The Gunners and Paris Saint-Germain promise to play one of the best games on the second day of the League Stage.
2024-09-30 02:58:19
#exciting #duel #Arsenal #PSG #Champions
Deco wanted a change. And Pedri is grateful for the change.
When he took over as sporting director, Deco found a deficit in the physical preparation of the first team. According to what they explained at the Ciudad Deportiva, Barcelona had fallen behind the leading clubs in Europe. The problem had a solution: tempting Julio Tous, a specialist in strength training, to become the new physical trainer. Tous had experience at Barça, but had also spent time in Italy (Sampdoria and Juventus) and England (Chelsea and Tottenham). The talks for him to join Barça, however, were dragging on. It happened then that Pedri suffered another muscular problem. At that moment, Deco and his team understood that there was no more time to lose. And, with Xavi still sitting on the bench, Barcelona signed Tous.
“Barça has always been a benchmark in physical preparation and innovation at the training level. When I arrived as a player we had Paco Seirul.lo and I saw things I had never seen before. Barça has always been a club of innovation. The idea of bringing Tous was not because of something that was wrong, but because of an issue of improvement. Barça must be a club with references. Julio had his life consolidated, but he believed in the project,” explained Deco about the incorporation of the new head of physical preparation. Within the Deco and Tous project there was a name in red: Pedri. The Canary Island midfielder had changed his diet, his training routine – he had set up a gym at home – and even followed Ferran Torres’ advice to immerse himself in cold water. However, nothing seemed to change: he continued to have muscle problems, three injuries in the 2023-2024 season, a total of nine in the last three campaigns.
To avoid the labyrinth of injuries, Pedri had also had his muscles analysed in the United States. According to Mundo Deportivo, a sample of the fibres was taken from the Canary Islander and sent to a reference laboratory for genetic muscular myopathies in Baltimore for analysis. The idea was to get to know Pedri’s physique better in order to avoid further injuries.
When Pedri seemed to be finding his way back to the starting eleven at the European Championships in Germany, a tackle by Toni Kroos in the quarter-finals sent him back to the infirmary. He was not discouraged. He stayed with the group in Donaueschingen, lifted the Cup in Berlin and then left for Tenerife as he does every summer. This time, he had a shadow at his side. In addition to training to recover from his knee injury, the Canary Islander took advice from Tous. The new head of Barcelona’s physical preparation sent a man he trusted to work with Pedri.
A key player
A more muscular and powerful Canary Islander showed up to work under Flick. “Pedri has been working hard for a while to be in top form. Hopefully they have hit the nail on the head now,” explained those close to the footballer. “For me it is crucial that the players are in good physical condition, as is the technical and tactical side. Football is much more than just playing the ball,” explained Hansi Flick.
Tous’ strength method, plus Flick’s field work, boosted the Canary Islander’s football in the awakening of the new Barça. He has scored two goals in the first five games of the season, as well as becoming a key man for the coach in the game’s flow, either alongside Casadó in midfield or as a playmaker as will happen today against Monaco in Barça’s Champions League debut to replace the injured Dani Olmo. “Flick asks me to play without pressure. We work very hard and it shows in the game. The team does not drop after the 70th or 80th minute and maintains its physical level,” said Pedri during an interview during the international break.
Those words irritated Xavi. And they did so much that the same day the interview was published in Mundo Deportivo, the former coach sent a message to the Canary Islander on the eve of the match between Serbia and Spain. But Pedri avoided the confrontation. “His intention was not to criticise Xavi’s work, but to talk about Flick,” explained those close to the number 8. Pedri’s response to Xavi is shared in the dressing room. “We have a new way of working, but we must not throw away everything that Xavi had done. We had difficult moments last year, but also others in which the team was doing well. Flick demands that there is intensity and that we are focused at all times. We are understanding this very well and it is reflected on the pitch,” revealed Koundé.
Following Tous’ pace, Flick takes advantage of Pedri’s football. And Deco smiles.
The Leverkusen footballers entered the Champions League with a clear 4-0 win at Feyenoord in a battle between two future opponents of Sparta Prague. Goalkeeper Matěj Kovář remained on the bench for the winning team, Patrik Schick intervened in the game from the 62nd minute. Benfica Lisbon won 2:1 at Crvene zvezdy Belgrade stadium. Brest football players had a successful debut in the “millionaire” competition, defeating Sturm Graz 2:1. Barcelona, playing weakened from the 11th minute, lost to Monaco with the same result. Atlético Madrid turned their match with Leipzig to 2:1 only in the set-up. The match between Atalanta and Arsenal ended amicably without goals.
Bayer took the lead at the De Kuip Stadium after less than five minutes. Zerrukí lost the ball in his own half and Wirtz opened the scoring from behind the goal. The Algerian international could have corrected his mistake in the ninth minute, but his goal was disallowed due to offside.
The visitors went ahead after half an hour after Grimaldo capitalized on Frimpong’s pass from close range. In the next six minutes, the Dutch representative Frimpong crossed in front of the goal and Wirtz dealt another blow to the home side by finishing from the first. The 21-year-old Bayer striker became the first German to score at least two goals on his debut in the “millionaire” competition.
The horror half for Feyenoord, whose lineup included former Spartan Hancko, was completed by goalkeeper Wellenreuther, who knocked Tapsoba’s header into the goal and the goal was credited to him as his own. For the third time in history, the team from the port city conceded four times in the cups during the first half.
After the change of sides, nothing important happened. The reigning German champions also won the fourth competitive duel of the season away from home. On the other hand, the Dutch team, led by former Sparta coach Brian Priske, suffered their first defeat of the year, but did not win the fourth of the last five games. Both teams will challenge the Leten team, which defeated Salzburg 3-0 at home on Wednesday, in front of their own fans.
“Am I shocked? I don’t know if that’s the right word. First of all, I was surprised by the goals we conceded, that’s not possible in the Champions League. Bayer punished us heavily,” the club website quoted Priske as saying.
“My team performed very well. We played very maturely despite the stormy atmosphere. Today we managed not only to score goals, but also to defend well, which is important in the Champions League. We have to show it in the next matches as well,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso .
At Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium, Leipzig led from the fourth minute thanks to Šešek, Griezmann equalized after less than half an hour of play. The same player contributed to Giménez’s winning goal with an assist at the end of regular time.
While “Rojiblancos” will present themselves at Letná at the end of November, Brest at the beginning of it. The French team scored first against the defending Austrian champions thanks to Magnetti, home midfielder Fernandes scored an own goal in the first half. After changing sides, former Slavist striker Sima decided Brest’s triumph. In the end, the visiting Lavalée was expelled.
Barcelona played weakened in Monaco from the 10th minute. Goalkeeper Ter Stegen made a mistake and García illegally stopped Minamino, who would have run alone to the goal. He immediately saw a red card from the referee. The princely club used a power play in the 16th minute with a goal by Akliouche, the 17-year-old European champion with Spain Yamal equalized for the guests. After the break, Ilenikhena gave the hosts a full point win. The Catalan team did not follow up on the opening five wins in the Spanish league.
In the duel between Bergamo and Arsenal, the home side were closer to winning, but in the second half the goalkeeper of Ray saved Retegui’s penalty and made a fantastic save to neutralize his header.
Benfica decided to win 2:1 at the ground of Crvene zvezda Belgrade in the opening act, when Turks Aktürkoglu and Kökcü scored. In the end, substitute Milson reduced. Already in the first half, visiting Bah had to substitute due to injury, on the other hand, another former player of Slavia Olayinka came on the pitch in the 71st minute.
The Champions League is played in a new format from this season. The traditional eight groups of four have been replaced by a league phase in which all 36 teams form one table. Each team will play four home and away matches against eight different opponents. The first eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, the clubs in ninth to 24th place face the opening round of the elimination phase.
Feyenoord Rotterdam – Leverkusen 0:4 (0:4)
Goals: 5. and 36. Wirtz, 30. Grimaldo, 45. own Wellenreuther
Crvena zvezda Belgrade – Benfica Lisbon 1:2 (0:2)
Goals: 86. Milson – 9. Aktürkoglu, 29. Kökcü
Bergamo – Arsenal 0:0
Atlético Madrid – Leipzig 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 28. Griezmann – 4. Sesko
Brest – Sturm Hradec 2:1(1:1)
Goals: 23. Magnetti – 45.+1 owned by Fernandes
Monaco – FC Barcelona 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 16. Akliouche – 28. Yamal. Referee: Lindhout (Netherlands)
ČK: 11. Garcia (Barcelona).
The English heir to the throne, Prince William (42), spoke on X today, 17 September, about the start of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. The avowed, lifelong fan of the Birmingham club Aston Villa wished his team good luck for the upcoming matches – and in the same breath recalled football history.
Prince William recalls triumph before his birth
“The last time Aston Villa won a top European competition was the month before I was born,” writes William, referring to his team’s victory in the European Cup final on May 26, 1982. And he continues: “Let’s hope that tonight is the first step towards another European adventure!”
The last time @AVFCOfficial won in the top European competition, it was the month before I was born. Let’s hope tonight is the first step towards another European adventure!
My thoughts this evening are also with Villa legend Gary Shaw’s friends and family following his passing…
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 17, 2024
The husband of Princess Kate (42) has watched his team’s games live in the stadium several times in the past. He also took his son Prince George (11) with him, who sat next to him in the stands. Villa will play against Young Boys Bern in Switzerland this evening.
It is the club’s first ever participation in the Champions League. The traditional club last played in the European Cup in the 1982/83 season. During the newly introduced Champions League phase, the team will also face RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, among others.
He Aston Villawho will compete this season in Champions League More than forty years later, it has set ticket prices for local fans that are around 80 pounds (95 euros), above the limit that UEFA has imposed for visiting fans of 50 pounds.
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The cheapest ticket for an adult at Villa Park for the Champions League will be 85 pounds, while in Liverpool is 30 pounds and in the 37-pound Arsenal.
Villa will face in the group stage at home to Bayern Munich, Bologna, Juventus Turin and Celtic Glasgow, while away from home they will have to face Young Boys, Club Brugge, RB Leipzig and Monaco.
Some fans have taken to social media to complain about the club’s decision, calling it “embarrassing”.
This price increase is in line with the increase in tickets and season tickets. Premier League this seasonAccording to the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), the price of tickets in The league has risen by 6.7% and of the 17 clubs Only Crystal Palace remained in the league and decided not to raise prices.
He Nottingham Forest increased prices by 20 %being the team that experienced the biggest rise.
Among the reasons that the clubs have put forward These increases are justified by the higher cost of footballers.s, both in transfers and salaries, and the inclusion of an additional match in European competitions, where the number of home games played during the group stage has gone from three to four.
Goals
Home: 45+5. Diouf, 49. Sick
Assemblies
Home: Kinský – Prebsl, Ogbu, Bořil (C) – D. Douděra, Zafeiris (90+2. Chaloupek), Oscar, Diouf (87. Frozen) – Jurásek (46. Schranz), Provod (90+2. Vorlický) – Chorý (62. Caught).
Guests: Stejskal – Surzyn (84. Brdička), Jindra, D. Šimek, Šehić (56. Lurvink) – Vacek (C), Darmovzal (78. Yahaya) – Leipold (46. Mareš), Simon, Míšek – Zlatohlávek (56. Krobot ).
Substitutes
Home: Cottage, Winter, Caught, Bužek, Vorlický, Ševčík, Schranz, Frozen, Mandous
Guests: Lurvink, Poleák, Yahaya, Mareš, Krobot, Huf, Brdička, Zifčák, Budinský
Cards
Home: Prebsl (č), Bořil, Zafeiris, D. Douděra
Guests: Šehić, Krobot, Lurvink, Surzyn
Referee
Orel – Vanya, Leška.
Stadium
Fortuna Arena, Prague 10–Vršovice
Visit
17,983 viewers