Niko's Fast & Furious League: Domestic Cup Season 1

Cup Match Dates:

The cup competition will begin again in the week between the week 6 and week 7 league games. Each round will be a one off game, meaning three rounds:

Week 6/7 = Prelim
Week 7/8 = Semi finals
Week 8/9 = Final

The draws will be same as before, and the rules will also be the same.

Cup Rules:

You pick only a starting XI, no subs.
You post brief tactics, no more than 10 lines of bullet points
Your team must contain 3 players who are U21 (born on or after 01/10/1990
Your team must contain 3 domestic players (eligible for the national team in the country you team is based e.g. Lyon = 3xFrench players)
The domestic and U21s can be the same players.

Further details will be announced next week, including confirmation of the draws.

---

Prelim Draw

Malaga v Benfica
Lazio v Juventus

Byes:
Liverpool
Lyon

Semi Final Draw

Benfica v Liverpool
Juventus v Lyon


Cup Final (Neutral Venue)

Benfica vs Lyon

U21's:

Cavanda
Emmanuel
Barretto

Nationals:

Marchetti
Marchisio
Brocchi

*Look to play Donovan the ball at all opportunities.
*Emmanuel & Barretto to use pace and get in behind Juventus defence.
*Brocchi to sit deep and protect back four.

-------------------------- Buffon---------------------------------------

Fucile---- Chiellini -- Sorensen --- Grosso

------------------- Spearing

Taddei ------------------------ Maxi Rodrigez

-------------- Luca Marrone

Iaquinta ---------------------- saviola
Nationals: Buffon,Chileillni,Iaquinta
Under21: Soresen, Spearing,Marrone

Team has had to be changed with the youngesters getting a go in the cup, meaning Pirlo, Arshavin, and barzaghli miss out.
.Spearing sitting in front of the defence.
.Saviola and iaquinta lethal goal scoers, shoot whenever they get the chance.
.Taddei and Maxi tuck in a lot, and look to play the ball into the striker's feet.

Malaga v BENFICA

------------------Mika----------------------
Lichtsteiner --Luisão--Dedé--Sílvio---
----Kuyt -------García-------Gaitán-----
-------Krasic------------------------------
---------Oliveira-------Rodrigo ---------

U21 - Mika/Oliveira/Rodrigo
Portuguese - Mika/Sílvio/Oliveira

Strong back line, speed on the wings.
Garcia to break down attacks and spread the play to start attacks
Kuyt/Gaitán hug the wings, cross the ball, work into space, cut inside when ball is on the opposite wing
Krasic in the free role, use pace to draw defence, make space for attackers to run into, shoot on site.
Young attackers, but proven goal scorers. Use pace against defence.

JUVENTUS vs Lazio

----------------------------------------Buffon----------------------------------------

--------Wilson--------------Lugano----------------------Camporese---------Sandro

-------Pepe-----------------------Parker------------------Veloso------------Honda

--------------------------------Gilardino-----------------Gomis-------------------

u-21: Wilson----Camporese----Sandro
Domestic----Buffon---Camporese----pepe

Strong in midfield and attack,
play the ball out to the wings, and get the ball in the box
Shoot from range
wingers to keep their width

MALAGA v Benfica
---------------------------------------Tim Wiese--------------------------------------
Jesus Gamez Duarte ----- Torre----------- Matip----------- Gamberini--------- Nacho Monreal
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ----- Miralem Pjanić ----- Clément Chantôme --------- Nicolás Gaitán
-------------------------------------- Ahmed Khalil -------------------------------------

U21 - Khali/Chamberlain/Matip
Spain - Duarte/Torre/Monreal

Strong in defence, emphasis on speed.
Full backs to assist Wingers at every opportunity. Back 3 CB to cover when this happens
Chamberlain and Gaitan to bomb forward to assist Khalil, who is a quick striker that will sit on the last CB and plan to beat him for speed.
Stretch the Benfica midfield to breaking point.

LAZIO v Juventus

-----------------Marchetti------------------
Stendardo-----Garay-----Agger------Del Nero
------------------Frimpong------------------
Buonanotte------------------------Griezmann
-------------------Donovan-----------------
-------------Klose-------------Emmanuel----

ITA - Marchetti, Stendardo, Del Nero
U21 - Emmanuel, Frimpong, Griezmann

- get the ball wide where you can and let the creative players feed the two forwards and the AM.
- Close down quickly and pressure the ball, and the opposition
- Be patient on the ball and wait for the options, keep possession and let them chase you.
- FB's don't maraud upfield and lose the Juve wingers, keep tight on them.
- CB's man mark the lone striker and leave one spare to sweep, or take one each if there is two.
- DM work hard and close the ball, always pressure them away from goal.
- Wingers, get on the ball and take people on; be creative and don't be afraid to have a go at goal.
- AM stay in the hole and try and feed the front men, track midfield runners where you can.
- Strikers, come short when needed to link play, but get in the box and play on shoulders mainly.

Malaga v Benfica

-------------------Mika-------------
Lichtsteiner--Luisão---Costa---Sílvio--
------------------García--------------
--Krasic----------------------Miyaichi--
-----------------Verretti------------
----------Damiao---------Nilmar---------

U21 - Mika, Verretti, Miyaichi
Portuguese - Mika, Sílvio, Costa

Tactics
Tight marking at the back, wing backs to link in wing play for attacks
Garcia CDM breaking down attacks
Midfield - Play with pace down the wings, cut inside, run at their wing backs
Attacking - Shoot on sight from outside the box and inside the box, and run at defenders, maintain possession by playing it back and start again down the wings.

Juventus vs Lazio - JUVENTUS WIN
Malaga v Benfica - BENFICA WIN

Juventus vs Lazio - JUVENTUS WIN
Malaga v Benfica - BENFICA WIN

Juventus + Benfica win

win for
JUVE
and
BENFICA

SEMI FINALS

JUVENTUS TACTICS vs lyon

-------Buffon------

--Wilson----Lugano----Camporese----Sandro

---Walcott-----Parker----Veloso-----Honda

---------------Gilardino-----Gomis

U-21'S Wilson-Camporse-Sandro
Nationals-Buffon-Camporese-Gilardino

pass the ball to the wings
crosses in to the box
Parker and Veloso sit in midfield
Shoot from range.
Patient build up

COME ON JUVE!

LYON vs Juve

U-21's: Kolodziejczak, Fofana, Grenier, Tafer, Lacazette
French Nationals: Kolodziejczak, Fofana, Grenier, Tafer, Lacazette

Tactics: Fast tempo, keep the ball, make it hard for Juve to get the ball, keep the ball moving and keep them working.
Lloris, very experienced, command and control your defence, keep them in shape and position. Come for crosses in your 6 yard box, otherwise leave for defenders. Catch as much as possible.
Keep it tight at the back. Zonal man mark players. Fulbacks dont let the opposition winger in. CB, challange for every ball in the air, make it yours.
Fofana stay defensive and protect back four, get tackles, interceptions in etc. Grenier to help protect back four but you are the more attacking one, push up and support the strikers. Play through-balls to the strikers.
Frei and Dempsey work the wings, double up on Juve wingers, stop them having any play. Attack their fullback. Can cut inside at times and support the strikers. Get crosses in when wide, when inside play through-balls or if play has opened up ahve a shot. Play cross field balls seeking each other out, this will help strech Juve.
Tafer & Lacazette, make forward runs. Do your best to be a "pest" to the Juve CB's. Annoy them. Work hard to unsettle them. Get on the end of crosses and through-balls. Shoot on sight.

All in all, go out and have fun. Enjoy yourself and let your football do the talking.

benfica v LIVERPOOL


English:- McCarthy, Kelly, Albrighton
U-21's:- Muniesa, Matip, Morata

Back 5 stay focussed, Rami leads them, keeps them right.
Rami man marks the striker keep him quiet
FB's stay back and keep a good line defend 1st and foremost
Mvila - is the hard man sits in front of the defense keeping their AM quiet
Gaitan and Albbrighton take the fullbacks on but also get back
Suarez pick up from MvIla and gets it forward
Morata the poacher will get on the end of what he can, full of running
Huntealaar - a goal machine, get in on goal and help Morata

Quick one touch football, want to attack as much as poss, keep them off the ball
Defend as a unit close evrything down quickly

Liverpool v Benfica

-------------------Mika-------------
Lichtsteiner--Luisão---Costa---Sílvio--
------------------García--------------
--Krasic----------------------Miyaichi--
-----------------Verretti------------
----------Damiao---------Nilmar---------

U21 - Mika, Verretti, Miyaichi
Portuguese - Mika, Sílvio, Costa

Tactics
Mika to be strong in the air, look for quick counter attacks through Garcia
Back four keep a tight line, use width on the wings through wingbacks
Garcia mark any CAM, break down play, start counter attacks
Wingers to cut inside drawing marker to follow them so wingbacks are in space on the wings
Verretti shoot from distance, keep any CDM close to him to free up strikers
Strikers shoot on site, use pace against CB's, link up with eachother

Vote

Lyon win
Benfica win

Lyon WIN
Liverpool WIN

Juve WIN
Liverpool Win

Juventus win
Benefica win

lyon and benfica win

FINAL MATCH
Benfica v Lyon

-------------------Mika-------------
Lichtsteiner--Luisão---Costa---Sílvio--
------------------García-------------
---Krasic---------Verretti----Miyaichi-
-----------Damiao-------Nilmar-----

U21 - Mika, Verretti, Miyaichi
Portuguese - Mika, Sílvio, Costa

Mika strong in air for crosses, corners & free kicks. Quick counter attacks down the wings.
CB's - Block long range shots, stay close to attackers, strong challenges, play offside traps
LB/RB - Stop crosses, stay tight to their wingers, counter attacks down the wings
Garcia - Mark CAM, break down attacks, spread play to wings
LW/RW - Run at markers, cut inside & shoot, cross ball for Damiao to head at goal, play through balls for Nilmar
Verretti - Assist Garcia in midfield and defending. Box to box. Shoot long range, spread play to wings, play through balls to strikers, make runs at defence.
Strikers - Make runs past their CB's for through balls, one go near post & the other back post for crosses. Make space with one touches for shots, run at goal, shoot on sight.

Cup Final

LYON vs Benfica

U-21's: Kolodziejczak, Grenier, Lacazette
French Nationals: Kolodziejczak, Grenier, Lacazette

Tactics: Fast tempo, keep the ball, make it hard for Benfica to get the ball, keep the ball moving and keep them working. Spread the play to wide areas.
Lloris, command and control your defence, keep them in shape and position. Come for crosses in your 6 yard box, otherwise leave for defenders. Catch as much as possible.
Keep it tight at the back. Zonal man mark players. Fulbacks dont let the opposition winger in. CB, challange for every everything, make it yours.
Ederson stay defensive and protect back four, get tackles, interceptions in etc. Grenier to help protect back four but you are the more attacking one, push up and support the strikers. Play through-balls to the strikers. Have long shots, make late runs into the box.
Frei and Dempsey work the wings, double up on Benfica wingers, stop them getting crosses in. Attack the fullbacks. Dont mind if you inside at times and support the strikers. Get crosses in when wide, when inside play through-balls or have a shot. Play cross field balls seeking each other out, this will help strech Benfica.
Kalou & Lacazette, make forward runs. Do your best to be a "pest" to the Benfica CB's. Annoy them. Work hard to unsettle them. Get on the end of crosses and through-balls. Shoot on sight. Kalou drop deep at times to collect ball.

All in all, go out and have fun. Enjoy yourself and let your football do the talking.

Benfica win very close though.

Benfica win

Benfica win on penalties

Lyon WIN

Benfica win

Benfica win

Lyon = winners

Olympique Lyon win by a late late late late late goal..........just.

benfica win

Benfica win