Raul Valencia hurts
Valencia took less than expected in the first knockout round of the Champions League final against Schalke 04. The whole of Mestalla was ahead on the scoreboard in the first half after a great play Soldier defined. The second act started with harassment but then appeared Raul Valencia. The former Real Madrid would not go unnoticed by Spain and spoiled the party in Valencia. The patches took the domain of the meeting thanks to the good positioning of their midfield but the team went off little by little to the physical.
And is that Emery is not the least backed off and made an attack to thrust in the leg, with the duo scoring Aduriz Domínguez-soldier, but lead in the middle to leave a clean sheet. And because everything cannot have, Valencia had to go without people band. Thus the set Valencia commanded the ball from the start, pushing the ball out for Schalke suffered when developing.
Gelsenkirchen’s role but could not seek to have it early if Huntelaar had not missed a clear chance in the face of Guaita. This time the hunter tried to catch water spray and that can be costly in the top European competition. Not even ten minutes had passed when Valencia was charged with failure both for his beautifully crafted production. Aduriz got back, he saw Mathieu run down the left flank, reached the French line and focused to a soldier who came in as a ‘Tomahawk’ to define the interior of the boot. Nine of Valencia is enshrined in Europe with his sixth goal in the Champions League.
The goal did not let his guard down Levant. Moreover, the network increasingly midfielder magnetic balls. Topal especially that from the beginning was multiplied in theft missions, support and creation. After the goal, and Tino Costa Banega associated more with the Turks to move up one spot che pace. Valencia’s goal was intimidating Nauer, partly also because of the defensive weakness of Schalke, but the Germans also had his head in Kluge. But there was Guaita, the keeper who was more at Old Trafford, to get a hand shake when it seemed providential.
After a strong first half on both sides, the main concern of Emery for the final act was the physical aspect. The Valencia usually lower the piston in this part of the Schalke match and, as the German team could surprise at some point. Although they would have to Raul and Huntelaar gigs and to be forward on that team is an act of heroism because balls raining very occasionally.