PlayBeautiful

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. After Milan's euphoric win over Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, the stage was set to face Inter. This derby was a mentally-stimulating match for Milan because it would be the icing on the cake to a perfect week. The Rossoneri had to make sure they didn't get too overconfident or complacent. Another potential victory was within reach against their rivals.

For the Derby della Madonnina, Allegri made three changes to the starting XI he used midweek against Barcelona. De Sciglio was put in for Constant, Nocerino for Ambrosini, and Balotelli in for Pazzini. It was interesting to see whether the players would fuel their performance with the same determination they had used against Barcelona. In the first 30 minutes, Milan were looking the better side. They had control of the midfield and more attempts at goal. The movement of Milan's players showed how comfortable they were on the ball. It was at the 21st minute El Shaarawy used his quick feet to capitalize on Kevin Prince Boateng's pass. El Shaarawy's 1st goal in the Milan derby shifted the score to 1-0 in Milan's favor. Anytime Balotelli was near the box, he was looking dangerous. He had been testing Handanovic, but couldn't get a single goal past the keeper. Milan could have been up three goals had Balotelli finished his chances. Needless to say, Milan had set the tempo of the match and Inter were looking rather disorganized in the first half.

The Milan of second half retained some composure, but it was obvious the players had slightly let go of the gas pedal. Where Milan were lacking, Inter were taking their chances. When Abbiati and Milan's defense were least expecting it, Schelotto had equalized the score with a header. The play started from Inter's throw-in combined with Nagatomo's perfect cross in the box after 71 minutes. At this point, Milan were flooring shots at Handanovic, but none were converted into goals. Overall, Milan had 18 attempts on goal compared to Inter's 10. A spectacular goal of the match could've been El Shaarawy's acrobatic scissor kick, but it was expertly blocked by Schelotto. Inter were emerging with new-found energy, but Milan did not react to it in the best possible way. Allegri made  all his substitutions after 80 minutes and they happened to be questionable. When we were all quick to judge players like Muntari and Boateng based on past performances, they had stepped up their game. Allegri had taken off Muntari, Boateng, and El Shaarawy for substitutes Ambrosini, Niang, and Bojan. It didn't make sense why he would take off the goal-scoring threats for such late substitutions who wouldn't be able to make such a big impact. It seemed as if Allegri was quite okay to walk away with a 1-1 draw at full time.

This highly anticipated Milan derby also had some standout performances. Hands down, Handanovic was the man of the match followed by Montolivo. A combination of Handanovic's key saves and Milan's poor finishing kept Inter in the game. Not only did Montolivo predict El Shaarawy would score the goal for Milan, but he was also Milan's main man in midfield. His accurate passing and tackles glued Milan as a cohesive unit.

The Derby della Madonnina is a historical affair that gives supporters from both sides immense pride. San Siro was definitely adorned with beautiful messages that added an unbelievable element to the match.

Written by: Goral Patel

Follow me on Twitter: @goralpatel 

"Red like fire...black like your fear" Image via @Simo93_ (Twitter)

"You make my heart flutter...you leave me breathless" Image via @Simo93_ (Twitter)

Image via Getty Images

For those of you who did not watch Real Madrid face Deportivo La Coruña today, you have missed out. There were many great moments (as well as awful moments) throughout this match!

The Bad.
I‘m not going to lie, first-half was pretty brutal to watch. Real Madrid’s defense was inadequate and weak. Deportivo had several opportunities and came very close to scoring most of the time. Eventually, Deportivo’s Riki scored during the 35th minute which left Real Madrid goal-less at the end of the first-half.

I personally think the Real Madrid players should thank their lucky stars that they did not concede a second goal!

Check out Marcelo’s epic save (I still can’t get over it):





The Good.
Real Madrid looked a lot better during second-half. At the 57th minute, Mourinho replaced Marcelo, Modric, and Essien with Ronaldo, Ozil, and Khedira all at the same time (Translation: Mourinho meant business). Once these subs were made, Real Madrid began to pick up the pace. During the 73rd minute, Kaka made the equalizing goal. Soon after, Higuain made a goal at the 88th minute.

Check out Kaka’s beautiful GOAL!

The Ugly.
Di Maria. Di Maria. Di Maria. In a matter of twenty seconds, Mr. Angel Di Maria managed to get two yellow cards. The reason? Deportivo was given a free-kick and the referee had asked Di Maria to step away from the area. After the first booking, Di Maria refused to move which resulted in a second yellow.

Overall.

• Deportivo had put up a good fight, but managed to unravel after Mourinho had placed his effective substitutions.
• Kaka's persistence on the pitch proves that he can handle the full 90 minutes and should be used more frequently.
• With the El Clasico coming up, Real Madrid have to be more focused and strengthen the back-line.

 
#PlayBeautiful

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Those who watched would agree it was an extravagant affair between the Bavarian giants and the Gunners. The match, which ended 1-3 at the Emirates, made room for some major talking points.

The German Invasion
Bayern were set to be the favorites in this tie because of their sheer hunger for consistent goal-scoring. They have scored in each of their last 13 Champions League games with 10 different players scoring in 2012-13 [Opta]. It was no surprise when Kroos took the game by the reigns and scored the opener for his side in the 7th minute. Ribery started the play to Müller who perfectly set up Kroos in front of goal. The energy had intensified from that moment on in the first half. Müller made a statement of his own with a goal to put Bayern up 2-nil. Their third goal of the night came from none other than Mario Mandžukić. One of the top scorers in the Bundesliga marked his first Champions League goal. The goal was the product of the best play of the match.What we saw was not only a confident attacking side, but an organized back-line. A team that didn't look like they were the visiting side. They were comfortable in midfield and controlled the ball with ease. With Bayern supporters making the most noise in the stands, the odds looked to be in their favor. The real question is does Pep Guardiola need to manage a side that's already considered to be complete in modern football? Most importantly, can he afford to implement his changes and "transform" a strong team? Like they say, don't try to fix what isn't broken.

Gunners Gunned Down
Neuer was one who was tested in the 3rd minute by Cazorla, but the opportunities for Arsenal fell through the cracks. Arsenal's defense was dismantled after the opening shot and looked its weakest in the first half. The frustration was visible with three players getting booked within 9 minutes. It was rather hard to watch a side with so much potential only manage 2 shots with 0 on target. Arsenal fans voiced their disappointment of a team lacking motivation and more noticeably, heart. The physical aspect is key, but the mental state of mind differentiates between a good performance and a great one. All that changed for the better though. It was an unexpected burst of energy delivered in the second half. There were clear signs Arsenal's passing improved. Podolski made the lone goal for Arsenal after taking advantage of Neuer's defensive-lapse. The ball fell to Podolski from Wilshire's corner kick and it was a simple header to smash in. Walcott happened to be the one leading Arsenal's front-line. He showed good pace and dribbling, but was undoubtedly outmatched against Bayern's disciplined defense. Some may argue Giroud would have been more effective up top. There weren't many chances to capitalize on, so I don't know how Giroud's presence could have changed the game. The ball was in Arsenal's court, but their misgivings got the better of them.

Men of the Match
Philipp Lahm and Jack Wilshere were the standout stars for their respective clubs. Lahm's work ethic was admiring. He was involved in play up until the final whistle. He is a role-model fullback who tirelessly contributes to defense and strengthens the links in attack. Arsenal supporters and non-supporters alike hailed the performance of Wilshere in midfield. He's a player who already harnesses so much skill and maturity at only 21 years of age. He will only get better.

The second leg at the Allianz Arena will kick-off on March 13. Bayern are one step closer to reaching the quarter finals. That much closer to the Champions League trophy.

Written by: Goral Patel

Follow me on Twitter: @goralpatel 

Image via Getty

Image via Getty

Image via Getty

Oh the UEFA Champions League. Last year, Chelsea FC won it. This year, I believe the title is going to Real Madrid.

Real Madrid is a strong team with exceptional players. They have all of the qualities that make their team a major threat to other clubs.

In my opinion, the Champions League is something Real Madrid should focus on at this point in time. The club should hold more importance to winning the Champions League because it is very unlikely they will win the league title. Real Madrid currently sit third on the leader board (falling below both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona) which means the title for La Liga is pretty much out of their hands. With Barcelona currently dominating La Liga, the UCL trophy could be Real Madrid’s prized possession this season.

If Real Madrid really put their heart and soul into this competition, I think they can definitely be one of the top contenders to win this year.

However, winning the Champions League is easier said than done. Their players obviously have the talent and the passion, but so do the other teams. With strong contenders like Juventus, Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain, and Borussia Dortmund (to name a few) it obviously won’t come easy.

Judging from what I saw during the Manchester United-Real Madrid match, I believe Real Madrid will have to work very hard down the road. Not that they were bad. Real Madrid were constantly pressing the ball and had several great attempts, but things were just not working out for them. There were moments where I had to hold my breath from all of those missed chances. In my opinion, Real Madrid were the stronger side but made errors in the process of scoring goals.

Both sides had put up a great fight and showed how much they wanted a win for their respective clubs. Now that Real Madrid will be facing Manchester United at Old Trafford during the second leg, you have to wonder what the outcome will be.

Here are a couple of things (tactically-speaking) that I hope Real Madrid can do during the second leg:

• Secure the back-line: The back-line has to be on their A-game. Manchester United were effective with their set pieces and counters. Most of the errors from the back-line came from not marking players properly.
• Pick attacking wisely: Not trying to call Benzema out but I think everyone can agree that he didn’t perform as well as we would have liked. Mourinho has to be cautious with who he picks in the front. If a player doesn‘t seem to be doing his best, try another player on the pitch.

Ultimately, the winning team of the UCL will be based upon their physical (and mental) abilities, luck, and passion.

Real Madrid will earn the title of the Champions of Europe for 2013. Just wait.

(Image via Realmadrid.com)

The start of the second week of February is a special one for those in love. Madly in love with Champions League football. The knockout round of 16 kicked off with fixtures that haven't failed to impress. One match in particular laced with the hi-fi build-up was Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Borussia Dortmund at the Donbass Arena. Here are top 5 highlights from the first leg:

1. 31' - Dortmund kept most of the possession in the first half, but it was Shakhtar with the breakthrough when Darija Srna slot in a lovely, free-kick goal not even Weidenfeller could get a touch on.

2. 41' - Lewandowski didn't let his team down when 10 minutes later the Pole with the magic touch equalized for Die Borussen. Some will argue it was a lucky goal, but it was clever nonetheless. A perfect cross from Götze was miscalculated by Lewandowski, but he didn't hesitate to use his right foot to fire one past Andriy Pyatov. A calm Lewandowski and a clumsy Shakhtar defense made for intense drama going into second half.

3. 68' - Shakhtar showed off their Brazilian flair when Douglas Costa stepped up to deliver a scissor-kick from Rakitskiy's long-ball. This had to be the best goal of the night. Costa made an instant impact to put the score up 2-1 for his side. Not only that, he showed how a deadly combination of quality finish and control makes for one heck of a goal.

4. 87' - An unmarked Hummels rectified for his below-par performance when he smashed in a perfectly-timed header off of Schmelzer's corner kick. He emerged as the key player in the closing minutes to equalize the score for Dortmund at 2-2.

5. Taison's stamina on the field showed why Shakhtar elected to bring him in after Willian's departure to Anzhi Makhachkala. This marked the Brazilian's debut for the Ukrainian side. He impressed with his effective presence in attack and his style-of-play complimented the team. He looked alert throughout the game before being subbed off. I imagine he has more promising skills to showcase in Europe.

Without a doubt, the drama unfolded in this tie. Both sides played with the mentality to win and deserve to move on. However, only one can be victorious in the quest to become European Champions. The second leg will be held at Westfalenstadion. The intimidating scene of the stadium is an understatement. It will be interesting to see how Shakhtar will cope with the electrifying atmosphere and if Dortmund can rise from the pressure to seal the deal.

Predictions for the second leg? Let me know in the comments :)

Written by: Goral Patel

Follow me on Twitter: @goralpatel 

Image via ballspielvereinborussia - Tumblr