Inter Milan versus Bayern Munich – UEFA Champions League: Key battles (Part 2)
In the last part of this series, Arjen Robben’s potential encounter with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Zanetti-c18096 was discussed in detail. This time around, it is time to analyze one of the most crucial duels in the Inter Milan versus Bayern Munich tie, a straight up face-off between
Wesley Sneijder and Anatoly Tymoshchuk.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wesley-Sneijder-c36799 versus Anatoly Tymoshchuk
It is safe to say that football is primarily a team sport but teams consist of match changing individuals and that is exactly what Wesley Sneijder is.
The Dutch midfielder was in contention to become the World Player of the Year in 2010 after his spectacular performances with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan, in the UFEA Champions League.
This season, Sneijder has been a victim of constant fatigue and injuries that result in a massive breakdown of fitness levels.
Nonetheless, the ex-Ajax Amsterdam youth academy player is one of the most exciting players in the world at the moment.
After failing to impress at Real Madrid in the first “big” move of his career, Sneijder was given a second chance to shine by Inter Milan as Jose Mourinho secured the playmakers signature in the 2009 summer transfer window.
Since his arrival in Italy, Sneijder has become an integral part of Inter’s offensive line up. He is seen as the invisible hand behind the goals scored constantly by the likes of Samuel Eto and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Milito-c11166.
With two goals and two assists to his name in the UEFA Champions League already this season, Sneijder is slowly regaining his fitness levels which is an ominous sign for Bayern Munich as the German giants gear up to play against the Italian champions.
Alternatively, Anatoly Tymoshchuk has not had a glorious career with Bayern Munich so far.
In the summer transfer window of 2010, Louis Van Gaal suggested that he would be willing to part ways with Tymoshchuk given the right bid came along.
However, during the course of the 2010-2011 Bundesliga season, the Ukrainian born defensive midfielder has been used as a center back for Bayern Munich as a result of injuries to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Van-Buyten-c10095.
After winning the UEFA Cup with Zenit St. Petersburg in 2007-2008, the ex-Shaktar Donetsk midfielder secured a transfer move to Bayern Munich.
In all honesty, the Sneijder versus Tymoshchuk duel is a mismatch as far as Munich are concerned.
Sneijder is not only a vastly talented offensive midfielder but also a very intelligent footballer.
Tymoshchuk, maybe highly experienced at the age of 31 but Bayern’s utility man has not got the legs to keep up with Inter’s midfielder for the whole 90 minutes.
It is already speculated that Van Gaal will deploy Tymoshchuk in a defensive midfield role and the Ukrainian international will be charged with the responsibility of halting Sneijder in his tracks.
Nonetheless, a better option for Bayern Munich would be to deputize the more energetic and ambitious http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bastian-Schweinsteiger-c7374 to help his veteran teammate with his man-marking responsibilities on Inter’s creative Dutchman.
Sneijder has shown an\ tendency in the past to drift in and out of games and that is exactly what Bayern will be hoping for. Regardless, in a case where the Dutchman has got his sight set and his radar working, it can be a very long night for Tymoshchuk
at San Siro.
This duel can in all skepticism change the course of the match over the two legs in Italy and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904.
Leonardo has to get the best out of his midfield starlet but Bayern Munich’s Tymoshchuk will be working his socks off to stop that from happening as both the teams take the field on 23rd of February, 2011.
The views expressed by the writers are his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of
www.bettor.com
Tags: