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Soccer Monday: Your Running Commentary

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City tangles with Patrice Evra of Manchester United

By DAN KARELL

Intra-city rivalries rule the day, with two massive showdowns on Monday in England and Italy.

Manchester United stand 15 points clear of rivals Manchester City but are unlikely to take it easy against their hated rivals when the two meet in Old Trafford (2:30pm, ESPN). Sir Alex Ferguson and his men haven’t forgot how last season they lost to City 6-1 at home, and despite nearly wrapping up the title this season, they’ll surely go into the match wanting to land the final knockout punch to City’s league aspirations.

The Stadio Olimpico in Rome will soon be filled with the recognizable gold and maroon of A.S. Roma as they host arch-rivals Lazio in a key Serie A match-up (2:45pm, BeIN Sport). Roma has failed to live up to expectations this season and currently sit three points behind Lazio in seventh place.

A win would put the Roman side on level terms with Inter Milan in fifth place, the final spot for a place in Europe. Lazio will be looking to overcome their 2-0 loss last Thursday to Fenerbahce in the Europa League with a confidence-building win over their rivals.

Also in action today, Porto takes on Sporting Braga in the Portuguese Liga Sagres (3pm, ESPN3), while Sevilla battle Atletic Bilbao in La Liga action (4:45pm, beIN Sport).

If you will be watching today action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. “Totti has been pulling rabbits out of his hat the size of greyhounds.” – LOL

    can anyone tell me the name of the play-by-play guy???? i’ve heard him for years and have never known his name.

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  2. This is utterly ridiculous.

    Man City ends first half stealing the ball at the edge of United 18 and the official blows the play dead as they’re about to play the ball into box. Commentators? Well, the clock is up!

    Fast forward to the end of the game. United is down and it’s already 45 seconds past the alloted 4 minutes of extra time, and he lets them break all the way down the pitch. Get a corner. Take the corner. Commentators? Well, there were some things that should give extra time to United.

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  3. Nonsense yellow cards coming out left and right against City. Shocking to see such a thing happen at Old Trafford.

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  4. They should really play the game with opera music in the background as the players roll around on the pitch with their faces in their hands.

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    • yeah, you can almost hear Pagliacci playing. Especially in the Rome Derby, with the flares, the political tensions….high theater indeed.

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  5. What an absolutely scintillating run and stunning finish from Aguero.

    He just beat 6 United defenders by himself and scored.

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  6. Ha ha ha! Every foul is like a passion play. Players kneeling down with hands folded in supplication and the injured victim with the back of his hand resting dramatically on his forehead. This is not a joke. That actually happens… frequently. It’s amazing.

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  7. Did Ian and Macca really just say that this game has been even so far? What game are they watching? It’s been pretty much all City. The quality of passing and movement has been great from City, and they’ve pinned United back and dominated the play.

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  8. Anyone happen to watch the Hertha match?

    Saw (as someone commented above) that Morales came on as an early sub, and Hertha’s seconds away from a 3-0 win against the #2 team.

    Main question: How was Morales? I’d assume he’d have to have played pretty well in the midfield to contribute to a shutout of the 2nd best team in the 2. Bundesliga.

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  9. I’m pretty sure Man City have ever right to complain. They get a turnover outside United’s box and are about to cross the ball into a packed box and as he is about to kick the ball in the whistle blows for half?

    Officials always allow a play to finish if it’s in the final third. Always.

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  10. HT 1-0 Lazio. Bradley got better as the half progressed. He had a couple defensive miscues right after the goal, but then tightened up his D and even had three or four nice forward passes by the end of the half.

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    • I didn’t see a single miscue at all, but admit that I’m in and out of the game due to work. He looks his usual strong on the ball and off, silky, accurate delivery and fierce defending. He’s been playing fairly conservative, though as I’ve yet to see him try anything adventurous.

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  11. Nobody dives and writhes around on the ground like the Italians. They are a wonder to behold. It’s like watching the Cirque Du Soleil or Fuerza Bruta

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      • I admire their effort, but to me, no one rivals the sheer artistry of the Italians. At the merest breath of contact, they soar through the air as if launched from a cannon.

      • As evidenced right there. Bradley stops right in front of the Lazio player who leaps into the air and contorts his body to make it appear as if MB ran him over.

  12. An absurd call on Lamela who gets whistled for being kneed in the back by a flying, out of control Lazio defender, spoiling a 1v1 with the keeper.

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  13. JAB started today. Morales came off the bench in the 12th minute, assuming for an injury. Hertha Berlin up 1-0 at halftime.

    Bradley back in the starting XI but Roma are down 1-0 in the 20th.

    Edu, back from his injury last week, started and went 90 in a 3-0 win today.

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  14. Golaso Lazio. Rocket from Hernanes. Bradley mainly playing it safe. Short tidy passes, one searching forward pass off the mark, one nice dribbling sequence to get out of trouble. De Rossi seems content to play route one ball.

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