Monthly Archives: April 2016

Better call Saúl

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Saul

Saúl Ñíguez hizo un partidazo y le puso la guinda con el que seguramente sea (hasta la fecha) el gol más importante de su vida. Anotó un golazo para sobreponerse al Bayern de Munich y poner en ventaja a los atléticos en la eliminatoria. Un gol que puede valer una final y que saldó el encuentro con un 1-0 en el Manzanares para dar mucha vida a los colchoneros.

Saúl se coronó con un gol en el que se fue de hasta 5 jugadores alemanes. Dejó en el suelo a Thiago, Xabi Alonso y Bernat para luego, frente a Alaba, sacar un disparo pegado al palo y así batir al meta Neuer. Un tanto que podría haber llevado la firma del mismo Ronaldinho, Pelé, Cruyff o Maradona… o incluso haber salido de un videojuego. Pero no, lo marcó el joven Saúl, un todocampista (como le define el Cholo) que hasta hace un año era un desconocido pero que esta campaña está floreciendo y haciéndose un hueco entre los más grandes del mundo del fútbol. Su tanto ya opta a la nominación como el mejor gol del año, es un gol de ensueño para enmarcar.

A parte del gol, Saúl lo hizo todo bien, corrió, robó balones, aportó juego a su equipo… Pero lo más importante, dio la victoria a su equipo. El Atlético aún no lo tiene hecho, pero ganar en su estadio y dejar su portería a cero le da muchas opciones. En el Allianz Arena tendrá que sacar las garras para frenar a los de Guardiola, pero sabe que no es imprescindible ganar y que con un gol puede sellar el pase a Milán.

Saúl es un diamante en bruto. Una perla que en su momento dejó escapar la cantera del Real Madrid y que ahora se está forjando al otro lado de la ciudad. El Cholo está exprimiendo todo su potencial y el futbolista está respondiendo con crees; podemos poner la mano en el fuego a que este jugador dará mucho que hablar en los próximos años.

El City se la jugará en la Villa

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Gareth Bale and Vincent Kompany

Partido vibrante el que se vivió en el Etihad Stadium, no fue un encuentro de toma y daca pero sí hubo varios momentos en los que se rompió el choque con asedios y contras. Por tanto, lo que extraña es el empate a cero, ya que ambos tuvieron más de una ocasión para marcar. El 0-0 deja la eliminatoria muy abierta y ambos equipos se jugarán el pase a la final en el Bernabéu.

El partido estuvo marcado por la ausencia de Ronaldo, el luso aún estaba resentido de su lesión y optó por no jugar; más tarde declaró que sí fuese la final habría saltado al campo, pero ha imperado el sentido común aunque se muriera de ganas por vestirse de corto. Benzema también se resintió de sus molestias y Jesé le sustituyó al descanso. Por tanto, la BBC dependió de Bale, al que le acompañaron el canario (con un remate al poste) y Lucas cumpliendo su papel. Pero el mejor de los blancos fue Pepe, que se mostró soberbio en defensa y a punto estuvo de marcar a bocajarro. En el City hubo 3 nombres propios. David Silva se lesionó y es duda para la vuelta; de Bruyne estuvo magnifico e inquietó en varias ocasiones la meta de Keylor; y Hart salvó a su equipo con varias intervenciones providenciales.

La ausencia de goles es lo que extraña, pero que se explica con las grandes actuaciones de los dos porteros. Esto deja la eliminatoria muy abierta pero pareció contentar a ambos en los últimos minutos, sobre todo a los ingleses. El partido en la Villa de Madrid será un encuentro vital en el que el ganador recibirá un anhelado billete para Milán. La vuelta de Pellegrini a la que fuera su casa será solo un aliciente más. El City sabe que con un gol puede hacer mucho daño, pero el Madrid juega en su campo y debe salir a ganar con el aliento del Bernabéu. Una de las claves será conocer el estado de la enfermería; esta claro que será secreto de sumario hasta el último minuto, pero cualquier jugador, ya sea Ronaldo o el Kun Agüero, pueden decidir la eliminatoria en un abrir y cerrar de ojos. Ambos se juegan la temporada y este partido será clave para salvarla.

 

Zamparini to blame for Palermo mess

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Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini has let fly in recent weeks. Outbursts from the controversial figure are nothing new, but he has directed his ire at those perceived to be against Palermo. As the Sicilian club creep closer to relegation the strain is showing on a President who has been central to Palermo being in this predicament.

While the battle for the Scudetto is over, the action is heating up at the bottom. Verona are now relegated, with Palermo, Frosinone and Carpi scraping to avoid the other two positions.

When Frosinone scored a late goal in their relegation six-pointer at Verona on April 17, Zamparini accused the home team of letting the Canarini score. “For the Frosinone goal the Verona players looked the other way. Am I doubting the good faith of Hellas Verona? I’ve already said everything. You look at the match. If there is to be TV evidence then it should be used in this case.”

Frosinone President Maurizio Stirpe called the comments “offensive to the whole of football.” But that hasn’t stopped the fiery Zamparini.

His next target was referees. On Sunday, Palermo won a crucial match at Frosinone, their first since January 24. But victory for Carpi over Empoli saw the minnows stay in 17th, three points clear of Palermo.

“The fight to avoid relegation was conditioned directly by the referee Paolo Valeri in the Carpi-Empoli match yesterday,” a statement from the President read. He was incensed at the first half dismissal of Empoli’s Levan Mchedlidze, plus a disallowed goal and a penalty not given to Empoli. Carpi won 1-0.

Rather than complain about referees, Zamparini must look in the mirror for the cause of Palermo’s struggles. They have made nine coaching changes this term – that’s more than their number of wins, eight.

Zamparini sacked Giuseppe Iachini citing an ability to play the football needed to succeed. He later brought him back, only to sack him once more weeks later. Davide Ballardini’s absurd fallout with the squad late last year mattered little as he is back on the bench. Walter Novellino lasted only a few matches. Then there was the Guillermo Schelotto debacle. The Argentine did not have the correct licence to coach and had to be replaced by a series of youth and assistant coaches.

Palermo’s squad is not one which should be fighting for survival. But thanks to the farcical nature of Zamparini’s leadership and his penchant to hire and fire like it’s nothing, Palermo have been severely crippled. They have three games left to mount a recovery.

Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon decisive in Scudetto Triumph

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You could be forgiven for thinking Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon has yet to turn 30 years old. However, the sad reality is Buffon turned 38-years-old in January. It is sad because football fans will soon lose sight of one of the world’s best goalkeepers ever. Buffon will likely retire after World Cup 2018 as he has hinted on more than one occasion.

Hunger, pride and dedication are but some of the elements driving Buffon and keeping him going even at this advanced football age. It is hard to pinpoint one particular save or one specific performance as Buffon’s ultimate display due to the fact the Italian legend has outdone himself on several occasions.

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While the World Cup 2006 triumph most likely stands as Buffon’s greatest achievement due to a number of factors, winning the 2015-16 Serie A title ranks among his dearest, if not the most special one. Buffon himself stressed this Scudetto meant more to him than any of the previous four consecutive titles. For starters, this is a historic and record tying 5th consecutive Scudetto triumph for Buffon with the Bianconeri. In doing so, Buffon’s Juve tied the club’s own record and that of the famous Torino side (though Torino’s 5 Scudetti were not in consecutive years due to interruption by World War II).

However, the most remarkable feat achieved by Juve on the way to defending the league title has been the astounding turnaround following the dismal start to the 2015-16 campaign. Languishing near bottom after several Serie A rounds, the Old Lady pulled herself together and mounted a tremendous challenge defeating all but one opponent in the last 25 rounds of league football. Juve gathered 73 out of a possible 75 points since the Sassuolo defeat. The rest is history as they say.

Football fans have now grown accustomed to hearing about Juve’s wins this season and, not surprisingly, the Bianconeri victories have coincided with Buffon’s heroics. Without stressing too much on the stats, one reference must be made to Buffon’s record of not conceding a goal in Serie A for 974 minutes! In doing so, he broke a record which stood for 22 years. Buffon also holds another Serie A record as he kept 10 consecutive clean sheets.

Nevertheless, his greatest contribution might have come via an action he took off the pitch. Buffon’s statements following the loss to Sassuolo triggered a reaction by the squad. Despite being extremely disappointed, he was both firm and fiery: “Talking about the referee all the time is what losers do and we do not stoop to that level. We wear the Juventus shirt and must do it justice.” This is coming from Buffon who has been proud to wear the Bianconeri shirt and who was committed to Juve despite being demoted to Serie B in 2006.

Buffon did not just issue a statement or throw words around, but actually backed up his famous declaration with hard work and commitment. He was great against Torino when Juve snatched a late win in the Turin derby thanks to on-loan Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado.

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There are several games during which Buffon was decisive and there are certainly numerous moments when he saved Juve from conceding goals. For the 2015-16 season, Buffon’s record stands at 34 games played in Serie A, during which he kept an impressive 20 clean sheets while conceding only 17 goals.

It could be said that fate was determined to highlight Buffon’s importance to the Juventus cause when the Bianconeri traveled to Florence to take on Fiorentina in a highly charged atmosphere. He not only saved a last minute penalty-kick but also the follow-up!

While LA Lakers and NBA legend Kobe Bryant struggled for much of his farewell season before capping it by his remarkable 60 point performance against the Utah Jazz in his last official game, Buffon, at the age of 38, has been playing at a consistently high level and breaking records while enjoying some peak performances and winning trophies.

To outline how remarkable his 2015-16 campaign has been, it would not be inaccurate to state Buffon is perhaps having the best season of his career!

 

Manchester City wasted a golden opportunity against Real Madrid

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Manchester City were held to a goalless draw against a Real Madrid side without Cristiano Ronaldo or a fully fit Karim Benzema in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night, and must travel to the Santiago Bernabeu, which has seen Real score 18 goals with no reply, to play the return leg. So have City wasted a golden opportunity in the home leg?

After Tuesday’s clash against Los Blancos, City goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Vincent Kompany both seemed content with the result. The latter said: “0-0 is a good result. It is hard to keep a clean sheet against such a good attacking team. Overall, we can be proud of what we have achieved in the first leg of this game. Obviously everything’s going to be played for next week now.”

Manchester City kept Real Madrid at the bay for the majority of the encounter at the Etihad Stadium, but in truth didn’t come close to scoring themselves. The best chances came from the visitors, and the challenge will only be great at the Bernabeu in May. City will progress with a score draw or victory, but Real haven’t failed to win a home game in the Champions League for 11 months.

As a result, Manuel Pellegrini’s men couldn’t wish for a harder clash, and their task of progressing in Real’s backyard will be made even more difficult with Cristiano Ronaldo set to feature and Benzema expected to return to better fitness levels by then. City really didn’t take advantage of Real without their two key players, and now they have to keep the Champions League’s top goalscorer quiet in a ground that has seen him at his prolific best.

Pellegrini believes in his side’s ability to go toe-to-toe with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in order to book their place in the Champions League final, but had they showed a bit more of an attacking threat, they could have been in a situation where they could afford to lose the second leg providing they kept the deficit to just one goal.

“We are not afraid to go to the Bernabeu and we will see which team plays better then. We trust what we are going to do,” said Pellegrini after the game. The Chilean coach has often tried his hand matching his opponents in regard to a bold expansive playing style, and it’s always backfired in Europe. City were given a lifeline with the Champions League’s top goalscorer missing in the first leg, so will they come to regret blowing their best chance of progressing?

Juve’s stunning achievement

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It’s a collection which includes an unbeaten and one in which they broke the 100-point barrier. But ask the veterans of Juventus’ extraordinary run and they will say this is the sweetest of all.

“I think this is the most beautiful Scudetto by far because it was a demonstration of incredible strength,” Gianluigi Buffon told Mediaset. He later elaborated when speaking to Rai: “This is the most beautiful Scudetto because if the first was exciting because it was unexpected, this is exciting because it was so difficult… We had the idea of making a comeback even when we were 15th, but to do that we had to get our hands dirty and have pride.”

Napoli’s failure to win at Roma on Monday, coupled with Juve’s victory away to Fiorentina a day earlier, kept the Scudetto stitched on the Bianconeri shirt for another season. For the second time in the club’s history she has won five successive Scudetti, 80 years after the last occurrence. Only the legendary Grande Torino of the 1940s and Inter in the mid-2000s – Calciopoli-assisted – have also achieved such a feat.

The Quinquennio d’Oro outfit of the 1930s helped Juventus become the club it is today. As professional football took hold in the newly formed Serie A it was Juventus who took the competition by storm. Under the tutelage of Edoardo Agnelli the club became a powerhouse of Italian football. Nearly a century later, the current crop restored Juve’s place amongst football’s elite.

But the fifth crown looked out of the realms of possibility on October 28th last year. A 1-0 defeat at Sassuolo was Juve’s fourth in the opening 10 matches – as many defeats as in the entire 2014-15 season. They were 11 points from first place. It led to public criticism from Buffon and Patrice Evra: “The message for my teammates is clear: We must respect this shirt. In the first half against Sassuolo we didn’t.”

Three days later Juan Cuadrado scored a 93rd minute Turin Derby winner. The rest, as they say, is history. It was the first of 24 wins in 25 matches, the only blemish a draw at Bologna.

In the meantime, Buffon set the record for longest time without conceding a goal, 974 minutes. Juventus chased down their competitors, one by one. After passing Napoli in Round 25’s match of the season, they never looked back.

With this piece of history in their grasp, Juventus already have their sights set on number six.

Suárez no desiste del Pichichi

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Suarez

A falta de 4 partidos, y salvo sorpresa, el Pichichi será para Cristiano Ronaldo o para Luis Suárez. El luso lleva 31 tantos en su registro, mientras que el charrúa solo está uno por debajo. Hace unos días parecía claro que CR se llevaría un nuevo trofeo a su palmarés, pero ahora no está tan claro; la última jornada le ha puesto mucha emoción a esta distinción individual.

Los 4 goles de Suárez ante el Dépor han supuesto un spring final para un delantero que llevaba varios partidos sin ver puerta. Además, Cristiano Ronaldo no fue capaz de anotar ningún gol ante el Villarreal. Pero si hablamos de emoción por saber quién se llevará el Pichichi, Suárez, aunque esté un tanto por debajo, también puede tener una ligera ventaja. Y es que Ronaldo sufrió unas molestias en los últimos minutos de juego frente al submarino y tuvo que abandonar los terrenos de juego (hasta ese momento era el único jugador de campo que había disputados todos los minutos de la Liga). Ronaldo es seria duda en el partido de Vallecas y el sentido común indica que Zidane no lo sacará para no forzarlo. Recordemos que esta semana hay un trascendental encuentro de Champions frente al City y el luso es vital. La Undécima se presenta más ambiciosa y no da segundas oportunidades.

Por tanto, en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, resulta que vamos a tener emoción hasta el final, el que más goles marque tiene muchas opciones de llevarse también la Bota de Oro en Europa. Hace 2 temporadas, Ronaldo y Suárez ya compartieron este galardón, aunque en este caso fue en ligas diferentes cuando el charrúa competía en Liverpool y anotó la friolera de 31 tantos. Este año, la cifra ya va por los 31 (empate entre CR y Jonas), pero está claro que el precio de este año será mayor. La duda es, ¿quién se lo llevará?

El Levante se inmola

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Giuseppe Rossi

La lucha por salvar la categoría sigue sin dar tregua y parece que habrá emoción hasta el último día. En la jornada que acaba de terminar, todos los principales candidatos al descenso han sacado algo positivo de sus respectivos partidos… todos salvo el Levante, que perdió en un duelo directo en Los Cármenes y se aleja 3 puntos más de la salvación. A falta de 12 en juego, mucho tienen que cambiar las tornas para que la temporada que viene compita en Primera.

El 5-1 ante el Granada refleja la impotencia del conjunto levantino. Una portería que parece un coladero, una defensa que hace aguas, un centro del campo que pierde todos los balones que toca y una delantera que no da pie con bola. La verdad es que la temporada no está siendo nada buena para el equipo granota, pero el partido de ayer fue incluso peor y podría tildarse de desastre. Al descanso el marcador ya indicaba un abultado 3-0, en los últimos compases de juego Rubén García recortaba diferencias, el Levante se volcó al ataque desesperadamente pero, en lugar de salvar el encuentro le endosaron 2 tantos más en contra.

Pero, ¿qué es lo peor? La jornada de ayer fue nefasta para el equipo levantino. En primer lugar porque perdió, pero es que además lo hico frente a un rival directo por la salvación. Y, para colmo, los otros 4 equipos implicados en la quema hicieron sus deberes: el Rayo se llevó un punto de la Rosaleda, el Getafe ganó en Anoeta, el Sporting doblegó a los de Emery y el Granada les derrotó; es decir, que con una jornada menos, están a 3 puntos más de lograr su objetivo. Quedan 4 jornadas, o lo que es lo mismo 12 puntos; el Levante está a 5 de la salvación y tiene por delante un calendario complicado. En su estadio recibe al Athletic (que pugna por Europa) y al Atlético (que no puede tirar la Liga), además tendrá que visitar Málaga (partido en el que podría descender) y Vallecas (que si llega con opciones, será un encuentro a vida o muerte). No vamos a negarlo, la derrota de ayer le ha dejado muy tocado, pero Rossi y compañía deben sacar todo su potencial y levantarse.

Jovetic double important for both player and Inter

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It was the match Stevan Jovetic needed to have. Without a Serie A goal since December and with Inter’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League in need of a boost, the Montenegrin striker responded. For Jovetic it was liberation, a chance to put behind a difficult five month spell.

He started the season on fire, scoring Inter’s first three goals of the campaign in narrow wins over Atalanta and Carpi. That suggested the summer loan move from Manchester City could prove a fruitful one. But it looked a false dawn for Jovetic, who had hoped to be revitalised back in Italy, following a difficult time at Etihad Stadium.

A goal against Udinese before Christmas and a Coppa Italia strike a month later at Napoli were Jovetic’s only further chances for celebration. Then came the return meeting with the Zebrette on Saturday.

It didn’t look good for Inter as Cyril Thereau scored inside 10 minutes. Chasing down Roma for a chance to finish third, a loss would all but end that dream. Jovetic was on hand to tap in Mauro Icardi’s centre from close range to equalise before half-time.

He then put the Nerazzurri ahead with only 15 minutes to play, turning Jonathan Biabiany’s cross home with his chest. Eder’s injury time first goal for Inter sealed the points, but only after an important Samir Handanovic save.

Roberto Mancini was pleased as his side maintained their outside chance of reaching the Champions League, while also praising Jovetic. “Not only did he score two goals, but he can do a lot more and he knows that. Tonight everyone did well, we played a really good game.”

The goals were timely for the Montenegrin international. Jovetic missed the whole of March with injury and had gone three matches in his return without scoring. “I hadn’t played for a long while, but I am happy when I get to play, score or provide an assist.”

Reports on Sunday suggest Jovetic is a target of incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte. But Jovetic refuted any transfer discussion. “I have always been happy here and never even thought of leaving Inter.”

With Inter planning their strategy for next season, Champions League or not, Jovetic’s goals were important. And so too is how he finishes the season. He may be on loan, but has a mandatory buyout clause. If he can continue to find the target over the next three weeks it could convince Inter to go forth with him next term.

Premier League clubs in danger of following Aston Villa’s example

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This Premier League season has given the middle ranking teams in the division hope for the future – hope that they could ‘do a Leicester City’ and launch a surprise title challenge. But the plight of Aston Villa should be a warning to those same sides, and some of the ones above as well.

It’s not that long ago that Villa were among a clutch of clubs in contention for a Champions League place. That they will start next season in the Championship instead is a legacy of years of mismanagement – of selling the team’s most important players and not re-investing that money in the squad, of spending money poorly when it was spent, and of regrettable managerial appointments that were more intended to manage the team’s decline, not taking it to the next level.

Villa, from European football under Martin O’Neill, now belong to the likes of Swindon Town, Sunderland and Derby County as the worst teams, on a points basis, to feature in the Premier League. A confused management structure, an uninterested owner, an unbalanced squad and the wrong man in the dugout have all culminated in an inevitable – but not unavoidable – drop to the second tier.

The fate of the Midlands club was sealed long before relegation was confirmed. The writing was on the wall for some time, and for some clubs, the beginning of the same process can be seen. Action needs to be taken now to avoid following the same path, with Stoke City, Swansea City and Crystal Palace all offering warning signs, though it’s Everton who should be most concerned.

Everton and Villa engaged in some epic encounters when David Moyes and O’Neill sat on the respective benches. They’re now separated by some 25 points, Villa rock bottom of the table and the Toffees hovering in mid-table. There were only nine points between them in 2014-15, when Everton finished 11th and Villa 17th, down from the 34 of 2013-14, Roberto Martinez’s first year at Goodison Park. Everton racked up 72 points then – in the two seasons to follow, they’ve managed only 16 more than in that one campaign.

The Blues’ FA Cup run, ended on Saturday in semi-final defeat to Manchester United, shouldn’t cloud the assessment – this is a team in trouble. No wins in seven games, no clean sheets in seven games, only four home league wins all season – Villa the only team with fewer – and only nine clean sheets in 34 league games are troubling statistics. Then there’s the signing of striker Oumar Niasse, a purchase of almost £14m with no starts and no goals since January, and concern over the future of John Stones and Romelu Lukaku. For them, read Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke.

Everton’s potential slide to Villa-like depths is still at the avoidable stage. There is still time for owner Bill Kenwright and new investor and major shareholder Farhad Moshiri to arrest the decline. Doing so won’t be easy – and it will start with a new manager – but it can be done. And it has to be, otherwise next season it could be Everton who do a Villa.