Lakenheath Old Boys

We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Europa League Semis Live!

The Europa League may be the red-headed stepchild of European football but not here at the LOB where a winning pick will get you six points in the vaunted PPP Game. So, MUR and Thomas (Atletico) and UWS (Sporting) will be especially keen to see their two picks get through to the final today as they face the semi final second legs. Join me this afternoon for more European footie action.

84 Comments:

Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm skiving off work this afternoon. The only telly coverage that I can see is on GolTV, which I don't currently get. So, I'm on "Link 3" on this First Row stream, which has ITV coverage of the Valencia v. Atletico match:

http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/121097/3/watch-valencia-cf-vs-atletico-madrid.html

2:46 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Atletico go into this match with a two goal advantage (2-4) over Valencia.

Sporting go into this one with a more slender 1-2 lead against Bilbao. Both matches could swing either way, as we've seen from the cracking CL semis this week.

2:51 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The team news out of Sam Mames this evening:

Bilbao: Iraizoz, Amorebieta, Iraola, Aurtenetxe, Susaeta, Ander,
Iturraspe, Martínez, Llorente, Muniain, Gómez

Sporting: Patricio, João Pereira, Polga, Insúa, Xandão, Schaars, Pereirinha, André Martins, Capel, Fernández, van Wolfswinkel

Referee: Martin Atkinson

2:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And for the one at the Mestailla:

Valencia: Alves, Rami, Costa, Barragan, Canales, Alba, Parenjo, Albeida, Feghouli, Jonas, Soldado.

Atletico: Courtois, Godin, Filipe Luis, Miranda, Turan, Diego, Suarez, Juanfran, Tiago, Falcao, Adrian.

Referee: Damir Skomina

3:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

My link for the all-Spanish clash has buggered off so I'm on one for the Bilbao v. Sporting clash. Ah well.

Kick off time!

3:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Let's hope these two matches can live up to the high standards of the earlier matches in the Champions League this week.

3:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Scrappy start to the proceedings here at San Mames. It's likely to be a tense, low-scoring affair. Bilbao have to be slight favorites as their home ground is a fortress for them.

3:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sporting have an early free kick chance here.

3:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Fernandez looks like he may hit this from range....

Well over.

3:14 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Llorente did really well to bring that long ball down and turn but then he seemed to run out of ideas. The chance was snuffed out.

3:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Van Wolfswinkel slides in and picks up a needless yellow card that will rule him out of the final. Silly name, silly boy.

3:16 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Big shout from Bilbao for a penalty as Llorente wriggles away from Polga and goes down. Should have been a card for the Bilbao man.

3:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The two managers are prowling the touchlines now. Tense stuff.

3:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

So, no goals in either match in the first fifteen minutes.

3:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Increasing pressure from Bilbao now. Gomez jinked through into the area and got a shot off.

3:22 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! It was coming and it's Susaeta who's bagged the opening goal after a great lay off from Llorente.

1-0 Bilbao (2-2 on agg.)

3:24 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

So, Sporting are in the same position that Bayern were in last night after that early Ronaldo goal. They'll need to score because of Bilbao's away goal.

3:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - almost an immediate response. Great ball over from Capel but the header from Van Wolfswinkel was well over.

3:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

No goals at the Mestailla, so Atletico still have a two goal advantage.

3:33 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bilbao knocking it about for fun now. Sporting will have to sort themselves out. They clearly came to protect their lead and now that option is gone.

3:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Susaeda had it in the goal again but he's flagged offside.

3:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Llorente was in there but scuffed his shot badly. Good save.

3:48 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

All Bilbao now. Hard to see Sporting changes things unless they go to their bench. Van Wolfswinkel has clearly been affected by that yellow card early on. He's been anonymous.

3:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Capel, on the other hand, has been the lone spark for Sporting, and he's on his bike again. Fed Insua who won a corner.

3:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! Sporting are back in it! And it's Ricky van Wolfswinkel with the goal.

It all came from the corner which was half cleared but when it came back in it broke kindly to VW who stuck it in the bottom corner.

2-3 Sporting and you can hear UWS cheering from here.

3:51 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! Gomez gets behind the back four and levels it up!

3-3!

3:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Great move there with Llorente in the middle of it playing a lovely lay off that allowed Gomez to steal in.

Another European cracker!

3:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And that's half time. No goals at the Mestailla but I've enjoyed three from the San Mames. I chose well.

Level here and Madrid still two goals in front.

3:54 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

We're back on for the second half then.

4:12 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - off the bar from Martinez! A really close call there for Sporting.

4:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - now it's Insua with a rocket off the outside of the Sunday roast. This is tight as a tick!

4:18 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I definitely picked the right match to watch this afternoon. It's still 0-0 at the Mestailla - Atletico appear to be cruising it at this point. Valencia getting nowhere fast.

4:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Atletico have added to their lead through Adrian. So that one's done and well and truly dusted, to the joy of MUR and Thomas.

4:30 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Good afternoon, BD. I was a hall monitor during my conference period , so I was unavailable. I have a class, but will join you for the remainder of the match.

4:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

A little over twenty minutes for these sides to decide this one before it goes to extra time.

4:31 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I am pleased. I desperately need the points.

4:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The space opened up for the defensive middie Itturaspe but his shot was well covered.

4:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Afternoon, MUR - I hope the hall monitoring went well. When I had those duties in days past, I used to bring a book along so that I could read. When I had "bowl patrol" I used to grade papers.

4:33 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Are these matches the second leg semi matches?

4:33 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

It was pure drudgery. I had a partner who was informing of some the frustrations we suffer in the profession.

4:34 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

They will let us read, but not grade papers.

4:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

This really does seem to be shaping up like yesterday's match did. How many Germans do Sporting have for the penalties?

4:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Well, that's at least something, if you have someone to chat with.

4:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Llorente was nearly in there at the near post with a header. Another corner.

4:37 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

That is true, BD. I don't think Sporting have any Germans. I rmembver a Dutchman or two, a Chilean, and a Russian.

4:38 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Are these semi matches ?

4:38 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Yellow card for Gomez for an absolutely pathetic simulation attempt.

4:39 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Yes - these are semi-final second legs, same as earlier in the week in the Champions League.

4:39 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Excellent! My Athletico are all but in the final. I hope they face Sporting so Thomas and I are pitted against Thomas' dad. The more LOBers with a team in the final, the better.

4:42 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

They have a chance, for sure, although Bilbao are certainly making more chances.

4:43 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ten minutes left and then extra time and perhaps the dreaded penalty shoot-out again.

4:44 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Marcelo Bielsa, Bilbao's legendary manager is the likeliest candidate to take over from Pep Guardiola, who has talked of stepping down at Barca.

4:44 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I will be around for extra time because class will end around the time it starts, but some of my students are needing help with their homework assignment.

4:45 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I am not so sure about him. His track record is mediocre. Where will Pep go next?

4:45 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's a good question. If Citeh were to sack Mancini, he'd be a top choice for that job. I'd love to have him in at England.

4:46 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sporting with a free kick now...

Poor delivery and it's cleared out.

4:48 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I believe that Pep's next job will be in the EPL. I am not sure why, but my instincts tell me that.He would be good for the English game.

4:48 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

COME ON YOU GREEN AND WHITE HOOPS!

4:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Of course, if Arsenal were smart, they'd move Arsene upstairs as a Director of Football and bring Pep in as manager. If....

4:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

This one's winding down - there hasn't been a real chance in ten minutes or so.

4:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! There it is! Sorry, mate - it's going to be an all-Spanish final. UWS will be gutted.

4:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bit of a scrappy goal there but it's Llorente again who's done the damage after some great work on the wing from Gomez. Llorente beat Polga to it and it went in off the post.

4:53 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

BUGGER!!!I am sorry to hear that. There is still time for Sporting to pull one back.That is all they need to be in the final.

4:53 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

He's the player that was a thorn in United's side.

4:54 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Everyone was expecting an all-Spanish final in the CL as well. Can you imagine how boring that would have been.

In many respects, Chelski have done the Premiership a favor by qualifying for the final.

4:54 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

It looks like an athletic final as opposed to a sedentary final.

4:54 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

He is a real predator, Llorente. He'll be in the Spanish squad for sure.

4:54 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

They sure did. They really helped the EPL.

4:54 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

True.

4:55 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Athletico Madrid have won 0-1 at Valencia and are in the final.

4:55 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

COME ON SPORTING!

4:55 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Serie A has again had a miserable season in Europe. No sides in either the CL or Europa League semis. I'm not even sure that there were any in the quarters.

4:56 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

WIll Athletico Madrid be the official LOB Europa League team?

4:56 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Atletico are trying to make another defensive change.

4:57 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

AC Milan were in the quarters.Inter may have been too.

4:57 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

They'll have to be - you and Thomas could bag six priceless points.

4:58 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

BUGGER !!! Bilbao are in the final.

4:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's right. Good memory.

4:58 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

We would love that. I sure can use thise six points.

4:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's that - Atletico v. Athletic in the final in Bucharest next month.

4:58 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Actually Inter were not. They were eliminated by Marseille in the round of 16, but AC Milan were

4:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's it for me, mate. I'm going to do some reading. Have a good rest of the day. Chat with you this weekend, eh?

4:59 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

An all Spanish final. YAWN!

4:59 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Cheers BD. Have a great day. I will catch you on Saturday.

5:00 PM  

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