More Champions League Knock-out Action
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:31 PM
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!
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
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!
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37 Comments:
The big news in the tabloids this afternoon is the Chelski denial of racial abuse claims against Blues fans on the Paris Metro after last night's match. The video evidence looks pretty damning and UEFA may have to weigh in on the matter.
I was also ruminating last night on the lack of goals in the first legs of these fixtures. We saw a mere two goals in over 180 minutes of CL action yesterday.
The problem seems to be that the home teams go out in these first legs just trying not to let in the dreaded away goal and the away team is just trying not to get beaten. Hence - cagey affairs.
Instead of the traditional two-legged affairs settled on goals scored and away goals, why not employ an American playoff approach with the best of three matches? That way, teams would have to go for the win in each of the matches.
The teams lining up in the tunnel now in Germany:
Schalke - Wellenreuter, Uchida, Howedes, Matip, Nastisic, Aogo, Hoger, Neustadter, Boateng, Choupo-Motep, Huntellaar. Subs: Wetklo, Kirchhoff, Meyer, Fuchs, Ayhan, Barneva, Platte
Real - Casillas, Carjal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo, Silvestre, Kroos, Isco, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo. Subs: Navas, Hernandez, Arbeloa, Nacho, Jese, Illarame, Medran
Real Madrid often wear day-glo orange on these away days but tonight it's day-glo pink!
And we're away in this first leg clash.
Scrappy opening five minutes here in Germany.
Oh - Bale nearly found Benzema in the six yard box. Real starting to gain control of the midfield now.
Oh - great ball from Isco to Bale who volleyed toward Benzema. Broken up.
First big chance for Schalke from a free kick now.
Straight into the wall - a waste.
Some typically rugged defending from Pepe. Referee is being fairly shy with the cards again tonight.
Basel are 1-0 up early doors through Diego Gonzalez.
Schalke beginning to create some opportunities of their own here - Choupo-Moting skying a left-footed drive there.
Ronaldo getting a big cheer whenever he's dispossessed. Not a fan favorite here in Germany.
Oh - great drive by Huntelaar there, beaten away by Casillas.
GOAL! Ronaldo strikes - you knew he would! 1-0 Real!
Carvajal jinked inside Matip too easily there and dinked over a lovely cross for Ronaldo to nod home.
1-0 Real!
Oh - Benzema with nearly a second goal there, in on goal but his shot just didn't squeeze under the Schalke keeper.
More trouble for Schalke now - Huntelaar seems to need to come off. Platte getting set to replace him.
Now Kevin Prince Boateng goes into the book after diving into Ronaldo. He'll miss the second leg now and Ronaldo will relish this free kick opportunity.
Ronaldo with his trademark stance and he nearly scored - great save!
Now Isco fires a dangerous crossshot toward Bale. Cleared out. Schalke really under the cosh now.
Great run from Bale to the by-line.
The match is really opening up now and you can easily see Real running out two or three goals to the good and putting this tie beyond Schalke's reach.
Platte seems entirely overawed by the occasion.
Every attack from Real looks dangerous at this point. Ronaldo there crossing toward Benzema and earning a corner, which Kroos will take.
The ref blows for half-time with Real in complete control of this match. The only question is whether they'll release the hounds in the second half to kill off the tie or whether they'll be satisfied with a shallow win to take back to the Bernabeu.
A Caddis penalty on the stroke of half-time has given Brum the lead against Boro. Big goal there. Boro are also down to ten men after their keeper was red-carded in the penalty incident.
The teams are coming back out for the second half now.
Benzema thought he might get a free kick out of that one but no dice.
Only that one forced change for Schalke so far - Real are satisfied with things.
Bale is playing mainly on the right, which means that his tendency is to try to hit every ball with the outside of his favored left peg.
Schalke makes another change - Neustadter off for Kirchhoff.
Porto have leveled it at Basel now - Casemiro with the goal.
And Kirchhoff is straight into the book - could've been red actually.
I'm off home, lads - over and out!
I'm off home, lads - over and out!
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