Mario Pašalić gave Atalanta a bright moment in their UEFA Champions League campaign, heading home the winner in the 87th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over Club Brugge. The goal was a perfect bounce-back for Atalanta after losing their first match in the competition, giving the team a much-needed boost in the Champions League standings. Pašalić also took home the man of the match award.
(Mario Pašalić goal at 12:04)
Meanwhile, in Cyprus, Mislav Oršić added another goal against a big club to his resume, scoring from outside the box against Manuel Neuer and Bayern Munich for Pafos FC. Despite his strike, Pafos still fell 5-1, with Bayern dominating the match.
(Oršić goal at 8:25)
Other Croatians in the Champions League today included Petar Sučić, who played well for the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, Franjo Ivanović, who came off the bench in the 77th minute in a 1-0 loss to Chelsea, and Josip Šutalo, who entered in the 55th minute in a 4-0 loss to Marseille, after which Ajax didn’t allow a goal for the remainder of the match.
@Bartolec
Good posts, points and questions – keep it up!
Backa Topola
Read that SN article too. That Maccabi has been renting the Backa Topola stadium for “home games” also last season – it’s not a DZ specific thing
The same article says DZ staying at Hyatt Belgrade (despite every other team that has visited staying in Backa Topola or Novi Sad or some 3rd city I forget)
Didn’t want to post earlier – in case some Serbs ultras read this – but Anonymous assumes the Hyatt Belgrade was published in SN as a DECOY – and in fact DZ aren’t staying there (never mind in Belgrade) – this way keeps the Serb ultras kept far away from where DZ is actually staying
Otherwise – we all saw what happened in Turkey with Gala fans keeping Liverpool players up all night outside their hotel (as it has happened countless times before) – it will be the stupidest thing ever if they are actually saying at the Hyatt Belgrade and it was publish days in advance
Hamburg
Keeper – Fernandes (who has been starting) and Peretz (on loan from Bayern) – they fought it out during pre-season for the #1 slot – on the day before the season started the manager said Fernandes was #1 – Peretz is already the back-up – so no space for Liva
Striker/forwards – most of HSV forwards are the small speedy type – they desperately need imo a tall #9 centre forward as an outlet (it’s clear watching this is missing) – someone in the Budimir or Igor mold (if Igor doesn’t get enough minutes by January he should maybe ask to get loaned for rest of the season to HSV)
Bundesliga – it’s known for the being the most intense in terms of running required – in the game, yes, but Anonymous means the training – it’s running running running then more running – think Ivica Olic (that’s why he was perfect for the Bundesliga) – Niko Kovac (perfect for the Bundesliga) run run run – if Rakitic didn’t go to Schalke he probably would have ended up more like another Kranjcar – Rakitic had the physique of Livaja (extra pounds) before he went to the Bundesliga, a little fat dough-boy with puffy face – and they made him (like all the players) run run run – and after that he continued that fitness level for the rest of his career (thank god)
As such, don’t think Baturina and Luka Sucic would last 5 minutes in Bundesliga training sessions – they are the opposite of runners (definitely on the pitch, and doubt they are running during training) – so don’t think it would be a good fit – however, Fruk likes to run a lot and is active – so he might be a good fit for an advance midfield / second striker / #9 role at HSV – that Anonymous could see – guess since Miskovic is keeping the club he’ll definitely be forced to sell more players in the January window – hopefully Fruk keeps up his performance and gets a good move before the World Cup
Also, re: keeper / Fernandes – he is VERY good with the ball (must have played non-keeper position growing up) and is very important in terms of distribution/passing and building from the back – haven’t seen him make one errant pass yet (compare/contrast Liva who kicks the ball out of play every other attempt) – given this importance don’t see how Liva could surpass him
Also, in midfield Fabio Vieira has been their #10 (creative midfielder) – he’s very silky and trying to play his way onto Portugal’s World Cup squad (he joined HSV from Arsenal along with Lokonga another midfielder) – so they seem pretty set in midfield – Nico Renberg is their #6 and has been doing a nice job – don’t see where/how Luka or Baturina could come in and surpassing the existing options – Fruk is a bit different as he’s a quasi-striker and he has the full throttle running to offer
FFS
Omari out long time ankle
Right VB next to Luka
More danger Luka now
Bad
Why didn’t Sutalo get the start for Ajax? He needs to leave that club ASAP.
Orsic needs to get the Most Consequential Inconsequential Award, 2nd to only Vicent Von Gogh. His goals are a sight to see. Is penalty kick against Brazil was a beauty. They are a piece of undiscovered Artwork.
Looks like Oršić did more than that goal. Created a few chances too.
Would be nice if he managed to play this good every game for Pafos and squeeze himself into the NT.
Orsic = big game player
I also went to watch highlights of Pafos v Dynamo Kyiv (Aug 12, CL 3rd qualifying round), a match in which Orsic scored and provided a nice assist
Dude is looking sharp. He turns 33 in late Dec but imo, he looks more athletic than many younger players out there.
Hopefully Dalic is monitoring both Pjaca and Orsic closely as they are both (hopefully) rounding into form for the World Cup.
We need some depth behind Ivan Perisic there, and I don’t want to see us wasting Krama on the wing in case Perisic gets carded or injured during the tournament.
We also need to look for a LB to provide some depth behind Stanisic.
Gvardiol can cover that…but that means we need to start really testing Vuskovic in the middle (so we don’t ever have to rely on Duje or Pongracic there).
I’m not sure about Bradaric there. He seems like another Sosa type as he plays in a 3-5-2 as a LWB.
I hope we actually start looking at some of our HNL talent (Hrgovic?) for a backup LB role and give them a chance.