Would Benfica walk Serie A?

Chiellini.

Chillini with the worst shot in the decade

Full time: Benfica 2-1 Juventus [Garay, Lima] [Tevez]

*bleep* wasted chances

Juve were unlucky to lose. They were the better team in my opinion but the away goal gives the Bianconeri a good chance to bounce back from this defeat next week.

Valencia should have scored at least one against Sevilla. Another reAMUNTada next week, like agaisnt Basel?

Even though we should've scored one of the sitters at the end. It's pretty obvious 3-5-2 against teams with pace and technical ability on the wing is a miserable failure

We can still overturn this, 1-0 would do it. But really it's quite pathetic.

jibers wrote:Would Benfica walk Serie A?

If Benfica knock Juve out, Portugal will overtake Italy in UEFA rankings next year.

Excellent match. As mentioned, after Garay's opening goal in the 3rd minute Juventus took solid control of the match via Pirlo yet the lack of incision and decisiveness in the final third cost Juventus chances that were on the mould of opportunity in being finished. Tevez broke his European goal cherry yet his obsession earlier to free himself of the burden came at cost to the team while Vucinic just looked hilariously unfit. Conte does not realize that pairings such as Vucinic-Tevez, Osvaldo-Llorente, Osvaldo-Anyone, Giovinco-Tevez etc does not work, especially considering the gap between the midfield and attack renders the attack further immobile and uncomfortable in the 3-1-4-2. It does not make sense to play this formation to which is better used vs slower and more tactical teams. The pace of Benfica for the 2nd goal is what left the defence flat-footed; Benfica showing more desire than a disgustingly arrogant Juventus (Conte even subbing of his goalscorer for Pablo Osvaldo) is testament to how Benfica yearn to break Guttman's curse.

2nd leg can be advantageous given the correct atmosphere and an early goal to provide a certain cushion to Juventus, yet needlessly Juventus turned off after the goal and have slotted an advantage to the Portuguese side. Juventus' chances not finished will be rued....or not given Conte and the team's attitude towards this competition.

Andrea Pirlo and Luisão MOTM respectively.

Somehow Sevilla got through that second half without conceding. Somehow they didn't score again from those set-pieces. Second half a lot more tense than the first.

Alcacer is suspended for the 2nd leg apparently, after a dick move from Beto, so that would be a major boost for Sevilla. As for as their approach for the 2nd leg goes, I don't think they'll be quite as negative as Basel were, and will present a greater threat on the counter and from set-pieces. Still, it's going to be a long and difficult game, especially if Valencia apply us much pressure as they did in that second half.

Fußball wrote:

jibers wrote:Would Benfica walk Serie A?

If Benfica knock Juve out, Portugal will overtake Italy in UEFA rankings next year.

Are you *bleep* serious?   

Thanks Calciopoli

I can't believe this shit...

Knowing Unai and his completely erratic approach to 2nd legs in the process of a 1st leg lead, either expect a 0-4 Sevilla or 4-0 Valencia come Mestalla next Thursday. His unpredictability and indecisiveness in such situations is near legendary and has cost him in numerous situations.

Very Un-Basque of him tbh

I'd love to see us line up with a back 4 next week. Won't happen though




Buffon
Licht Barz Chiello Asa
Vidal Marchisio Pogba
Tevez Gio
Llorente

The good thing for Emery is that he's got a core of players playing exceptionally right now, and as long as those six- Pareja, Fazio, Mbia, Carrico, Rakitic and Bacca - start, they should remain stable, even if he decides, for some reason, to go with Coke and Alberto at full back or Marin over Vitolo.

Fußball wrote:

jibers wrote:Would Benfica walk Serie A?

If Benfica knock Juve out, Portugal will overtake Italy in UEFA rankings next year.

Co-efficient system is farcial

Portugal overtaking Serie A does not bother me the least bit given the slots will still be the same (?).

Portuguese have set their own trend in looking out of their depth in the Champions League, yet utilizing their experience and sense of opportunism within the Europa League to push for the title to which they can afford given that outside Portugal's Top 3, its mostly easy for them. Europa League carries the same amount of points as the Champions League as Italiani teams will have to push on both fronts to compete with Portugal given that once again, both competitions afford you the same amount of co-efficient points.

Italian teams have shown an improved attitude within the Europa League yet nowhere near what the Germans, Portuguese and the Russians do, both Italia and France remain unbowed to the Europa League; obviously not aware that their collective failures in this tourney will eventually cost the league-subsequently making it more difficult for themselves on the long run.

Is Bacca the best player in Europe?

GoonerJay29 wrote:The good thing for Emery is that he's got a core of players playing exceptionally right now, and as long as those six- Pareja, Fazio, Mbia, Carrico, Rakitic and Bacca - start, they should remain stable, even if he decides, for some reason, to go with Coke and Alberto at full back or Marin over Vitolo.

Alcacer out for Valencia is a tremendous surge of hope for Sevilla, his home record the prime cause of Valencia's strength in the Mestalla.

With Unai, the problem is not the players he is afforded at hand in this particular situation, yet his eccentricity will predictably cause him to make make baffling decisions to allow leeway to Valencia; as that is just the way he is. Provided the players you named remain fit, expect Unai to deploy his 4-4-2 and be completely and utterly reactionary to what Valencia do, rather than stick to his own plan.

che wrote:we just conceded a goal from a two meter offside

i *bleep* give up... there is not a single force in this goddamn universe that can make sevilla not get a horrible decision their way when they're playing us... what a load of *bleep* bullshit

My commiserations. Disgraceful officiating by the linesman.

Even Buffon can't stop Garay's header

Tevez had a nice goal as well. If Benfica kick out Juve when the final is in Turin

Terrible, absolutely terrible officiating in that Sevilla/Valencia game. Valencia's play definitely deserved a goal but say what, I'm pretty sure they'll perform a comeback in the Mestella. Not to take away anything from Sevilla, t'was a good win for them.

Didn't watch the Benfica/Juve game, read the latter was most wasteful and Vucinic was poop...

Why did Vucinic start over Llorente? I thought this was exactly the kind of matches Llorente was bought for.

dat lima goal was pure porn .

Still asking myself that BC tbh

He's our most out of form striker thanks to a year of injuries, nearly sold him in the Winter and we put him on instead of Llorente/Giovinco

I'm quite confident we'll turn this around, especially if Barzagli and Vidal are fit enough to play. But in the Summer this system needs to go and Bonucci needs to hit the bench or be sold.

Fußball wrote:

jibers wrote:Would Benfica walk Serie A?

If Benfica knock Juve out, Portugal will overtake Italy in UEFA rankings next year.

anyway noone in Italy except juve fans would be sorry for this
Portoguese clubs are scrubs in CL but amazing in Europe League , the system of " 3rd reglegated in CL who passes in EL " helped them much , are the biggest benefactors of this

jibers wrote:

Fußball wrote:

jibers wrote:Would Benfica walk Serie A?

If Benfica knock Juve out, Portugal will overtake Italy in UEFA rankings next year.

Are you *bleep* serious?   

Thanks Calciopoli

I can't believe this shit...

it is not because of Calciopoli, this is a  false mith tbh.
Indeed Serie A system collapsed early 2000s.
previously the Italian clubs expended too much ,  they were the clubs who spent  more than all in Europe and these were often sprees ( Mendieta 43 mln )s.
But anyway if you have the greatest economic power you have more 'chance to buy top players... You get  competitiveness if you spend and you aren't obliged to sell your best players, useless to think the contrary.
and so you saw best players to play in Italy   , you could see PARMA - LAZIO to win in Europe , 2 teams built with money of Parmalat and Cirio , two companies that  had a crack and this situation had repercussions on own clubs who infact were close to  bankruptcy and they ended to compete .
So Lazio passed from Cragnotti (arrested) to .... Lotito. Parma from Tanzi (arrsted) ... to Ghirardi.
Early 2000s so, when Parma and Lazio died, Roma of Sensi same thing , that Fiorentina who had players as Batistuta , a club capable to play a great semi-final of UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against BArcellona of Ronaldo in 1997 ,  won at Wembley  and against Manchester  in 1999-2000  , that club  went bankrupt in 2003 and it had to start from C2 ! (Rangers Glagow-esque ) etc, substantially the Italian clubs who had the the monopoly of the market became /are became selling clubs. Even the 3 Italian  top clubs   had to bend  to this logic . That system cracked for  unsustainable costs and a regulation began .
Ibrahimovic,Eto'o,Cavani and soon Pogba. As said Agnelli " No italian clubs can permitt to keep these players ". Before it was different , not for Calciopoli, on the other hand in 2007 Milan won and in 2010 Inter won(and Fiorentina Uefa Cup final 2008) , even better results than in the period 2000-2006.

Arquitescu wrote:Excellent match. As mentioned, after Garay's opening goal in the 3rd minute Juventus took solid control of the match via Pirlo yet the lack of incision and decisiveness in the final third cost Juventus chances that were on the mould of opportunity in being finished. Tevez broke his European goal cherry yet his obsession earlier to free himself of the burden came at cost to the team while Vucinic just looked hilariously unfit. Conte does not realize that pairings such as Vucinic-Tevez, Osvaldo-Llorente, Osvaldo-Anyone, Giovinco-Tevez etc does not work, especially considering the gap between the midfield and attack renders the attack further immobile and uncomfortable in the 3-1-4-2. It does not make sense to play this formation to which is better used vs slower and more tactical teams. The pace of Benfica for the 2nd goal is what left the defence flat-footed; Benfica showing more desire than a disgustingly arrogant Juventus (Conte even subbing of his goalscorer for Pablo Osvaldo) is testament to how Benfica yearn to break Guttman's curse.

2nd leg can be advantageous given the correct atmosphere and an early goal to provide a certain cushion to Juventus, yet needlessly Juventus turned off after the goal and have slotted an advantage to the Portuguese side. Juventus' chances not finished will be rued....or not given Conte and the team's attitude towards this competition.

Andrea Pirlo and Luisão MOTM respectively.

I thought Pirlo was 50/50. All the good play went through him, but some of his balls were uncharacteristically wasteful. Pirlo and the rest of the midfield put in far too many half-assed balls that didn't go to the feet of the strikers or to Pogba when he drifted forward. Someone was always fighting for the header from the lofted ball instead of receiving a nice through ball to turn and shoot on.

Juve clearly missed Vidal. Could you imagine Vidal running into the box instead of Marchisio for that chance in the last 5 minutes? I bet he wouldn't have hit it straight at Artur. People will talk about Chiellini's chance, but Marchisio's before it was a much better opportunity. Quite simply, Vidal is a clutch player and Marchisio isn't. I don't want to hate on the guy because he's a hard worker, but Marchisio is rarely the player who will win you the game. Can you really say that Marchisio beat Perez today, despite all of Juve's possession? I don't think so. I think Marchisio is a player of high technical proficiency, but he's inert and needs to add some more dynamism to his game to justify his place in the midfield for both Juve & Italia.

I agree that Conte's substitutions were straight up stupid. Pairing Vucinic with Tevez is a proven failure, but then to sub on Gio and then Osvaldo instead of Llorente was poor from Conte.

Also, Conte's 3-5-2 gets exposed badly out wide on the counter.