Press Reviews & Photo Stills - The CSKA Moscow Match Spam & The Champions League Quarter Final Draw!

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

Press Reviews & Photographic Stills - The CSKA Moscow Match Spam &
The Champions League Quarter Final Draw!

Hopefully we'll have a few gifs of the game against CSKA Moscow - but there are many beautiful still photographs and some lovely reviews of Mesut's game that have appeared in the press. So here are the best still-photographs and a look at Mesut's performance as it was reviewed in the press, an examination of the Champions League Draw and a look at Mesut's new cleats!

We'll start with the reviews of his performance by columnists, blogs, and fans.


Press Reviews

Mesut finds the press accolades exhausting.

Marca.com

Özil, como si nada. Le faltó constancia, pero cuando abre los ojos siempre pasa algo bueno para el Madrid. La mitad de los goles nacieron en su pierna izquierda.

Özil was as usual. Not always consistent, but when he opens his eyes, good things happen for Madrid. Half the goals were born out of his left leg.

As.com noted the game had been difficult:

Hasta que Özil se desperezó y encontró huecos que ocupar junto a rivales para desbordar...Cristiano, Kaká e Higuaín se contagiaron del espíritu de Özil

Until Özil stretched and found the space to overwhelm opponents...Cristiano, Kaka and Higuain were infected with the spirit of Özil.





Amy Lawrence of The Guardian, in her preview of the draw, noted the following:

There is clearly much more purpose in Mourinho's Real, and although Cristiano Ronaldo was top dog again for scoring twice, this is a team with an abundance of players who can score regularly in this competition. With Gonzalo Higuaín and Karim Benzema also making their mark, and the cunning Mesut Ozil pulling the strings, they were able to see off CSKA Moscow without having to sweat too much.

And in her review of the draw after it had taken place:

It is safe to say that Apoel have the hardest task. Their vice-chairman, Antis Polydorou, reacted to the draw with the dry observation: "The ball is round." Indeed it is. Although, to paraphrase George Orwell, some balls are rounder than others. It would be a miracle were Apoel's ball not to go a bit flat against the combined forces of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuaín and Mesut Ozil.

The Fan's Man of the Match on UEFA.com

Rob Bagchi's (also of the Guardian) was in the middle of his play-by-play during the Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United game, took time to answer on e-mail while Athletic were handing Manchester a beating:

"How good must Mourinho's Real be?" asks Hugh Collins. "...Real are on track to win La Liga without dropping so much as a bead of perspiration." I watched them last night, Hugh, and the answer is very, very good. Ozil was outstanding, better even than Ronaldo I thought. They went very slack at the back for the last 15 minutes, though, but were probably cruising.

The Match Spam

Mesut had a beautiful game, pulling the strings effortlessly in the midfield, in a performance the English press (in particular) took notice of.

The highlight of his game was his pass to Karim Benzema 30 seconds after the latter had come on. 3 seconds later the ball was in the back of the net.

And there was much rejoicing, cuddling, and patting of heads!

It left his coiffure somewhat ruffled, but Mesut looked happy - and Benzema was thrilled. As for the goal - it was the second fastest goal ever scored by a substitute in the Champions League...

...perhaps we should call it the power of love? Certainly, Benzema never looks so happy and contented as when Mesut is cuddling him. As for Mesut - of course Sami Khedira couldn't resist joining in!

There are also some rather beautiful photographs of our lad in action!

Which included telling off the referee (in what language though?) with Sergio Ramos..

There was even the near-balletic - since Mesut is always so graceful - even when he's falling to the ground!

The Champions League Draw

Mesut's footballing idol (and the man who scored a beautiful match-winner in Glasgow when Madrid won their 9th Champions League in 2002) was there to represent Madrid - Zinedine Zidane - along with Emilio Butragueno.

Madrid has a fascinating draw. They will meet Apoel Nicosia (a Cypriot team and the acknowledged minnows) in the quarter finals and the winner of the Bayern Munich/Olympique Marseilles quarter final.

The remaining quarter-finalists are Benfica/Chelsea and AC Milan/FC Barcelona. These four teams are the teams Madrid could meet in the final, should they get past Apoel and Bayern/Marseilles. The following chart shows the dates - so mark your calendars!

Madrid will play against Apoel Nicosia on March 27, 2012. The first leg is in Nicosia. The second, in Madrid, will be played on April 3, 2012.

Should they win their tie, Madrid will play Bayern/Marseille on April 17 (away at the Allianz Arena) and April 24 at home.

And finally - Mesut debuted his new cleats in practice today. They look like a delicious, fruity mix of peaches and tangerines!

Flash!
.

Love to my beloved andriy_7 for his picture research! And also sashatwen and mimsicality for reasons they know ;)

.

Comments

[sashatwen.livejournal.com]

Lots of love back!

And so many unique shöts of Özil coming from you and Andriy! :D I love the first picture. And Benzema's expression of total glee later on!

Too bad about the CL draw. I feel sorry for APOEL - I would have liked them to have a fighting chance. And I was looking forward to a more exciting game for hour boys. Most of all, guh. I do NOT want a CL finale that's another Clasico. The drama alone! I guess I have become a temporary Milan supporter! :D

OTOH, I WANT Bayern to win so we can beat them and deflate Mario Gomez' ego a bit. And have him and Sami, and Mesut and Thomas exchange jerseys. IT WOULD BE AWESOME! :D

[sashatwen.livejournal.com]

... and too bad it won't be a Real:Bayern finale. IN MUNICH.

Then again, that might have been a bit painful :)

[thinkweism.livejournal.com]

I already have a feeling that Real will be meeting Bayern someway or another (sorry Marseilles!) which is going to be painful, final or not, because I love Bayern, I want them to advance, but I also want RM to get their tenth.

that and my dad is already marking the "division" in our household, because's all about Bayern to win it all. D:

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

I think Bayern would win a one-off against Barca.

I think if Madrid get to the final they'd win it.

So either way, we can all be happy.

The semi-final will be fascinating though. Think of all the National Team Starters who could be playing:

Neuer
Lahm
Boateng
Badstuber
Kroos
Schweinsteiger
Mueller
Khedira
Gomez
Ozil

That's one defender short of a championship winning starting 11 playing 4-3-3!

I can understand your dad's frustration too. Bayern are a force in Europe and should be recognized as one. And as much as Madrid want their tenth, Bayern want their next win too.

[sanchi7.livejournal.com]

The look on Mesut's face just screamed this macro

[suzanne410.livejournal.com]

The Benzil celebration after the goal was so awesome... Each was in awe of what the other had just done. Mesut's amazing, precise pass, and Benz's ability to get a goal in just seconds after coming into the game. Their expressions and body language before the hug were just priceless. "Did you just do that?!" "Did YOU just do THAT?!" And interesting... I figured he waxed his arms since he has not a hair to speak of on his body. But I noticed in the second pick he does have hair on his arms! It's just baby fine and light! Oh, the things I notice... *slightly embarrassed*

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

This community exists so that people like you and me can *notice* things and gush about it in posts and comments!
<3

[lovinthelads.livejournal.com]

I missed this match because I was having a Chelsea-pocalypse, but I see bb did good

That second pic is so my new icon very soon!

X

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

There IS a peculiar Mesutyness to the whole thing. From the ears, to the famous nose, to the peculiar expression. It screams of Mesutyness!

Chelsea were awesome, I kept half an eye on my muted television for the whole of Madrid's match. And I do beleive andriy_7 was chewing off his nails with you!

[lovinthelads.livejournal.com]

It's so Mesuty. It rivals my perfectly Cesc icon *points*

I think every Chelsea fan had a collective panic attack followed by an orgasm Wednesday. Most of us are not fully recovered.

X

[thinkweism.livejournal.com]

when mesut has a great game, I have the emotions equivalent to a proud mother (which is exceedingly awkward, imho) and as if I have just received the most positive review over my designs. very warm and good feeling, indeed! and I honestly have nothing else to report about how brilliant he played, because you've done so already and it's much better than keysmash and going OH MY GOSH HE WAS WONDERFUL repeatedly.

I am disappointed that RM drew APOEL, though. I was really hoping they would get to be the "upset" win between another powerhouse team - one that isn't RM, of course! I'm really pulling it for Benfica and Milan to steamroll Chelsea and Barcelona... which is meanest thing I'll ever admit to right now!