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Showing posts with the label defensive fortress

BATTLE OF DEFENSIVE FORTRESSES: BARCELONA SC HOSTS UNBEATEN RIVER PLATE IN KEY LIBERTADORES CLASH

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  May 8, 2025   Barcelona SC - River Plate   On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Ecuadorian side Barcelona SC will face Argentine giants River Plate in the fourth round of the CONMEBOL Libertadores group stage. This match is the only fixture in matchday four that pits two teams against each other who have both kept clean sheets in two of their first three group stage matches. Barcelona SC has demonstrated defensive quality in recent meetings with River Plate. The "Ídolo," as the Ecuadorian team is nicknamed, has not conceded goals in their last two matches against the Argentine powerhouse in the CONMEBOL Libertadores (1 win, 1 draw). However, the historical head-to-head record favors River Plate - the "Millonario" won the first three encounters between these sides in this tournament. The Ecuadorian outfit excels in defensive solidity throughout the competition. Barcelona SC has kept a clean sheet in more than half of their matches in the 2025 CONMEBOL Libertadores (four o...

RETURN AFTER 19 YEARS: MBAPPÉ'S BARRAGE AGAINST UNBEATABLE ENGLISH FORTRESS

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  Arsenal v Real Madrid April 8th, 2025 After almost two decades, the giants of European football meet again. Arsenal and Real Madrid last faced each other in the 2005/06 season when they met in the Champions League round of 16. That encounter ended with a surprising progression of the London side, which won 1-0 in Madrid and maintained a goalless draw at home. They thus became one of only two English teams (along with Liverpool) that remained undefeated in their first three duels with Real in European competitions. However, Real Madrid has since gained rich experience with English clubs. Since the 2017/18 season, the White Ballet has played an incredible 22 matches against Premier League teams in the knockout phase of the Champions League (11 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses), which is 10 more than any other team has against sides from one specific country. The reigning champions are true specialists in first-leg knockout matches. In the last eight cases, they haven't lost the opening...