EpiVaTeS
09-25-2009, 15:35
European football may have felt it was due a gentle seven days following a frantic first week of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League action, but there was plenty to set the pulse racing as clubs returned to domestic matters across the continent. uefa.com takes it pick of the stories from a non-stop week.
Team: Galatasaray AŞ
Hats off to Frank Rijkaard's Galatasaray who are enjoying their best ever start to a domestic campaign having won all six of their Süper Lig games and averaging 3.16 goals per match. While the leaders have raced out of the blocks, the story is rather different at champions and Istanbul rivals Beşiktaş JK, who have scored just three goals in their six games and have not found the net in 372 minutes.
Player: Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)
High-profile summer signings Cristiano Ronaldo (seven goals in five games) and Zlatan Ibrahimović (three in four Liga matches) may have made impressive starts for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively, but both were overshadowed by Raúl who made his 524th league outing for Los Merengues in Wednesday's 2-0 victory at Villarreal CF. The 32-year-old is now the club's all-time leading appearance holder in the Spanish top flight and one away from Manuel Sanchís's overall mark of 708 competitive games in the famous white shirt.
Match: Manchester United FC 4-3 Manchester City FC
City's big spending has reignited the Manchester derby and they certainly put the heat on United with a spirited performance at Old Trafford. The visitors, who kicked off with a perfect four wins from four Premier League games, fell behind three times only to equalise on each occasion, Craig Bellamy's second of the match late on seemingly securing them a point. However, the champions had the last word as Michael Owen scored in the sixth minute of added time to prompt unbridled celebrations from Sir Alex Ferguson – an indication perhaps that the wily manager views City as a genuine threat.
Goal: Mamadou Niang (Olympique de Marseille)
Receiving the ball just inside the Montpellier Hérault SC half, the Senegalese striker rode two challenges before darting into the box, beating another man and then rifling a shot into the bottom corner. It was Niang's fourth goal in six Ligue 1 appearances and helped the UEFA Champions League contenders to a 4-2 victory over their southern rivals.
Quote: Dick Advocaat (Belgium)
"The players have the wrong image of themselves. They have to be told that. Some players are under 23 and have potential but I got the impression some already felt they were ready to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona. That is not true. They have talent, but they are still young."
The Dutchman sets his stall out as he looks to lead Belgium to UEFA EURO 2012™ following a disappointing FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Music therapy
Champions of Europe seven times, AC Milan are more than comfortable on the continental stage. So much so they have begun replicating UEFA Champions League pre-match conditions ahead of their Serie A games. Following a slow start to their domestic campaign, Rossoneri coach Leonardo has taken to playing the UEFA Champions League anthem in the dressing room to gee up his side with the first airing achieving the desired effect – a 1-0 win against Bologna FC. "I don't know what happens to us when we hear the Champions League music; we'll have to ask a psychologist to explain it," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliano said.
FH first in line
We may be in the early throes of the UEFA Champions League group stage, but FH Hafnarfjördur are already looking forward to the 2010/11 edition after becoming the first side to gain entry to the qualifying rounds after retaining their Icelandic title on Sunday. Now coach Heimir Gudjónsson is just hoping for a bit of luck in the draw. "It is better to get a team which plays during the winter because we are in our best shape during our summer season," he said.
Free lunch
Bayer 04 Leverkusen's home game against Werder Bremen on Sunday ended in a goalless draw, but fans could have few complaints after they were treated to free food and drink due to a computer fault at the BayArena which froze the club's closed payment system. With fans unable to charge up their special club credit cards, the Bundesliga side generously treated them all. Home goalkeeper René Adler appreciated the gesture – to a point. "The atmosphere in the stadium was great; the club should do this every week," he said. "It's just a shame there was no free beer for the players."
Last hurrah
Last week we had the return of Tomáš Rosický following a long lay-off with injury, and while Mika Kottila takes up the comeback baton this week, it is for a very different reason. The former Finland striker has announced he will come out of retirement to play one more game on the gravel pitch at his first club, Malmin Palloseura. Nicknamed The Moose, the former HJK Helsinki, Hereford United FC, SK Brann, Trelleborgs FF and FC Lahti player represented his country 31 times before persistent injuries took their toll. "I started on the Tapuli gravel, and on the Tapuli gravel I will retire," the 34-year-old told uefa.com. "I could never have believed back then what a career I would have had."
UEFA diyorki; Haftanin takimi; Galatasaray !
Boylelikle takimimiz Galatasaray, UEFA'nin tarihinde haftanin takimi olarak sectigi ilk Türk takimi unvanina kavusmustur!..
Team: Galatasaray AŞ
Hats off to Frank Rijkaard's Galatasaray who are enjoying their best ever start to a domestic campaign having won all six of their Süper Lig games and averaging 3.16 goals per match. While the leaders have raced out of the blocks, the story is rather different at champions and Istanbul rivals Beşiktaş JK, who have scored just three goals in their six games and have not found the net in 372 minutes.
Player: Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)
High-profile summer signings Cristiano Ronaldo (seven goals in five games) and Zlatan Ibrahimović (three in four Liga matches) may have made impressive starts for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively, but both were overshadowed by Raúl who made his 524th league outing for Los Merengues in Wednesday's 2-0 victory at Villarreal CF. The 32-year-old is now the club's all-time leading appearance holder in the Spanish top flight and one away from Manuel Sanchís's overall mark of 708 competitive games in the famous white shirt.
Match: Manchester United FC 4-3 Manchester City FC
City's big spending has reignited the Manchester derby and they certainly put the heat on United with a spirited performance at Old Trafford. The visitors, who kicked off with a perfect four wins from four Premier League games, fell behind three times only to equalise on each occasion, Craig Bellamy's second of the match late on seemingly securing them a point. However, the champions had the last word as Michael Owen scored in the sixth minute of added time to prompt unbridled celebrations from Sir Alex Ferguson – an indication perhaps that the wily manager views City as a genuine threat.
Goal: Mamadou Niang (Olympique de Marseille)
Receiving the ball just inside the Montpellier Hérault SC half, the Senegalese striker rode two challenges before darting into the box, beating another man and then rifling a shot into the bottom corner. It was Niang's fourth goal in six Ligue 1 appearances and helped the UEFA Champions League contenders to a 4-2 victory over their southern rivals.
Quote: Dick Advocaat (Belgium)
"The players have the wrong image of themselves. They have to be told that. Some players are under 23 and have potential but I got the impression some already felt they were ready to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona. That is not true. They have talent, but they are still young."
The Dutchman sets his stall out as he looks to lead Belgium to UEFA EURO 2012™ following a disappointing FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Music therapy
Champions of Europe seven times, AC Milan are more than comfortable on the continental stage. So much so they have begun replicating UEFA Champions League pre-match conditions ahead of their Serie A games. Following a slow start to their domestic campaign, Rossoneri coach Leonardo has taken to playing the UEFA Champions League anthem in the dressing room to gee up his side with the first airing achieving the desired effect – a 1-0 win against Bologna FC. "I don't know what happens to us when we hear the Champions League music; we'll have to ask a psychologist to explain it," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliano said.
FH first in line
We may be in the early throes of the UEFA Champions League group stage, but FH Hafnarfjördur are already looking forward to the 2010/11 edition after becoming the first side to gain entry to the qualifying rounds after retaining their Icelandic title on Sunday. Now coach Heimir Gudjónsson is just hoping for a bit of luck in the draw. "It is better to get a team which plays during the winter because we are in our best shape during our summer season," he said.
Free lunch
Bayer 04 Leverkusen's home game against Werder Bremen on Sunday ended in a goalless draw, but fans could have few complaints after they were treated to free food and drink due to a computer fault at the BayArena which froze the club's closed payment system. With fans unable to charge up their special club credit cards, the Bundesliga side generously treated them all. Home goalkeeper René Adler appreciated the gesture – to a point. "The atmosphere in the stadium was great; the club should do this every week," he said. "It's just a shame there was no free beer for the players."
Last hurrah
Last week we had the return of Tomáš Rosický following a long lay-off with injury, and while Mika Kottila takes up the comeback baton this week, it is for a very different reason. The former Finland striker has announced he will come out of retirement to play one more game on the gravel pitch at his first club, Malmin Palloseura. Nicknamed The Moose, the former HJK Helsinki, Hereford United FC, SK Brann, Trelleborgs FF and FC Lahti player represented his country 31 times before persistent injuries took their toll. "I started on the Tapuli gravel, and on the Tapuli gravel I will retire," the 34-year-old told uefa.com. "I could never have believed back then what a career I would have had."
UEFA diyorki; Haftanin takimi; Galatasaray !
Boylelikle takimimiz Galatasaray, UEFA'nin tarihinde haftanin takimi olarak sectigi ilk Türk takimi unvanina kavusmustur!..