UEFA Champions League – Half time report: Bursaspor versus Valencia
Bursaspor played an interesting first half of Champions League group stage football against Valencia at their home stadium, the Ataturk Stadium. The famous stadium is named after the well known Turkish ruler, Kemal Ataturk. It was Bursaspor’s first appearance ever in the UEFA Champions League, something that galvanized the players for the match against Los Che’s.
Valencia were stripped of their famous “Davids” i.e. David Silva and David Villa, in the summer transfer window. Villa sealed his move to Barcelona before the World Cup kicked off in June, whereas Silva’s move to Manchester City came through during the competition which was being held in Valencia. They also parted ways with their captain, Ruben Baraja, who retired in the summer from football altogether after being a fantastic servant to the Spanish giants.
On the other hand, Bursaspor were led on the night by their manager Ertugrul Saglam, one interesting fact that should be taken into account is the amount of humility that is quite reflective of the Turkish champion’s modus operandi. Before the Champions League kicked off, Bursaspor were without their very own customized team bus, however, local business men of the city got together and financed the club’s first ever customized team bus for the players and their trip to Barcelona.
Bursaspor entered the match in the Champions League against Valencia after getting off to a fantastic start in their own domestic league in Turkey. They have currently won all four of their starting four matches in the Turkish league, of which they are the presently residing Champions after winning the 2009-2010 season. The match started off brightly as the crowd in the Ataturk stadium made themselves heard by raising the sound levels; within the first 5 minutes of the match both the teams had already had their first corner kicks of the half.
Valencia quickly settled into their stride as the men from Spain controlled most of the possession in the first fifteen minutes of the match. Los Che’s had their second corner of the match in the 10thminute of the first half but wasted this opportunity as well as Bursaspor’s goal keeper came out and collected the ball confidently.
Valencia soon made Bursaspor paid as they played the ball around. Tino Costa found himself in space in front of the Turkish champion’s goals. Costa unleashed a bullet of the shot from around thirty yards out and the screamer found itself in the back of the net, it was a brilliant goal by the Valencia man. The goal was scored in the 16th minute of the match and gave Valencia a 1-0 lead in the first half. After getting their first goal of the match, Valencia gained more confidence and started to handle the ball really well. They kept it away for most part of the first half from the Turkish champions, who at times looked frustrated at their lack of efficiency in the match.
At times at it seemed as if Bursaspor’s fans were more up for it than their team. Their noise levels inside the stadium forced Valencia into some uncharacteristic errors; the atmosphere inside the Ataturk stadium was quite daunting to say the least. In the 38th minute of the first half, Valencia had a free kick from around about 28 yards off Bursaspor’s goal. The ensuing delivery into the box caused havoc as the ball thudded against the post. The rebound was buried into the ball of the net by Valencia’s target man Aduriz to give his side a 2 goal advantage on the night.
At the 44th minute mark, Joaquin Sanchez tried his luck at the Bursaspor goal for Valencia. The shot however did not make it to the goalkeeper as it was deflected out for a corner. The corner that followed Joaquin’s shot was wasted by the Valencia attack. Just before the half time whistle blew, Valencia went onto their last attack of the match and almost added another one to their lead as Pablo Hernandez’s shot struck the goal post. At the half time whistle, the score line was 2-0 in favour of Valencia.
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