Mourinho's Chelsea vs Guardiola's Bayern

Chelsea vs Bayern Munich – UEFA Super Cup 2013

Mourinho and Guardiola met again with their respective teams Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the UEFA Super Cup 2013. It was a beautiful match, complete with attacks, counterattacks, great saves, amazing goals and everything in between. Stadion Eden in Prague was the stage for a match with the mixed atmosphere of Stamford Bridge and Allianz Arena that showcased two winning styles of playing the world’s game.

For most of the match, Guardiola’s Bayern took the attacking role while Mourinho’s Chelsea was defending really well and applied dangerous counterattacks. Both tactics seemed so pleasing to the fans that have a depth understanding of the beautiful game. However, seeing Chelsea defending too much or having ‘parked the bus’ in front of the goalie as people say, was a bit annoying. And seeing Bayer creating so many attacking opportunities but then dancing too much around the box was bothersome as well. It is unquestionable that this match was surrounded by the unfinished business this two powerful teams had from the Champions League Final in 2012 when Chelsea defeated Bayer on penalty kicks. Also the match was particularly highlighted by the past jabs between Mourinho and Guardiola when they were coaching Real Madrid and Barcelona respectably.

Chelsea put it in the net early with a stunning goal by Fernando Torres around minute 8 of the first half. Bayern was obligated to attack when they were one goal down. It was interesting to see one team defending really well while the other one was on the offensive but was not able to get that goal.

However, Bayerns response came with an amazing goal by Frank Rivery at the beginning of the second half as well. This goal would set the stage for what became one of the best soccer matches of the year. Chelsea not only was defending well but also created phenomenal counterattacks that made Bayern fans a bit nervous.

The Blues created hazardous attacks and it was with Eden Hazard, the Belgian international, that Chelsea would put it in the net for a second time. Chelsea was still strong in defense despite Ramires being sent off with second yellow card.

 It was not over yet but Bayern seemed desperate as they were one 2-1 in extra time.

But as usual, German teams, especially Bayern would not stop attacking until the end of the match and Javi Martinez hit the net in the last five seconds or perhaps on stoppage time. A wish came true for fans that wanted to see penalty kicks.

Even the last minute has sixty seconds!

At the end of the night it was Bayern Munich that walked away with the silverware and become the 2013 UEFA Super Cup Champions, as they were flawless from the penalty spot. Petr Cech had a terrific night, his efforts saved Chelsea from the constant threat, but Romelu Lukakus’ penalty was easily stopped by Manuel Neuer.

Despite the result, Chelsea and Bayern will be tough contenders for the next Champions League Final, and the rivalry between Mourinho and Guardiola will always spice up and make a great soccer match even greater. 

Barca Not So Fancy This Time

Barca Not So Fancy for the 2013 Spanish Super Cup Final

FC Barcelona had a tough night at the Camp Nou playing the final of the 2013 Spanish Super Cup against Atletico Madrid. It was an awful performance by Barca in their own turf; some of the players were not even mentioned much by the announcers due to lack of involvement in the pitch. It was just not the kind of game that most fans were expecting. Atletico Madrid on the other hand ‘just parked the bus’ they were playing so defensive and relied on their counterattacks to do some damage to Barca.

Both teams were horrible and the match did not fulfill the expectations.

Cesc Fabregas was a little off and Sanchez was nowhere to be seen, it seemed as if he was not in the game at all. He has been in the Barca squad for two years, so he should be more efficient by now. Messi; though often marked by three opponents, was also missing in action. The Argentine star tried some runs but was often fouled and was not able to apply his magic. But Messi missed a penalty in a crucial moment in a very rough much and for that reason he also did not shine at all.

What was up with Neymar? He was slipping and loosing his balance way too much, he better find a pair of new cleats with longer spikes next time. Gerard Pique looked like he was playing a pick up game in the park; Jordi Alba was not connecting with his teammates as well as Xavi, Busquets and Dani Alvez. The only one that had a great performance was Victor Valdes; his cat-like reflects as a goalkeeper really showed up for this final and his saves were key to walk away with the victory.

Atletico Madrid had a horrible performance too. Simeone’s men played much better at home in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. At Camp Nou, they did not take advantage of the few chances they had in front of Valdes and for that reason they were showing some frustration at the end of the match.

Though much was expected from Barca they were the victors, and Atletico Madrid showed that they would be a tough team to beat during this season and that is just very good for La Liga.

Real Madrid Needs to get Real

It’s an exciting time to be a Real Madrid fan. Or is it?

Real Madrid has incorporated some exiting changes for a successful run in the 2013-2014 season. Los Blancos had a successful pre-season and now they look forward to take the crown back from the current champions and arch-rival FC Barcelona. Real Madrid is adding the services of key players that can create opportunities and dismantle a strong defense. However, fans have had their share of empty promises in the past; tournaments are won at the end of the season and not talking before any action has taken place on the pitch. Though it is undeniable that Real Madrid are coming strong and it will be interesting to see how the newly integrated players will translate into a positive performance on the pitch.

Isco, one of the new members of the squad is already showing up and making fans smile as he scored the late winner against Real Betis. It was a match that turned out to be more competitive than expected for Los Blancos as Betis was playing fast and created some opportunities to put it on the net as well. But Isco is an important addition to the club, he’s young, fast, a good header and passing skills.

Does Real Madrid need to get real? They have had an aggressive campaign in their pursuit of the Welshman Gareth Bale who has incredible talent and would be an asset to any team that can acquire his services. Real Madrid is willing to pay 100 million Euros in the table for the purchase of this fantastic midfielder. Is the price right? There is no doubt that this player has the qualities that can easily be incorporated into Madrid’s rhythm. Bale is fast and capable of outpacing defenders, he’s strong and has a great left foot and accurate long-range shots. However, many fans are saying he is not worth more than Ronaldo; given that the Portuguese star had already achieved great success in the English Premier League before Madrid set eyes on him and bought him from Manchester United four years ago.

Gareth Bale is a great player! Also it’s a great sale for Tottenham Spurs, not so sure if it is the right purchase for Real Madrid but the current season will have plenty of games to give us a better answer.

David Villa - Motivated with Atletico Madrid

David Villa – a motivated striker

The Spanish international footballer and striker of Atletico Madrid is a fantastic player who can score beautiful goals. In the first leg of the 2013 Spanish Super Cup it was expected that FC Barcelona would have it much easier against the Rojiblancos. But it was not so as the constant threat by their former teammate was unavoidable. David Villa was simply being himself; a player who can accompany great plays, a striker who will constantly test the reflects of professional goalkeepers. David Villa or El Guaje simply understands the beauty of scoring goals without having to dance around the box too much.

If you notice a lot of Villa’s goals are important and memorable. He is the kind of striker that unexpectedly can put it in the net without much warning as he did against Barca and former teammate Victor Valdez. Actually Barca were crowned European Champions in 2010-2011 season, because Villa, alongside Messi, was very active taking long range shots against Manchester United. Villa’s goal came as a nice curled ball in upper right corner, which secured the victory that night 3-1 against the Red Devils.  El Guaje is simply a unique striker and this season he will help Atletico Madrid to balance things out on the pitch against giants like Barca and Real.

David Villa is indeed a provoked striker, aggravated by circumstances and an injury that put him on the sidelines for an entire season. When Villa broke his tibia in a Club World Cup Match he was out of La Liga action for the 2011-2012 season. Villa’s presence off the pitch was obvious as Barca’s front force and artillery has been weakened. Barca fans knew the importance of Villa for their beloved team, now being on the sidelines as another spectator especially in the Clasicos, created an opportunity for Real Madrid to get the title back on that year.  Barca fought back to snatch the title for the 2012-2013 season but now it will be much harder to stay on top.

David Villa or El Guaje as some people call him is only 31 years old. There is much to see of this great athlete and now that he has joined Atletico Madrid his actions will be more visible than before. No matter for what team he plays, it is definitely nicer to see him on the pitch than on the bench. It was a great move by Atletico Madrid to obtain the services of a motivated striker as David Villa.

Fantastic Barca in Sync

FC Barcelona in sync

Barca opens its first liga game against Levante in a stunning 7-0 victory at the Camp Nou. This is a Barca team that seems fit and motivated to defend its crown against its contenders and mainly Real Madrid. They were truly connecting and showing amazing passing skills.

Was this score expected by the fans? The short answer is a big No! But seeing how Barca performed in the preseason games and considering that some of the key players are returning fresh and have overcome injuries then fans could possibly look ahead to more victories from this fantastic team.

There is no doubt about the chemistry Barca team members have on the pitch. These guys were connecting passes, making runs, dribbling as well as scoring many goals too. Cesc Fabregas is writing his own chapter of success; in the pre-season he has been fit, fast and accurate with his game. Alexis Sanchez has also improved a lot since last season. He seems motivated and capable of creating goal opportunities for his teammates. Pedro Rodriguez is also a player to keep an eye on because he has improved a lot and he has shown his thirst for goals this term.

It is great to see Messi in fantastic form so fans can enjoy his magic and creativity on the pitch this season too. The Argentine has started the season by putting two goals on the net, not bad for the first game! Fans will have to keep counting because this magician has more tricks under his hat.

Xavi and Iniesta are the architects of this team. They are just a phenomenal pair to watch, and they will continue doing so in order to win more trophies for their beloved Barca.

Neymar will have to wait another day to score his official goal in La Liga. The latest acquisition of Barcelona is a fantastic player of his own kind as well. He will be a great asset among this brilliant group of footballers.

Overall, well played by Barca, they were just in perfect synchronization.

The 2013-2014 season is going to be exciting!

It’s going to be an exciting season for the beautiful game!

The changes that take place during the pre-season make the beautiful game much more exciting. This season promise to be more action-packed than the last one. That is because very interesting changes took place. For instance, Mourinho moving to Chelsea, Barcelona will try to retain the title, Real Madrid has a new coach and still hungry for trophies, Pep Guardiola is the head coach of Bayern Munich.

The 2013-2014 season will definitely be a super exciting one to watch with so many players and coaches moving around. It will be interesting to see the return of Mourinho and his performance with Chelsea in the Premier League; his comments and his character will be missed in La Liga, he definitely knew how to spice up el clasico matches. Now he will apply his ingredients and bring more excitement to the rivalries in the English Premier League like Chelsea versus Manchester United.

Barcelona will also bring excitement to the beautiful game this season. The new coach Tata Martino will apply his winning tactics to a team that has enjoyed much success in the past five years. Plus, adding Brazilian star Neymar will give the team more attacking options. Barcelona seems to be getting their strength and their finesse back. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are very much in top form and Fabregas has been improving in the pre-season. FC Barcelona will still be a prolific team in the Champions League despite their sour exit last season.

Ancelloti is the new coach of Real Madrid. He is a well-respected man who has achieved much success in his career. His mission, with his exciting star Ronaldo, is to win and bring more trophies to the Spanish capital. Real Madrid is very hungry, especially for the 10^th Champions League title, their performance during the pre-season has been just great, they’ll be a very tough team to beat this year.

Another exciting part of the beautiful game this season is the return of Pep Guardiola on the sidelines. After taking some time off for a year or so, the former Barcelona coach will lead the powerhouse Bayern Munich. It’s going to be very interesting to see Peps techniques being applied to this strong and fast team. Pep and Bayern have the task to retain the Bundesliga title as well as the Champions League title. Definitely exciting stuff coming up in the 2013-2014 seaon.

Let’s have fun and Let’s watch the beautiful game!

No Mourinho No Problem!

They were playing against Mourinho Not Chelsea.

Real Madrid beat Chelsea 3-1 in the International Champions Cup. Although, it’s pre-season los blancos looked really good against the blues as they put it in the net first via Marcelo, then two more times with a fabulous free-kick from Ronaldo and later a nice header as well. But Chelsea is a difficult team to play against, the match seemed balance when the blues quickly reacted and tied 1-1 via Ramires. However, Real Madrid is taking these pre-season games very serious and last night was proof of that. They were fast, fit, and creative, there is no doubt that they are thirsty for success in La Liga and the Champions League.

Was Real Madrid playing against Chelsea or Mourinho? It was clear that los blancos had that extra fuel of motivation to go for the victory, but at every goal celebration Ronaldo would look at his former coach and make gestures like ‘I’m the real Ronaldo’ as he turned towards the bench and pointed both hands to his chest and the Real Madrid crest. This would not be a surprise as Mourinho had an interview with ESPN early this week where he talked about the ‘real Ronaldo’ referring to the former Brazilian star. Another observation was that in their first goal, the Real Madrid players run and hugged each other almost in front of Mourinho like saying ‘see we get along really well’. It was obvious they were playing against their former manager.

It was just a pre-season game but it was definitely compiled with great stuff. Given that these teams are among the top teams of Europe, at some moments this match seemed like a quarter final of the Champions League. No Exaggeration here, but I’m sure those who were up and watched this game witnessed some action that you get to see only on more important tournaments.  This one had all the great stuff, like testing the keepers with long-range shots, impressive runs and passing, creative plays by both teams. It was just a great match to have watched!

Madrid was more consistent and more aggressive than Chelsea. The night belonged to them and so the victory, they have clearly stated that ‘no mourinho, no problem’ as a sign read among the fans.