La Liga clubs show their superiority
6 La Liga clubs participating in European competitions won their first leg ties over the past 2 weeks and Athletico Madrid drew 0-0. This underlining the fact that La Liga is the strongest league in Europe (and not just according to UEFA coefficient ranking). Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona all won away from home while Villarreal, Valencia and Seville recorded impressive home wins. Before I go into the Spanish games individually, I have to say that I really enjoyed the Europa League and Champions league first leg ties, the quality of the teams in both competitions is high and the games were full of both quality and excitement which can at times understandably be absent in cagey first leg games.
AS Roma 0 – 2
Real Madrid
Roma started without their most natural goal threat Edin
Dzeko in favour of packing the midfield with numbers and energy. The Italians
biggest threat throughout the night was the former Chelsea players Salah who’s
pace did cause problems for Madrid’s right back Danni Carvajal and right sided
centre back Sergio Ramos. With Roma opting for legs over experience by leaving
veterans De Rossi and Totti on the bench, their game plan did work as they
dropped off as Madrid as expected dominated positions. Although they were
retaining and recycling the ball effectively the effectiveness of their probing
was limited with Marcelo arguably their most creating attacking force. Second
half Roma tried to play further forward and exert pressure on the ball but were
undone just before the hour mark as Ronaldo got in behind their back line and
scored after much unfair criticism regarding him not scoring in 4 consecutive
away games. Madrid’s academy graduate Jesse added a second minutes before the
end, taking advantage of some awful defending as the Roma back 4 backed off and
backed off before Jesse drove the ball low into the far corner.
Valencia 6- 0
Rapid Wien
Garry Neville made several changes from the team that
helped him secure his first La Liga victory just days before the game. In all
honesty this game was a non-contest with Valencia proving far too strong for
the Austrian League leaders, being 5-0 up in 35mins. Rapid Vienna boss Zoran
Barisic substituted his experienced captain Steffen Hoffman before half time, I
suppose he was making a point to his players that the performance was not
acceptable, but to be honest he could have given any one of the 11 players the
hook with some justification. A combination of Rapid being more solid after the
break and Valencia mercifully taking their foot of the gas, meant they added
just one more goal to the rout.
Arsenal 0- 2
Barcelona
Although Barcelona dominated possession and dictated the
tempo of the game at the Emiretes, I’m giving special praise to Arsene Wenger
for in my opinion getting his tactics spot on. Arsenal defended narrow, closed
the space in the right areas, dropped off in the right areas and were mostly
comfortable in the first half. Second half was more of the same from Wengers
men and but for a couple of lapses in concentration from their German captain
they may have got a result. The difficulty with playing at team like Barcelona
is that as soon as you move your defensive and midfield lines forward your
vulnerable to the incredible pace and precision at which they can break with. I
don't give Arsenal a chance in the return leg.
Elsewhere Villarreal beat tournament favorites Napoli 1-0
in a close game which could have gone either way, this tie is too close to call
and is perfectly poised. Seville who seems to be winning the Europa league more
times than you can keep count, will consider themselves to have one foot in the
last 16 with a comprehensive win over Ole Solskjaer's FK Molde.
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