March 2022 - The ship takes a slight hit
Yeah, we lost our first game of the season. And we went on a 5-game streak without winning. That hasn't happened for a good 3 seasons. This was a very tough month to steady our results. It started well and ended rather poorly. But at least we only lost once. That loss ended our 48 game unbeaten streak.
Levante at home...
After last month's goal crazy fixtures, we continued the tradition into this month. Another five goals, another masterclass performance from our attackers. Krmar opened the scoring with a nice finish after Halilovic's through ball; the Serbian was fouled inside the box 40 seconds later - the penalty was converted by Halilovic. And despite Levante pulling one back in the 15th minute, we were not done yet in the first half. With 9 minutes remaining, Lindelof smashed a header in from a corner. 3-1 going into half-time. Levante continued with press and pulled another one back in the 60th minute but, five minutes later, Krmar added his second of the game and drew distance once again. With 4 minutes to go, Halilovic killed off the game with a stunning long-range strike. 3 points and an emphatic victory.
Real Sociedad at home...
This was a complete and utter annihilation of Real Sociedad. By the time the first-half had ended, we were 4-0 up. San Emeterio scored his first goal of the season when he rifled in a strike following a positive passing sequence. Iturbe doubled our lead four minutes later with a cheeky header at the back-post. Krmar continued his fine form by latching onto a Hernandez through-ball and placing a shot past the goalkeeper for 3-0. Iturbe added a 4th - and his second of the game - just before half-time when he volleyed home from a Lindelof knockdown following a menacing Pereira corner. 40 seconds after the restart, Iturbe sealed his hat-trick and the three points with a sumptuous free-kick from close-range. 5-0. Perfect performance.
Granada away...
And this is when the wheels started falling off this month. Luckily, we had a commanding lead at the top of the table so some of these dropped points don't hurt us too much. I hope. Here, we just failed to break down Granada regularly. They defended quite well and kept halting play with smart tackles. If not for Krmar's exquisite headed goal, this could seriously have ended as a Granada victory.
Cordoba away...
This was a very, very poor performance. We played as though Córdoba were the same level as us. It was tight, both sides battling for possession, with very few shots at goal altogether. Fouls aplenty. I'm always happy with clean-sheets, but not when they arrive against opposition like this and without a victory. Back-to-back draws. I can feel our lead at the top shortening.
PAOK at home...
After the thumping in the first-leg, PAOK were always going to come back better prepared. Even with our 20 shots at goal, we didn't trouble them much. I gave them the majority of possession because I wanted to keep players nice and fit for the Barcelona game. I'm not fussed with the draw as 8-2 on aggregate is enough validation that we were the stronger side overall. Andreas Pereira's lovely volley in the 7th minute was cancelled out 3 minutes later. And that was all she wrote.
Our opponents in the quarter-final...
Bayern - we meet again! These guys were always tough in the group stages. But this is the first time we've met in the knockout rounds... and we have improved quite a lot since our last meeting!
Barcelona away...
Our first loss of the season after 48 games without suffering defeat in all competitions. And it came to Barcelona. Our opponents for the Copa del Rey final. They were, quite simply, the better side. We defended our hearts out but it was impossible to prevent them from victory. Iturbe's goal, sandwiched in between their two, was a lucky one courtesy of a defensive lapse. Other than that, we created next-to-nothing. This disappointing month continues.
Bayern at home...
This is a draw that I can actually ride with. No shame in drawing a 1st leg against one of the best sides in Europe. This was largely even throughout and, if we hadn't scored, it would have been a shame because our performance was worthy of a goal. Bayern opened the scoring in the 49th minute and were on the verge of registering a 1-0 victory away from home. Nahuel came on in the 80th minute. 13 minutes later, with mere seconds remaining on the clock, he scored YET ANOTHER goal with the final kick of the game. He's done that a lot this season. The Hispano-Argentine winger applied a volley at the far-post from Saúl's cross for 1-1. A raucous end to the game. The Champions League dream is still alive.
League table...
We're 2nd but, do not fret, we have a game in hand. Win that and we're right above Real Madrid. And we still have to play them!
Next month, you simply have to tune in. Why? Well, do we turn around this horrendous form? We play Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the league - something that could derail our title hopes if we don't turn it around - and we also play Bayern in the 2nd leg. It's a huge month for the make or break of silverware hopes. 'Til then, FORZA DEPOR!
Yeah, we lost our first game of the season. And we went on a 5-game streak without winning. That hasn't happened for a good 3 seasons. This was a very tough month to steady our results. It started well and ended rather poorly. But at least we only lost once. That loss ended our 48 game unbeaten streak.
Levante at home...
After last month's goal crazy fixtures, we continued the tradition into this month. Another five goals, another masterclass performance from our attackers. Krmar opened the scoring with a nice finish after Halilovic's through ball; the Serbian was fouled inside the box 40 seconds later - the penalty was converted by Halilovic. And despite Levante pulling one back in the 15th minute, we were not done yet in the first half. With 9 minutes remaining, Lindelof smashed a header in from a corner. 3-1 going into half-time. Levante continued with press and pulled another one back in the 60th minute but, five minutes later, Krmar added his second of the game and drew distance once again. With 4 minutes to go, Halilovic killed off the game with a stunning long-range strike. 3 points and an emphatic victory.
Real Sociedad at home...
This was a complete and utter annihilation of Real Sociedad. By the time the first-half had ended, we were 4-0 up. San Emeterio scored his first goal of the season when he rifled in a strike following a positive passing sequence. Iturbe doubled our lead four minutes later with a cheeky header at the back-post. Krmar continued his fine form by latching onto a Hernandez through-ball and placing a shot past the goalkeeper for 3-0. Iturbe added a 4th - and his second of the game - just before half-time when he volleyed home from a Lindelof knockdown following a menacing Pereira corner. 40 seconds after the restart, Iturbe sealed his hat-trick and the three points with a sumptuous free-kick from close-range. 5-0. Perfect performance.
Granada away...
And this is when the wheels started falling off this month. Luckily, we had a commanding lead at the top of the table so some of these dropped points don't hurt us too much. I hope. Here, we just failed to break down Granada regularly. They defended quite well and kept halting play with smart tackles. If not for Krmar's exquisite headed goal, this could seriously have ended as a Granada victory.
Cordoba away...
This was a very, very poor performance. We played as though Córdoba were the same level as us. It was tight, both sides battling for possession, with very few shots at goal altogether. Fouls aplenty. I'm always happy with clean-sheets, but not when they arrive against opposition like this and without a victory. Back-to-back draws. I can feel our lead at the top shortening.
PAOK at home...
After the thumping in the first-leg, PAOK were always going to come back better prepared. Even with our 20 shots at goal, we didn't trouble them much. I gave them the majority of possession because I wanted to keep players nice and fit for the Barcelona game. I'm not fussed with the draw as 8-2 on aggregate is enough validation that we were the stronger side overall. Andreas Pereira's lovely volley in the 7th minute was cancelled out 3 minutes later. And that was all she wrote.
Our opponents in the quarter-final...
Bayern - we meet again! These guys were always tough in the group stages. But this is the first time we've met in the knockout rounds... and we have improved quite a lot since our last meeting!
Barcelona away...
Our first loss of the season after 48 games without suffering defeat in all competitions. And it came to Barcelona. Our opponents for the Copa del Rey final. They were, quite simply, the better side. We defended our hearts out but it was impossible to prevent them from victory. Iturbe's goal, sandwiched in between their two, was a lucky one courtesy of a defensive lapse. Other than that, we created next-to-nothing. This disappointing month continues.
Bayern at home...
This is a draw that I can actually ride with. No shame in drawing a 1st leg against one of the best sides in Europe. This was largely even throughout and, if we hadn't scored, it would have been a shame because our performance was worthy of a goal. Bayern opened the scoring in the 49th minute and were on the verge of registering a 1-0 victory away from home. Nahuel came on in the 80th minute. 13 minutes later, with mere seconds remaining on the clock, he scored YET ANOTHER goal with the final kick of the game. He's done that a lot this season. The Hispano-Argentine winger applied a volley at the far-post from Saúl's cross for 1-1. A raucous end to the game. The Champions League dream is still alive.
League table...
We're 2nd but, do not fret, we have a game in hand. Win that and we're right above Real Madrid. And we still have to play them!
Next month, you simply have to tune in. Why? Well, do we turn around this horrendous form? We play Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the league - something that could derail our title hopes if we don't turn it around - and we also play Bayern in the 2nd leg. It's a huge month for the make or break of silverware hopes. 'Til then, FORZA DEPOR!
