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Showing posts with label august 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label august 1. Show all posts

Manchester City vs Bayern Munich August 1, 2013

Posted by baturayk Thursday, August 1, 2013 0 comments
Manchester City and hosts Bayern Munich will compete for the 2013 Audi Cup trophy on Thursday at Allianz Arena in Germany.
City won Manchester City vs AC Milan in the semifinals on Wednesday, 5-3, with all eight goals being scored in an explosive first half.
Munich defeated Sao Paulo 2-0, with Mario Mandzukic and Mitchell Weiser getting the goals.
Here's a look at the broadcasting information for the 2013 Audi Cup final, complete with a preview of the international clash.

Manchester City, coming off a second-place finish in the Premier League last season, erupted for five goals after 35 minutes against Milan on Wednesday. David Silva, Micah Richards, Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko (two goals) all scored for the club.
Of course, City also allowed three goals before the half ended, courtesy of two scores by Stephan El Shaarawy and a goal from Andrea Petagna. El Shaarawy and Petagna could have also added another goal apiece before the half but flopped on one-on-ones.
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich Audi Cup 2013
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich Audi Cup 2013

Manchester City vs Bayern Munich August 1, 2013
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich August 1, 2013


Meanwhile, Munich scored twice in the second half to beat Sao Paulo on Wednesday.
While the match was scoreless at halftime, it wasn't for the lack of danger on the attacking end by the hosts. 
Munich got off 16 shots at goal before halftime, per Munich's official website, but South American goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni kept the German side at bay.
But Mario Mandzukic put City on the board in the 55th minute off a rebound, and Mitchell Weiser did the same in the 86th minute.

After winning the Audi Cup in 2009 and placing second in 2011, Bayern are hoping for another Audi Cup title this year. The defending Bundesliga champions posted 91 points last season, scoring 98 goals while allowing just 18.
Bayern Munich are ranked second in the world club rankings by UEFA; City are ranked 22nd.
City's barrage in the first half on Wednesday showed just how dangerous they can be, but the three goals conceded also showed that the Sky Blues have work to do on the back end.
Each club's defense should be the difference on Thursday. Not only does Munich sport defenders like Philipp Lahm, it also boasts a fantastic midfield including Franck Ribery, which rarely even allows opponents to get to the back end.
Expect Munich to win its second Audi Cup championship on the back of its defense on Thursday in front of its home crowd.


Chelsea vs Inter August 1, 2013

Posted by baturayk 0 comments
Chelsea and Inter Milan face off in the most intriguing matchup of the 2013 International Champions Cup's opening round. The winner will advance to the semifinals stage to battle against AC Milan, while the loser will go up against Valencia.
The Blues enter the tournament as one of the top contenders. The club's depth, especially in the midfield, bodes well for a preseason event. Managers will be hoping to work in a lot of different players and they shouldn't suffer a major drop off, regardless of the lineup choices.
Inter are looking to bounce back after a frustrating campaign where they finished in the middle of the Serie A. A strong presence in this tournament would provide some much-needed confidence as they proceed to prepare for the new campaign.

Chelsea vs Inter August 1, 2013
Chelsea vs Inter August 1, 2013


Here's a look at all the important information for the Round 1 matchup, followed by a preview and a prediction for which club will move one step closer to the title.

Chelsea supporters have every reason to be excited about the upcoming season, even if other Premier League clubs are generating more hype. The Blues have done a nice job of building a championship-caliber squad for returning manager Jose Mourinho. Chelsea vs Indonesia provided them a nice experience in Asia tour.

Jose Mourinho Chelsea
Jose Mourinho 


 The reason for optimism starts in the midfield. Starting with the trio of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar, the Blues have a tremendous combination of talent and depth. And dominating the middle of the pitch is a major step toward success.
 
That goes for the International Champions Cup, as well. Aside from the Los Angeles Galaxy from the MLS, none of the other clubs are in midseason form, so Chelsea can really take advantage of that by controlling matches in the midfield.
The biggest concern, especially in a preseason tournament that will likely feature plenty of wide-open play, is who will provide the finishing touch for the Blues. It's been a lingering concern in recent seasons, highlighted by the inconsistent production from Fernando Torres.
It puts pressure on the likes of Demba Ba, Andre Schuerrle and Romelu Lukaku to have a strong finish to the preseason. If even one of them can step up, Chelsea's attack will be very dangerous.

As for Inter Milan, the club is hoping for a better combination of luck when it comes to injuries and also better form. There were times last season when Inter still looked like a top club in Italy, but those stretches didn't last nearly long enough.
Inter Milan ICC 2013
Inter Milan ICC 2013

Rodrigo Palacio provides the Nerazzurri with a stabilizing force atop the attack. The veteran Argentine international scored 22 goals across all competitions last season, showing no signs of slowing down in the process.

Matching Chelsea vs Inter in the midfield will be the tough challenge in the opener, though. Esteban Cambiasso is surrounded by a lot of talented young players who are still getting used to the high-profile nature of these type of matchups, even in preseason.
 
All told, this should be an exciting match that features a good number of chances at both ends of the pitch. Chelsea should hold a slight advantage overall and, since neither team has the home edge, the Blues should squeak past Inter.