Season 32 Week 19 processing...

Welcome to week 19, just four games left.

Late start this week due to family stuff so expect things to run slightly later than normal, thanks.

The reset is underway...

Hope all ok Paul, going on a week long scouting trip to Budapest this week, hoping to find the next Dominik Szoboszlai.

Thanks for the update Paul - looking forward to another great week of CF action!

Data entry is underway...

WATFORD

After another disappointing draw, Watford have dropped 4 points in the last 2 games.. Which would see their title hopes dented. A tough task this week see's the Visit of inform Charlton! Injuries last week see Shaw and Partey side lined for the crucial game. However, strength in depth see's James Ward-Prowse come into midfield and evergreen Leighton Baines comes in at LB... Will his legs keep up with Salah? Kevin De Bruyne keeps his place this week after a goal and assist last week! The manager has pulled out all the tricks this week to get the team into shape and prepared. Charlton might be a little tired coming into this weeks game having to play midweek Vs Plymouth. This could let the team capitalise later on in the match as legs get tired.... 

GENK

Genk keep moving forward, another convincing display last week. With first team restored to full strength now. The EOS is in sight and the team are focused on there goals.. Scoring goals! Oostende are this weeks opponents. With the manager looking to trim his squad down this week to allow further recruits to join the Belgian outfit. 
Cup opponents are unmanaged Gent, see's Vertonghen, Cabaye, Dembele and Lang come into the side to ensure stamina can be spread evenly across the side to gain progression in the CUP. One eye on next weeks ECC final!

LEVERKUSEN

Things hotting up at the top of the Bundesliga after a shock defeat for Schalke last week... Star players for Leverkusen hitting form, Milinkovic-Savic, Musiala and Lewandowski. Cologne are this weeks opponents with Marco Reus and Mesut Ozil in there ranks, looking to cause problems for the Leverkusen defence who have been fairly solid for the season and Szalai has fitted in seamlessly. 
Cup is Vs Bayern who Leverkusen have had success against this season, WBK's Vs Wingers... Nainggolan and Mkhitaryan come into the side to get some minutes, got to take it easy for Milinkovic-Savic after only recently returning from Injury. Also new signing Sesko makes the bench, manager showing already he's apart of the teams plans for success!

BOTAFOGO

Botafogo have been ruthless infront of goal of late and look to continue their form into the final games of the season! Only change to the side this week is Casemiro is back in the starting XI after specialist training programme has returned him to fitness and just in time for next weeks Copa Liba Final. Corinthians this weeks opponents, can they stop Neymar from adding to his tally? Watch out players would be Everton Ribeiro, Dodo and Vieira! 
Cup opponents are Vasco, who have Kardec and Indio in fine form for the club so the defence for Botafogo will have to be solid with Vitao coming into the side to give Leonardo and break 37 years old and probs not wise to get 180 minutes of action at a critical time of the season. 

Good luck to everyone! 

Thanks Phil.

Friendlies have kicked off...

Domestic Cup Semi-Final results...

Rosario 1 Argentinos 2
Independente 8 River Plate 4

Anderlecht 2 Bruges 1
Genk 9 Gent 0

Bate 1 Brest 3
Dnepr 2 Smena 0

Botafogo 2 Vasco 3
Fluminense 5 Santos 4

Schalke

Business end of the season now, with schalke facing surprise cup package Dusseldorf in the semi.
FAB v WBK should see the home side containing their opponents successfully with a flat back 4, then breaking out through the middle to cause problems. Respect is required here, as you don't get to a cup-semi by accident! Goretzka on the bench for this one as he's 1 booking away from suspension - which means he'd miss the CL final. Rodri therefore, starts.

After last weeks' league loss, the manager has gone back to what he knows for the big clash v Berlin at home, matching up FAP v FAC. Again Goretzka on the bench but he'll get 30 mins in this game. Baumgartner comes in for his chance to shine.

The top brass have let Adolfo Gaich go to Nacional and a bit more building has been sanctioned.

Emelec 0 Cuenca 0 aet pens 2-3
Liga 2 Fuerza 1

Shamrock 2 Derry 4
Cherry 4 Limerick 0

Villa 2 Chelsea 0
Plymouth 4 Charlton 3

Lyon 3 Paris 2
Nantes 4 Bordeaux 0

Leverkusen 4 Bayern 0
Schalke 9 Dusseldorf 0

I thought I was playing Liverpool? Or was that last round!

Sittard 0 Vitesse 1
Twente 7 PSV 5

Inter Milan 1 AC Milan 1 aet pens 1-2
Fiorentina 0 Parma 1

Petrazalka 2 Podbrezova 0
Ruzomberok 3 Zilina 0

Betis 1 Valencia 2
Real 5 Atletico 3

Torque 0 Danubio 4
Nacional 9 Progreso 0

gary@chelsea wrote:

I thought I was playing Liverpool? Or was that last round!

Last round you won 4-1.

Congratulations to all who made the final, not an easy task in any of our leagues.

League games will kickoff Wednesday morning...

Domestic Youth Cup semi-final results

Santos 2 Flamengo 1
Fluminense 4 Vasco 2

Man City 1 Man United 0
Charlton 2 Norwich 0

Lyon 0 Auxerre 2
Nantes 4 Marseille 0

Schalke 4 Stuttgart 2
Frankfurt 2 Dortmund 2 aet pens 4-3

Cagliari 1 Juventus 1 aet pens 2-3
Lazio 2 Sampdoria 0

Espanol 0 Sociedad 0 aet pens 3-2
Sevilla 0 Betis 0 aet pens 3-0

Delighted to win 5 out of 6 semi finals this week, the only one letting me down was Charlton. Was always going to be difficult against a top Plymouth side but made extra hard by being followed with a vital league game away to Watford. Was hoping all the rotated players would take their chance but sounds like it was a close game anyway! 
Flu beating Santos in a classic is the stand out result for me so far!

Delighted with 3 of the results and the Atletico game was close! Presuming neutral venues Paul, if not Atletico got smashed 6-1 away earlier in the season so defo progress.

Twente roll on for what could be an unprecedented treble for the club - win every game now until the end of the season and it’s theirs - easier said than done mind you.

Plymouth face Villa for what will be the third time in 6 weeks - learnt a lot from the first game and a final tactical tweak next season to bring Odegaard into play - mirroring his role at Arsenal in real life - should make for an interesting game 

Independiente vs Argentinos - will Paredes be able to stop Lanzini…

Roll on the league games - need wins across the board!

Make or break this week for Charlton, nothing less than 3 points will do in the title race with City at home to lowly Wednesday.  Only got to go to Watford, unbeaten at home all season.  Normally a draw would be a more than satisfying result in this fixture however even that won't be enough I fear.  City could effectively wrap up the title this week....

gary@chelsea wrote:

I thought I was playing Liverpool? Or was that last round!

No, it was the mighty Villa 

The League games are upon us once again, the fans are seated, mostly, and the players are ready, the ref checks his watch and blows for the start of the games, good luck to everyone this week...

Paris 1 Bordeaux 0 Malcom on 2 minutes.
Gladbach 1 Karlsruhe 0 Neuhaus freekick.
Frankfurt 0 Bremen 1 Labyad.

Rennais 1 Tours 0 Mwepu on 3 minutes.
Fiorentina 1 Juventus 0 Robert.

Huge week for the teams - come on lads!

Shelbourne 1 Bohemians 0 Alcacer on 5 minutes.

Wolfsburg 1 Duisburg 0 Kroos header on 6 minutes.