Champions League analysis: United’s hopes and Barcelona’s difficulties

Date 4 of the UEFA Champions League group stage was marked by the qualification of Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Ajax to the round of 16. For its part, Manchester United managed to put on another show in the last stages of their confrontation. We also saw close victories for Barcelona and Real Madrid; but Paris Saint-Germain stumbled and Atletico Madrid and AC Milan continue to face difficulties.

We asked James Olley, Tom Hamilton, and Andrew Richardson to answer some important questions.

What caught your attention about Date 4?

Olley: The curious relationship Liverpool fans have with Luis Suarez placeholder image. His replacement in the 59th minute of Wednesday’s game that ended in the Reds’ 2-0 win over Atlético de Madrid was belatedly greeted with silent applause; but the home crowd had long had fun, booing the former Liverpool striker. Suárez scored 82 points in 133 appearances during his three seasons with the Reds in 2014. However, the Uruguayan was haunted by controversies, being suspended twice for biting an opponent (one of them fulfilling the call of his national team ) and serving another suspension for racial insults against the former defender Patrice evra during a match against Manchester United in 2011.

In fairness, we must emphasize that Suarez enthusiastically celebrated a goal that he scored wearing the Barcelona shirt during the first leg of their Champions League semi-final match in May 2019, and spent a good part of the second leg against Atleti kicking everywhere. Virgil van Dijk. But it was almost as if fans of the Reds relished the opportunity to label him a pantomime villain. In a notorious event, Liverpool’s squad wore slogan jerseys in support of Suarez when the investigation into the Evra incident was in full swing. On Wednesday night, a fan located behind the press box could be heard calling Suárez a “racist”. How the times change.

Hamilton: Ajax beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to become the first Dutch team to win their first four group stage matches, and they are playing with the same confidence that led them to the semi-final round in the 2018-19 edition of the tournament. Additionally, the cool talent scout was present, dressed in red and white at the Westfalenstadion, with Sebastien haller and Dusan Tadic scoring a goal each.

Haller fell from grace at West Ham; however, he has been a revelation, scoring seven goals in the group stage this season; While Talic, acquired for 12 million pounds from Southampton in 2018, could add arguments to qualify him as the best Ajax player in the 21st century. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag’s stock remains on the rise as one of the best coaches in Europe; However, this triumph served as further evidence of what it is capable of achieving when all its machinery works in harmony.

For their part, Sporting Lisbon put on quite a show with their proposed game in the 4-0 victory over Besiktas, while Trent Alexander-Arnold He was magnificent for the Liverpool cause in their 2-0 win over Atlético de Madrid. And if you want the best performance of the round, you just have to watch the demonstration of Paulo dybala with Juventus in the Bianconera 4-1 victory over Zenit.

Richardson: Atalanta’s center forward Duvan zapata proved comfortable playing at the Champions League level against a Manchester United defense that includes one of England’s best full-backs (Harry maguire) and a winner of the competition on four occasions (Raphael varane). “El Toro” Zapata has had his moments in Serie A; however, taking center stage on the biggest stage against one of the biggest clubs in all of world football is something special. Maybe he doesn’t score a lot of goals and he’s already 30 years old; however, the Colombian international continues to keep rival defenders busy and creates space for his teammates. Maybe it will cost Atalanta to keep him on their squad.

Another late show from Manchester United. Can Solksjaer change the situation for the team?

Richardson: You don’t have a chance. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is completely out of his league, and while it is true that Cristiano Ronaldo has saved the position of his coach (as well as vital points) in three consecutive Champions League games, this situation is completely untenable.

The United squad has real talents – a mix of seasoned superstars, exciting young players and other capable footballers; however, that talent is being wasted by a technical director who really lacks ideas at this level. It is true that total dysfunction within the hierarchies above him is the only reason why Solskjaer remains on the Old Trafford bench.

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The Reds defeated the mattress team 2-0, which looked outnumbered and played with 10 men from minute 36 of the game on date 4 of the Champions League.

Olley: United will find a way to qualify for the knockout rounds; although they were very lucky to score four points from the two games against Atalanta. And so the Solskjaer cycle continues: to a match from complete disaster, rescued from the abyss by individual genius, although it shows no signs of working towards a collective game plan that helps them gain greater immunity against level fluctuations. When the lack of an obvious successor is possibly the most helpful thing to keep you in the job, the signs are written on the wall.

Hamilton: Against Atalanta, United appeared to be an abstract group of world-class players, rather than a cohesive squad. Yet that is a symptom of the disease and confusion that have gripped the club. They have the players (with the exception of a midfielder who recovers balls), although they lack a game plan and structure.

At Old Trafford, they want to play proposed football, based on the foundations of a first-rate youth academy; So if the club owners have any ambitions to challenge and aim for titles, they need to learn the notions that Ajax has mastered for so many years.

With two games remaining to finish the round, the big club that will not qualify for the round of 16 is …

Hamilton: The Barcelona. Despite his triumph against Dynamo Kiev (thanks to the genius of Ansu Fati), they will have difficulties to advance beyond Group E. Considering that they have pending a visit to Bayern Munich on matchday six, Barça simply have to add three points against Benfica in their next match, or the advantage will be from Jorge’s squad Jesus.

Richardson: AC Milan. Regardless of how little favorites are considered with a view to a particular campaign, the Rossoneri They are a soccer institution that always aspires to great results. This is their relationship with the competition that they have won seven times.

It is true that facing a group made up of Liverpool, Atlético de Madrid and Porto was quite a challenge. However, despite not being favorites to win the Champions League, Milan’s most recent triumphs have come at unexpected times. Additionally, they are tied at the top of the Serie A table, so being eliminated in the group stage would be a surprise, as well as a disappointment.

Olley: Andrew is right about AC Milan, although Atlético de Madrid could also face certain problems. A problem shared by both is that Liverpool have already secured the top of Group B; It is therefore highly likely that Jurgen Klopp will rotate his starting XI for the next home match against Porto, which would no longer be the same daunting challenge that the Portuguese club would have originally envisioned.

Also, Milan will host Liverpool on the last match date; For this reason, Atlético will be at a disadvantage if Klopp decides to give his figures a rest again. Atleti will also have to deal with the sanctions given to Antoine Griezmann and Philip.

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In addition, Karim Benzemá, scores the 1000th goal of the ‘Merengues’ in the Champions League

What young figures from less than favorite teams can play at the highest level?

Olley: I’m not sure I can consider Ajax an underdog, considering their storied lineage; However, there is a reason why Erik ten Hag continues to resist making the leap to the Premier League, and it could well be the quality of the next generation in the making. AntonyAn extremely promising winger, he could arrive before his manager to England, considering reports of an interest in him from Manchester City and Liverpool. The 21-year-old Brazilian is extremely fast, and plays with a courage that suggests that a career at the highest level awaits him.

Hamilton: Karim Adeyemi he is the next figure ready to make the leap from FC Salzburg to a giant in Europe. Adeyemi won’t turn 20 until next January; However, a series of exceptional performances in the Champions League have sparked interest in him from PSG, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, as well as national team recognition with the German team.

However, the Austrian club where Erling haaland and Takumi minamino burst onto big stages, he’s got more talent in development – 21-year-old flyers are worth keeping an eye on Nicolas Seiwald and Mohamed Camara. Seiwald is second in group stage pressures with 117, while Camara is solvent with takeoffs and ranks in the Top 10 in ball recoveries (57).

Richardson: Brahim diaz Brahim Diaz will not participate in the Champions League knockout rounds with AC Milan this year; although it is likely to become a regular presence in the seasons to come. The Spanish midfielder, on loan from Real Madrid, could be a stable figure in the White House lineup if he continues to play at this level. Díaz has been immense this season, being worthy of wearing the number 10 shirt.