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Soccer Tuesday: Your Running Commentary

LionelMessiCescFabregasBarcelona1-Almeria (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

AC Milan have had a frustrating start to their season, but they can turn around their fortunes in a big way when they welcome AC Milan to the San Siro on Tuesday in UEFA Champions League action.

The two teams are meeting up in Italy for the first time since Milan’s 2-0 victory over the Spanish side, and for the first time since 2009, Lionel Messi and Mario Balotelli are expected to line up against one another, making for a must-watch encounter.

Elsewhere in Europe, Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund travel to face high-flying Arsenal, Schalke 04 host Chelsea FC, and Atletico Madrid visit Austria Wien.

In the evening, the final games of the CONCACAF Champions League group stage begin with club America hosting Alajuelense and the semifinals of Copa MX begin with Monterrey hosting Morelia.

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

Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):

2:45pm – AC Milan vs. Barcelona – Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes

2:45pm – FC Schalke vs. Chelsea – Fox Sports 2

2:45pm – Celtic vs. Ajax – Fox Sports Net/MSG Plus

2:45pm – Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund – Fox Soccer Plus

2:45pm – Austria Wien vs. Atletico Madrid – Fox Soccer 2Go

2:45pm – Porto vs. Zenit St. Petersburg – Fox Soccer 2Go

2:45pm – Marseille vs. Napoli – Fox Soccer 2Go

2:45pm – Steaua Bucharest vs. FC Basel – Fox Soccer 2Go

7:50pm – Monterrey vs. Morelia – ESPN Deportes/Univision Deportes

8pm – Club America vs. Alajuelense – Galavision/Fox Soccer 2Go

10pm – Herediano vs. Cruz Azul – Galavision/Fox Soccer 2Go

Comments

  1. Hey Ives,,,,,,,,,Any word on the ratings for the US women this past Sunday? It’s unusual for them to be on a broadcast network and inquiring minds want to know how they rated.

    Reply
    • This is a kind of sexist request don’t you think? I doubt Ives is going to rate the US women on his site. Maybe to himself and off the record, sure, but not publicly.

      Reply
  2. Well, crud. Arsenal made two mistakes that lead to goals. And I think for most of the first half they tried to do too much with their passes and shots – too much trying for the spectacular. They had some great chances finally, but it was a frustrating game to drop.

    Maybe we can return he favor in Germany…

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  3. Klopp is a genius. They held their pressure and defended Arsenal in their own half until Arsenal’s back line was broken and so high up the field. Then they turned on the pressure for every possible counter. When their chance came it was lightning fast. Still, Arsenal was very impressive.

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  4. Nonsensical that Milan wasn’t just red carded there. Scissor tackle from behind on Messi as he’s going into the box from a player that was carded some 2 minutes prior.

    If referees don’t have the balls to make the right call–same referee that was behind that scandal in the Bundesliga awarding a goal that hit the outside of the goal net–because of whatever reason, he shouldn’t be officiating.

    Get some balls or get out.

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  5. Yikes. Jermaine should’ve just taken down Oscar, rather than trying to legally get the ball from him (on the 2nd Chelsea goal).

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    • I think he thought there was a chance to stop it without getting the red and took a chance. I’m also not sure if he could have taken him really down if he tried without giving the penalty. Still might be better off.

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  6. Some of the games (read Arsenal/Dortmund) point to the sad Barcelonafication of club football. I find it disappointing. Why would any soccer fan want to watch a CB and CDM exchange four consecutive passes in their own half? And then the move ends with a pass back to the goalkeeper. Tiki taka is the soccer equivalent of death by a thousand cuts . . . zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

    I am looking forward to watching Real Madrid tomorrow. They don’t win as often as FCB, but they’re sledom boring.

    Reply
    • Why would anyone want to watch a bunch of long punts downfield? Madrid play will the ball plenty, and they don’t give it away cheaply; I’ve seen Ramos play plenty of exchanges with his partner. You’re criticisms are boring.

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      • I am not talking about playing the long-ball. I am talking about playing a positive, attacking style that is not predicated on the concept of frustration. Speed, fluidity . . . entertainment.

      • dude, it’s called ball circulation. you attack all areas of the field. sometimes, you have to pass back and forth to determine where the attack should be initiated. it requires patience as a player, but it is very effective for those who are disciplined enough and skilled enough to play that way.

        the other part of the argument is that teams don’t defend until so deep that of course they are going to play a little among their center backs and keeper to try to draw the d out.

        it’s the most romantic and entertaining style of soccer and if you can’t enjoy it, that’s on you.

    • The other team can always press higher up the field to speed the match up…unless they don’t have enough skills to force turnovers. You can blame a club’s style/philosophy all you want but in the end its the quality of the players on the pitch that count.

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    • Dortmund playing Barca ball? Dortmund almost suicidally attack sometimes… They can be crazy aggressive. And you can’t say that Arsenal have copied Barca… Wenger has always wanted to play like that and he has been at it for a long while. I do agree that Barca have a lot in common with Arsenal but I think that is just just how continental sides play. Passing. I feel like its been that way a while now.

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  7. Getting addicted to the World Cup group simulator. My first draw put us with Belgium, Netherlands and, worst of all… GHANA! Oh God that would be awful, I’d have nightmares.

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  8. So glad they keep only showing the Barca/Milan group on TV instead of the Arsenal/Dortmund group on TV. Great job fox, since so many people want to see Ajax/Celtic

    Reply

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