Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker
It could have been an upsetting weekend for more than one team. It could have been a treacherous turn at the end of the season. It could have been the occasion to see some new faces. It could have. Instead, Europe gave us the same old same old. Bayern is already champion, Chelsea, Inter and Barcelona are still in front, Manchester United, Roma and Real pay close attention, Champion’s League spots always so pricy.
Serie A
After last week’s European feat of eliminating Barcelona, Inter got back to their local occupations. The Nerazzuri went down to the capital to uneventfully beat Lazio 2-0 thanks to Samuel (45th) and Thiago Motta (70th): a lot less running than a week ago, a lot of shaking hands and winking, a lot of talking to the referee for a game that looked more like a pre-season friendly than a decisive confrontation in this year’s Serie A title. Furthermore, the Lazio fans had previously clearly stated their preference of an Inter win, just to deprive city rivals Roma of the title. Bitterness when you hold us... The Giallorossi defeated Parma 2-1 thanks in great part to Totti (1 assist, 1 goal) and Crespo’s grey hair in what was possibly the only breathtaking game this week and remain a mere two points behind Inter. The rest of Serie A’s matchday 36 had a strong tendency to smell like the summer holidays: pleasant and lighthearted. The sun did Ronaldinho some good, giving him enough home-feel to devour Fiorentina’s defence more than once and score the winning penalty kick after Huntelaar proved us that you can become a professional soccer player without knowing what a pass is and before Ambrosini received his second red of the season, Milan sealing the third position. Fiorentina on their side will have a European-less season next year, the Viola and Vargas can (re)become my personal pleasure again! Both under a pouring rain, Palermo and Sampdoria earned themselves the right to a fascinating duel for the fourth place next week, by defeating doomed Siena and Livorno. Once again, both teams were carried by their national reject, Cassano for Sampdoria and Miccoli for Palermo. The first scored a goal just like the older guy used to score during recess after just five minutes of play; the second scored his fortieth with the pink jersey. Sampdoria won 2-0 and Palermo 2-1. If Lippi doesn’t appreciate, we will. Just a bit behind, Napoli did the job with 2-1 victory over Chievo in a game where Lavezzi finally played ninety minutes without too much drama, offering his team the hope of Europe next year. The sixth place is theirs thanks to yet another disillusion-game from Juventus. The Bianconeri could not do better than a 1-1 draw at Catania, and that’s without mentioning a returning Buffon and a saviour-goal goal from Marchisio. No Europe for Juve next year… Some more behind, Cagliari and Udinese gave us the usual display: Di Natale’s 26 th of the season, Matri’s endless goal-opportunities, a half empty stadium and a soporiphic second half. 2-2 was a more than suitable end result for two teams that, omitting terrible periods within the season, winter for Udinese, spring for Cagliari, could be troublesome next year. And thank God I had told myself to keep it short this week for the Serie A…
After last week’s European feat of eliminating Barcelona, Inter got back to their local occupations. The Nerazzuri went down to the capital to uneventfully beat Lazio 2-0 thanks to Samuel (45th) and Thiago Motta (70th): a lot less running than a week ago, a lot of shaking hands and winking, a lot of talking to the referee for a game that looked more like a pre-season friendly than a decisive confrontation in this year’s Serie A title. Furthermore, the Lazio fans had previously clearly stated their preference of an Inter win, just to deprive city rivals Roma of the title. Bitterness when you hold us... The Giallorossi defeated Parma 2-1 thanks in great part to Totti (1 assist, 1 goal) and Crespo’s grey hair in what was possibly the only breathtaking game this week and remain a mere two points behind Inter. The rest of Serie A’s matchday 36 had a strong tendency to smell like the summer holidays: pleasant and lighthearted. The sun did Ronaldinho some good, giving him enough home-feel to devour Fiorentina’s defence more than once and score the winning penalty kick after Huntelaar proved us that you can become a professional soccer player without knowing what a pass is and before Ambrosini received his second red of the season, Milan sealing the third position. Fiorentina on their side will have a European-less season next year, the Viola and Vargas can (re)become my personal pleasure again! Both under a pouring rain, Palermo and Sampdoria earned themselves the right to a fascinating duel for the fourth place next week, by defeating doomed Siena and Livorno. Once again, both teams were carried by their national reject, Cassano for Sampdoria and Miccoli for Palermo. The first scored a goal just like the older guy used to score during recess after just five minutes of play; the second scored his fortieth with the pink jersey. Sampdoria won 2-0 and Palermo 2-1. If Lippi doesn’t appreciate, we will. Just a bit behind, Napoli did the job with 2-1 victory over Chievo in a game where Lavezzi finally played ninety minutes without too much drama, offering his team the hope of Europe next year. The sixth place is theirs thanks to yet another disillusion-game from Juventus. The Bianconeri could not do better than a 1-1 draw at Catania, and that’s without mentioning a returning Buffon and a saviour-goal goal from Marchisio. No Europe for Juve next year… Some more behind, Cagliari and Udinese gave us the usual display: Di Natale’s 26 th of the season, Matri’s endless goal-opportunities, a half empty stadium and a soporiphic second half. 2-2 was a more than suitable end result for two teams that, omitting terrible periods within the season, winter for Udinese, spring for Cagliari, could be troublesome next year. And thank God I had told myself to keep it short this week for the Serie A…
English Premier League
It was their chance. After a terrible season, after being bashed by just about everyone, after all the talks of a dying club, of selling the club, of debts, it was Liverpool’s chance to put their little and depreciated flag on this year’s EPL by giving Chelsea some trouble in their title rush. But no can do. Everyone seemed hopeful as Aquilani’s shot flirted with the crossbar, which only made the reality check twice as harsh in a surprisingly silent Anfield when Gerrard delivered a beautiful assist to…. Drogba who clinically finished Reina off (33rd). After that moment, the walk in the park was pleasant for Ancelotti’s men who found little reisistance in the Reds’ game. Lampard sealed the game, the title seems destined the Blues who only have to beat Wigan next week. Behind, Manchester United beat Sunderland by the smallest margin and a Nani goal. Not the best display from the Red Devils, but hope remains for an ultimate reversal as Rooney returned and Berbatov slowly disappeared into a seventh dimension where football is only a mafia game and goals don’t matter. Arsenal play at Blackburn tomorrow, what are the bets that they can also loose the third place in two weeks? As for Palermo and Sampdoria, the new member of the big four will be decided this Wednesday when Manchester City and Tottenham will (finally) confront each other. The Citizens can rely on a fiery Bellamy-Adebayor-Tevez trio and Tottenham on an XXL Gomes. Predictions have their very own limitations, just watch the game.
It was their chance. After a terrible season, after being bashed by just about everyone, after all the talks of a dying club, of selling the club, of debts, it was Liverpool’s chance to put their little and depreciated flag on this year’s EPL by giving Chelsea some trouble in their title rush. But no can do. Everyone seemed hopeful as Aquilani’s shot flirted with the crossbar, which only made the reality check twice as harsh in a surprisingly silent Anfield when Gerrard delivered a beautiful assist to…. Drogba who clinically finished Reina off (33rd). After that moment, the walk in the park was pleasant for Ancelotti’s men who found little reisistance in the Reds’ game. Lampard sealed the game, the title seems destined the Blues who only have to beat Wigan next week. Behind, Manchester United beat Sunderland by the smallest margin and a Nani goal. Not the best display from the Red Devils, but hope remains for an ultimate reversal as Rooney returned and Berbatov slowly disappeared into a seventh dimension where football is only a mafia game and goals don’t matter. Arsenal play at Blackburn tomorrow, what are the bets that they can also loose the third place in two weeks? As for Palermo and Sampdoria, the new member of the big four will be decided this Wednesday when Manchester City and Tottenham will (finally) confront each other. The Citizens can rely on a fiery Bellamy-Adebayor-Tevez trio and Tottenham on an XXL Gomes. Predictions have their very own limitations, just watch the game.
Spanish Primera Division
Some prophesized Barcelona’s demise after having found tougher than them. Prophesize again. The Blaugrana went about their usual business dismissing Villareal 4-1 thanks to Messi (2 goals), Xavi (300 assists, only 2 converted) and some Bojan Magic. The pressure was therefore on the Madrilene and their galacticos who had the hardest time to relieve themselves of Ossassuna 3-2. After Albiol pratcially gave away two goals, Cristian Dior took it upon himself to carry the team upwards with two goals, without forgetting his special-on-the-house-take-the-ball,-accelerate,-jump-three-defenders-in-two-strides,-get-back-on-the-right-foot,-clinical-finish,-just-like-last-week-goal. If this team doesn’t have any cohesive aspect to it, it has guts. Valencia unsurprisingly sealed their third place thanks to their Serbian Friendly Giant Zigic and his two goals. Behind, Sevilla beat Athletico Madrid, who was already planning on how to screw their Europa League final up, 3-1 with two Negredo penalties and a Luis Fabiano injury.
Some prophesized Barcelona’s demise after having found tougher than them. Prophesize again. The Blaugrana went about their usual business dismissing Villareal 4-1 thanks to Messi (2 goals), Xavi (300 assists, only 2 converted) and some Bojan Magic. The pressure was therefore on the Madrilene and their galacticos who had the hardest time to relieve themselves of Ossassuna 3-2. After Albiol pratcially gave away two goals, Cristian Dior took it upon himself to carry the team upwards with two goals, without forgetting his special-on-the-house-take-the-ball,-accelerate,-jump-three-defenders-in-two-strides,-get-back-on-the-right-foot,-clinical-finish,-just-like-last-week-goal. If this team doesn’t have any cohesive aspect to it, it has guts. Valencia unsurprisingly sealed their third place thanks to their Serbian Friendly Giant Zigic and his two goals. Behind, Sevilla beat Athletico Madrid, who was already planning on how to screw their Europa League final up, 3-1 with two Negredo penalties and a Luis Fabiano injury.
German Bundesliga
Bayern Munich is champion. At first I had wanted this segment to end after at that first sentence. And then I thought to myself “No, Luca, you know very well the German league is worthy of a paragraph as long as the Serie A’s, if not longer, and it’s not because Bayern is champion once again (and again) that one shouldn’t look at the rest of the table, especially since there will be four of those in Champion’s League next year. With games like Dortmund-Woflsburg and Schalke-Werder, everyone should drool over the 1. Bundesliga’s match-ups, just look at Ozil’s goal”. But then I ran out of space…
Bayern Munich is champion. At first I had wanted this segment to end after at that first sentence. And then I thought to myself “No, Luca, you know very well the German league is worthy of a paragraph as long as the Serie A’s, if not longer, and it’s not because Bayern is champion once again (and again) that one shouldn’t look at the rest of the table, especially since there will be four of those in Champion’s League next year. With games like Dortmund-Woflsburg and Schalke-Werder, everyone should drool over the 1. Bundesliga’s match-ups, just look at Ozil’s goal”. But then I ran out of space…
TFO
No comments:
Post a Comment