Porto vs Benfica as it happened

BENFICA VS PORTO


One's to watch...


Benfica...                                                        Porto...
TALISCA                                                          MARTINEZ

10 goals in 12 games.

8 goals in 12 games.

KICK OFF

The game started very slowly and it took quite a while for the game to get started but when the flood gates opened half an hour into the game when Jackson Martinez finally got away from Luisao for the first time but it was saved by Julio Casear, and just four minutes later Porto were made to rue their missed chances as a long throw caused havoc for Porto and some poor defending let Lima slip in behind the defence and hit it in with his stomach! A very important goal for the Brazilian as it was his first since september.

HALF TIME 0:1

Early on in the second half challenges are flying in on Talisca but he breaks free and has a shot which is saved by the keeper but only for Lima to tap home the rebound, Lopetegui brings on Quintero to try and turn things around. Quarsema caused the Benfica defence some troubles but not enough. Ten minutes from time Martinez hit's the bar from 3 yards out as his header smacks the crossbar another great cross from Quaresma. Talisca didn't cause many problems in the second half and get's substituted for Ola John.

FULL TIME 0:2

Weekend Three DEC 13-14

Welcome to weekend three where I will be talking through and predicting the scoreline's of three of this weekends games. This week I will be reviewing Manchester United vs Liverpool, Arsenal vs Newcastle and finally Crystal Palace vs Stoke.

MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL

Firstly to Old Trafford as the travelling Liverpool need to bounce back quick from their knock out of the Champions League but it's not going to be easy against an in form United side who seem to have finally found form and fluidity under Louis Van Gaal. Last time these sides met Liverpool ran away 0-3 winners, but this time I think it will be a completely different story unfortunately for Liverpool fans.

I think United will start quick really going at Liverpool in the first twenty minutes and getting the fans behind them.  A positive for Liverpool is that the Red Devils haven't looked hard to score against this season but I can't see them taking a massive advantage of this weakness.

I feel we will see a game that only has one goal in it to split the two sides, this is a perfect time for Brendan Rodgers to try and implement the fast flowing football we were so use to seeing last season and not anymore lacklustre performances of we have seen recently.

A close match, but at this moment in time I can't see Liverpool getting the victory. Im going for a 2-1 Manchester United win.

ARSENAL VS NEWCASTLE

Now on to the Arsenal game as they welcome a Newcastle side that is oozing confidence.

This game could go two ways in my opinion a game where Newcastle dominate through midfield being led by Moussa Sissokho where the Magpies midfield dominate and bully Arsenal or a very dull game for the mutual fan where there's only one goal in it like when Arsenal took on Southampton and the game was only decided by a late Alexis Sanchez goal.

I don't think Arsenal will be as awful as they were last weekend against Stoke and they can't be but I don't think Arsene Wengers side will give much for Gooners to shout about.

Newcastle will go into the fixture with high hopes and start very positively but over time try to break Arsenal down and get ahead late on in the first half or early on in the second. Like the United vs Liverpool game I can only see a goal to split them.

Im going to say it will be a 1-0 win for Arsenal but not an overly convincing performance.



CRYSTAL PALACE VS STOKE 

Two sides who haven't been performing that well recently and this weekend they go head to head, I can see it being a very physically tough game. The main thing I'm looking forward to is all the inform attacking threat we will be seeing in the game with the likes of Bojan, Diouf, Bolasie and Zaha.

I can see it being a high scoring game, and maybe Stoke just pulling through. Like I said a very physical battle in midfield with Jedinak lining up against N'Zonzi who are both powerhouses for their sides.

Overall I'm going to say Palace will lose out to the Potters by a scoreline of 1-3.

Champions League Dropout and Rodgers Debate

Following Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League I review what went wrong and comment on the current ongoing debate of wether Brendan Rodgers is the right man to lead Liverpool forward right now. 

The most important match of the season, to revitalise Liverpool’s season and to possibly revitalise and maybe even save Brendan Rodgers Anfield career, and for me  Brendan failed the fans yet again by continuously starting Glen Johnson and a Jose Enrique who has no where near been on the form of Alberto Moreno who looked a much more vibrant and exciting player than Enrique. Also to bring Moreno on anyway at half time seemed to be a waste of a substitution, why not start Moreno in the first place? Also there is something wrong with the playing style of the squad all together as it saddens me to think we could play the sought of football we played in the last 10-15 minutes for 80 or so last season,without even putting that many men forward and yes of course no one can replace Suarez straight away and the missing Daniel Sturridge leaves a big hole in the squad and if the Englishman was playing last night maybe we would be into the next round but still maybe sticking with the philosophy of last season maybe could’ve saved Liverpool last night. Also not putting a backup striker anywhere in the squad was very naive and foolish from Rodgers.

I will certainly not forget last seasons success with Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool Football Club have a history of sticking with their mangers but when the manger is making obvious tactical mistakes week in week out should Brendan’s job be safe? 

One of the most frustrating things this season has to be that not only has Rodgers overspent with some summer signings but he doesn’t back these players that he has spent hefty prices on like Emre Can for example who has looked fairly good in games he has played this season but that he hasn’t started for a while now really puzzles me and how the £20 million Lazar Markovic did not even get a look in the team for the past five matches, with no injury problems on the player. 

Brendan Rodgers has been one of my favourite Liverpool mangers of recent time but I will not be blinded by my personal opinions of the manger and these problems that I have mentioned need to be solved sooner rather than later.

European TOTW November 22-23

This weeks top performing players in Europe's top leagues, all in one team!

Goalkeeper - David De Gea, the main reason why Man Utd are in the Champions League spot after Premier League match day 12, as he made several great 1-on-1 saves, the pick of the bunch was denying Jack Wilshere from close range.

Defender - Juan Jesus, the Brazilian made some crucial challenges in the Milan derby that finished 1-1. As he was the defensive rock at the back of the Milan defence.

Defender - Phillipe Mexes, The same as Juan Jesus, the reason why the Milan derby was a low scoring affair was because of these defenders. Mexes looked calm in possession and when playing it out from defence as well.

Defender - Diego Godin, This man looked tough, calm and even bagged himself a goal helping his side to a convincing 3-1 win. Stopping Malaga attacks by intercepting three key passes.

Defender - Stephan Lichsteiner, Good in defence and going forward in Juventus' 0-3 win at Lazio. Playing a key part in the Juventus second goal as he linked the defence and attack well.

Midfielder - Arjen Robben, A goal and a Assist for the superb Dutchman this weekend. Chipping Baumann for the goal and a lovely dink of a pass for his assist. Robben didn't give the Hoffenheim defence a minutes rest and thats why he's made it into this weeks team.

Midfielder - Paul Pogba, Two goals for the French international, sprinting from the halfway line to tuck away his first and fooling the keeper with a shimmy for his second. Pogba showed why he is so highly recommend after this performance against Lazio.

Midfielder - Mile Jedinak, Pressuring the Liverpool midfield as soon as they got hold of it and winning every challenge, and topping it off with an absolutely perfect free kick.

Midfielder - Chupo Moting, The Schalke winger was the key to their win this weekend as Chupo Moting only managed to get two shots off, but both hit the back of the net. The Cameroonian guaranteed Schalke a crucial win which will certainly make him a Die Knappen fan favourite.

Attacker - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Although Dortmund's poor form continued, Aubameyang did himself proud with an inch perfect pass to slot Marco Reus through to fire home and putting his side ahead himself earlier on in the game against Paderborn.

Attacker - Lionel Messi,  Isn't it obvious? The record breaker was the number one name on this team sheet after becoming the La Liga all time top goalscorer and securing it in style by scoring a hat-trick to aid his side to an impressive 5-1 win.

Milan Derby as it happened and Review

The latest Derby Della Madonnina fixture saw a Milan side that hadn't won since the 19th of October line up against a Inter side that haven't been that convincing lately. Also this will be the start of Roberto Mancini's second reign at the San Siro. 

The game started relatively slowly but just eight minutes in Icardi had a wonderful chance which he squandered and slotted it right into the goalie. We are use to seeing lots of ferocious challenges in the Milan derby and we saw it again just thirteen minutes in as Dodo came out worst for wear in a challenge with a gash to his head.  Nine minutes later the scoring was opened with a wonderful volleyed finish from Jeremy Menez after a great ball from El Shaarawy.

Few chances had come since the early goal and in the sixtieth minute as Obi smashed home from outside the box and rare goal for the Nigerian. Fifteen minutes later Fernando Torres leaves the field for Honda and the Japan international brought lot's more energy to the side than the Spaniard did. Just minutes after the substitutions El Shaarawy went through on goal and misses a sitter after poor goalkeeping gives El Shaarawy the option of an almost fully open goal but he smashes the crossbar. In the 78th minute Icardi scrapes the post after a great ball into the box from Guarin who worked hard all game. The game ended 1-1 and both teams come away honours even.

There are many things that would distress me if I was a fan of either club. Firstly apart from one occasion we saw no real big challenges or personally battles throughout the game and we have come a custom to seeing this in recent occasions of this fixture. Lot's of players also fail to show much passion as well, many of them seemed unmotivated and this surprised me, surely the history behind the fixture is enough to motivate any player? 

The positives are that both defences looked pretty solid, considering both sides haven't been great at the back this season, Mexes and Zapata seemed to have a good understanding between each other and Mattia De Sciglio also looked good going back and forward. But both teams attacks were below standard as Icardi looked very wasteful in front of goal and Torres found it hard to even get infront of goal. 

This is something that I hope to continue, I will hopefully try to write about a European fixture every week (not including England) for example Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and maybe even the Portuguese Premiere division. 

Daniel Sturridge Top Ten Liverpool Goal's.

Welcome to the first of many Top Tens on Postmatchprogrammes! We start off the series with a Daniel Sturridge top ten to cheer some Liverpool fans up as lots have been waiting eagerly awaited return to the Liverpool squad this weekend against Crystal Palace but it turns out the Englishman has had yet another set back.

10; We start this list off with neat finish from the Englishman which will bring back fond memories for Red's fans as Sturrdige helped his side to a emphatic 5-1 win at Anfield against Arsenal. Click here to see his curling finish.

9; Next we saw Daniel net in another very important game at Anfield last season against Sunderland in which they ended up winning 2-1. He curls an effort into the top corner with a slight deflection. Click here to see his winner against Sunderland.

8; A goal against Crystal Palace at number eight where we see Daniel fool his opponents with lots of sudden turns and then finishes very well from a tight angel. Click here to see the goal.

7; Next up is Liverpool's first goal of their superb 2013/14 campaign and the first game of a five match scoring streak for Sturridge. Click here to see his outside of the box finish.

6; A goal similar to number eight against Crystal Palace, where he does an elaborate turn after bringing it down nicely and then smashing home from midway in the box. Click here to see his strike at the cottage.

5; A goal against his former club Chelsea that must of tasted very sweet for Daniel after he was told he couldn't make it as a striker at Stamford Bridge but he hits back at the Blues as he levels the score, his neat finished was overshadowed though as Luis Suarez bit Branislav Ivanovic. Click here to see the goal.

4; This goal is again scored at Craven Cottage as Liverpool beat Fulham 2-3 in a very dramatic match as Sturridge scored the first of Liverpool's three after a world class pass from captain Steven Gerrard. Click here to see the superb pass and finish.

3; Third on the list see's Daniel score against another former club in Manchester City as he scored a powerful strike from the edge of the box in a match that finished 2-2. Gerrard also getting on the scoresheet with an equally amazing goal. Click here to view his goal against the sky blue's.

2; A goal in a Merseyside derby will always make you a favourite at Anfield and Daniel has three! this his second on the night with a audacious chip, not many strikers embarrass Tim Howard like this. Click here to view the long ranged chip.

1; A goal that really shows his class as the forward shrugs off a opposing player and lobs Ben Foster from outside the box without even looking up, a truly wonderful strike. Click here to see number 1 on the list!

Team Of The Weekend, Matchday 9

This will now be a weekly feature where me and endtoendfootball decide who are our top XI performers from this weekend, go check his out at http://endtoendfootball.wordpress.com/.

Goalkeeper - David De Gea, Arguably the most consistent performer for United this season and he continued to impress this weekend with a stunning one on one save against Eden Hazard and looking very confident from set-pieces despite Drogba's goal.

Defender - Dejan Lovren, A very impressive display to keep Hull at bay this weekend from the Croatian who looks set to turn his form of late around as he made some crucial tackles and interceptions.

Defender - James Collins, Keeping Sergio Agüero quiet isn't an easy job right now, but Collins didn't show any difficulties as he looked strong in every challenge.

Defender - Phil Jagielka, Stopping most Burnley attack's Jagielka looked very solid and was key in Everton's victory.

Defender - Gary Cahill, Having played so well it was very unfortunate for Chelsea to concede so late on but the goal shouldn't take anything away from the Englishman's performance as he dealt with the like's of Robin Van Persie very well.

Midfielder - Alex Song, All Hammers will be over the moon with the loanee's performance this weekend as he looked very good on and off the ball and not giving the Manchester City midfield any time, and also showing a lot of flair that we aren't use to seeing with this man.

Midfielder - Nemanja Matic, Edging some player's out of the game with his physical presence and playing lot's of good passes, perhaps the best performer for Chelsea by starting attack's and getting back to defend.

Midfielder - Gylfi Sigurdsson, A great assist and constantly linking well with Wilfred Bony, this man looked very sharp and easy on the eye throughout the 58 minutes he played.

Midfielder - Marouane Fellaini, The Belgium international finally showed the form of his Everton days, as we saw him battle for every ball, play key passes and get forward and back when needed, also playing a key part in the late goal.

Midfielder - Alexis Sanchez, The Chilean continued to impress in his debut season being very calm in front of goal and being the difference between the two sides and getting other players involved very well.

Striker - Wilfred Bony, Clinical in front of goal, Bony showed everyone his great finishing and surprising pace to get on the end of Sigurdsson's quality ball, he has now scored four goals in just three games.