Time for my late review of the game..
In the first half Rapid were clearly dominated. At one point in the game the stats showed us having 80% ball possesion for several minutes. Overall we had 60% ball possesion. We played calm and passed the ball around well. Though we weren't really quick and penetrative in attack. So we dominated but weren't really threatening. Emerson really impressed me in the first half, as he created our play, layed out the lines and led our team in both the midfield and also defensively. It seemed he had to step up as Camoranesi wasn't involved in the match and Nedved, though lively, missed a certain sharpness.
Despite our not so dangerous attacks, 'luckily' the goal came after a good team move finished off by Trezeguet.
In the second half our playing tempo certainly diminished and we were starting to look a little lacklustre. We still played the ball around well. We lost the ball from to time to time to Rapid though, let alone us attacking impressively. Rapid was getting chances to actually score and we were looking like an all but impressive team. We needed to a jump start to our system.
Enter Adrian Mutu and Alessandro Del Piero.
Mutu took over Nedved's left midfield spot, with Nedved himself taking over from Camo. Our attack was suddenly lively and the game was suddenly shifting again towards our favour. Just when were starting to look a little shakey. Mutu soon enough made good use of the space in a counter-attack and scored a good goal. Followed quickly by a good Zlatan goal, what a relief for him. We turned on the style, and looked like a different side who were almost( just almost though) looking to spill some unnecessary points.
The defence did well, as we didn't concede obviously. Thuram was excellent, while Cannavaro and Pessotto were solid. Zambrotta was extroardinary and was involved well in attack and good in defence, again. Also his off the ball movement is really impressive, if you just take a minute's time to pay attention to it.
Abbiati played a good match, to be honest. He had some good saves and looked a lot more secure and comfortable on goal, as he has looked earlier this season.
In midfield Emerson was exceptional in the first half. Though Il Puma slightly faded out of the match in the second. I think Emerson has been the secret to Vieira's excellent performances this early part of the season. Camo did not do well, he did not seem involved in any of the play and played effortless. Though i'm confindent it's a one time thing and he'll do well against Inter. Nedved as I wrote earlier, lacks a certain edge he did have in the past. He seems to be getting caught by Age.. Despite Nedved's lack of sharpness, he was quite lively though and keeps making assists this seasons. You can't argue against statistics. Giannichedda was just there for the balance and tactical reasons it seemed.
Our attack in the first half went mostly through Ibrahimovic. Though to be honest, he still did not impress me. Despite some skilled moves he always makes, he still slows down our attack and makes some awfull decisions. Glad he finally scored, might lift some of his self-imposed pressure and keep him from looking to score his goal all the time. I was really angry at Zlatan at time though, when he wasted two perfectly good goal oppurtunities; - one by dribbling solo in a great counter attack. The other when he should've passed to Del Piero instead of shooting at goal himself.
Trezeguet was Trezeguet and scored the given chance, he usually scores.
Now Del Piero and Mutu WERE both impressive. Both positioned well and were very lively and active. Mutu played as offensive midfielder, cutting in from the left. Both players seem to give us a certain dynamic attack, which is really valuable. I call for Capello to start them both, be it at the cost of either Trezeguet or Ibrahimovic.
Bayern seem to be grinding out results, in a similar fashion we did last season. Let's hope we grind out the result against them though, like WE did last season.
And that's all I have to say about that.
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