Champions League: Spoils Shared in Madrid Derby, Juve Pip Monaco

Bloodied Mario Mandzukic. Photo - The Guardian

It was bloody, tense, edgy, tight but barren at the end as the 8^th Madrid derby of the season ended with nothing to separate two protagonists, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

The duo who clashed in the final of last year’s UEFA Champions League final which Real won 4-1 at extra time, met at the Vicente Calderon for the first leg of their quarterfinal tie.

It was the 8^th Madrid derby of the season and for Real, it ended the way the past 8 have; winless against their rivals. Carlo Ancelloti’s men produced a far better performance than they have been in those eight games. However, there was one huge wall in the Atleti defence that proved impenetrable to Los Blancos from as early as the fourth minute; Slovenian keeper Jan Oblak.

Oblak first denied Gareth Bale from scoring Real’s first goal at the Vicente Calderon in their last four visits. He was equal to the task, punching, parrying, and collecting every shot aimed at him as the visitors dominated the opening half. He thwarted Cristiano Ronaldo and twice denied James Rodriguez before the interval.

The early minutes of the second half saw Atletico forward Mario Mandzukic getting entangled on a battle that left him bloodied as he got elbowed by Sergio Ramos before Dani Carvajal allegedly tried to bite the Croat’s shoulder.

On the football side, Oblak came out on top saving a Toni Kroos effort while Godin came close to beating Iker Casillas on the other end. Mario Suarez and Marcelo got in the referee’s book meaning they will miss the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in 8 days.

The match ended with Diego Simeone’s side failing to score versus their rivals for the first time in 9 games while Real failed to beat their rivals for the 7^th time since their Champions League final triump.

It was a fairly entertaining derby for the neutrals and one that laid testament to the face that the Madrid derby is increasingly reestablishing itself as one of the world’s best, thanks to the reemergence of Atletico as a La Liga top dog.

In Turin, Arturo Vidal’s second half penalty ensured Juventus will take a slim advantage to France next week having beaten visiting Monaco 1-0. Monaco mustered more shots at Gianluigi Buffon’s goal (16) but only 4 were on target, one less than Juve’s efforts at the other end.

Like the Madrid derby, Monaco and Juventus lacked cutting edge with the match poised at 0-0 until the 57^th minute when Arturo Vidal beat Danijel Subasic from the spot, Ricardo Carvalho having fouled Alvaro Morata in the box.

That proved to be the only goal of the night as Massimiliano Allegri’s men ensured the tie is in their favor heading into the return leg at Stade Louis II.

And That’s thesteifmastertake!!

Yaya Toure Makes Himself Dispensable after another Poor Big-Game Display

By the time Juan Mata sublimely collected Wayne Rooney’s pass before slotting between Joe Hart’s legs and into the back of the net to make it 3-1 to Manchester United, there were already jokes going round about how one Manchester City player was still celebrating his success with the national team.

It was unfortunate; it is always unfortunate, to blame one player when his team receives an inexcusable hiding, especially at the hands of their greatest of rivals.

But then again, when you suffer a heavy defeat ala Manchester City’s 4-1 capitulation at Old Trafford, finger will always be pointed, most of the times at the manager, sometimes at the player. In the aftermath of their defeat to United though, fingers were pointed at both; Yaya Toure, the player, and Manuel Pellegrin, the manager.

There’s not much to write about Pellegrini. The writing is on the wall really. He will get sacked. It might not happen now. But at the end of the season, should they somehow do the impossible and win the league, or do the possible and qualify for the Champions League or miss it, he will not be at the Eitihad next season. Period.

Which leaves us with the case of Yaya Toure. Given their financial muscle, Manchester City have managed to acquire some of the best players the Premier League and Europe has to offer. Toure is among the  top three best players in the club alongside David Silva and Kun Aguero.

He was a vital cog in the Citizens’ title chase last season, scoring crucial goals in crucial matches and at crucial times. He started pretty well again this season. However, after going to the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast and leaving with the winners medal around his neck, his return to City has seen him struggle, especially in big matches against the Liverpools and Manchester Uniteds of the Premier League, never mind against Barcelona in the Champions League.

With Aguero scoring twice and Silva setting up the Argentine’s first goal, there was always going to be focus on Toure, the third member of the City top three. Assuming the captain’s armband at half time from the substituted Vincent Kompany who has been so shambolic lately people are almost forgetting how good he has been, Toure was expected to organize the team and make them look like reigning Premier League champions.

That never happened.

Daley Blind found Wayne Rooney who fed Mata who was already on his tracks. The Spaniard tucked home through the legs of Hart albeit with a hint of offside to make it 3-1 to United. Critics replayed the footage and found Yaya at fault, somehow.

Chris Smalling was allowed to head home Rooney’s freekick with Eliaquim Mangala playing the Englishman onside for the fourth goal. Trevor Sinclair, Lancaster City assistant manager and former Man City boy blamed Toure for the goal saying the Ivorian should have organized his defence number.

There’s no doubt that Toure has been missing in the big games. His display against their City rivals only served to win him more critics than admirers. With Pellegrini’s position as Man City boss increasingly looking towards the exit door, Toure’s position as a Citizens player is looking the same direction.

 And That's thesteifmastertake!!

Why the Mashemeji Derby is Gor Mahia’s to Lose

 

Photo: Goal.com/ke

The first of at least two ‘Mashemeji’ derbies this season is due for kick off this Sunday as AFC Leopards play host to their biggest rivals – in titles, history, fan base, ambition, name it – Gor Mahia.

The duo, arguably the best the country has to offer, and without doubt the most successful clubs in Kenyan football history renew their rivalry which first began on May 5 1968, a match that Gor Mahia won 2-1.

Gor Mahia go into the clash in a far superior shape. The two-time defending champions have won all their opening four matches of the season that sees them sitting pretty comfortably on top of the Kenya Premier League log on 12 points, 4 points and 5 places ahead of Leopards and with a game in hand.

Gor are also the leagues’ top scorers having planted the ball in the back of the net in all their matches while averaging 3 goals per game. However, they face an AFC Leopards side who have the second meanest defence in the league having conceded only three goals in their opening 5 matches, keeping three clean sheets. Whether Ingwe, managed by Zdravko Logarusic, a man who delivered the title to Gor Mahia in 2013, will prevent the free-scoring champions from breaching their backline is open to debate.

The form book is also hugely in favor of Frank Nuttall’s men. They have lost only once in their last 20 KPL matches and that was way back in October last year where they suffered a 3-2 loss to Sofapaka. In fact, Kogalo have lost only twice in their last 27 KPL matches, the Sofapaka defeat and coincidentally a 3-1 loss to Leopards in June 8^th last year.

Leopards’ last win when hosting Gor Mahia was in October 2011. Charles Okwemba, playing his 9^th Mashemeji derby, scored the opener in the first half before two goals after the interval from Mike Barasa and Laurent Tumba secured Ingwe a 3-0 win, their biggest winning margin over the bitter rivals since 1981.

Since then AFC have played host to Kogalo on three occasions in the KPL, winning zero, losing twice and drawing once. Gor Mahia lead the 13-time champions 5-4 in head to head count, taking into account only their previous 12 matches. However, Leopards have scored 16 to Gor’s 15 goals in those matches.

As the statistics suggest, the Gor Mahia-AFC Leopards clash is a game of thin margins. Thin margins decide derbies and this one won’t be any different.

A win for Leopards will not see them topple their rivals off the top of the table but it will get them closer, boost their momentum but more importantly deliver the bragging rights to the fans in blue.

The Leopards’ den is not quite stable as yet. There are cubs that still need to suckle some milk if Logarusic’s comments about some of the club’s players being ‘passengers’ are anything to go by.

For Gor, they have the momentum, they are scoring goals, one two, three, even four. Their new signings are working alongside the club oldies like a well-oiled clockwork. A defeat will almost be catastrophic, a draw will be an underachievement, a case of two points lost rather than one gained.

Three points, derby bragging rights, is K’Ogalo’s to lose.

And That’s thesteifmastertake!!