Champions League Breakdown #1881

Match Day One

Salzburg stun Benfica in Lisbon

Benfica has made the quarterfinals in the Champions League in back to back seasons. They are always a strong candidate to be a potential dark horse in this competition. They rebounded well from the number of sales of key players they have made over the years. Particularly over the last two seasons. They sold Darwin Nunez to Liverpool and Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea. In spite of these departures Benfica managed to make the quarterfinals last year before falling to runners up Inter Milan. Once again Benfica have adapted well with important signings such as Orkun Kökçü from Holland. Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and most of all the return of Angel Di Maria. They have an incredibly well balanced squad with a lot of capabilities of going on another Champions League run. They got grouped with the likes of Inter Milan, Salzburg and Real sociedad. However, their campaign got off to a stumble Salzburg lost their three most important players last season yet out dueled Benfica in Lisbon. As they pull off a huge upset to start the group. Thankfully for Benfica Inter Milan only managed a draw in Spain. Nevertheless Salzburg, all things considered, pulled off a massive three points to start the champions league group. They won themselves. Two penalties scoring one of them. Antonio Silva was given a red card for Benfica and even though it was very competitive throughout the 90 minutes. The Austrians found a way to break through and even after the penalty managed to add another one. Benfica with the much more talented team. In an atmosphere that most clubs struggle with. Salzburg came into Lisbon and stunned the Portuguese Giants. We’re talking about a team that has made the Champions League quarterfinals in back to back seasons. They drastically underperformed or expectations as they started off on the wrong foot in this Champions League group. Benfica will have an opportunity to rebound from an early defeat in the group stage. However, the other two teams will not be simple. Meanwhile, Salzburg couldn’t have started this better. They were considered the least likely team to qualify for the round of 16. They’ve only gotten out of the group one time. However, being able to pull off what they did in Portugal this evening is no small feat and they’ll try to build on this. The odds are still stacked against them with the other three teams substantially stronger, but a massive victory in Benfica is a dream start while Benfica all of a sudden immediately have pressure on them after match day one.

Inter In driveers seat but saved by Laturo in Europe

Inter Milan has firmly put themselves in the driver seat of the Serie A title race in the early parts of the season. Clean sheets in their first three games was going to be put to the test against AC. Milan Inter Milan has completely out classed the Red Sea over the last year and a half. For whatever reason. AC Milan continually struggle against the blue side that seems to have a team Taylormade to break them down. We saw this fixture on five occasions last season. Inter Milan ended up winning four of them. A couple in humiliating fashion. However, what we witnessed this weekend was AC Milan get completely torn apart. Inter Milan dropped five on their noisy neighbors. Showing up substantial difference in quality between them. Inter Milan for the last 3 years has had the best team in Italy. However, tactical issues has gotten in the way of them winning the league. This may be the finest team Inter Milan has had this decade. They made the Champions League final last year and only improved in so many capacities this season. They look like a completely unstoppable force. Inter Milan and Martinez as the captain has completely transformed this side into an absolute monster. All the absentee’s and departures that they had to witness this summer have been replaced by better quality. The majority of the teams that we would consider in a title race conversation all drop points this weekend. With the way they dominated AC Milan in the way they just have steamrolled. Everyone that has gotten in their way is making them the overwhelming favorites. It is still very early in the season but one thing a certain they are going to be the ones that are going to be chased. They are firmly in the driver seat not in Napoli. Without Spalletti Napoli do not seem the same and seem to have some struggles and defense after Kim left for Bayern Munich. The truth of the matter is they are just a level above anyone else playing in Italy. We could even push it even further. They are a top five team in the world and in all likelihood should be fighting for all the trophies that are available to them. It has been a dream start. They have depth for days and one of the most antagonizing and dangerous starting 11s in the world. From top to bottom they are loaded. While they remain firmly in the driver’s seat in Italy. Against Real Sociedad in Spain you would have thought perhaps they would keep this going. Simone Inzagi played a slightly weaker side for the one that ran riot in the derby. Most notably Marcus Thurman after a match winning performance is dropped to the bench. Marko was called to line up next to Martinez. It seemed like a bold move. Not to mention a lot with shaking up in the midfield with not playing their strongest suit. It was a rather unimpressive performance in their trip to Spain. The La Liga side had a dream start. After only conceding one goal in four games Inter Milan concede very early on in the 4th minute. The Spaniards felt in control. Inter Milan was completely underwhelming. There’s not much to say about that other than Inzagi did not take this match seriously enough. Going to Spain was never going to be an easy experience. Inter Milan did not play their strongest side in a match they needed to do so. They were appalling for the vast majority. Simone Inzagi to his credit corrected his mistakes in the second half with the substitutions such as Frattesi and Thurman. The two of them heavily contributed in Inter Milan getting back into the game. They managed to rescue a goal with Martinez showing up and delivering when he needed to. He always seems to pop his head up and delivers in the most pressing moments. He has done this so many times over a recent years. An awful lot. Last season. He saved Inter Milan from several situations last term. He provides the goal in the end, but the build-up play from the substitutes made everything happen. Although we can give the manager credit for making the right adjustments when needed. The intention behind the lineup is one that they must not repeat. Of all the teams Inter Milan has the quality and the depth to be able to handle the champions league. They had one shot total through about 70 minutes. Didn’t really start pressing and making things happen for themselves until the last 20 minutes or so. Inter Milan have a monumentous opportunity. A treble is not out of the rim of possibilities. What Inter Milan have been so dominant in the league in the Champions League? They did not take it seriously enough. Inter Milan had a chance to make a big statement and they failed to do so. Thankfully, Benfica lost to Salzburg so they still remain in good shape. However, this opening day of the Champions League should be a lesson to them as it highlighted the mistakes that were made even before kickoff. There shouldn’t be a ton of concern. Big picture but given the depth and quality that they already have, they need to handle moments like these. Much better. A lot of teams struggle to beat them in their house. Simone Inzagi didn’t show Real sociedad the proper respect and they got burned for it. The approach was completely wrong. They must learn from this transgation and operate differently when they host Benfica on October 3rd. In the league they are a machine. No complaints at all adjustments and tweaking. A few things for the Champions League will be necessary to avoid something like this. Dominant on the weekend but strangely left something to be desired in Europe this week.

Jamal Musiala masterclass without Tuchel

Jamal Musiala hasn’t been used properly by Tuchel. However without him Jamal put together a terrific display against Manchester United. While there are conversations between the three youngsters Bellingham Wirtz and Jamal Neither of them in their career in all likelihood will have ever scored a more important and defining goal then Jamal’s 89th minute curler against cologne on the final match day of the season. It was on his boot that won Bayern the title again. It’s even more substantial since Tuchel nearly through the whole thing away. As I said repeatedly, he’s not the right manager for Bayern Munich. He is a good manager, a fantastic manager in some situations. But this situation is not for him. He does not know how to utilize the materials that he has to him. He has under used Jamal Musiala ever since he arrived. Now Jamal is still putting together some really terrific performances in the early parts of the season, but the coach is not putting him in the type of situations that makes him such a big threat in the goal scoring department as well as the chance creation. Against Manchester United he was absolutely spectacular. It turned out to be a 4-3 victory for Bayern Munich. He had his footprints all over it. Absolutely ran a ruckus through the Manchester United team. Even though he didn’t score, he created so many big chances for his teammates as well as assisting the crucial goal. Just like Jude Bellingham. Jamal is a world-class player at the peak of his powers. At the moment. Both of these guys are playing from massive clubs in the world Hierarchy are very few above Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The Jamal situation is interesting. This performance signifies how important and impactful he is capable of being for Bayern Munich. The arrival of Harry Kane has taken the core of the team out of Jamal’s hands. This is the biggest mistake one can make. Harry Kane is a world-class striker, but the operation should still go through the young German. Jamal is the reason they kept in the title race last season. One things were shifting at the end. He’s also the signal reason that they won the title. All things considered, the arrival of Harry Kane and the way he’s been handled has completely blindsided the gem of this team. If anything, this individual performance from Jamal should signify to the manager that the approach has been mishandled. Bayern Munich will be in a title race. However, they will be pushed by both Leipzig and leverkusen. They dropped points this weekend against Leverkusen It’s not being swimmingly for Munich. Harry Kane outside of scoring hasn’t done much over the last two games. Other than the penalty he didn’t provide much here either. The focus of the team needs to be redirected towards Jamal. Harry Kane can still score big time goals for Bayern Munich. Even if he is not the person they run the team through. Jamal’s spectacular display shouldn’t be ignored. He is one of the best players in the world.. He is a world-class talent. Putting Bayern Munich back in his hands will enhance them dramatically. This performance is evidence of that. Jamal with absolutely spectacular displays in Champions League.