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? 

UCL: GW 2 PREVIEW

Inter visits the Nou Camp, Spurs hosts the Bavarians and more; The Road to Istanbul - European Royalty. 

                                                                         Ref: UEFA via AA.

The two-day European soccer festival is back again in mid-week. A fortnight ago, game week one got underway and that left fans with awkward surprises. It may be a hectic week for players but one laced with admittedly pure excitement for fans.

Antonio Conte may not have expected to enjoy an easy ride in his early days at Inter Milan but he is bossing matters in Italy. He makes a tough trip to the home of the Catalan giants, FC Barcelona. Both teams played out a frustrating draw in the first game week. Pressure mounts as either would want to leap into the first position. Conte's machine seems to be well oiled now. 
The tactics of Ernesto Valverde have been called to question and fans are fuming with how football has been played at times. Happily, Messi and Dembele are back in training for the Blaugranas. 

Bayern Munich will make a trek to London as Spurs host the Bavarians at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It has not been rosy for Pochettino this season, with mixed results and players not being in sync with the general team approach. A hard-fought victory over the weekend and options for right-back limited. The draw at Olympiacos leaves the host with just a point after one game. 
Coutinho, on one hand, has been the lynchpin for Niko Kovac's side. He seems to have found his feet and the added threat he gives this Bayern side is one Pochettino should be looking to curb. A victory in the last game round keeps them so comfortable at the top of the table.

Early kickoffs for Real Madrid and Atalanta as they play Club Brugge and Shakhtar Donetsk respectively. Atalanta must redeem themselves after the 4-0 mauling in Zagreb. PSG after their heavy victory over Madrid will be looking to continue that fine form when they make the trip to Turkey to face Galatasaray. Bayern Leverkusen will travel to Turin to face Juventus. Mauricio Sarri must pick all the maximum points at home while Atletico Madrid does a dicey trip to Russia. Pep Guardiola will be expecting all 3 points when his side comes up against the Croatian outfit, Dinamo Zagreb.

Valencia and RB Leipzig will await the visits of Ajax and Lyon respectively. Early kickoffs on Wednesday for Dortmund and Napoli away also. Chelsea's trip to Lille will be difficult as Lille's manager, Christophe Galtier will be making up for the loss suffered in GW 1.
A disappointing start for the holders, Liverpool in the previous game week but chances are still wide and aplenty as Klopp faces RB Salzburg with red hot Haaland after getting a hattrick in his first UCL appearance. 

Another good week of football. We can only but enjoy it.
 
 



 

THE UCL REVIEW

Holders disappointed, Hazard ghosted, an exciting stalemate at the Wanda and the new boy Haaland stole the show in gameweek 1.
 

Things may not have gone according to plan for the current champions, Liverpool but Dries Merten's penalty and Virgil Van Dijk's error cushioned Ancelotti's side to victory in Naples. The much-applauded front three were not on song and misfired. A reverse fixture at Anfield lies in wait. 

The Portuguese stars could not get on the score sheet in Spain when Atletico Madrid and Juventus faced off. A curler from Cuadrado and a guided header from Matuidi put the visitors in front but goals from Savic and Hector Herrara late on got them level pegging. Cristiano watched his solo effort whisk past the upright as it ended in a draw. 

The French champions, PSG, the floating bulwark tore Real Madrid to shreds in a thrilling encounter in Paris. A Di Maria brace and a late counter saw Meunier finish off a move he started. Zidane's defense could not find answers to a seemingly second string PSG attack. Iddrisa Gana Gueye was magnificent in that midfield and Hazard was ghosted. 

Not the start Chelsea would have hoped for as they lost at home to Valencia as Barkley missed a penalty. Bayern were at their ruthless best as they saw off Red Star Belgrade in Munich. Mixed fortunes for Spurs away in Greece. A disappointing start for Antonio Conte and new boy Erling Haaland stole the show in an eight-goal thriller as he fired home a hattrick for RB Salzburg.   

Dinamo Zagreb was mercilessly and Pep's Manchester City smile back to England after their victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. 

picture referrence: oklahoma n.com

Player of The Week.

It must be the hattrick hero Haaland. Just 19 years old in his first CL game. 

Goal of The Week.

You decide.  I will be waiting for the comments.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

European soccer takes another spin this year as current champions, Liverpool FC look to defend their title. 

The European club competition returns to our screens more promptly as clubs go again to see who becomes the team of Europe. 32 teams will be joining the shuttle when they move across Europe as two will be booking tickets to Turkey come May 30, 2020. Similarly, there will be kickoffs at 4:55 pm and 7 pm this year. 

Liverpool dispatched fellow countrymen Spurs in the final at the Wanda Metropolitano to lift the trophy and make it their sixth UCL title after a failed attempt against Real Madrid a year prior. Liverpool's title defense will begin with Napoli and Europa League champions, Chelsea will take on Valencia at 7 pm. 

The favorites, Barcelona locks horns with Borussia Dortmund with Messi a doubt despite beginning early training on Monday. Wonder boys, Ajax will welcome Lille but will be without Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt. 

Pep's Manchester City takes a trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk too. Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus face Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano while Joao Felix gets to make his UCL debut against his compatriot.   

We are ready to enjoy another year of exciting Champions league football - art and culture of European soccer on display.