Today is the day when two of the most illustrious football clubs in Spain do battle for the right to be bestowed upon the title of Domestic cup Champions. Outgoing Barcelona manager-Pep Guardiola would want nothing more than victory before handing over the reins of leadership to protege, Tito Vilanova.
Fresh from respective European disappointments, both clubs are aiming to end the season on a high. Athletic BILBAO can dream once again. Coach Marcelo BIELSA aka El Loco has brought back smiles to the supporters of the Basque county. Despite the Europa League set back, it has still been a memorable campaign for Athletic Club. Playing some scintillating and eye catching football along the way, they swept past the likes of Manchester United, Sporting and Schalke to set up an all-Spanish final v Atletico Madrid who later crushed them by 3 goals to nothing to claim their 2nd Europa League crown in 3 seasons.
Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao are the 2 most successful clubs in King's (Copa Del Rey)cup History. Between them, 48 trophies have been won with both appearing in exactly the same number of finals (35)...The Catalans have won the most trophies 25, compared to Atheltic's 23. They last faced off 3 years ago, on Barca's way to a historic season, where they became the 1st club to win 6 trophies in one calendar year (2009). That day, Puyol and company won comfortably--4-1.
This year's final will be held at Atletico's Vincente Calderon, after Real Madrid refused the showpiece event to be held at their stadium (Santiago Bernabeu) for reasons best known to them. Barcelona will most likely be without David Villa, Captain and defensive rock-Carles Puyol and certainly Eric Abidal who recently announced that he will never play football again after undergoing liver transplant procedure..
The talking points in this marquee game will be Barca's vulnerability in defence and Bilbao's attacking potential. Although the talismanic LLORENTE has scored loads of goals this season, he misfired in the Europa League final and Barca will not give away too many chances. In players like Iker Muniain touted as the next Iniesta or even more talented, Athletic Club possess the necessary weapon(s) to stretch Barca beyond limits. Of course the world is well aware of the threat the Blaugrana (Barcelona) pose. The blessed trio of Xavi, Messi and Andres Iniesta are joined by Cesc Fabregas who has had a dream campaign, and Alexis Sanchez. The prodigiously gifted Ibra Afellay can be the unsung hero when called upon.
Apart from the small matter of the Copa Del Rey final later today, Barcelona will bid farewell to their most successful manager come the end of proceedings. Pep GUARDIOLA who is in line to claim a 14th major honour as Barca coach, is officially drawing the curtain on a stellar 4 year stint as leader and supreme commander of perhaps the greatest football army ever assembled. In his almost half a decade as manager, he has won all the trophies on offer--- 2 UCLs, 3 successive ligas and 2 CWCs among others. His unique footballing mindset and passing philosophy has paid dividends of magnificent proportions. The former Blaugrana midfielder has written his name in the top echelon of great managers in history and his records will take some beating, if indeed they will ever be surpassed. Today he faces his mentor and great friend, Marcelo Bielsa...the same man he sought his expert opinion when the call came for him to become a coach some six years ago. Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is one of the greatest managers in World football. The man nicknamed El loco, has won an Olympic gold and managed the likes of Chile and Argentina. His innovativeness and comprehensive knowledge of the beautiful game is second to none. In the 2 matches against Barcelona this season, Pep lauded the impressive approach of Bielsa's players to the games and the likes of Thiago and Mascherano spoke highly of the energy levels/retrieval pattern of the Basque players. This game is theoretically a battle of tactical adeptness.
So whatever respect and affection Pep and El Loco have for each other, sentiments will be discarded for at least 90 minutes when the game kicks off in Madrid.
AU REVOIR JOSEP GUARDIOLA.....THE FOOTBALL WORLD will forever be indebted to you and above all GRATEFUL!!!!! Wish you the best in your future endeavour.
Ohireime P. Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
Friday 25 May 2012
Friday 18 May 2012
SATURDAY CLASSIC....who laughs best in Munich???
Tomorrow's Champion's League final is to be contested by Bundesliga Runners-up and 4 time European Champions, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, fresh from winning their 4th F.A cup in 6 attempts. Italian manager, Roberto Di Matteo---otherwise known as RDM, has turned around the fortunes of the West London club which was in tatters when Andre Villas-Boas was shown the door. Bayern on the other hand, are still hurting from the disgraceful show they put up six days ago in Berlin v DORTMUND. The Bavarians will remember what happened to Bayer Leverkusen 10 years ago when they lost all three trophies they were poised to win. Typical nearly men.
Both teams will rue the fact that they are going to be without the services of very important players. For Chelsea, Captain Terry, Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul MEIRELES are suspended. While the Reds of Germany have Luis Gustavo, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber suffering the same fate. Coach Jupp Heynckes will be hoping that Belgian trojan, Daniel Van BUYTEN can be the man to stop the Chelsea onslaught which is going to be led (barring any unforessen circumstances) by Didier Drogba.
Both teams are chasing a bit of history at the Allianz ArenA tomorrow. Chelsea can lift their first Champions League crown and also secure Champions League football tomorrow. Bayern can add to their 4 European Cups and also become the first team to win the Champions League in their own stadium. If DIE ROTEN lift the cup, they would match fellow EUROPEAN GIANTS, Liverpool in title won in Europe's most glamorous and prestigious cup competition (5 titles).
Chelsea must do everything possible to curtail the attacking finesse of robben and ribery who will pose causes for concern all day long. The biggest enemy of the blues on the night will without any iota of doubt be 41 goal pointman, Mario GOMEZ who will be aiming to equal or surpass the League's highest goal scorer---Barca's Lionel Messi who is on 14 goals (The highest ever in 1 single campaign).
English powerhouse, Chelsea might be depleted on paper, but they still possess some of the greatest footballers on the planet in Lampard, Drogba and of course Torres. Bayern Captain, Philipp Lahm has still not forgotten the way and manner El Nino destroyed him in the Euro 08 final at the Legendary ERNST HAPPEL Stadium in Vienna. The Spanish kid might not be anything like the player he once was, but he has the ability (loads of it) to decide any match on his day. Days don't come any bigger than tomorrow, do they?
Chelsea caretaker boss, RDM will etch his name in Chelsea folklore if he wins the Champions League and that will all but seal his place as coach of the Pensioners on a permanent basis (at least until Abramovic wields the axe yet again). For players like Frank Lampard, Ddier Drogba and especially John Terry who missed what would have been the winning PK in 2008, it will be the crowning achievement of their trophy laden careers.
Probable line-ups for both teams are:
BAYERN-------> neuer, van buyten/tymoschuk, boateng, lahm, contento, schweinsteiger, kroos, robben, ribery, muller, gomez.
CHELSEA-------> cech, cahill, luiz, a.cole, bosingwa, mikel, lampard, malouda, mata, torres, drogba
Ohireime P.Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
Both teams will rue the fact that they are going to be without the services of very important players. For Chelsea, Captain Terry, Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul MEIRELES are suspended. While the Reds of Germany have Luis Gustavo, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber suffering the same fate. Coach Jupp Heynckes will be hoping that Belgian trojan, Daniel Van BUYTEN can be the man to stop the Chelsea onslaught which is going to be led (barring any unforessen circumstances) by Didier Drogba.
Both teams are chasing a bit of history at the Allianz ArenA tomorrow. Chelsea can lift their first Champions League crown and also secure Champions League football tomorrow. Bayern can add to their 4 European Cups and also become the first team to win the Champions League in their own stadium. If DIE ROTEN lift the cup, they would match fellow EUROPEAN GIANTS, Liverpool in title won in Europe's most glamorous and prestigious cup competition (5 titles).
Chelsea must do everything possible to curtail the attacking finesse of robben and ribery who will pose causes for concern all day long. The biggest enemy of the blues on the night will without any iota of doubt be 41 goal pointman, Mario GOMEZ who will be aiming to equal or surpass the League's highest goal scorer---Barca's Lionel Messi who is on 14 goals (The highest ever in 1 single campaign).
English powerhouse, Chelsea might be depleted on paper, but they still possess some of the greatest footballers on the planet in Lampard, Drogba and of course Torres. Bayern Captain, Philipp Lahm has still not forgotten the way and manner El Nino destroyed him in the Euro 08 final at the Legendary ERNST HAPPEL Stadium in Vienna. The Spanish kid might not be anything like the player he once was, but he has the ability (loads of it) to decide any match on his day. Days don't come any bigger than tomorrow, do they?
Chelsea caretaker boss, RDM will etch his name in Chelsea folklore if he wins the Champions League and that will all but seal his place as coach of the Pensioners on a permanent basis (at least until Abramovic wields the axe yet again). For players like Frank Lampard, Ddier Drogba and especially John Terry who missed what would have been the winning PK in 2008, it will be the crowning achievement of their trophy laden careers.
Probable line-ups for both teams are:
BAYERN-------> neuer, van buyten/tymoschuk, boateng, lahm, contento, schweinsteiger, kroos, robben, ribery, muller, gomez.
CHELSEA-------> cech, cahill, luiz, a.cole, bosingwa, mikel, lampard, malouda, mata, torres, drogba
Ohireime P.Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
Wednesday 16 May 2012
CITIZENS BORROW A LEAF FROM FERGIE'S BOOK TO END 44 YEARS OF MISERY.....Does this portend a power shift in MANCHESTER???
When Manchester City fell to a very well deserved defeat at the Emirates (v. the Arsenal). The title race was all but over (or so we thought) Who would have thought that with 5 games remaining, Manchester United would blow an 8-point lead? Something Fergie AND his winners very rarely do. But as they say,'NEVER SAY NEVER'. After a dismal run that saw the 12-time EPL CHAMPIONS drop 8 points in 4 games, Manchester City capitalised and drew level on points and then the die became cast. It all boiled down to the last day.With both teams on 86 points (but MCFC HAD A SUPERIOR GD of +8), Man Utd had to destroy Martin O'Neil's Sunderland by at least 9 unreplied goals and hope City's strikers fail to sparkle. It was a slim hope....44 years is a long time for anyone not to have something and when the opportunity comes on a platter, the good who want to become great take it with aplomb.
MUFC 'S task was all made the more difficult as they had to go to the stadium of light to score a bagfull of goals against a reinvigorated Sunderland..while MCFC had to just dismiss QPR to be crowned CHAMPIONS....On paper, Mancini had the easier path to GLORY.MUFC struck first through the indispensable Wayne Rooney whose 20th minute header gave his side the lead-----------> his 27th league goal (a personal best). But City responded with a goal of their own.....Injured Gnegneri Yaya Toure threaded a great ball onto the path of Pablo Zabaleta who coolly slotted past Paddy Kenny to put his team well on their way. Half time was upon us with fans of both clubs biting their fingers.
The 2nd half was more interesting as QPR, fighting for survival, struck through Djibril Cisse (his 6th in 8 games) to level matters. Then a moment of pure, unmatched idiocy from supposed Captain of QPR, Joey Barton gave City a man advantage. The Englishman, who never ceases to amaze the football world took to kicking and punching the diminutive Argies (TEVEZ AND AGUERO) on the pitch. United fans feared the worst and admittedly, the expected from here on. But much to utter astonishment, QPR struck again to lead City. This time Jamie Mackie was the scorer. MUFC fans went berserk in an almost delirium state...the title was going to remain at the Theatre of Dreams was the song on everyone's lips....but there was yet another twist in the tale.
As a result of Barton's stupidity, the Ref added 5 minutes of injury time and like typical Manchester United, City came back with 2 goals from Dzeko and Aguero in two minutes to seal the league title their sometimes 'out-of-this-planet' displays deserved.
IT WAS OFFICIAL: MANCHESTER CITY BROKE THEIR 44 YEAR JINX AND HELD ALOFT THE 20THE EPL TITLE.....
................TITLE CELEBRATIONS GOING A BIT OVER THE TOP
Officials, players , fans and indeed everyone associated with Manchester City went partying into the night after a wonderful season which saw them crowned EPL CHAMPIONS. Excited and joyous, they took to the streets the very next day (Monday, 14th May 2012) to parade their newest trophy addition.
It was going well as planned until the prodigal Carlos Tevez thought it was a clever idea to hold up a placard which had 'R.I.P FERGIE' written boldly on it. It was a slap on Ferguson and Manchester United's face, not just as a result of the inscription, but because it was held up by a former red devil who was showing ingratitude and more painfully, the unforgettable way the league title was relinquished. Manchester United immediately offered its apology on the development which MUFC duly accepted. But SAF will be well aware that the only way o shut Tevez and City up, is on the field of play cum next season and beyond/
OHIREIME P EBOREIME
ff me on Twitter--->@ohiskaka1990
MUFC 'S task was all made the more difficult as they had to go to the stadium of light to score a bagfull of goals against a reinvigorated Sunderland..while MCFC had to just dismiss QPR to be crowned CHAMPIONS....On paper, Mancini had the easier path to GLORY.MUFC struck first through the indispensable Wayne Rooney whose 20th minute header gave his side the lead-----------> his 27th league goal (a personal best). But City responded with a goal of their own.....Injured Gnegneri Yaya Toure threaded a great ball onto the path of Pablo Zabaleta who coolly slotted past Paddy Kenny to put his team well on their way. Half time was upon us with fans of both clubs biting their fingers.
The 2nd half was more interesting as QPR, fighting for survival, struck through Djibril Cisse (his 6th in 8 games) to level matters. Then a moment of pure, unmatched idiocy from supposed Captain of QPR, Joey Barton gave City a man advantage. The Englishman, who never ceases to amaze the football world took to kicking and punching the diminutive Argies (TEVEZ AND AGUERO) on the pitch. United fans feared the worst and admittedly, the expected from here on. But much to utter astonishment, QPR struck again to lead City. This time Jamie Mackie was the scorer. MUFC fans went berserk in an almost delirium state...the title was going to remain at the Theatre of Dreams was the song on everyone's lips....but there was yet another twist in the tale.
As a result of Barton's stupidity, the Ref added 5 minutes of injury time and like typical Manchester United, City came back with 2 goals from Dzeko and Aguero in two minutes to seal the league title their sometimes 'out-of-this-planet' displays deserved.
IT WAS OFFICIAL: MANCHESTER CITY BROKE THEIR 44 YEAR JINX AND HELD ALOFT THE 20THE EPL TITLE.....
................TITLE CELEBRATIONS GOING A BIT OVER THE TOP
Officials, players , fans and indeed everyone associated with Manchester City went partying into the night after a wonderful season which saw them crowned EPL CHAMPIONS. Excited and joyous, they took to the streets the very next day (Monday, 14th May 2012) to parade their newest trophy addition.
It was going well as planned until the prodigal Carlos Tevez thought it was a clever idea to hold up a placard which had 'R.I.P FERGIE' written boldly on it. It was a slap on Ferguson and Manchester United's face, not just as a result of the inscription, but because it was held up by a former red devil who was showing ingratitude and more painfully, the unforgettable way the league title was relinquished. Manchester United immediately offered its apology on the development which MUFC duly accepted. But SAF will be well aware that the only way o shut Tevez and City up, is on the field of play cum next season and beyond/
OHIREIME P EBOREIME
ff me on Twitter--->@ohiskaka1990
103 years is not FOREVER-----------The BORUSSIANS are GERMANY'S BEST!
Jurgen Klopp, tipped to be a future manager of DIE MANNSCAFT (The German National Team) has done it again.After earning plaudits in the 2010-11 season for steering the black yellows to its 7th BUNDESLIGA Title, he has gone one better to secure the side's 1sr DOUBLE in its 103 year history.
The season didn't start brightly for the ambitious borussen. The first 6 games yielded just 3 wins. Afterwards, they kicked on a remarkable run that saw them go unbeaten in 30+ League and Cup games, including vital wins against Bayern and arch-enemies, Schalke.
Buoyed by the superb displays of Shinji Kagawa, Lukasz Piszczek, Robert Lewandowski, Matt Hummels, Neven Subotic, and Talisman, Mario Gotze, DIE SCHWARZGELBEN tore past their opponents with ruthlessness like never before seen. The drive, desire and determination that ultimately leads to success was there for all to marvel. Despite an injury midway through the season to Subotic and Gotze, they still went on to win the league with 2 games to spare...capping the phenomenal achievement with a good home win over Bayern and a Ruhr derby victory away at Gelsenkirchen v Schalke
May 12, 2012 represented the one and only chance of the season to add to their trophy haul-------> THE DFB POKAL (GERMAN CUP). It was a clash between the two best teams in Germany at the moment. Bayern Munchen (Munich) who are UCL finalists and them (Dortmund) who just won the league.
At the end of proceedings, it was a surprise demolition Dortmund annihilated the Bavarians 5-2 with Polish assassin, Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 30. The same man whose 22 League goals (Including the only goal v Bayern at the Iduna) helped his team to the summit of the Bundesliga. The crushing defeat was the 5th successive Bayern had suffered against klopp and it came at a very bad time for the Reds. Uli, Karl, Franz, and Jupp congratulated Watzke's Dortmund and thus shifted their focus to the CL FINAL V Chelsea.
The victory over Bayern was even more significant for Ballspiel-Verein Borussia (BVB) because it cemented their position as the best team in Germany and secured the 1st eve LEAGUE AND CUP SUCCESS in more than a Century of existence. However, they must regroup next season because some important players will ALMOST CERTAINLY jump ship and must be replaced. Also, for Klopp and his boys to be mentioned in the same breath as the great European teams, their fortunes in Europe must change. Their foray into the European scene this term was a COMPLETE FAILURE. Furthermore, for the aforementioned to be described in the same sentence as Hitzfeld, he must perform admirably well in Europe.
OHIREIME P EBOREIME
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
The season didn't start brightly for the ambitious borussen. The first 6 games yielded just 3 wins. Afterwards, they kicked on a remarkable run that saw them go unbeaten in 30+ League and Cup games, including vital wins against Bayern and arch-enemies, Schalke.
Buoyed by the superb displays of Shinji Kagawa, Lukasz Piszczek, Robert Lewandowski, Matt Hummels, Neven Subotic, and Talisman, Mario Gotze, DIE SCHWARZGELBEN tore past their opponents with ruthlessness like never before seen. The drive, desire and determination that ultimately leads to success was there for all to marvel. Despite an injury midway through the season to Subotic and Gotze, they still went on to win the league with 2 games to spare...capping the phenomenal achievement with a good home win over Bayern and a Ruhr derby victory away at Gelsenkirchen v Schalke
May 12, 2012 represented the one and only chance of the season to add to their trophy haul-------> THE DFB POKAL (GERMAN CUP). It was a clash between the two best teams in Germany at the moment. Bayern Munchen (Munich) who are UCL finalists and them (Dortmund) who just won the league.
At the end of proceedings, it was a surprise demolition Dortmund annihilated the Bavarians 5-2 with Polish assassin, Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 30. The same man whose 22 League goals (Including the only goal v Bayern at the Iduna) helped his team to the summit of the Bundesliga. The crushing defeat was the 5th successive Bayern had suffered against klopp and it came at a very bad time for the Reds. Uli, Karl, Franz, and Jupp congratulated Watzke's Dortmund and thus shifted their focus to the CL FINAL V Chelsea.
The victory over Bayern was even more significant for Ballspiel-Verein Borussia (BVB) because it cemented their position as the best team in Germany and secured the 1st eve LEAGUE AND CUP SUCCESS in more than a Century of existence. However, they must regroup next season because some important players will ALMOST CERTAINLY jump ship and must be replaced. Also, for Klopp and his boys to be mentioned in the same breath as the great European teams, their fortunes in Europe must change. Their foray into the European scene this term was a COMPLETE FAILURE. Furthermore, for the aforementioned to be described in the same sentence as Hitzfeld, he must perform admirably well in Europe.
OHIREIME P EBOREIME
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
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