Atletico Madrid and their merry band of resolute warriors

By David Lee Wheatley
@davewh1980

 

Bayern Munich struggled to break Atletico Madrid down in the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final tie, but they’re certainly not the first to do so.

Diego Simeone’s men carved out a 1-0 lead on Wednesday evening to take into the second leg at Bayern’s Allianz Arena next week.

They did it in part due to a wonderful show of individual skill by exciting 21-year-old midfielder Saul Niguez that put Atleti in front, prior to a defensive display full of grit and determination to eventually get the job done.

That result and performance should not have come as a surprise to anyone, not least visiting coach Pep Guardiola, who has now lost on three occasions to Atletico in his managerial career.

The so-called poorer city neighbours of glamorous Real are causing ripples both domestically and in continental competition, which could yet see them claim a hugely significant double this season.

Atletico Madrid boast one the very best defensive units across Europe’s big-five leagues on 16 goals conceded in 35 games played, with only last night’s opponents Bayern having conceded less [14] in that category.

In addition, the Spanish capital side have kept more clean sheets than any other team participating in the continent’s top-five domestic championships, owing to an outstanding 33 shut-outs in 52 all-competition outings.

The Rojiblancos haven’t allowed any goals in 14 of their latest 16 Champions League matches contested at the Vicente Calderon.

A key factor in everything they achieved during their stunning 2013-14 campaign, in which they won La Liga and reached the finale of Europe’s premier competition, was team spirit.

Working hard for the shirt, for each other and also for their popular head coach Simeone was central to their success – and that collective soul has remained under the enthusiastic Argentine.

Alongside an obvious togetherness within the tight-knit Atleti squad, there are several specific traits which allow the Colchoneros to thrive.

Central midfielders Lucas Fernandez and captain Gabi work in tandem to such a degree that they rarely stray more than a few feet away from one another, whilst hunting furiously for the ball.

Their impervious back-line, marshalled superbly by Stefan Savic, have allowed the least amount of shots against them per game [9.6] and made the highest amount of tackles per match [24.5] overall in La Liga this term.   

Former Fiorentina centre-back Savic, who singularly failed to impress during a previous stint at English Premier League outfit Manchester City, has proved to be a stand-out performer since arriving in Spain last summer. His club have not lost any of their 16 matches with the Montenegrin in the starting line-up across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak is the stopper with most shut-outs in a single European Cup season for the Madrid-based club on eight, since Miguel Reina posted seven in 1973-74.

Furthermore, Oblak has repelled the last 16 on-target shots he has been forced to deal with at home in the Champions League, including seven versus Die Roten on Wednesday.

Those combined efforts were in stark evidence at the Calderon during their titanic clash against Bayern, which stopped Guardiola’s free-scoring Bavarians from notching an away goal despite enjoying 74 per cent of possession.

With Barcelona’s sudden wobble at the top of Spain’s Primera Division having left the door ajar for Atleti to clamber back into the title race, plus their heroics in European action, it’s wholly conceivable that this roughhouse group of dedicated footballers could upset the applecart as they have done so many times in the past.

 

And, with the effervescent Diego Simeone kicking and heading every ball as he watches on proudly, who would bet against them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss of Yaya may prove costly for Manchester City

By David Lee Wheatley

Manchester City may possess enough firepower to threaten Champions League last-16 foes Barcelona, but the first-leg suspension of powerhouse Yaya Toure could prove pivotal.

A great deal of water has gone under the bridge since Manchester City and FC Barcelona met at this stage of the same competition 12 months ago, with the Catalans advancing by way of a comfortable 4-1 aggregate margin.

City eventually claimed the Premier League crown, while Barca missed out on honours both domestically and in Europe to rivals Atletico Madrid. Additionally, ex-player Luis Enrique assumed the Nou Camp coaching reins in place of misfit Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino at the end of that campaign.

Normal service seemingly resumed when Barcelona won five out of six Champions League Group F contests to qualify above fancied French side Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, the Citizens faced almost certain elimination having failed to win any of their opening four group encounters.

Astonishingly, Manuel Pellegrini’s men scraped through at the death courtesy of a home win over Bayern Munich and a subsequent away triumph at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma.

Now the two sides clash again on Tuesday night a year on from what can only be described as a massively one-sided affair in favour of the Blaugrana, but with many observers openly voicing their belief in City’s ability to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the very first time.

They’ve got Sergio Aguero delivering almost a goal-per-game this term, while David Silva is pulling the strings beautifully, as recently evidenced by a man-of-the-match performance against Newcastle United last Saturday.

However, there is the crucial matter of Yaya Toure’s enforced absence from the first leg, which could tip the balance of the tie in favour of the Catalonian side before they welcome City to the Nou Camp.

Former Barcelona star Toure’s galloping runs, supreme physicality and eye for goal will all be keenly missed by his team-mates who feed off his barnstorming performances.

The 31-year-old has undergone a turbulent spell at the Etihad, with persistent rumours of his unhappiness at the club. But, he remains a potent weapon in their armoury and represents several attributes their Spanish conquerors from last season simply can’t replicate from within their own squad.

Andres Iniesta is still one of the world’s best passers of a ball, while Ivan Rakitic has quickly grown into a key player following his move from Sevilla last summer. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi continues to devastate in between the lines of midfield and attack, with Sergio Busquets undertaking a deep role in helping Barca tighten their grip on possession.

It’s certainly a highly subjective debate, but the likes of Fernando, Samir Nasri, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas and even the fabulous David Silva cannot legitimately claim to be better than their Barcelona counterparts.

What’s more, not one of those aforementioned players offer the beast-like presence of Yaya Toure, who can win a game single-handedly when on top form.

He could well make the difference for Manchester City in the second leg of this glamourous tie once he’s served the last of a three-match ban imposed for his November sending-off against CSKA Moscow, but by then it could be too little, too late.

Follow @davewh1980

Chelsea look to keep PSG in their place

 

 



 



By David Lee Wheatley    @davewh1980

Paris Saint-Germain have another opportunity to glimpse into their potential future when taking on Chelsea for the second year running, a club who represent the blueprint for their own long-term plans.

Chelsea were purchased by Russian Roman Abramovich from long-time owner Ken Bates almost 12 years ago in a deal reportedly worth £140million.

At the time, the Blues had mounting debts of around £80million to contend with and still no Premier League title to show for consistently heavy investment in the playing staff.

That all changed under Abramovich, with Italian manager Claudio Ranieri jettisoned in favour of bright young FC Porto head coach Jose Mourinho after he’d just delivered the UEFA Champions League trophy to the Portuguese giants in 2004 against all odds.

A first top-flight championship in 50 years was secured a year after his arrival at Stamford Bridge, as local mainstays Frank Lampard and John Terry led the Blues to new heights alongside an array of foreign stars.

Mourinho and co defended their title, while two League Cups and an FA Cup were secured before the headstrong boss left amid great acrimony between him and his paymaster.

Even after the Portuguese moved on to Inter, the honours cabinet continued to fill up in the shape of three more FA Cups and a league crown, which completed a celebrated double under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010.

They’d agonisingly missed out on the holy grail of the Champions League under much-maligned Avram Grant in 2008 on penalties under the rainy skies of Moscow, but didn’t deviate from that stated aim and finally became kings of the continent under Roberto Di Matteo in 2012.

A Europa League followed under Rafa Benitez, whose lifting of that cup occurred in spite of public opinion railing against him due to his once-searing rivalry with the west London outfit when in charge of Liverpool.

Up to the present day - with Mourinho back in harness - it appears another Premier League title could be on the horizon, plus a realistic tilt at a second Champions League success should they swipe pretenders PSG aside.

The French capital club wish to emulate those illustrious achievements which define Chelsea’s recent history, while they often cast a keen eye over a selection of the Blues’ best talent including Eden Hazard to go along with their purchase of Brazilian David Luiz last summer.

In fact, they offered the head coaching role at Parc des Princes to current Chelsea supremo Mourinho on two separate occasions in the past, while they have been repeatedly linked to skilful Belgian Hazard and several others in the Chelsea ranks.

They aspire to be just like Abramovich’s beloved Chelsea, but this tie may prove a tad too soon for their burgeoning ambitions to flourish, which is a myth they will do their damnedest to dispel.

Should they falter this time around, they will undoubtedly continue recruiting a plethora of the greatest players on the planet, meaning it won’t be too long before they finally grab glory at the top table of European football to go with a solitary Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996 - won only two years before London upstarts Chelsea emerged victorious in the very same competition.

David Luiz out to halt Chelsea's Champions League charge

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley  @davewh1980

 

 

Brazilian defender David Luiz will line up against former club Chelsea for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 determined to knock his old club out of the competition.

 

27-year-old Luiz won the trophy with Chelsea in 2012 by virtue of victory over Bayern Munich in the final, and would love to add another winners’ medal to his collection with the French big-spenders.

The South American has experienced a turbulent few months having suffered the embarrassment of a 7-1 loss to Germany at the World Cup in his homeland before moving to the French capital in a £50 million deal.

 

He was also named in the best XI at the World Cup, while topping off his first six months at the Parc des Princes with a nomination for FIFPro Team of the Year announced at the Ballon d’Or awards evening in January.

 

 

Luiz’s performances have largely been very good, as PSG strive to retain the French title they claimed last term. However, they sit in third place as part of a titanic three-way tussle for the championship along with leaders Lyon and Marseille after 25 matches.

He’s featured in 19 of those league outings so far, while starting every one of PSG’s Champions League group F games, as they advanced in second spot behind Barcelona.

 

“I hope this is the year we win it,” said a typically jovial Luiz at the pre-match media conference alongside boss Laurent Blanc.
 

“We have an amazing team, but it is not easy to win the Champions League.

 

“We need to be strong and play an amazing first leg because it will be decided there.
 

“I want to qualify, like I did last year but now I want to qualify for PSG.”

 

Of his former colleagues, Luiz rates them highly.
 

“They are stronger this year,” he explained.

 

“They understand more the philosophy of Jose Mourinho and in his second year it is easier to pass the message.
 

“And they have players joining with amazing quality like Diego [Costa] and [Cesc] Fabregas.”

 

Two late goals from struggling visitors Caen surprisingly hauled the scores level on Saturday in the Parisians’ latest domestic outing after the fancied hosts streaked into what appeared to be an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Injuries are piling up for manager Blanc heading into Tuesday’s game, who will certainly have to do without the services of Yohan Cabaye, Marquinhos, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura.

Meanwhile, doubts remain over the availability of Blaise Matuidi, Javier Pastore and Maxwell, who will all be evaluated during training on Monday.