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CL Analysis: Real Madrid Pay The Price For Gonzalo Higuain's Wastefulness
Cyrus C. Malek analyzes how the normally dependable Argentine may have let his team down for once...
| Bet: | Returns: | CSKA Moscow £70.00 | Draw £37.50 | Real Madrid £14.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | CSKA Moscow £65.00 | Draw £40.00 | Real Madrid £14.40 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | CSKA Moscow £65.00 | Draw £40.00 | Real Madrid £14.44 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | CSKA Moscow £85.00 | Draw £45.00 | Real Madrid £14.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | CSKA Moscow £62.00 | Draw £39.50 | Real Madrid £14.50 |
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Mar 10, 2010 11:45:00 PM
By Cyrus C. Malek
For the sixth consecutive season, Real Madrid failed to progress past the first round of the knockout stages. Even a €250 million investment was not enough for Florentino Perez’s neo-Galacticos to get what has become more of a gorilla rather than a monkey off their backs.
The match began with the Bernabeu faithful in an optimistic mood. After Los Blancos’ epic comeback against Sevilla, many Madridistas were expecting their team to impose their tradition of beautiful football upon bogey side Lyon. “We will win by 3-0”, declared Sergio Ramos in comments reported by Marca earlier in the week. Bold statements, indeed, but in the opening minutes it certainly looked like Ramos' brazen, cocky prediction would come true.
Madrid began the match by playing strong passing football, creating their first chance through Gonzalo Higuain in the first minute, only to have Lyon’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris clear the danger. But with the support of the crowd, Los Blancos would not be denied. In just the sixth minute of play, Cristiano Ronaldo surged forward down the left flank and slotted the ball between Lloris’ legs, a goalkeeper who had previously not conceded for 626 consecutive minutes. 1-0 and all level on aggregate. Game on.
Tasting blood, Madrid continued to surge forward, wreaking havoc on a bewildered Lyon defence. Far and away the stronger side, Los Blancos began to push forward with most chances coming through Ronaldo and Higuain. But it was the Argentine who had the opportunity to break the match wide open.
Receiving a pass through the back line in the 26th minute, 'Pipita' burst forward with the ball at his feet with just the goalkeeper to beat. In a move that was eerily similar to the way he rounded Germany 'keeper Rene Adler in an international friendly last week with Argentina, Higuain breezed past Lloris. Slotting the ball toward the empty net with his right foot, the striker began to jog toward the sideline, anticipating the wave of glory as the crowd began to scream, “Goooooooooooooo—”.
In what would become a curious metaphor for Real Madrid’s inability to progress past the last-16 in what now seems like a century, the ball astonishingly thudded off the post. Madrid would continue to create a host of chances throughout the first half, but it was at that moment that the first seeds of doubt began to take root and the confidence began to wane. Had the ball nestled into the goal, the Bernabeu would have exploded into a roar of jubilation and the 'Men in White' could have gone on a romp. And perhaps the story would be far different than it is now.
Higuain almost made amends just two minutes later as Kaka delicately cut inside Cris on the left flank. The ball fell to the Argentine’s boots with just Lloris and the net at his mercy, but again the shot was unable to find its way past the 'keeper. The youngster would be afforded one more clear-cut chance, but his header would glance inches wide. A deadly goalscorer in La Liga, Higuain has had to learn the hard way that if one does not put away the few chances one is afforded in the Champions League, the match can easily get away.
And get away it did. With the wasted chances of the first half behind them, Madrid looked wary in the second period. Able to impose much more physical play upon the proceedings, Lyon were quick to capitalise and play football the way they like to - the way they did in the first leg.
Frustration began to take hold and Madrid lost their team dynamic, performing like a group of individuals rather than a collective unit. For those with the eye to catch the events that preceded Lyon’s goal as five French players surged forward to score, Kaka threw his arms up in frustration as the referee waved play on instead of blowing for the foul. It is nothing but that feeling of frustration that Madrid are left with now.
As for Higuain, he must now be wondering what would have been.
The match began with the Bernabeu faithful in an optimistic mood. After Los Blancos’ epic comeback against Sevilla, many Madridistas were expecting their team to impose their tradition of beautiful football upon bogey side Lyon. “We will win by 3-0”, declared Sergio Ramos in comments reported by Marca earlier in the week. Bold statements, indeed, but in the opening minutes it certainly looked like Ramos' brazen, cocky prediction would come true.
Madrid began the match by playing strong passing football, creating their first chance through Gonzalo Higuain in the first minute, only to have Lyon’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris clear the danger. But with the support of the crowd, Los Blancos would not be denied. In just the sixth minute of play, Cristiano Ronaldo surged forward down the left flank and slotted the ball between Lloris’ legs, a goalkeeper who had previously not conceded for 626 consecutive minutes. 1-0 and all level on aggregate. Game on.
Tasting blood, Madrid continued to surge forward, wreaking havoc on a bewildered Lyon defence. Far and away the stronger side, Los Blancos began to push forward with most chances coming through Ronaldo and Higuain. But it was the Argentine who had the opportunity to break the match wide open.
Receiving a pass through the back line in the 26th minute, 'Pipita' burst forward with the ball at his feet with just the goalkeeper to beat. In a move that was eerily similar to the way he rounded Germany 'keeper Rene Adler in an international friendly last week with Argentina, Higuain breezed past Lloris. Slotting the ball toward the empty net with his right foot, the striker began to jog toward the sideline, anticipating the wave of glory as the crowd began to scream, “Goooooooooooooo—”.
In what would become a curious metaphor for Real Madrid’s inability to progress past the last-16 in what now seems like a century, the ball astonishingly thudded off the post. Madrid would continue to create a host of chances throughout the first half, but it was at that moment that the first seeds of doubt began to take root and the confidence began to wane. Had the ball nestled into the goal, the Bernabeu would have exploded into a roar of jubilation and the 'Men in White' could have gone on a romp. And perhaps the story would be far different than it is now.
Higuain almost made amends just two minutes later as Kaka delicately cut inside Cris on the left flank. The ball fell to the Argentine’s boots with just Lloris and the net at his mercy, but again the shot was unable to find its way past the 'keeper. The youngster would be afforded one more clear-cut chance, but his header would glance inches wide. A deadly goalscorer in La Liga, Higuain has had to learn the hard way that if one does not put away the few chances one is afforded in the Champions League, the match can easily get away.
And get away it did. With the wasted chances of the first half behind them, Madrid looked wary in the second period. Able to impose much more physical play upon the proceedings, Lyon were quick to capitalise and play football the way they like to - the way they did in the first leg.
Frustration began to take hold and Madrid lost their team dynamic, performing like a group of individuals rather than a collective unit. For those with the eye to catch the events that preceded Lyon’s goal as five French players surged forward to score, Kaka threw his arms up in frustration as the referee waved play on instead of blowing for the foul. It is nothing but that feeling of frustration that Madrid are left with now.
As for Higuain, he must now be wondering what would have been.
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2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
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