Dispatched: Ruminations on Manchester City vs. Barcelona and Spurs vs. Benfica

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Ed offers a dispatch on how Spurs and Man City were dispatched:

 

o Was I the only one watching Manchester City play Barcelona at the Nou Camp?  It seemed the English media -- all the English media -- got it wrong (and not for the first time).  While City did have a spirited first 20 minutes or so, and while they did play better than in the first leg, they were once again completely outclassed by Barcelona.  The slick and counterintuitive interior passing of Barca left City's expensive lineup swinging madly at the ball as it bounced between them, and it could have easily been 2 -0 pretty early in the game if not for a poor offside call and a missed penalty call on a clear foul against Messi.  The idea that City is "still a year or two away from European football success" is stupidity.  Or that they're still missing a few players to get them over the top.  That's wishful thinking apologists talking.  City isn't too NEW to compete in Europe, nor are they just missing a few players: the reality is Barca is simply far better than what may be the top English club, and they're far better than most other Clubs in Europe.
 

o Part of the reason is Messi, who is  finally returning to full form.  Messi looked so much faster and quicker than all of the City players it was bizarre.  He darts past their entire lineup when he wants to.  Neymar ain't bad either.  Or Iniesta.  Or Fabregas.  Wow. are these guys good....

 

 

o I understand that the Spanish media have been all over Barcelona's manager due to poor league play.  Having never watched them I can only speculate.  But perhaps the teams in La Liga are finally learning how to play against their system.  Clearly the zone doesn't work;  I'm still not sure why teams don't man mark Iniesta and Xavi in the middle.  Regardless, I expect to see this team in the finals.  Wouldn't Bayern v. Barca be a dream to watch?

Impotent: Chelsea 1 - Benfica 0

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Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea side invaded a raucous Estadio da Luz Tuesday night, in search of a first leg victory in the Champions League Elite Eight round.  The aging Londoners introduced fresh legs into their lineup, including those of forgotten man Solomon Kalou, while resting several -- shall we say -- more mature players such as Frank Lampard, in the hope of lasting a full 90 minutes against their Portuguese rivals. The evening represented a homecoming of sorts for two players in Blue, with Raul Meireles returning to his home country (albeit to a rival team's lair) and David Luiz playing against his former teammates from just over a year ago.

While Benfica 'keeper Artur was less than authoritative on an early cross, and Ramires looked lively in the early going for the visitors, it was the home side with the game's first real opportunity.  Chelsea's blushed were spared, however, as Oscar Cardozo fired wide after being picked out on the lob by Javi Garcia.

Juan Mata busied himself buzzing about the pitch like a pesty fly, albeit an insect wearing orange boots. Nico Gaitan and his teammates, on the other hand, more closely resembled a swarm of gnats -- clustering and problematic, but a group which dissolved just prior to the moment at which they would be struck.

Chelsea had good reason to be the happier of the two squads heading into the break, coming closest to a goal through Meireles' nearly lethal dart, while having blunted Benfica's attack at almost every turn.  In general, Di Matteo's charges had not allowed the home side to impose their will in a tepid 45 minutes of sleepy inaction.

Paradise Lost: Manchester United 2 - Benfica 2

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Manchester United were forced to face Benfica at home without their talisman Wayne Rooney yesterday, so it was Dimitar Berbatov leading the line, as Nani and the-just-returned-from-injury Ashley Young partnered with the Bulgarian to provide offense in Tuesday's Champions League face off.  At the back, it was Phil Jones pairing with Rio Ferdinand in Nemanja Vidic' absence, attempting to keep the Portuguese out of the net.  Benfica entered the game unbeaten this season, with the current streak at 20 games entering the contest.

Jones figured prominently in early going, with his own goal gifting Benfica the lead -- definitely not the kind of welcome United were envisioning when the game plan was designed. Within five minutes, the English champs were down 1-0, the first goal the team had allowed in six games, on truly the first attack of the day from the visitors.  Once again, it was the midfield that was exposed, with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher unable to cover all of the Portuguese players who came flooding into the center of the pitch.

Benfica's obvious game plan was to hit the Reds hard and often, in an attempt to unsettle the home side and slow the game down, nullifying whatever movement or momentum the Reds had -- and it appeared to work, with the Reds seeming unusually jjittery at Old Trafford. Teams seem to be coming into the Theater of Dreams this season with a different mindset, a reminder that United appear more vulnerable -- especially mentally -- than they have in seasons past.

Nani gave Benfica the most trouble in the game's opening half hour, dribbling through the Portuguese side almost at will, but he was also responsible for repeatedly giving the ball away.  Although United had significantly more of the possession at 60/40, they were unsuccessful in their attempts to create quality scoring chances, failing to test the Benfica 'keeper in the games first half hour.

Workmanlike

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Manchester United toiled their way to a workmanlike 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light last night, leaving hosts Benfica and Portugal with a satisfactory point, but unable to reach the dizzying heights which the team has occupied of late.  The English Champions looked more fluid in the second half than they did in a disjointed first, and dominated posession for considerable periods of the match without creating the wealth of opportunities which they have recently come to expect. 

o The match was largely devoid of any sort of flare or excitement, and it brought back some none-too-vivid memories of last season's European snoozers against such sides as Olympique Marseille and Rangers.  Chalk the outcome up to Sir Alex's much more conservative managerial style when the team plays in Europe, and I reckon the Scot will be secretly pleased with the overall outcome.

o Sir Alex offered a complete overhaul of the lineup, choosing to sit eight players who took the field last weekend versus Bolton.  Confidence or arrogance....?