Any Partizan Belgrade fans expecting an easy passge through to the Europa League group stages could be in for quiet a surprise next week. Shamrock Rovers are now the counties only team left in European competition but with that comes the possibility for an Irish side in a group stage of a European competion for the first time.
Shamrock Rovers are proberly the best euipped side to break into a group stage be it the champions league or Europa League but judging by their exit from the champions league to Danish runaway title winners FC Kobenhavn there is more work to be done.
The day of seeing Irish clubs in the group stages are coming of that there is no doubt. Our record in Europe in the past eight years shows significent progress.
Partizan Belgrade are the side that stand in the way from seeing that dream this season. Partizan are current Serbian champions and did play in the Champions league group stages last season. Like all Serbian sides, Partizan have lost their key players from that campaign, stand out name Cléo is now in China. Partizan also played in the group stage of the Europa League the season previously and they were extremely poor. Serbian sides since the breakup of the Yugoslavia simply are not the same as before 1991. Rovers could fancy their chances in this tie and if I am being honest I would give Rovers a strong chance of upseting the odds against their Serbian counterparts.
All the pressure will be on Partizan. Not easy when they set the standard fro Serbian sides last season with their group stage status in the champions league last season. Of course Partizan have quality players such as Sasa Ilic, Laime Diarra and Aleksandar Rankovic, but Rovers have a good crop of players themselves in Gary Twigg, Billy Dennehy and Conor McCormack.
Not matter what happens Rovers will look back on this European adventure with pride because they had a strong first half performance against FC Kobenhavn and a repeat of that showing will upset Partizan.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Both Spain's big guns lose on the same day
Not since August 2008 have both Barcelona and Real Madrid lost league games on the same day. However on the final day of April 2011 they repeated the feat with both sides going down to sides fighting relegation.
Real Madrid's defeat was particularly interesting since it was only José Mourinho's 3rd home defeat in the past nine years. Their opponents Real Zaragoza came into the game just a point above the La Liga trapdoor and were in desperate need for a victory. Javier Aguirre's side came to Madrid today to defend and limit Real space. However for all the possession Real found themselves with, it was Zaragoza who struck first just before half-time when a mix-up in defense between Pepe and Iker Casillas allowed Uché to square to Ángel Lafita who rolled the ball into the open net.
Lafita was involved for the next goal as he drew Ricardo Carvalho into fouling him in the area and as a result Gabi converted the spot kick. Sergio Ramos heaed a goal back for Real soon after but Zaragoza struck for a third when the vision of Uche put Lafita through on goal one-on-one with Casillas and finished cooly despite Marcelo's best efforts to keep his shot out. Despite Karim Benzema's strike shortly afterwards, Aguirre's men held on for a vital three points.
Barcelona:
Barcelona were beaten but like Madrid made changes to the El Clásico clash in midweek. However it was Barcelona who took the lead after Xavi with the help of Messi found Thiago Alcantara who finished impressively over Claudio Bravo. Real Sociedad rallied htough and found an equiliser through Diego Ifran struck on a loose ball in the Barca box. Javier Masherano bought down Antoine Griezmann in the box which resulted in a penalty which was just about converted by Xabier Prieto despite the best efforts of José Pinto.
Real Madrid's defeat was particularly interesting since it was only José Mourinho's 3rd home defeat in the past nine years. Their opponents Real Zaragoza came into the game just a point above the La Liga trapdoor and were in desperate need for a victory. Javier Aguirre's side came to Madrid today to defend and limit Real space. However for all the possession Real found themselves with, it was Zaragoza who struck first just before half-time when a mix-up in defense between Pepe and Iker Casillas allowed Uché to square to Ángel Lafita who rolled the ball into the open net.
Lafita was involved for the next goal as he drew Ricardo Carvalho into fouling him in the area and as a result Gabi converted the spot kick. Sergio Ramos heaed a goal back for Real soon after but Zaragoza struck for a third when the vision of Uche put Lafita through on goal one-on-one with Casillas and finished cooly despite Marcelo's best efforts to keep his shot out. Despite Karim Benzema's strike shortly afterwards, Aguirre's men held on for a vital three points.
Barcelona:
Barcelona were beaten but like Madrid made changes to the El Clásico clash in midweek. However it was Barcelona who took the lead after Xavi with the help of Messi found Thiago Alcantara who finished impressively over Claudio Bravo. Real Sociedad rallied htough and found an equiliser through Diego Ifran struck on a loose ball in the Barca box. Javier Masherano bought down Antoine Griezmann in the box which resulted in a penalty which was just about converted by Xabier Prieto despite the best efforts of José Pinto.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Turkish Super Lig
The Super Lig resumes at the end of the month and for the sides it is about getting to the targets. Obviously for the likes of Besiktas, Bursaspor and Fenerbahce those targets will be catching Trabzonspor at the top of the table. With Bursaspor out of Europe they are able to concentrate on domestic matters while Fener need to improve their home form if they are to catch Trabzonspor.
Trabzonspor however will be hard to catch especially if they keep up the performance they showed against Schalke last night. The key man has been the front two of Buruk Yilmaz and Umit Bulut. Gustavo Colman has been good when playing and Jájá Coelho has popped up with some crucial goals. Onur Krivak though remains the key in goal. The future star will be needed even more in the 2nd half of the season.
Kayserispor have showed over the past few years that they are indeed an emerging side. Consistantcy though remaisn the key for them. They do well against the big sides but do get the odd freak result. Goals however do remain a problem. Kayserispor do need a 20 goal season striker if they are to have hopes of landing a title in the future. Shota Arveladze though is doing a fine job.
Karabukspor deserve a big mention as the newly promoted side continue tod defy the odds. Nigerian Emmanuel Emenike is the star man for the surprise package. His twelve goals so far have put him on the radar of the bigger sides while Hakan Ozmert is 'El Commandante'.
Galatasaray though have been really poor this season. They have suffered shock results and despite signing Necati ates, Juan Culio and Kazim Kazim it does remain to be seen if they can propel themselves into a European spot.
Trabzonspor however will be hard to catch especially if they keep up the performance they showed against Schalke last night. The key man has been the front two of Buruk Yilmaz and Umit Bulut. Gustavo Colman has been good when playing and Jájá Coelho has popped up with some crucial goals. Onur Krivak though remains the key in goal. The future star will be needed even more in the 2nd half of the season.
Kayserispor have showed over the past few years that they are indeed an emerging side. Consistantcy though remaisn the key for them. They do well against the big sides but do get the odd freak result. Goals however do remain a problem. Kayserispor do need a 20 goal season striker if they are to have hopes of landing a title in the future. Shota Arveladze though is doing a fine job.
Karabukspor deserve a big mention as the newly promoted side continue tod defy the odds. Nigerian Emmanuel Emenike is the star man for the surprise package. His twelve goals so far have put him on the radar of the bigger sides while Hakan Ozmert is 'El Commandante'.
Galatasaray though have been really poor this season. They have suffered shock results and despite signing Necati ates, Juan Culio and Kazim Kazim it does remain to be seen if they can propel themselves into a European spot.
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