Bayern Munich --> Champions League Group Stage
Borussia Dortmund
--> Champions League Group Stage
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
--> Champions League Group Stage
Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen --> Champions League Play-off Round
SC Freiburg --> Europa League Group Stage
Eintracht Frankfurt --> Europa League Play-off Round
VfB Stuttgart --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Showing posts with label Schalke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Schalke. Show all posts
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Pound-For-Pound Most Exciting
This was, overall, the most exciting match of the Round-of-16 stage of the Champions League.
I'm talking about Schalke - Galatasaray 2-3.
Okay, so there weren't huge teams involved in this, but the game was one goal away from swinging the other way (or another way, meaning extra time, of course) for all but 21 minutes, roughly. Not even Man. United - Real or Barcelona - Milan had that. And there were 5 goals in this game. And teams were evenly matched. And all through to the end, we could never know for sure which team was going to progress, or even which team deserved more to qualify.
Schalke started as favourites to advance, and they had the better start, up to and including Neustadter's goal in the 17th minute.
But then the Germans seemingly thought they had the tie all wrapped up, and they became a little relaxed. While they were confident of their superiority, Altintop (min. 37) had an amazing shot that brought the teams level on all counts. No more away-goal advantage, too.
Regardless, Schalke players still believed in their own powers, and started to pour forward. But that was their downfall.
Yilmaz managed to score his eighth goal in this year's CL, thus reaching Ronaldo's tally, following a Turkish counter-attack.
Even though the Gelsenkirchen team pulled level in the 63rd minute, through Michel Bastos, they needed a third to progress, and they couldn't get it.
Galata got a third, however, deep in injury time, again thanks to Schalke throwing everybody forward. (Well, actually, and surprisingly, they didn't send the goalkeeper forward... But they still conceded.)
It was the 95th minute, when Fatih Terim's men could finally celebrate.
And here's how deep a squad Galatasaray has. Forget about having players like Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba, and Muslera, Eboue and Altintop, for a minute. There's more:
Their top goalscorer from the Turkish league, and in the Turkish league - until a few weeks ago, when he stopped scoring as much, and he was overtaken by Yilmaz (and a couple of others, from other teams) - Umut Bulut, didn't even play till the 86th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, he put the game beyond the hosts' reach.
Oh, and he probably stopped scoring as much in the Turkish league only because he was put on the substitutes bench.
Highlights:
I'm talking about Schalke - Galatasaray 2-3.
Okay, so there weren't huge teams involved in this, but the game was one goal away from swinging the other way (or another way, meaning extra time, of course) for all but 21 minutes, roughly. Not even Man. United - Real or Barcelona - Milan had that. And there were 5 goals in this game. And teams were evenly matched. And all through to the end, we could never know for sure which team was going to progress, or even which team deserved more to qualify.
Schalke started as favourites to advance, and they had the better start, up to and including Neustadter's goal in the 17th minute.
But then the Germans seemingly thought they had the tie all wrapped up, and they became a little relaxed. While they were confident of their superiority, Altintop (min. 37) had an amazing shot that brought the teams level on all counts. No more away-goal advantage, too.
Regardless, Schalke players still believed in their own powers, and started to pour forward. But that was their downfall.
Yilmaz managed to score his eighth goal in this year's CL, thus reaching Ronaldo's tally, following a Turkish counter-attack.
Even though the Gelsenkirchen team pulled level in the 63rd minute, through Michel Bastos, they needed a third to progress, and they couldn't get it.
Galata got a third, however, deep in injury time, again thanks to Schalke throwing everybody forward. (Well, actually, and surprisingly, they didn't send the goalkeeper forward... But they still conceded.)
It was the 95th minute, when Fatih Terim's men could finally celebrate.
And here's how deep a squad Galatasaray has. Forget about having players like Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba, and Muslera, Eboue and Altintop, for a minute. There's more:
Their top goalscorer from the Turkish league, and in the Turkish league - until a few weeks ago, when he stopped scoring as much, and he was overtaken by Yilmaz (and a couple of others, from other teams) - Umut Bulut, didn't even play till the 86th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, he put the game beyond the hosts' reach.
Oh, and he probably stopped scoring as much in the Turkish league only because he was put on the substitutes bench.
Highlights:
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Stupid, Retarded UEFA Rules!
I must say, it seems to me that UEFA decision makers are getting dumber and dumber. And no, I'm not talking about the decision to have the next Euros comprise of 24 teams.
I'm talking about having the main tie-breaking criterion between teams tied on points in the Champions League be the direct results between the teams in question.
How moronic is that?
How idiotic is it, huh, Mr. Platini?
Let's look at it, group by group.
Group A is, surprisingly, unaffected by this rule.
In Group B, Schalke can even lose, no matter by what scoreline, as long as Arsenal does not win in the other match, and still win the group. So, a team that might get crushed - it will not happen, by I'm just saying - 7-0 by someone as weak as Montpellier could still win that group. Stupid!
In Group C, Malaga has already won the group, courtesy of their better head-to-head record against AC Milan. So, then, both Malaga and Milan have nothing to play for in the last matchday. Very stupid!
Luckily, as far as the struggle between Zenit St. Petersburg and Anderlecht goes, their direct encounters ended 1-0 and 0-1, so that will be decided by goal difference. They will have to show up and play, if they wish to finish third and continue in the Europa League. Thank God (for almost nothing)!
Group D also has a decided winner, Borussia Dortmund, because of their better record against Real Madrid. Not that Borussia was not the best team of the group so far, but if they lose at home to Manchester City, on the last matchday, nobody would then say that they were, pound-for-pound, the best overall team if Real beats Ajax and gets the same number of points. (You gotta play well all your matches to be most appreciated!...)
Man. City, likewise, cannot not win their last match, if they want Europa League play, even if Ajax loses 200-0 in Madrid.
Extremely dumb!
But Group E is the worst.
You know, someone watching Juventus - Chelsea (3-0), and not having been aware of these fucked-up UEFA rules, might have thought that Juventus kept pressing, even at 2-0 and with 10 minutes left, because they knew every goal would count on the last matchday and Chelsea would have played Nordsjaelland (a team that is very likely to lose 6-7--nil). Actually, though, NO!
Thanks to any kind of win over Chelsea, and with a point in Donetsk in two weeks ' time, Juventus can then be assured of progressing over Chelsea, last year 's winner.
Even a 1-0 victory for Juventus would have been enough to secure that advantage.
3-0 was a result that brought Juventus no more benefits than a 1-0 would have.
And another unfortunate result of this obvious lack of intelligence from UEFA officials is the fact that Shakhtar Donetsk is already in the round of 16. Yes, they have secured their place, because of their direct results over Chelsea (2-1 and 2-3, away-goals rule) and now Chelsea can only at best tie Shakhtar on points.
So, Shakhtar has only first place to play for, on the last matchday, and clearly a draw in their direct match would satisfy both Shakhtar (who would win the group) and Juventus (who would go through, leaving Chelsea out).
How much do Chelsea fans hate UEFA for these senseless rules?
So, so retarded!!!
In Group F, Bayern leads over Valencia, even though Valencia has a better goal difference. (The two teams are tied on points, yes.) And all Bayern needs to do is match the number of points that Valencia gets on the last day, to win that group.
Also, Lille cannot go to the Europa League, even though they are clearly better than BATE at the present time, even if they win their last match by an astronomical score, and BATE loses theirs by an astronomical score, too, to boot. Why? Well, because stupid UEFA said 1-3 and 2-0 means the team that scored the three goals in that one match will beat the other team, no matter what else happens, if they're tied on points at the end.
Also, retarded!
In Group G, Benfica needs to match Celtic's result, but luckily for the surprising Scottish outfit (who beat Barcelona) Celtic plays Spartak at home while Benfica has to take on Barca away.
Group H contains another team that might be seriously screwed by this deficiency in thinking clearly exhibited by UEFA officials: CFR Cluj.
The Romanians have to go to Old Trafford, needing to beat Manchester United. And, even then, they have to hope that Galatasaray does not defeat Braga in Portugal. (And Braga cannot even finish third anymore. They will be bottom, and might only be playing for pride, if even that.)
Potential scorelines Man. U. - Cluj 0-5 and Braga - Galatasaray 2-3 would allow the Turkish team to qualify. If that happens, wouldn't that be fucked-up, retarded, and unfair to Cluj?
Realistically, all the Transylvanian team can hope for is for them to get a point in Manchester, and for Galatasaray to lose to Braga.
They could score, and score, and score, in England, and still get kicked out. Thanks to some serious incompetence from UEFA!
I'm talking about having the main tie-breaking criterion between teams tied on points in the Champions League be the direct results between the teams in question.
How moronic is that?
How idiotic is it, huh, Mr. Platini?
Let's look at it, group by group.
Group A is, surprisingly, unaffected by this rule.
In Group B, Schalke can even lose, no matter by what scoreline, as long as Arsenal does not win in the other match, and still win the group. So, a team that might get crushed - it will not happen, by I'm just saying - 7-0 by someone as weak as Montpellier could still win that group. Stupid!
In Group C, Malaga has already won the group, courtesy of their better head-to-head record against AC Milan. So, then, both Malaga and Milan have nothing to play for in the last matchday. Very stupid!
Luckily, as far as the struggle between Zenit St. Petersburg and Anderlecht goes, their direct encounters ended 1-0 and 0-1, so that will be decided by goal difference. They will have to show up and play, if they wish to finish third and continue in the Europa League. Thank God (for almost nothing)!
Group D also has a decided winner, Borussia Dortmund, because of their better record against Real Madrid. Not that Borussia was not the best team of the group so far, but if they lose at home to Manchester City, on the last matchday, nobody would then say that they were, pound-for-pound, the best overall team if Real beats Ajax and gets the same number of points. (You gotta play well all your matches to be most appreciated!...)
Man. City, likewise, cannot not win their last match, if they want Europa League play, even if Ajax loses 200-0 in Madrid.
Extremely dumb!
But Group E is the worst.
You know, someone watching Juventus - Chelsea (3-0), and not having been aware of these fucked-up UEFA rules, might have thought that Juventus kept pressing, even at 2-0 and with 10 minutes left, because they knew every goal would count on the last matchday and Chelsea would have played Nordsjaelland (a team that is very likely to lose 6-7--nil). Actually, though, NO!
Thanks to any kind of win over Chelsea, and with a point in Donetsk in two weeks ' time, Juventus can then be assured of progressing over Chelsea, last year 's winner.
Even a 1-0 victory for Juventus would have been enough to secure that advantage.
3-0 was a result that brought Juventus no more benefits than a 1-0 would have.
And another unfortunate result of this obvious lack of intelligence from UEFA officials is the fact that Shakhtar Donetsk is already in the round of 16. Yes, they have secured their place, because of their direct results over Chelsea (2-1 and 2-3, away-goals rule) and now Chelsea can only at best tie Shakhtar on points.
So, Shakhtar has only first place to play for, on the last matchday, and clearly a draw in their direct match would satisfy both Shakhtar (who would win the group) and Juventus (who would go through, leaving Chelsea out).
How much do Chelsea fans hate UEFA for these senseless rules?
So, so retarded!!!
In Group F, Bayern leads over Valencia, even though Valencia has a better goal difference. (The two teams are tied on points, yes.) And all Bayern needs to do is match the number of points that Valencia gets on the last day, to win that group.
Also, Lille cannot go to the Europa League, even though they are clearly better than BATE at the present time, even if they win their last match by an astronomical score, and BATE loses theirs by an astronomical score, too, to boot. Why? Well, because stupid UEFA said 1-3 and 2-0 means the team that scored the three goals in that one match will beat the other team, no matter what else happens, if they're tied on points at the end.
Also, retarded!
In Group G, Benfica needs to match Celtic's result, but luckily for the surprising Scottish outfit (who beat Barcelona) Celtic plays Spartak at home while Benfica has to take on Barca away.
Group H contains another team that might be seriously screwed by this deficiency in thinking clearly exhibited by UEFA officials: CFR Cluj.
The Romanians have to go to Old Trafford, needing to beat Manchester United. And, even then, they have to hope that Galatasaray does not defeat Braga in Portugal. (And Braga cannot even finish third anymore. They will be bottom, and might only be playing for pride, if even that.)
Potential scorelines Man. U. - Cluj 0-5 and Braga - Galatasaray 2-3 would allow the Turkish team to qualify. If that happens, wouldn't that be fucked-up, retarded, and unfair to Cluj?
Realistically, all the Transylvanian team can hope for is for them to get a point in Manchester, and for Galatasaray to lose to Braga.
They could score, and score, and score, in England, and still get kicked out. Thanks to some serious incompetence from UEFA!
Monday, 4 June 2012
Germany - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2012-2013
Borussia Dortmund --> Champions League Group Stage
Bayern Munich --> Champions League Group Stage
Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen --> Champions League Group Stage
Borussia Monchengladbach --> Champions League Play-off Round
Bayer 04 Leverkusen --> Europa League Group Stage
VfB Stuttgart --> Europa League Play-off Round
Hannover 96 --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Bayern Munich --> Champions League Group Stage
Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen --> Champions League Group Stage
Borussia Monchengladbach --> Champions League Play-off Round
Bayer 04 Leverkusen --> Europa League Group Stage
VfB Stuttgart --> Europa League Play-off Round
Hannover 96 --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Saturday, 21 April 2012
Borussia Dortmund Champion!
For the second time in two years, the yellow and black outfit from Dortmund is crowned supreme leader of the Bundesliga.
For sure, Borussia deserved it this year, too.
The two games against Bayern, who are seemingly always fighting for the title, proved that Borussia is, indeed, better than Bayern, who is clearly better than the rest.
In the last few matches, alongside Bayern, Borussia Dortmund also had to face Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach, the third- and fourth-placed teams, respectively. And they won all of these matches.
It's very impressive, really, if you examine Dortmund's latest efforts, thoroughly.
The win against the second Borussia, 2-0 at home, was a good team effort, but it seemed like the Monchengladbach team clearly was never going to leave with the three points from the Westfalenstadion. That's not a bad thing, of course. It's just that the drama was minimal.
After 60 minutes, Klopp's team had already scored the two goals that would mark their win, through Perisic (in minute 23) and Kagawa (59).
So, with two games left, Borussia becomes 2011-2012 champion of Germany. Bayern is more than 6 points behind, still. (And that's it for the German league this year.)
Highlights:
Borussia Dortmund 2 - 0 Borussia M’gladbach... by Futbol2101
For sure, Borussia deserved it this year, too.
The two games against Bayern, who are seemingly always fighting for the title, proved that Borussia is, indeed, better than Bayern, who is clearly better than the rest.
In the last few matches, alongside Bayern, Borussia Dortmund also had to face Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach, the third- and fourth-placed teams, respectively. And they won all of these matches.
It's very impressive, really, if you examine Dortmund's latest efforts, thoroughly.
The win against the second Borussia, 2-0 at home, was a good team effort, but it seemed like the Monchengladbach team clearly was never going to leave with the three points from the Westfalenstadion. That's not a bad thing, of course. It's just that the drama was minimal.
After 60 minutes, Klopp's team had already scored the two goals that would mark their win, through Perisic (in minute 23) and Kagawa (59).
So, with two games left, Borussia becomes 2011-2012 champion of Germany. Bayern is more than 6 points behind, still. (And that's it for the German league this year.)
Highlights:
Borussia Dortmund 2 - 0 Borussia M’gladbach... by Futbol2101
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Title in Germany As Good As Decided
Three hours before their match against Mainz, the Bayern fans and staff were surely hopeful that Schalke 04, Dortmund's bitter rivals, could prevent Borussia Dortmund from continuing their march towards their second title in a row.
But even Schalke was no match for Borussia D.
And, so, the team in black and yellow defeats the second- and third-placed teams in consecutive encounters.
Jefferson Farfan opened the scoring for Schalke, in the 8th minute, with a spectacular shot from outside the box, but, 9 minutes later, Piszczek equalized with an even more spectacular effort.
A scrappy goal by Kehl, in the 63rd minute, put Dortmund ahead.
And that's where they stayed.
For sure, Bayern knew they were left very few chances this season.
Maybe that's why they couldn't even beat Mainz, at home, later in the day. That one finished 0-0.
So, Borussia Dortmund is now 8 points ahead, with three matches left. Surely, they'll get two points from those...
Highlights from Schalke 04 - Borussia D. 1-2:
www.todayfoot.com Sc 1-2 Do 14/04/2012 by 123dz
But even Schalke was no match for Borussia D.
And, so, the team in black and yellow defeats the second- and third-placed teams in consecutive encounters.
Jefferson Farfan opened the scoring for Schalke, in the 8th minute, with a spectacular shot from outside the box, but, 9 minutes later, Piszczek equalized with an even more spectacular effort.
A scrappy goal by Kehl, in the 63rd minute, put Dortmund ahead.
And that's where they stayed.
For sure, Bayern knew they were left very few chances this season.
Maybe that's why they couldn't even beat Mainz, at home, later in the day. That one finished 0-0.
So, Borussia Dortmund is now 8 points ahead, with three matches left. Surely, they'll get two points from those...
Highlights from Schalke 04 - Borussia D. 1-2:
www.todayfoot.com Sc 1-2 Do 14/04/2012 by 123dz
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
The German Derby
Probably the biggest match of the year in the German league ended with a somewhat surprising victor.
Bayern Munich, the winner of 22 previous German league titles (which is more than four times those won by their closest follower), was not that victor!
After beating Bayern at the Allianz Arena, 1-0, in November 2011, Borussia repeated the feat in a much more critical match, in Dortmund, today.
Lewandowski's goal, coming in the 77th minute, was somewhat scrappy, but the remaining minutes were amazing!
Bayern got a penalty, justly awarded, but Robben failed to show his supposed finishing class (much like in the final of the 2010 World Cup).
Not only that, but he also sent over the top of the bar a huge chance that had "1-1" written all over it.
Borussia also missed an enormous opportunity of making it 2-0 very late. The upright saved Neuer, though.
Borussia Dortmund now sits six points ahead of Bayern, with just four matches to go.
But Dortmund needs to go to the stadium of their fiercest rivals in just three days' time. I'm talking, of course, about the upcoming Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen - Borussia Dortmund match, on Saturday.
Highlights:
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munchen (1:0) by larrsson
But Borussia Dortmund should win the title, this year too, unless they really mess it up now.
And maybe next year they'll finally show some good form in the Champions League!
Bayern Munich, the winner of 22 previous German league titles (which is more than four times those won by their closest follower), was not that victor!
After beating Bayern at the Allianz Arena, 1-0, in November 2011, Borussia repeated the feat in a much more critical match, in Dortmund, today.
Lewandowski's goal, coming in the 77th minute, was somewhat scrappy, but the remaining minutes were amazing!
Bayern got a penalty, justly awarded, but Robben failed to show his supposed finishing class (much like in the final of the 2010 World Cup).
Not only that, but he also sent over the top of the bar a huge chance that had "1-1" written all over it.
Borussia also missed an enormous opportunity of making it 2-0 very late. The upright saved Neuer, though.
Borussia Dortmund now sits six points ahead of Bayern, with just four matches to go.
But Dortmund needs to go to the stadium of their fiercest rivals in just three days' time. I'm talking, of course, about the upcoming Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen - Borussia Dortmund match, on Saturday.
Highlights:
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munchen (1:0) by larrsson
But Borussia Dortmund should win the title, this year too, unless they really mess it up now.
And maybe next year they'll finally show some good form in the Champions League!
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Monchengladbach Crushes Schalke
Fourth and third met in the 1. Bundesliga today.
It should have been a nice, tight derby, considering.
But the other Borussia team ridiculed the Gelsenkirchen squad by going 3-0 up in the first 32 minutes. Nothing much happened afterwards.
Reus, Hanke and Arango easily exploited big faults in the Schalke defense, and the two teams switched places in the league standings.
Monchengladbach now has 43 points, while Schalke 04 remains on 41.
Dortmund and Bayern Munich also won, defeating Leverkusen and Kaiserslautern, respectively.
Borussia Dortmund remains leader.
Highlights:
It should have been a nice, tight derby, considering.
But the other Borussia team ridiculed the Gelsenkirchen squad by going 3-0 up in the first 32 minutes. Nothing much happened afterwards.
Reus, Hanke and Arango easily exploited big faults in the Schalke defense, and the two teams switched places in the league standings.
Monchengladbach now has 43 points, while Schalke 04 remains on 41.
Dortmund and Bayern Munich also won, defeating Leverkusen and Kaiserslautern, respectively.
Borussia Dortmund remains leader.
Highlights:
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Dortmund on Top
Both Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen failed to keep up with Borussia Dortmund, who won yesterday at Nurnberg.
Bayern needed a 71-minute equalizer from Ivica Olic to draw level with Hamburger SV, 1-1, away from home, while Schalke drew at home against Mainz, registering the same scoreline. Schalke fell behind in the first half, too, just like Bayern.
Now, Dortmund is the sole leader, with a two-point cushion over the two rivals mentioned above.
Highlights from Hamburg - Bayern 1-1:
1-0:
www.todayfoot.com Ha 1-0 Ba 04/02/2012 by 123dz
1-1:
www.todayfoot.com Ha 1-1 Ba 04/02/2012 by 123dz
Highlights from Schalke - Mainz 1-1:
0-1:
www.todayfoot.com Sc 0-1 Ma 04/02/2012 by 123dz
1-1:
www.todayfoot.com Sc 1-1 Ma 04/02/2012 by 123dz
Borussia Monchengladbach could have leapfrogged both Bayern and Schalke with a win, but they messed it up, too, by drawing 0-0 at Wolfsburg.
Bayern needed a 71-minute equalizer from Ivica Olic to draw level with Hamburger SV, 1-1, away from home, while Schalke drew at home against Mainz, registering the same scoreline. Schalke fell behind in the first half, too, just like Bayern.
Now, Dortmund is the sole leader, with a two-point cushion over the two rivals mentioned above.
Highlights from Hamburg - Bayern 1-1:
1-0:
www.todayfoot.com Ha 1-0 Ba 04/02/2012 by 123dz
1-1:
www.todayfoot.com Ha 1-1 Ba 04/02/2012 by 123dz
Highlights from Schalke - Mainz 1-1:
0-1:
www.todayfoot.com Sc 0-1 Ma 04/02/2012 by 123dz
1-1:
www.todayfoot.com Sc 1-1 Ma 04/02/2012 by 123dz
Borussia Monchengladbach could have leapfrogged both Bayern and Schalke with a win, but they messed it up, too, by drawing 0-0 at Wolfsburg.
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