Champions League: Different Season, Same Old Arsenal

There may be no English team in the last 8 of the UEFA Champions League after Arsenal followed in the footsteps of Manchester City in losing the first leg of their last 16 home match.

Arsenal were stunned 3-1 by visiting French side Monaco, formerly managed by current Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger.

The Ligue 1 side, beaten only once since December, assumed the lead in the 38^th minute, Geoffrey Kondogbia finding the back of the net with a long-range strike which deflected off Per Mertesacker. Arsenal failed to register a single shot on target the entire half.

Monaco’s first half goal must have been dismissed as a mere consolation goal. However, Leonardo Jardim’s side had other ideas as 8 minutes after the interval, Dimitar Berbatov doubled their lead after being fed by Antony Martial who’d robbed Mertersacker of possession. The Bulgarian, often a cool customer in front of goal made no mistake slotting past David Ospina to the shock of the home fans and get his first Champions League goal this season.

Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin curled in beautifully from outside the box to reduce the deficit but he neutralized, perhaps cancelled, his heroic act immediately after.

The Englishman was dispossessed in the build up to Monaco’s third goal which was turned in by Ferreira Carrasco leaving the home fans, bemused while the traveling Monaco team could have dreamt of anything but a 3-1 victory ahead of the return leg clash next month.

With Manchester City beaten 1-2 by Barcelona on Tuesday, Chelsea are the only English team who look like they’ll have a chance of progressing to the last four. However, the Blues are anything but comfortable given their tie against Paris Saint Germain is tipped in the balance, their first leg clash having ended 1-1 in Paris.

In Germany, Hakan Calhanoglu struck in the 57^th minute to give Bayer Leverkusen a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the BayArena. Last year’s beaten finalists, Atletico were reduced to 10-men after Tiago was sent off for a second bookable offence but that Leverkusen’s goal was scored long before the Portuguese international received his marching orders.

And That’s thesteifmastertake!!

Champions League: Manchester City Not Good Enough for Europe

Will Yaya Toure's return save City at Camp Nou

They may be a dominant force in domestic football back in England but in continental football, Manchester City is like the proverbial tick challenging a bull for a fight.

The Citizens, currently sitting second in the English Premier League, were for the umpteenth time beaten by La Liga’s number two Barcelona as the duo clashed in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout round match.

Two goals from Luis Suarez on his return to England since his mega-money move from Liverpool were enough to settle the game for the Catalans. The Uruguayan struck twice, his second goal coming exactly 15 minutes of his 15^th minute opener.

Although City made the scoreline less damaging thanks to Sergio Aguero’s 69^th minute goal, the Premier League champions offered barely any competition for their much-experienced European football rivals.

Barcelona’s goal in the 15^th minute did not come as a surprise having dominated the proceedings from the off. Lionel Messi was involved in the first goal, the Argentine’s cross being headed by Vincent Kompany into the feet of Suarez who fired home the opener.

The next chance in the game fell for Edin Dzeko but the Bosnian headed wide. Messi reproduced his vintage     runs beating three City players before finding Jordi Alba who crossed for Suarez to tap home and doubled the visitor’s lead.

Dani Alves could have extended Barca’s lead had his audacious attempt been an inch or two lower with the ball hitting the crossbar before Samir Nasri came close before the interval.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side, beaten over two legs by Pep Guardiola in the same stage last season, came out firing in the second half. Javier Mascherano produced a fine block to deny Nasri before Dzeko headed straight at Ter Stegen in Barca goal.

City’s goal came just after the introduction of summer signing Wilfried Bony who made his Champions League debut in place of Dzeko. It was David Silva who spotted Sergio Aguero’s run with the Argentine firing home to give City some glimmer of hope with 21 minutes remaining. However,  four minutes later, Gael Glichy became the third player in the last three meetings with Barcelona to receive his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Messi could have put the game and in essence the tie beyond City’s reach with a last minute penalty but the ‘Little Messiah’ saw his spot-kick saved by Joe Hart while he also headed the rebound wide with the goal gaping at him.

City travel to Camp Nou for the return leg in a fortnight and although Yaya Toure will be available for selection after serving his ban for a red card against CSKA Moscow, it’s hard, almost incomprehensible to think they will get a result that will knock Barcelona out of Europe.

Meanwhile Alvaro Morata scored the winner as Juventus edged out Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Juventus Stadium. The Serie A leaders took the lead through a 13^th minute goal by Carlos Tevez only for Marco Reus to level and give Dortmund a vital away goal 5 minutes later. However, Morata connected to a Paul Pogba cross past BVB keeper Roman Weidenfeller 3 minutes before the interval to ensure the Old Lady will take a slim advantage to the Westanfaldion in the return leg.

And That’s thesteifmastertake!!

Champions League: Suarez Makes England Return, Red-Hot Juve Host Dortmund

The best player in the English Premier League last season, Luis Suarez, will make a return to England tonight with his new club Barcelona in a Champions League last 16 clash against Manchester City.

The Uruguayan who dominated headlines in England during his 4-year spell at Liverpool will once again be a point of focus as the Catalans go for victory at the home of the Premier League champions. Suarez failed to score in any of Liverpool’s 6 meetings against City at the Eitihad while he was in England.

Luis Enrique’s men go into the match fired up to atone for the shock 1-0 loss they suffered at Camp Nou at the hands of Malaga in their La Liga match this past weekend. City on the other hand had a robust matchday thumping Newcastle 5-0 in the Premier League.   

Manuel Pellegrini’s City will have revenge written all over their faces having lost to Barcelona at the same stage last season. The Catalans won both legs, 2-0 at the Eitihad and 2-1 at Camp Nou with City playing a man less in both fixtures.

The Premier League side will be without Yaya Toure who will be serving the last of his 3-game ban for his red card against CSKA Moscow while James Milner will also sit out due to injury. Jordi Alba is the only injury concern for Barca.

Meanwhile Borussia Dortmund will be seeking to hand Juventus their first home defeat since April 2013. BVB who have won their last three Bundesliga matches to steer them away from the relegation zone face the Turin giants whose only loss at home was against Bayern in 2013. Masssimiliano Allegri’s men opened a 9-point advantage at the top of Serie A after beating Atalanta 2-1 with Roma drawing 1-1 at Hellas Verona.

Jurgen Klopp’s side last met the Old Lady in the 1997 Champions League final which Dortmund won 3-1, their only triumph in the competition’s history. Juve will be seeking for a fine result which would put them in the driving seat ahead of the second leg. The Serie A champions have failed to advance past the last 16 since 2002-03 when they lost to Milan in the final.

Stephan Lichtsteiner, Arturo Vidal and Patrice Evra could make their return to the starting IX but the likes of Andrea Barzagli, Luca Marrone and Alessandro Matri are doubts with Kwadwo Asamoah totally out.

Kevin Grosskreutz is Dortmund’s main injury concern but there are fitness doubts for quintet, Sven Bender, Erik Durm, Mats Hummels, Ciro Immobile and Sebastian Kehl.

And That’s thesteifmastertake!!