European Football Review November 7th-8th
- The different between Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid Manuel Pellegrini was on display this weekend. Pep Guardiola can bench Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. While eyebrows will be raised, few would question Guardiola. Pellegrini does so much as to bench Guti and he is second guessed by everyone. You know one is in full control of a club when Guardiola can bench those players under the guise of needing rest but really it’s due to their poor performances against Osasuna and Rubin Kazan mid week.
- What a series of saves by Real Mallorca goalie Dudu Aouate before Barcelona finally beats him on the 4th point blank shot (1:30 mark of the clip.)
- It’s tough to make your mark when you are a new coach coming in mid season. Quique Flores so far hasn’t turned around Atletico Madrid and it will be interesting to see how Sergio Agüero is going to deal with coming off the bench.
- Sergio Ramos needs to keep his cool. His straight red card gave Atletico Madrid the belief they can make a game of it down 3-0 at the time.
- Time for my brief look at Portuguese football. With Braga losing their derby match against Vitoria Guimaraes, Porto losing on the road to Maritimo and Sporting only being able to draw against Rio Ave, Benfica has a glorious chance with a win on Monday against Naval to create some space against their rivals.
- I may of jinxed Ajax after praising their recent form as they went down to defeat against FC Twente 1-0. It would be a great story if Steve McClaren could turn his image around by winning the league.
- Last year’s winning coach in the Dutch Eredivisie Louis van Gaal isn’t having the same type of fortune with new club Bayern Munich. Another draw this time against Schalke must leave many within the club shaking their heads. Also not a good sign when Luca Toni storms out, leaving the entire stadium after being subbed at halftime. Vice captain Phillip Lahm has also been fined for negative comments about the team after the game.
- Damn you NFL Sunday or else I would of caught some of the Lyon-Marseille 5-5 draw with five goals being scored after the 79th minute. Must of been some game with former Everton target Stephane M’Bia scoring for Marseille at the last kick of the game.
- I was wrong about Lisandro Lopez. Not about the player himself as I’ve always held him in high regard but the amount Lyon paid for him. A couple of months into the season and it’s clear Lyon would pay that price again and even paid more if they knew what type of player they were getting.
- Juventus and Atalanta was looking like one of those cold, wet games that end in a draw. Then Mauro Camoranesi scores two goals in two minutes and Juventus were on their way to a 5-2 victory.
- Mentioned on twitter that Roma was in a good spot to trip up Inter ahead of the international break and they did. Good for Claudio Ranieri to hold Inter at bay considering the amount of goals they have been scoring in recent weeks.