’10 to Track’ for weekend 1/27-28: FA Cup and La Liga lead the way

Saturday, 1/27

1. Milton Keynes Dons vs. Coventry City – English FA Cup

The Fourth Round Proper rolls onward.  This is a fun, minnow-y match.  It’s more fun because Noob-Adopted Coventry City is one of the lowest-league teams remaining.   MK Dons are struggling mightily in the third tier League One.  Coventry is in League Two, but the upper echelon of it.

RESULT:   Coventry   0-1

 

Noob needs one of those crazy Coventry hats, like, yesterday!

B.  CF America vs. Atlas – Liga MX

In the Apertura (first-half season), these two finished 2nd and 8th respectively.  Here in the Clausura. America has yet to lose a game three matches in, while Atlas has crapped the bed (0-0-3).

RESULT:   America   1-0

 

 

Is it any wonder Noob is questing for Number B?

3. Valencia vs. Real Madrid – La Liga

The 2017-18 football story in Spain continues to be the struggles of Real.  The two-time defending European champions are only in 4^th place.  Two other clubs are within three points of them for the final league berth in Champions League.  Valencia leads them by five points, in 3^rd place.

RESULT:   Real   1-4

4. Neroca vs. Minerva Punjab – I-League

#2 hosts #1!   Noob understands the Punjabis might well bring samosas to share.

RESULT:   Punjab   0-1

 

 

Delicious with mint chutney

 

 

Honorable Mention Saturday matches:  PSG vs. Montpelier, Bayern Munich vs. Hoffenheim, ChievoVerona vs. Juventus, Boca Juniors vs. Colon, Alianza vs. Aguila, Kaizer Chiefs vs. Mamelodi Sundowns

Sunday, 1/28

5. USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – international friendly

FIFA ranks the two national teams as #25 and #38.  Population difference:  ~325 million : ~3.5 million

RESULT:   0-0

6. Cardiff City vs. Manchester City – English FA Cup

Cardiff’s in 3^rd place in the second-division Championship league.  Man City, is, well, Man City.  1^st.

At least after finally losing – to Liverpool a week or so back – we know Man City is human.  Either that, or they sandbagged for one match to put Noob off the scent that they might all be super-aliens.

RESULT:   Man City   0-2

 

But a Man City alien would wear blue.

Detective Noob – foiled again. 

 

7. Toluca vs. Cruz Azul – Liga MX

These two are in 11^th and 5^th early here in the Clausura.  In the Apertura, they were almost perfectly flipflopped, finishing 4^th and 11^th.

RESULT:   1-1

8. Marseille vs. AS Monaco – Ligue 1

No one’s likely to catch PSG for 1^st, so the battle is on for the other two Champions League berths.  Marseille and Monaco are in 3^rd and 4^th and just a point apart, and 2^nd place is only a point up on Marseille.

Based at least on goal differential, Monaco is the better team, thanks to their offense.   Since they’re on the road, this may be the most competitive match of the weekend.

RESULT:   2-2

This is exactly how Noob imagines everything to look in France.

Awesome.

9. Gent vs. Club Brugge – Belgian First Division A

Brugge has run away with the regular season title; they only await coronation at this point.  The question becomes how will they approach the rest of their league season as they prep for the league playoffs?  Gent is in 4^th, reasonably comfortable fin a top six spot for a league playoff berth.

RESULT:   Gent   2-0

10. Congo vs. Libya – African Nations Championship

This biennial event has reached it’s eight-team Knockout stage.  Since the event is in Morocco, no need for two-legged ties- this is one-and-done.  Though the winner will probably have to play host Morocco.  Oops.  Unfortunate draw, guys.

RESULT:   Libya   1-1  /  3-5 pk

 

 

Some soccer oops (oopses?) are worse than others

 

 

 

Honorable Mention Sunday matches:  Roma vs. Sampdoria, Bolivar vs. Jorge Wilstermann, Alianza vs. Aguila, Plateau United vs. MFM FC, Carabobo vs. Estudiantes Merida