SPAIN
Photo:AP
Saturday’s match between Barcelona and Valencia will forever be known as “Bottlegate” as Lionel Messi’s injury time winning penalty kick was met with a water bottle in the head of Neymar from the home Valencia fans. Although Neymar was directly hit, Suarez also took to the ground with other teammates grabbing faces. It’s a flop no matter how you look at when only Neymar was directly struck. What do you think?
Ivan Rakitić came off the bench in the 14th minute as Andres Iniesta had to come off due to injury. With the win, Barcelona remain two points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Barcelona players get bottle thrown at them
Mateo Kovačić played the full match for Real Madrid in place of an injured Luka Modrić as Los Blancos defeated Athletic Bilbao through an 84th minute Alvaro Morata goal. The win sees Real Madrid regain sole possession of first place, with Sevilla only one point behind. Sevilla pulled up the ranks of La Liga by defeating Atletico Madrid 1-0. Šime Vrsaljko remained on the bench for Atletico in the loss. Duje Čop has been cold for Sporting Gijon as their go-to striker. He hasn’t scored in over a month as Sporting drew Granada 0-0 this weekend.
ENGLAND
Lovren header (2:49)
Dejan Lovren played the full 90 minutes for Liverpool on Saturday as the Reds defeated West Brom 2-1 at Anfield. With the victory, Liverpool are now tied atop the Premiership table with Manchester City and Arsenal a quarter through the season. Lovren was not at fault for the late West from goal as the entire defense fell apart following a cross. Lovren did however send a blazing header on frame in the 58th minute off a set piece only for the attempt to be saved by a diving Ben Foster.
Italy
Photo:Fiorentina
Finally Kalinić! The former Dnipro striker featured as the leading star as he scored a hat trick and destroyed Cagliari @ Sant’Elia on Sunday with 5-3 the final result for Fiorentina. Having scored a brace during Europe League the Croatian international looked rejuvenated. With his team down 1-0, he headed in a cross by Tello. Protests arose from the Cagliaritani but the goal correctly stayed. He then served Bernadeschi à la Totti and completed a phenomenal first half with a goal from outside of the box. The former Hajduk star finished off the opponents with another header for the momentary 5-1. Kalinić surely benefited of the change of style Paulo Sousa decided to adopt. Many offensive players were fielded and more support was provided to him. Salomon and Bruno Alves are probably still wondering what hit them. As a result of the manager’s change of mind both Hrvoje Milić and Milan Badelj were unused substitutes.
Nikola Kalinić hat trick
La Gazzetta Dello Sport Rating: Nikola Kalinić 8 “Five goals in 4 days, his second hat trick in serie A. Dangerous each time he’s around the ball. If he plays like this Paulo Sousa can relax.”
Juventus collected their second loss of the season as they were beaten 1-0 in San Siro by AC Milan on Saturday night. Mario Mandžukić had muscle pain all week and started from the bench. The former Atletico Madrid star came on in the 75 minute in search of an equalizer. His partnership with Higuain once again did not work and Mario ended up not receiving one single ball. Marko Pjaca was left out of the squad as he is still recovering from the injury that he picked up during the international break. The former Dinamo star should come back in the ranks sometime this week.
Mario Pašalić was an unused substitute for Montella. The former Hajduk midfielder has still not kicked a ball this season and he is already rumored to be returning to Chelsea in January.
La Gazzetta Dello Sport Rating: Mario Mandžukić 5,5 “Comes on and plays upfront in a 4-4-2 with Higuain. Tries to find his first seasonal goal but he never gets the right ball.”
PHOTO: inter
Inter lost to Atalanta 2-1 in Bergamo and now lie at the 14th place. The nerazzurri are in shambles and De Boer’s tenure might have already come to an end. Ivan Perišić got a start on the right side for the nerazzurri. The former Wolfsburg star was probably the most dangerous man for his team but turned the light off far too often and made unusual mistakes. Definitely better when back on the left side towards the end of the match. Perišić had a great chance but his finishing was too central.
PHOTO: inter
Marcelo Brozović was selected in the starting eleven as well to come off in the 62 minute with the score set 1-1. The former Dinamo midfielder had been already reinstated in the squad for the Europa League match when he alternated good and bad things. His display was simply horrible on Sunday. While being torn a part by Kessie, Brozović was slow and made too many bad passes at the point of looking almost uninterested.
La Gazzetta Dello Sport Rating: Ivan Perišić 5 “Out of the game play: never finds a good position be it on the right or on the left Loses too many balls and wastes the possible 2-1 with a central shot.” Marcelo Brozović 4,5 “Useless runs. Eaten alive by Kessie. Currently a ghost.”
Photo: ilnapolista.it
Sampdoria collected 3 important points as they beat Genoa 2-1 in the Derby dellalanterna on Saturday. Ante Budimir was rumored to be playing from the begining but was eventually left on the bench for the full 90 minutes. Palermo’s defeat in Rome was to be expected but the Rosanero never looked to be in the match and eventually gave up 4-1. Josip Posavec was an accident waiting to happen. The former Inter goalkeeper was at fault on the first two goals that virtually closed the match. He looked hesitant in the first and totally gifted the second. A clumsy dive following to a harmless free kick by Paredes let the ball slip in the net to everyone’s surprise. Albeit not guilty on the following two, the young goalkeeper proved to be a liability the whole night.
Josip Posavec had a terrible day at the office on Sunday.
La Gazzetta Dello Sport Rating: Josip Posavec 4 (WOTM) “Clumsy on both goals. Gives a big hand to Roma.”
Photo: screenshot
Napoli beat Crotone 2-0 in spite of playing with 10 men most of the match. Due to the midweek Serie A round approaching, Ivan Strinić got the second start of the season. The former Hajduk fullback made up for a solid defensive performance. Tonev never posed a threat and Strinić diligently completed his duty.
Marko Rog was gifted with another free ticket and looked on from the bench. The former Dinamo star has yet to play a single minute in the season with supporters about to raise a case in his favor. Maurizio Sarri who was asked once again about the Croatian said ‘The guy is certainly part of our plans. He comes from a totally different contest. He has come and gone from the national team and has trained too little with us’. ‘He is running the same path that Diawara did’ the manager continued ‘The former Bologna player has played today simply because he has trained with us more than Rog’. ‘Marko will have his chance when he is in a position to do well. If we bring in young players we must give them time and think about the future, otherwise we would be buying 30 year old players’ the former Empoli guru concluded.
La Gazzetta Dello Sport Rating: Ivan Strinić 6 “Attentive student. A respectable replacement for Ghoulam.”
Andrija Balić and Stipe Perica looked on from the bench as Udinese beat Pescara 2-1 on the Sunday in the lunch match.
Germany
Alen Halilović made a rare start for Hamburg SV as they fell 3-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt over the weekend. Halilović only made it through the first half before being subbed off after failing to have an impact (0 chances created, 0 shots). Hamburg have started the season dreadfully, with two points through eight matches. Ante Rebić missed out for Frankfurt after picking up an ankle injury in training last week.
Andrej Kramarić and Hoffenheim continue to be on a roll, taking three points off of Champions League participants Bayer Leverkeusen in a 3-0 away win on Saturday. Kramarić picked up another assist, as he found Sandro Wagner for Hoffenheim’s second goal, his 5th of the campaign. Tin Jedvaj was an unused substitute for Bayer Leverkeusen. Leverkeusen have had a disappointing start to their Bundesliga campaign, and are 11th after 8 games, while Hoffenheim are off to a great start, and sit 4th.
France
Goals: 0:40, 1:45
Danijel Subašić and Monaco returned to their winning ways on Saturday, scoring 6 times on 11 shots in a 6-2 home win over Montpelier. Subašić made one save and was not at fault for the goals. With PSG and Tolosuse involved in 0-0 draws this weekend Monaco have taken sole possession of 2nd in Ligue 1 after 10 matches.
Ukraine
Domagoj Vida and Dynamo continue to struggle in league play, as they were held to their second consecutive 1-1 draw on Sunday. Vida picked up a yellow card in the 90th minute, as did 2 FC Olexandria players. Vida’s defense was very unlucky to concede, as they held the opposition to only two shots. Kyiv are now 3rd in the Ukrainian Premier League, 8 points back from Shakhtar after 12 matches.
Russia
Vedran Ćorluka started for Lokomotiv as they earned a big 1-0 home win over CSKA Moscow. Ćorluka led the defense, holding the dangerous CSKA attack to 7 shots. After a slow start in their first 11 matches, Lokomotiv are tied for 10th in the Russian Premier League, already 9 points out of European places.
Next Matches:
Tuesday, 10/25
Hamburger SV at Hallescher FC(DFB Pokal), Bayer Leverkusen at Sportfreunde Lotte(DFB Pokal), Ingolstadt at Frankfurt(DFB Pokal),,
Wednesday, 10/26
Hoffenheim at Köln(DFB Pokal), Crotone at Fiorentina, Torino at Internazionale, Sampdoria at Juventus, Real Madrid at Cultural Leonesa(Copa del Rey), Zorya at Dynamo Kyiv(Cup),
Saturday, 10/29
Liverpool at Crystal Palace, Monaco at Saint-Étienne, Bayer Leverkusen at Wolfsburg, Fiorentina at Bologna, Napoli at Juventus, Real Madrid at Deportivo Alavés, Málaga at Atlético Madrid, Granada at Barcelona, Karpaty at Dynamo Kyiv
Sunday, 10/30
Hertha BSC at Hoffenheim, Hamburger SV at Köln, Internazionale at Sampdoria,
Monday, 10/31
Lokomotiv Moskva at Rubin Kazan’
~Ante Kvartuč reporting from sunny Southern California, Zach Gilfix reporting from Minneapolis, MN and Salvatore Cagnazzi reporting from Italy
Read that Kalinic may be getting moved to Napoli
modric is a so so national player
without perisic, this team would not have won a game in the euros and very likely would not have qualified for euros all together
fun fact. perisic has taken part in more croatian goals in major tournaments than any player in croatian history
lose modric…kovacic steps in and we barely notice
lose perisic…lose the game
@ Brikic
Modric BUST midfielder in La Liga?
Pa da!
Modric is our BEST player by a country mile.
His career will reach mythical levels if he can sustain his quality on the pitch for the next 3 years for both club and country.
I have full faith this will happen as Real/Zidane will always line up to his strengths.
Our talent in the national set up is finally relieving him of his extra running duties and saving his legs.
His game has that Pirlo/Zidane quality that transcends physical speed with creative genius.
I pray we get it together over the next 20 months and put our best crew around him.
Uvijek Vjerni
I calculate use my math because I am a professor –
Mandzukic + Brozovic starting for 45 minutes
Lost 2-0 already
Both is on the bench for 45 minutes but there is Badelj
draw atm 0-0
Badelj still there for 90 minutes without 2 clowns
draw for sure 0-0
if Mandzukic or Brozovic come in for 30 minutes
without Badelj, we will be scored 2-1 both come 2-2
with Badelj, still we don’t manage a goal 0-1 both 0-2
professor LAknat always right
@Brkic nice one
I’m saying it now, starting Badelj vs a team like Iceland is asking for a draw or loss.
Modric awarded Best Midfielder in La Liga, but only our third best player huh? It’s kind of sad that Modric is under appreciated by so many.
@ Razbijač
Sign me up for that alignment !
Quick! Someone get a bucket of cold water to throw in Cacic’s face!!!
Because NO coach in his right mind would start Mandzo over Kale. He’s entered the mythical realm of Beast mode with 5 goals in two games.
And his hat trick was spectacular to say the least: A flicked header with his back towards goal. Right footed curler outside the box. And he topped it all off with a Powerful header. He’s rekindled the magic of Boksic in Serie A!
Kramaric is in the form of his career with 3 goals and 5 assists in Bundesliga play. Hoffenheim have scored 16 goals this season, with Kramaric contributing to 50% of those goals–half of the team’s offensive output. He basically took an average team and propelled them into a Champions League spot. And I get the feeling we haven’t seen the best of Karma Kramaric.
Assuming Modric and Pjaca are out. We can go with this kinda set up:
(4-3-3) Subasic–Vrsajlko, Corluka, Lovren, Strinic–Rakitic, Badelj, Kovacic–Kramaric, Kalinic, Perisic.
I would still favor Badelj over Brozovic, because Marcelo is a bit rusty and doesn’t tackle as well as Badelj.
Alen Halilovic = Bojan Krkic #2.
ranking all players in order of importance to the national team
perisic
kramaric
modric
vrsaljko
subasic
rakitic
kovacic
corluka
vida
badelj
brozovic
lovren
pjaca
mandzukic
kalinic
strinic
pivaric
kalinic l
rog
cop
@ BZ
Mandzukic and Kalinic together is too slow and predictable. This would play right into Iceland hands.
I like Mandzukic starting up top in this battle of attrition. Maybe he nicks a goal early ?
Kalinic comes in for him in the second half and offers second wave of attack. But he needs a good 20-30 minutes.
Lovren needs to start as he too offers a potential header or bomb from deep into goal.
Sign me up for Strinic as what ever form he is in is better than Pivaric or any other left back option.
Rakitic in CDM as he used to play at times Sevilla. He will boss the game from there and provide range passing/shooting to open the game up.
Forgive the cliche but this game is MASSIVE.
God bless our boys who have to play home game son empty stadion and worry about away game activities that reduce points.
No other major team has to worry about this nonsense.
Jebj ga.
3-1 Hrvatska !
Heard the commentator on the Barcelona game say how Rakitic is dangerous with the head, he is now a complete player.
Assuming Modric & Pjaca are still out for Iceland…
I think it would be fun to see Mandzo, Kalinic,& Kramaric start.
Call it crazy but even Fiorentinas coach sees Badelj as mediocre…
Subasic
Vrsaljko Corluka Vida Strinic
Perisic Kovacic Rakitic Kramaric
Mandzo Kalinic
Not a foregone conclusion, no.
I think it’s 70-30 that we WON’T get a points deduction. Most likely a big fine and maybe another home game without fans.
But I think that the next game with a ‘racist’ chant will be probably be a deduction of a point or two.
@Maminjo
“However, we need to finish first by a wide enough margin to cover the gap in point deductions from the so-called racist chants.”
Do you see point deductions being a foregone conclusion? Just curious..
i was looking through the games this week and notice nothing in italy? typo or are there no games?
ya kramaric is the real deal…. we were looking for someone to cover this position. i feel like he would have been more then fine at euro cup. i haven’t seen him play too much but the amounts of assists he is making speak wonders to his unselfish play
the headers were nice from kalinic but the way he pounced on that second goal and blasted it was real nice to see.
i just feel like mario doesn’t have that goal in him anymore
Go Cubs go!
I have full faith that this team will finish first in this group.
However, we need to finish first by a wide enough margin to cover the gap in point deductions from the so-called racist chants.
Kramaric is the real deal, superb worker, Kalinic so much better with a bit of help, anything less than first in our group would be a major dissapointment to me.
So long as Kramaric starts, I’m happy.
Either one of Kalinic and Mandzukic are capable up top.
Any combination of Modric, Rakitic, Kovacic, and Brozovic are capable in central midfield.
The issue with us, was that glue-guy between our forwards and our central midfield.
Kramaric is the perfect second striker for us.
He has the skillset of both a striker and midfielder (with no real bias or loyalty to either position).
Man Kalinic on fire
Still Mario starts cause of Kosovo hat rick
Kovačić
Kalinic
Kramaric
All in form!
Just what the Doctor ordered for Iceland.
Man I watched Halilovic in the first half of Hamburg match v Frankfurt.
Muha bez glava !
Quick dribble, strong left foot … ZERO connection with teammates and even less impact on pitch!
Juxtapose him with Pulisic.
Runs all day for TEAM.
Loves his TEAM.
Lifts his TEAM.
Kovac has his TEAM hungry and playing attacking football.
I guess he is growing as a manager.
@ Ante
I think Pjaca came into camp with that lower leg injury?
Hopefully he comes back soon and can be ready for Iceland ?