs were out of sorts when they came up against Bayern Munich at home. Despite conceding an early goal, Niko Kovac's side went on to score seven past the home team. Serge Gnabry got his sauce ready as he got four on the night. Pochettino needs to get to the drawing board as quickly as possible. 

Liverpool could not manage the game as they let a 3-1 first-half lead slip. RB Salzburg were level just 15 minutes into the second half. The defending of the holders was poor but Salah got on the end of a Firmino header to edge the visitors. Erling Haaland came off the bench to get a goal though. He is scoring for fun and the entire team has scored 40 goals in nine league games.

Ronaldo scored against Bayern Leverkusen as Juventus came away with a 3-0 conquest. Higuaín and Bernardeschi got on the scoresheet also. Sterling and Foden came off the bench to ensure Pep's win over Dinamo Zagreb. Real Madrid played out a frustrating 2-2 draw at home when CFR Brugge visited.

It was not a pleasant day for certain home teams as PSG, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Lyon got wins away. Lampard's Chelsea struggled away but was able to get past a resilient Lille side. Tammy Abraham scored from Tomori's ball into the box and Willian sealed the victory from a Hudson Odoi cross. 

Ajax has marveled football fans across the globe with their exciting football with its brand coming from the Cryuff style. The turns and trickery amaze opponents and Erik ten Hag's impressive work cannot be underrated. A 3-0 victory away to Valencia just proves how this team has grown this culture of football. 

Player of the Week: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich. 

Hwang Hee-chan's turn and shot to dribble past Van Dijk gets my vote for goal of the week. 

What is your pick?