Mario Pašalić scored a wonderful left-footed curler in the 27th minute Wednesday night to open up Atalanta’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against PSG. And it should have been enough as the game entered injury time with Atalanta still up 1-0. However, PSG’s perseverance caught Atalanta off guard defensively as the French champions would score twice to end Atalanta’s dream run.
Shades of Croatia vs. Turkey in 2008 struck me as I was watching the end of this match as PSG finally address their CL demons to qualify for the semifinals. They will play the winner of the RB Leipzig/Atletico Madrid match next week.
It’s really too bad as Pašalić was finally being showcased in front of Europe with the game and Atalanta could have been in contention to make the Final.
Pašalić Goal vs. PSG
Atalanta have been flying high since a disastrous start to the current Champions League season last fall. They have finished third in the Serie A season – ensuring they will be returning to the Champions League – and are currently locked in against PSG in a quarterfinal clash Wednesday night in Lisbon 3PM (ET).
Remember how it all started for Atalanta in CL though? They were blown out 4-0 at Maksimir by Dinamo Zagreb on opening night and only earned one point from the first four group stage matches. But somehow some way, Pašalić and company managed a 2-0 win over Dinamo and 3-0 victory over Shakhtar to force a second place finish in group and Round of 16 berth. Atalanta were then given a favorable draw with Valencia, whom they defeated 8-4 over two legs.
Atalanta have been one of Europe’s most surprising teams this season with urgency and grit, but will it be enough to get past PSG with the return of Mbappe from injury? This will be a one-leg quarterfinal in Portugal due to COVID and the winner will face Atletico Madrid/RB Leipzig in the semifinals next week. PSG are -170 favorites to advance.
Nothing beat seeing Cro Cop in his prime head kicking dudes. The anticipation of that was worth the price of admission. That shit was way more entertaining and marketable than anything Stipe’s done.
Needs to replace Kalinic in the National Side. ASAP
Ivo Grbic:
https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2020/08/13/5f3532c4e2704eab118b45d6.html
Watching all of Stipe’s fights these past few nights.
Let’s honor this man:
1) Greatest heavyweight of all time, but an even better person.
2) Great chin, gets rocked more than I would like, but seems to just wake him up. He destroyed Mark Hunt, who literally might be the only guy with a stronger chin in the heavyweight division. If you like guys with strong chins, watch the Justin Gaethe vs Tony Ferguson fight, won’t spoil it for you.
3) His win vs Ngannou was a master class in strategy. If Ngannou keeps on his trajectory, the Ngannou fight may be recognized as Stipe’s greatest victory.
4) When Stipe wins I feel like I do when we score a big goal in a big game. Never felt that way with Cro Cop.
Hope Stipe pulls it off again Saturday. Gets Jones then Ngannou, and retires a rich man.
I doubt Vlasic goes to Napoli as they just signed David Silva from Man City for the same role.
Dinamo should have got more for Olmo.
Then again, I think they inserted a 25% future transfer clause in there, so when Olmo goes to Barca (or whichever big club) Dinamo will probably double what they got for him lol.
@ Maminjo
Actually seems like Gatuso is a way better coach than I thought?
Napoli play a nice brand of ball.
They just seem to lack next level talent?
Love to see our boys in Serie A where they pick up the tactical nous of the game.
Mark Viduka should have been called up by Croatia but they big timed because they didn’t respect his direct beast mode style.
I am curious if Rakitic is even up for Euro ‘21?
His class is still there in some capacity for the squad.
He looked good last match.
Olmo and Leipzig in the semis
Well done to Dani and would be nice to see a German team win the champions league this year
In 2018, Dani Olmo expressed his desire for Croatia, but, later that year couldn’t resist the the call up for Spain’s U-21. Speaks fluent Croatian.
His brother Carlos plays as a defender for Dinamo Zagreb II in the second division.
@Zach
The HNL teams focus on development, and don’t spend much when it comes to transfers.
Dani Olmo, Mark Viduka, Emir Spahic, Hilal Soudani, are a few of the best players who were not Croatia Internationals. They always have some random role players like Ivo Pinto, Portugal’s goalkeeper Eduardo (who went to Chelsea after), Cufré and Taravel who weren’t bad. There are several Bosnian, Albanian, Slovenian and Macedonian players who went on to become international players for their countries…but nothing special.
Dinamo is getting more and more popular though, so this could change.
Wales’ U23 captain (Robbie Burton) left Arsenal to join Dinamo, and there are other young foreigners coming in now. I guess they are seeing how Dinamo can develop youth players better than these big name clubs (who rarely, if ever, produce players themselves).
CiganJeCigan
Krama is a pure #9.
I’m sure he is technically capable enough to play #10, but he’s not a willing enough passer to create chances for others.
He’s best suited as the lone striker up top.
Can we count Dani Olmo as one of ours? So good. Who’s the best non-Croat to have come out of the HNL?
Just look at Instagram followers. Dc has double.
Stipe doesn’t get enough respect. Best fighter out there.
UFC wants dc to win. Stipe came to camp in great shape and I think he will win.
Dc came to camp overweight. Too many donuts.
@ maminjo
no fighter has ever made less of so much success as stipe
the greatest fight record and the guy will emerge with little dough to show for it, little respect from the ufc, and so so fan base
and even fellow fighter don’t give him quite his due… i watched a video on fighter predictions for the fight, and i’d see it had to be 75% thinking DC would win…and you could also see the fighters had greater fandom for DC as well
Pasalic is a CAM version of Badelj, good passing and ball control but slow as shit. Also, kramaric has been our best number 10 past three years but unfortunately never given a chance
They kept accusing Miočić of ducking this fight (when he was still recovering from a torn retina) and after he finally confirmed the fight, they book it into the smaller ring (when they didn’t have to).
Stipe has too much pride, and is willing to fight at a disadvantage, rather than be questioned as the champ.
It would be a shame if he lost, especially after receiving more eye pokes yet again.
as it relates to the miocic fight
anyone got any insight into why miocic would agree to a smaller ring fight? which clearly will advantage cormier
i mean…isn’t moicic the champ…aren’t fights supposed to be on his terms ?
Pasalic could play a winger in certain formations, he scores a bunch for a midfielder.
overall though, you gotta be pretty pleased with that midfield depth and options
and a winger core of rebic, perisic, and brekalo seems decent enough
kramaric, petkovic, mandzukic combo at stirker
defense will be the major question mark in the center… partiucarly lovren
Given Vlasic performance for the NT and his continued strong form in his league, I think that CAM type position is still his
Ultimately though, pasalic performance brings into question of who is next man up in that spot? rakitic, kovacic or palasic
I’ve been advocating to remove rakitic from all starting line up combos…as i think his peak is past him and need young hungry legs in that midfield next to modric
kovacic might be chelseas player of the year…but we all know he’s a better modric or even brozovic type role player than a midfielder pressing up with the forwards and getting into the box which both vlasic and pasalic are showing the ability to do
so i think i would put pasalic ahead of kovacic to fill that role
So my midfield depth chart would play out as follows
cdm: brozovic, kovacic
metronome midfield: modric, kovacic, rakitic
cam: vlasic, pasalic, rakitic, modric
modric coming more into a cam position if you had to play kovacic and modric together
Pasalic does well in his role at Atalanta. He starts most games, and he is improving every year. He is a very good player, but i don’t think he’s ready to replace any of our NT starters. He would be a great option off the bench to inject some energy.
Atalanta ran out of steam. They played well for the first 20 -25 minutes. They are battered and bruised from the condensed SerieA restart…too many games in a short period of time. Gomez was playing injured, and Illicic was missing. These are the 2 players that carry this team. If they won, they would have a hard time surviving the next game. I can’t stand PSG, hopefully they lose in the semis.
It’s MAGA vs Joe & the Hoe, ZDS!
I was just thinking the other day how awesome it would be if those two played together for the same team.
I was hoping it would be Atalanta.
I don’t like Gatusso as a coach, but someone at Napoli is very very smart to go after the two most underrated Croatia international players.
Vlašić at 20M Euro is a steal. Brekalo may even be less. If they get both of these players together, it would be huge for them.
I just wish Napoli had a real coach.
Several reports today have Brekalo and Vlasic both being pursued by Napoli.
He’s too quiet on the pitch that’s the concern with Mario
He’s a lazy dalmatinac hahaha
i think someone else mentioned this in another thread but Pasalic has to perform better for the NT when he gets his opportunities before we can talk about him over Rakitic, Brozovic and Vlasic.. I know most of his opportunities have been off the bench but we’ve seen with a guy like Brekalo how much of an impact you can have even in the last 20-25 minutes of a match. Sure he is in club form but so is Vlasic and he has had direct impacts in games that get us results. Nations league will be big for a guy like Pasalic he can’t be invisible for us anymore there’s too much competition..
Ouch what a way to lose
That must hurt
Still Pasalic still does not break first eleven of hrvatska me thinks
Who does Pasalic push out of the starting lineup though?
Right now, our trio has been Modric, Brozovic, and (one of) Vlasic or Rakitic.
Assuming Modric and Rakitic retire…does Pasalic start ahead of Vlasic in the CAM role?
Or does he play deep, and starts ahead of Kovacic or Brozovic?
It’s tough. It’s a good problem to have, but unfortunately, he will have to take further steps forward to really win a starting spot over these guys.
I had Atalanta winning and predicted them scoring first. Great timing of a shot from Pasalic. No doubt he’ll start for the national team. PSG got lucky. Terrible defending and couldn’t hold the lead for a few more minutes. The second goal looked offside. Oh well it was a great run. Barisic had a goal and assist today. Too bad Sime won’t start tomorrow and it will be an easy 3-1 win for Atletico. Very sad to hear that young player lose his life so drastically. RIP
Unfortunately it’s PSGs time to advance this time around
Sorry
That’s really sad
RIP Luka
May you score goals up there in heaven
that’s a sad story about that good… i thought maybe this was the kid who niko wrote an article about a couple months… but that was actually luka sucic i believe… regardless sad
Look at this muthafucka. Nice goal
https://www.croatiaweek.com/talented-croatian-youth-international-tragically-loses-his-life-in-germany/
Their*
Is Ilicic playing?
https://youtu.be/7fv_dxPOpRg
He is there best player.