Two games remain in the UEFA Champions League group stage, which means teams need all the help they can get to secure a spot in the knockout round.
There have been some brilliant individual performers so far, but there are some bigger names who have underwhelmed in this season’s Champions League. Their respective clubs will be hoping that these players turn around their form beginning in midweek.
Here are five underperforming players to watch this week.
Dejan Lovren – LiverpoolLiverpool and Sevilla are separated by one point in Group E. Joel Matip, who sat out Saturday’s 3-0 win over Southampton, could be fit in time for Tuesday’s game. If the Cameroonian cannot play, then Lovren will start beside Ragnar Klavan.
Before Saturday, Lovren had not played for Liverpool since a 4-1 loss to Tottenham on Oct. 22. Klavan and Matip have started at centre-back and won every match since that defeat at Wembley.
If Matip is not fit, then Lovren will be asked to replicate his performance from Saturday. However, Sevilla’s Wissam Ben Yeder and Luis Muriel may present a tougher challenge.
Julian Weigl – Borussia DortmundWhen Weigl is active and on the ball, Borussia Dortmund tends to dominate matches and pick up victories. Unfortunately for Dortmund, this has not been the case recently and it’s led to a sharp decline in form.
So much from in this #BVB #passmap.
No midfield, using fullbacks as playmakers, freezing Kagawa & Weigl out of the passing (is that even possible?). pic.twitter.com/QylLHRfnHp
— 11tegen11 (@11tegen11) November 18, 2017
Die Borussen are virtually eliminated from the Champions League, but manager Peter Bosz must start Mahmoud Dahoud in midfield to solve this problem.
If Shinji Kagawa and Mario Gotze play with Weigl, those two players end up roaming forward, leaving wide-open spaces in the middle of the pitch. That means Weigl is isolated and attempting longer passes. Dahoud is a box-to-box player, which would provide a proper link in midfield.
For Weigl and Dortmund’s sake, hopefully this occurs against Tottenham on Tuesday.
Karim Benzema – Real MadridCristiano Ronaldo only has one goal in La Liga and Real Madrid are 10 points adrift of Barcelona. The Portuguese will take the brunt of the abuse, but Benzema has been equally frustrating this season.
The French striker has not scored in the Champions League and has one goal in eight La Liga matches. The lack of pace throughout the side has been a significant factor.
Apart from Isco, the team appears a lot slower compared to last year. Ronaldo is still quick, but at 32 years old, he’s nowhere near as explosive. Even Juanfran can outrun him these days.
Juanfran outrunning Ronaldo to stop that counter attack, I think the decline is finally showing this year.. pic.twitter.com/9EdHatQe1T
— Qamar (@QamarShafiq13) November 19, 2017
It goes without saying that Madrid has loads of technical quality across the pitch. If they simply play with a faster tempo, Benzema should be back among the goal-scorers on Matchday 5.
Peter Gulasci – RB LeipzigGulasci is a decent shot-stopper, but other than that, Gulasci is an average goalkeeper which could lead to RB Leipzig’s elimination from the Champions League.
Leipzig’s system is rather exhausting, which can leave the back line exposed. However, Gulasci’s command of the penalty area is lacking. There are goalkeepers who play in similar systems that thrive due to their control of the box. Ederson is a perfect example at Manchester City.
The Germans will face a free-flowing Monaco this week and have conceded more goals (eight) than any other side in Group G, so there will be little margin for error from Gulasci’s point of view.
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico MadridAtletico Madrid’s 0-0 draw with Real Madrid on Saturday was Griezmann’s eighth game in a row without a goal, the longest of his career.
https://twitter.com/OptaJose/status/932008430465929216
Atletico has been woeful up front all season long. Griezmann has played with Angel Correa, Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres this season. He’s still struggled to impose himself in matches.
One of the worst-kept secrets in Europe is that Griezmann will leave the club in the summer. Manchester United were heavily linked with the 26-year-old and it appears that the Red Devils will be launching another bid.
Griezmann’s touch looks off, he’s making poor decisions when he has possession and appears disgruntled. Diego Simeone backed the Frenchman after Saturday’s game, but Atletico desperately needs its star forward to revive his season if it has any hope of qualifying for the knockout stage.
0 comments:
Post a Comment