Football Update: Big Guns Fire Blank in Europa League, Juventus, City, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid held to a draw
It was not a great night in the Europa League for the big guns, as almost all the big wigs fired blank on the night. Liverpoo, Juventus, Manchester City and defending Champions Atletico Madrid all drew their matches on the night.
Manchester City welcomed the old lady of Turin at the City of Manchester Stadium, it was a very exciting, and open game that both sides threatened to win but the spoils were shared in the end.
Juventus started the match on the front foot as they took advantage of the City’s midfield jitters. The Italians were quick to capitalize as Vincenzo Iaquinta cut in from the left and unleashed a thunderous shot past Hoe Hart into the top right corner of
the goal, the ball took a deflection of Kolo Toure but it didn’t matter for the Italians as they were 1-0 up on the night.
City did not get disheartened by the loss of the early goal and found their feet in the match and began attacking their opponents goal. Tevez, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng all went close to scoring but were unlucky.
City’s goal eventually came through in the 37th minute, when the England U-21 star Adam Johnson pounced on a magnificent through ball from Yaya Toure and skilfully slid the ball under Manninger to bring the matters to level.
In the second half, the match opened up a little more as it was scintillating end to end football but with no end product. Adebayor had a few good opportunities to give the home side a lead but he continued his disappointing form and failed miserably.
The visitors almost snatched a late winner when in the 89th minute Allesandro Del Piero’s free kick beat Joea Hart onto the cross bar and bounced on the goal line before being cleared by Kompany.
In another match, the defending Champions from Spain avoided a disastrous start as the salvaged a draw against Bayer Leverkusen.
It was a lacklustre affair at the Vincente Calderon for much of the first half but picked up pace in the end.
Eren Dediyok gave the Germans lead in the 40th minute when he scored from close range, Rojiblancos looked lost in the game but Sami Hyypia bailed the Spaniards out.
Hyppia conceded a penalty in the 59th minute when he fouled Fran Merieda in the box and the resulting spot kick was easily converted by Siamo.
Branquillo Barnetta could have given the visitors the lead but his effort was deflected wide by David Da Gea.
The hosts also had a few opportunities of their own and the best of them fell to Jose Antonio Reyes who missed the simplest of headers in the 67th minute to give the hosts the lead.
In another match, Liverpool travelled to the Netherlands to take on Dirk Kuyt’s previous employers in FC Utrecht.
The match was a drab affair as it ended with the scored tied at 0-0. Both sides lacked flair and creativity and did not create any decent chances in the game to win a game that was begging to be won.
Joe Cole, Fernando Torres, Milan Jovanovic and Raul Meirales all played for the visitors but could not work their magic as Liverpool came home with only a point.
Hodgson played Meirales on the right wing and that was perhaps a mistake as he looked out of sorts in a position that is unnatural to him.
Joe Cole played in his preferred central position but did not impress at all, as his side were held to a stalemate.
Liverpool have 4 points from 2 games after winning their first match against Steau Bucharest.
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