11/10/2024

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Champions League 2nd Leg Tuesday Review

Champions League 2nd Leg Tuesday Review

AC Milan 0 Arsenal 2

It was a master class by the young men from London as they totally dominated the game from the 20th minute onward and should have won by a larger margin if they had better finishers in their rank.

AC Milan looked like the aging and fading squad that they obviously are and it would be a good idea for them to freshen up their squad at the end of the season.

Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Kaka Kaladze, Gennaro Gatusso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini, Dario Simic, Filippo Inzaghi, Dida, Serginho, and Cristian Brocchi along with manager Carlo Ancelotti were all part of the side that won the champions league way back in 2002 and that is far too many personnel to still be a big part of a club.

Last night Gennaro Gatusso and especially Andrea Pirlo were awful and way off the pace as Cesc Fabregas just completely dominated the midfield. Paolo Maldini at 39 had a fantastic game and would have expected more from his team mates as they let him down badly.

Emmanuel Adebayor was excellent as he single-handedly tormented Kaladze, Nesta and Oddo whilst Aliaksandr Hleb had a field day tormenting the Milan midfield and defence. He was very unlucky to get a yellow card for diving because he was caught by Nesta in the 1st half just at the very edge of the penalty box.

The only times Milan looked dangerous were from corner kicks and the couple of occasions that Kaka broke free and ran at Arsenal. Apart from that they posed no threat whatsoever with Inzaghi very isolated, Pato, extremely disappointing and substitute, Alberto Gilardino, not contributing a jot.

The goals when they came were very timely as Fabregas’ speculative shot from 25 yards out caught Milan goalkeeper Zeljko kalac napping for the opener and substitute Theo Walcott using his pace to outwit the poor kaladze and then setting up a very easy chance for Adebayor to grab a goal his performance deserved.

Arsenal can use this result as a springboard for possible success in the league and champions league whilst Milan can either use this loss as a motivation for the rest of their campaign in serieA or a disappointment that they cannot recover from.

Manchester United 1 Lyon 0

Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal proved to be the decider in this game when he netted from a cross by Wes Brown in the dying minutes of the 1st half for his 30th goal in his last 30 games.

Sevilla 3 Fenerbahce 2 (Fenerbahce win 4-2 on penalties)

Sevilla went 2-0 up in the 1st 9 minutes of the game with goals from captain Danny Alves from a freekick and then a 30-yard shot from Saydoo Keita. Both goals were big howlers from goalkeeper Volkan Damirel, who then redeemed himself in the penalty shootout by saving 3 penalties from Alves, Enzo Maresca and Escude.

Fenerbahce pulled a goal back through Deivid before Freddy Kanoute made it 3-1.

Sevilla manager then made an almighty error that caused them the tie by taking off leading goalscorer, Luis fabiano to bring on Renato in the second half.

Deivid scored again to take the tie to extra-time and then penalties with Volkan going from zero to hero.

Barcelona 1 Celtic 0

An early goal by Xavi settled this tie once and for all with the downside being a muscular injury to Leo Messi that left him in tears.