Celtic put their best foot forward but it wasn’t enough against the Spanish side Juventus. The Spanish guys scored three goals to win in convincing fashion 3-0 at Celtic Park, Scotland. La Veccehia Signora drew first blood in the third minute. The Bhoys were stunned when Juventus striker Alessandro Matri ripped the twines for an early 1-0 lead. Celtic tried to make a match of it but La Veccehia Signora was too strong for the Scottish Champs.
Juventus scored two more goals in the final thirteen minutes to put this sucker away 3-0. Goals by Claudio Marchisio 77th minute and Mirko Vucinic 83rd minute ended any hopes of a comeback.
Celtic now has to score three away goals and hold Juventus scoreless at the La Veccehia Signora house to have a prayer to advance to the quarterfinals of The Champions League.
We have to get real Celtic is good in Scotland but when it comes to playing against the big boys the Bhoys will come up short. Celtic was fortunate to make it out of the group stage.
PSG defeated Valencia 2-1 at the Los Che Chotos house. Paris St. Germain scored two first half goals to put this sucker away. PSG took it to Valencia from the opening whistle. Ezequiel Lavezzi tenth minute and Argentinos mate Javier Pastore 43rd minute gave headman Carlos Ancelotti’s guys the early lead. Paris St. Germain held on to win 2-1. Los Che Chotos scored in the 90th minute to cut the gap to 2-1 but this was too little too late. Adil Rami sneaked through the PSG “D” and poked home the score.
To make matters interesting Paris St. Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was given the heave-hoe for brazen act of stupidity. He stamped on a Valencia player Andres Guardado. This moronic act could cost PSG big time when they play the return leg in France.
The big match is when Man U and Real Madrid hook up later today at the Catalans house. Real Madrid is favored to win but watch out for Sir Alex and the boys. This is the first time that former mates Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo will battle each other in Champions League play. This baby also features the war of minds and words between Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex.
Sir Alex had kind words for former player Ronaldo. “Ronaldo is absolutely a better player now, because of his maturity,” Ferguson said. “He is at the peak of his career now, and for the next three years. He was still a young man when he left me. He has flourished in Madrid. He and [Lionel] Messi are now the best players in the world. I knew he would improve, but I did not expect him to score the goals he has scored. It is phenomenal.”
“Ronaldo’s goals tell you a lot,” Ferguson said. “He has fitness, speed, he is never injured, plays every week… that is unique in the modern day game. He never asks for a rest, wants to play all the time, these are exceptional qualities.”
Gunner for life.
February 13, 2013
bobbygee
39 responses to “De Futebol”
Alan aka tophatal
February 13th, 2013 at 05:45
Celtic one of the great British soccer clubs , but unfortunately in the UEFA Champions League and any of UEFA’s other club competitions , they will always be thought of as minnows swimming amongst the big fish .
bobbygee
February 13th, 2013 at 10:55
They are locally but against Europe’s best that’ s another story.
Alan aka tophatal
February 13th, 2013 at 13:33
Hence a few years back some of the bigger teams in the SPL (Scottish Premier League) wanted to break away and join the EPL (Premier League ) but that was ” voted down ” by the majority of the teams because of the major loss of revenues and the fact that , they were not going to be properly compensated by those departing teams .
I think it’s good that there is a level independence but there’s no denying that the quality and brand of the SPL is way below that of the EPL, La Liga (Spain) , Serie’ A (Italy) and the Bundesliga (Germany) ! .
Tophatal
bobbygee
February 13th, 2013 at 14:48
Very much so. Celtic is improving. The gave Barca all they could handle in the group stage but the knockout stage is a different animal
Alan aka tophatal
February 13th, 2013 at 16:15
The level of competition needs to be raised within the SPL if it is to really be taken seriously on the European stage . Albeit, that Celtic gave Barca all they could handle , was the end result really ever in doubt ?
bobbygee
February 13th, 2013 at 16:36
No but it was fun to watch. Scottish Futebol will never be on par with Europe until the competition gets better. It is always the same two clubs Celtic and Rangers. The other clubs suck.
Alan aka tophatal
February 14th, 2013 at 07:48
Bobby Gee
What I believe would better facilitate that scenario is for the top five teams in the SPL be enabled to join the EPL ( Premiership) and on that basis you would get a better quality of competition for the aforementioned teams , albeit that the remainder of the teams within the SPL would be left on the outside looking in . The league (SPL) is well financed , but it simply doesn’t bring in the type of revenues of the Premiership , which has now become a multi-billion dollar (Euros) business enterprise now spanning the globe .
Courtesy of The Guardian UK
And here in the US , NBC Sports has just now wrestled away the television broadcast rights for the Premiership from ABC / ESPN . It could send the ” death knell ” in terms of US Soccer and the MLS and how it is viewed albeit , somewhat anemically when televised by US broadcast outlets for MLS soccer . On the other hand certain teams around MLS are so well supported that some games outstrip the attendance for baseball .
That development will prove to be a major blow for not only ABC’/ESPN but also for Fox Sports .
Courtesy of Goal.com/”>
Fox is going to take a ” major hit ” , on this , because beyond baseball , NFL , college hoops and NASCAR , what little they cover , in terms of their sports’ content and coverage overall , is somewhat mediocre , at best !
?
Tophatal ……….
bobbygee
February 14th, 2013 at 16:05
this would be a very good idea. I like that.
Alan aka tophatal
February 18th, 2013 at 18:08
Now try and get the owners to agree to something like that ? They would start to belly ache about the loss in revenues .
Tophatal ……………….
bobbygee
February 18th, 2013 at 18:09
I know. So we’re back at square one
Alan aka tophatal
February 18th, 2013 at 18:44
Back to square on alright ! It’s like trying to get Congress to agree on anything that doesn’t involve them getting a salary increase .
bobbygee
February 18th, 2013 at 18:49
That’s so true.
Alan aka tophatal
February 18th, 2013 at 18:51
Messi recently scored his 300th and 301 st goals for Barca . Before his career is over do you believe he could get to 500 ?
bobbygee
February 18th, 2013 at 19:09
It is highly possible The real question will he ever win a world cup?
Alan aka tophatal
February 19th, 2013 at 05:06
It’d be a shame if at the end of the day Messi’s overall career is simply judged on his failure to win a World Cup title with Argentina who last won in 1982 because of the national side’s lack of success in the tournament in recent years . He can’t be blamed for that if there has been a lack of continuity and a failure to find a good enough coach at the national level.
Tophatal …….
bobbygee
February 19th, 2013 at 10:56
Sports is a cruel judge but that’s the way it is.
Alan aka tophatal
February 19th, 2013 at 21:25
Argentina has the talent , but what they lack is a really good national coach .
Tophatal ……..
bobbygee
February 19th, 2013 at 21:44
yes, they need to a big time.Maybe Pepe Guardila
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 02:34
They could go along those lines the Argentine FA seems intent on going with former players with no real coaching experience . It would appear that they’re intent on going with a popular choice rather than expediency and experience .
Tophatal …….
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 10:54
that is always a killer.
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 14:10
I feel your pain ! Look at the English FA , their rather idiotic and naive hiring at the time of Fabio Capello .
Tophatal …….
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 14:26
I watched he entire match. The German guys were superior. Bayern Munich has a good chance to make it to the finals.
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 16:02
Bayern Munich are a well disciplined team !
Tophatal ……
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 16:21
And they are damn good
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 16:28
They (Bayern Munich) remain my ” dark horse “ for the latter rounds of the Champions League !
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 16:42
Yep. I can see either Real, Man u Barca and Bayern in the finals
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 17:40
As good as Real have been playing , at times they have been somewhat complacent , and they can ill afford to perform like that in the later stages of the tournament .
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 18:29
This is so true. They are stinking the joint out in the Liga
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 17:43
If at all interested I dropped this baseball piece ?
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/and-then-there-was-one/
Tophatal ………..
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 19:39
This season Real Madrid (Los Galacticos) have been everyone’s bit#h in La Liga !
Simply look at some of their results within the Spanish League this season , it’s enough to drive you insane when you consider the annual payroll/salary for the team exceeds $ 225 million (EUROS 156 million) .
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 19:41
I wonder how much this has to do with the fact the players are tired of Jose Moruinho’s BS
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 19:58
One of two things you can count on , when it comes to Jose Mourinho . He will either drive you insane , or more to the point , you reach the point , where you simply want to place your hands around his neck , and choke the damn life out of him . Think Latrell Sprewell and P J Carlesimo , back in the day .
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 20:24
This is what is happening in Real Madrid
Alan aka tophatal
February 20th, 2013 at 22:12
If Mourinho that the arguments and disagreements he had with Chelsea’s owner Roman Arbamovich were bad . Then he’s going to be in for a tough time with the board members of Real Madrid and in particular their legions of fans . They are amongst the most rabid and vocal of fans out there .
bobbygee
February 20th, 2013 at 22:41
Real Madrid won the title last year and now look at them. Do you want to talk about upset city AC Milan 2 Barca 0.
Alan aka tophatal
February 21st, 2013 at 00:40
I almost fell out of my seat when I saw that result between AC Milan and Barca !
Topahtal ……………
bobbygee
February 21st, 2013 at 01:06
It was a wild result. AC Milan played very well.
Alan aka tophatal
February 21st, 2013 at 08:27
There will have to be some type of retribution on the part of Barca in the return leg .
bobbygee
February 21st, 2013 at 10:54
Expect it big time