European Football

[DavidP]

keep up the great work taz.

[taz]

FT: De Graafschap 1-4 Ajax

THe champions made a great start to the season with a comprehensive victory at De Graafschap. De Graafschap took a shock lead 15 minutes in when Ted van de Pavert powered home a header following a corner from Sjoerd Overgoor. However, 7 minutes later, Miralem SUlejmani equalised when Gregory van der Wiel's header was parried only to Miralem SUlejmani to tap the loose ball home. Ajax applied pressure and took the lead on the half hour mark when Miralem SUlejmani provided a sweet defence splitting bal lfor Derek Boerrigter to latch onto with Boerigter running through on goal, rounded Jeroen Torel and dispatched the ball into the empty net. Minutes later, Ajax were awarded a penalty but Siem de Jong saw his penalty saved. Minutes into the second half, the home side had a great chance to equalise Gregor Breinburg found himself 1-on-1 with Kenneth Vermmer but Vermeer saved the shot with his knee. Sulejmani got his 2nd and Ajax's third when he drilled the ball home from just inside the box. New signing Theo Janssen made it 4-1 with a delightful curlign effort from 20 yards. Great start to the season for Ajax.

[taz]

FT: Mainz 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Mainz got the victory today but it was more to do with the poor defending by Leverkusen. Bayer Leverkusen had a great chance to score 10 minutes in when Stefan Reinartz powerful header was blocked by Heinz Muller. However, Stefan Reinartz played a part in Mainz's first goal. His backpass led to Fabian Giefer slicing his clerance with Sami Allagui taking advantage and slot the ball into the net. The 2nd half saw very few chances with Eren Derdiyok comign close to an equaliser but his shot was blocked by Heinz Muller and minutes later Mainz got their second Marco Caligirui's attempted cross for Andreas Ivanschitz was slid into the net by Bayer Leverkusen defender Omer Toprak. Not the start that Leverkusen were expecting and Mainz will be happy with their display after their Europa League disappointment in midweek.

[taz]

FT: Bayern Munich 0-1 Borussia Monchengladbach

Big shock in Bavaria as Bayern Muninch went down to Borussia Monchengladbach. Their first defeat on the opening day since 2001. The opponents that year? You guessed it: Borussia Monchengladbach. The game produced few chances. Bundesliga topscorer Mario Gomez tested Marc Andre ter Stegen a few times in the first half. Monchengladbach went close just before half time when Juan Arango;s shot was tipped wide by Manuel Neuer. Bayern went close 10 minutes into the second half when Mario Gomez was able to head past ter Stegen but his header rebounded off the post. Monchengladbach had a goal disallowed 5 minutes later when Igor de Camargo shoved Bastian Schweinsteiger before heading the ball past Manuel Neuer. However, he did manage to get on the scoresheet on 62 minutes. A long ball forward saw Jerome Boateng and igor de Camargo giving chase with Boateng leaving it for the onrushing Manuel Neuer but Neuer was beaten by Igor de Camargo who managed to nod the ball above Neuer and into the net. Poor defending by Boateng and poor goalkeeping by Neuer. Bayern pushed men forward with Arjen Robben having a shot tipped away by ter Stegen. Bayern thought they had equalsied when Thomas Muller found the net but it was disallowed. Looking back at the replay, the assistant got it wrong as when Bastian Schweinsteiger's shot was parried by ter Stegen, Gomez was in the offside position and not Muller so Bayern had every right to feel aggrieved. Bayern Munich dominated proceedings in the final minutes but were unable to find the equaliser. Jupp Heynckes gets off to the worst possible start and they will play Wolfsburg next weekend. Wolfsburg dominant yesterday with a 3-0 away win over Cologne.

Matchday 1 results

Friday 5 August

Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Hamburg

Saturday 6 August

Werder Bremen 2-0 Kaiserslautern
Hannover 2-1 Hoffenheim
Stuttgart 3-0 Schalke
Cologne 0-3 Wolfsburg
Augsburg 2-2 Freiburg
Hertha Berlin 0-1 Nuremberg

Sunday 7 August

Mainz 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich 0-1 Borussia Monchengladbach

[red]

I wouldn't blame Boateng for the Gladbach goal.

He was pretty much in control of the situation, only for Neuer to come flying out when there was absolutely no need for it.

Still, it was all pretty sideways from Bayern, with them hoping that Robben or Ribery could beat their man one-on-one. There was a lack of any real penetrating runs from the midfield three to move players out of position and create space for any of the forwards to really do their thing.

[taz]

[red]

What more could Boateng have done?

He had little choice but to clear out of the way once Neuer decided to come. Could he have been a bit sharper in covering around behind Neuer?

Kroos is a good player, but he primarily wants the ball into feet. What Bayern were lacking was a player to take the role Perrotta fulfilled in Spalletti's Roma.

[taz]

[taz]

How i miss the Bordeaux team on 2008-09? Played some wonderful football under Laurent Blanc. Watching them tonight against St Etienne and there is no creative influence.

[red]

[taz]

[taz]

FT: Bordeaux 1-2 St Etienne

Bordeaux got off to the worst start possible after 17 minutes when Bakary Sako managed to get beyond Mathieu Chalme and his dangerous cross was diverted into his own goal by Michael Ciani. Michael Ciani nearly made amends on the half hour mark when he rose to head Jaroslav Plasil's freekick goalwards but he was denied by a superb save from debutant Stephane Ruffier. Couple of minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made it 2-0 with a freak goal. A st Etienne throwin was whipped in first time by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with the ball looping over Cedric Carrasso, off the post and into the net. Whether he meant it, not too sure. Gonzalo Bergessio nealry made it 3 a couple of minutes later when he volleyed Florent Sinama Pongolle's cross goalwards, it beat Cedric Carrasso but Michael Ciani was able to clear the ball off the line. Bordeaux were awarded a penalty 10 minutes into the second half when Sylvain Marchal made a poor challenge on Anthony Modeste. Jussie was able to convert the penalty. Bordeaux pushed forward but Stephane Ruffier was able to save Matheiu Chalme and Anthony Modeste efforts. Cedric Carrasso made a good save to deny Marchal. In the closing stages, Cheick Diabate went close to an equaliser when his effort skimmed the bar. Not the start that Jean Francois Gillet was hoping for. Needs to bring in a striker in my opinion to strengthen the Bordeaux frontline.

Matchday 1 Results

Saturday 6 August

Ajaccio 0-2 Toulouse
Brest 2-2 Evian
Caen 1-0 Valenciennes
Marseille 2-2 Sochaux
Montpellier 3-1 Auxerre
Nancy 1-1 Lille
Nice 1-3 Lyon
PSG 0-1 Lorient

Sunday 7 August

Dijon 1-5 Rennes
Bordeaux 1-2 St Etienne

[taz]

FT: Wolfsburg 0-1 Bayern Munich

Wolfsburg will feel hard done by after Bayern Managed to get the win with practically the last kick of the game. Bayern Munich struggled to get out of their own half during the majority of the game. Patrick Helmes had a goal disallowed 5 minutes before the break. Marel Schafer's cross was headed on by Marco Russ and tucked home by Helmes. However, lookign back at the replay, Jerome Boateng was playing Helmes on so Felix Magathhad every right to be vexxed about the goal being disallowed. In the final minute, Franck RIbery picked out the run of Luiz Gustavo who beat Diego Benaglio from the edge of the box. Bayern get a crucial three points and will now look towards their match against Zurich in the Champions League.

[taz]

FT: Rubin Kazan 1-1 CSKA Moscow

CSKA Moscow managed to score a last mintue equaliser to prevent Rubin Kazan from getting the three points. Rubin took the lead halfway through the first half through a Bebars Natcho penalty. However, CSKA equalised in the final minute through Alan Dzagoev. Zenit can now join CSKA at the top if they defeat Amkar tomorrow. Dinamo Moscow and Rubin Kazan are not far behind.

[taz]

FT: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 Stuttgart

Both sides contested out an even game at the Borussia Park. Marco Reus had the first chance of the game a minute into the game when the ball over the top was not controlled by Cristian Molinaro which allowed Marco Reus to latch onto the ball but he skied his shot past the onrushing Sven Ulreich and over the bar. Molinaro was also lucky to stay on the touch when his elbow on Marco Reus went unnoticed. Christian Gentner had Stuttgart's best chance but his header was blocked by Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Borussia took the lead after 67 minutes when WIlliam Kvist brought down Marco Reus in the box and Filip Daems was able to convert the penalty. However, William Kvist played a part in the equaliser. His cross was headed on by Christian Gentner for Cacau to slot the ball home at the far post. Borussia Monchengladbach finished the match with 10 men when Roel Brouwers was sent off for a second bookable offence. Both sides will be content with the draw and remain undefeated.

[taz]

FT: Twente 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

Twente continued their perfect start to the season with a comprehensive victory over AZ. It took only 3 minutes for Twente to open the scoring when Marc Janko was on hand to head home Dwight Tiendalli's freekick. 10 minutes later, Charlison Benschop found himself 1-on-1 with Nikolay Mihaylov but he wasted his opportunity to equalise. Mihaylov also made a smart save to deny Brett Holman's powerful strike. Mintues into the 2nd half, Luuk De Jong narrowly put his header over from Ola John's cross. However, Twente made it 2 on 66 minutes after Bryan Ruiz delightfully lobbed Ernesto Alvarado leaving the defence shocked. Luuk De Jong nearly made it 3 but his shot rebounded back off the post. Rasmus Elm went close to a consolation when his freekick was tipped away by Mihaylov.

[taz]

FT: Valenciennes 0-0 Brest

Both teams created chances but were not able to make the breakthrough. Brest went close to taking the lead 7 minutes in when Santiago Gentiletti's free kick brought a save out of Nicolas Penneteau who had to fully stretch to keep the ball out. Gael Danic went close for Valenciennes minutes later but his shot was saved by Steeve Elana. Bruno Grougi's shot was kept out by Penneteau on the half hour mark. Mintues later, Brou ANgoua's header went inches wide of the post. In the 2nd half, Steeve Elana made a fantastic save after Gregory Pujol deflected David Ducourtioux's shot goalwards but due to the reflexes of Elaana, he was denied. Nolan ROux and Johan Martial also went close for Brest while Gregory Pujol was denied by Elanaa when through on goal.

[taz]

FT: Ajax 5-1 Heerenveen

Ajax made it 2 wins out 2 with a thumping victory over Heerenveen. 5 minutes in, Theo Janssen's freekick brought out a decent save from Brian Vandenbussche. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson broke the deadlock on 37 minutes when he converted Derek Boeriggter's cross. However, 2 minutes later, Heerenveen equalised when Bas Dost tapped the ball home from six yards after some good play by Viktor Elm. On 42 minutes, Ajax were back in front after a fantastic goal by Toby Alderweireld from long range. Ajax were 3-1 up on 51 minutes when Christian Eriksen picked out Derek Boerigter in the box and he was able to dirve the ball into the net. Gregory van der Wiel was close to making it 4-1 when he headed Eriksen's cross onto the bar. With 15 minutes to go, Miralem Sulejmani made it 4-1 after some good team play. The away side had a chance to pull a goal back but Oussama Assaidi fired wide from a promising positions. Van der Wiel made it 5-1 in the closing stages after some more good build up play.

[taz]

FT: Kaiserslautern 1-1 Augsburg

Augsburg continued their unbeaten start to the season. Kaiserslautern were hoping to bounce back with a win after their opening day defeat at Bremen. Kaiserslautern started off the better with Itay Shechter going close. However on 9 minutes, Augsburg took the lead. Sascha Molders recieved the ball in the box, turned and unleashed a left footed strike that found the top corner. Augsburg nearly made it 2 when Marcel Ndjeng rounde Kevin Trapp and rolled the ball towards goal but Florian Dick was on hand to clear the ball. in the 2nd half, Molders had a strike parried by Trapp but Ndjeng couldnt convert the rebound. Kaiserslautern then pushed forward in the final 20 minutes. Rodnei having a header parried away. However, Rodnei had a part to play in the equaliser 10 minutes from time. Rodnei found Itay Shechter who advanced into the box and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to ensure Kaiserslautern got a point.

[taz]

FT: Spartak Moscow 3-0 Anzhi Makhachkala

Spartak Moscow got their 2nd win a row to move upto 5th leapfrogging Anzhi in the process. Ari opened the scoring on 35 minutes, Dmitry Kombarov made it 2 on 44. Alexandr Kozlov made it 3 a few minutes into the 2nd half. In the earlier game, Zenit St Petersburg missed out on their chance to to go level with CSKA at the top after drawing 1-1 with Amkar.