UEFA Champions League Thread [Archive]

[GTP_Plato]

Was very close to my 3-0 prediction, still can't believe the doubters.

 

[Brend]

Fantastic stuff. Said 5-0 earlier today. :l

 

[Lissa]

Fantastic comeback by Barca.

Given me something to smile about after a very rough few days.

 

[Akmuq]

Barca! Barca! BAAAAAAAAAAAARCA!

 

[Famine]

We are three and a half hours away from Barcelona - Milan. My predictions: Barcelona will score at least a goal. But so will Milan. And then, Barcelona will have to score three more goals in order to advance to the next stage.

So, Barça is out of the Champions League.

You can see the fear in the faces of the Barça players.

Can I get you to pick 43 numbers from 1-49 inclusive please?

 

[m8h3r]

Why did the commentators keep saying "even if there are no English teams in the next round" urm arsenal? You just watched Milan get beat 4-0, yet you're writing off 3-1? So arsenal win 3-0, unlikely yes, impossible? Not in football it's not.

 

[dhandeh]

Why did the commentators keep saying "even if there are no English teams in the next round" urm arsenal? You just watched Milan get beat 4-0, yet you're writing off 3-1? So arsenal win 3-0, unlikely yes, impossible? Not in football it's not.

That's ITV for you. ****ing useless.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Galatasaray are through 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on agg...

 

[Touring Mars]

Why did the commentators keep saying "even if there are no English teams in the next round" urm arsenal? You just watched Milan get beat 4-0, yet you're writing off 3-1? So arsenal win 3-0, unlikely yes, impossible? Not in football it's not.

I wouldn't have bet against Barca overturning a 2-0 away loss against anybody...

... but I would bet against Arsenal overturning a 3-1 home loss against Bayern Munich...

Still, they are wrong to write them off - even accidentally - but methinks it will prove to be a moot point.

 

[Lucas]

Can I get you to pick 43 numbers from 1-49 inclusive please?

I jinxed them. It was all carefully thought.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Barcelona too good as usual. And even though they still look shaky at the back, it's hard to bet against them over two legs.

 

[Brend]

I want to know why ITV kept bleating on about British teams not being there to beat Barca.

It was a bit embarrassing.

 

[dhandeh]

I jinxed them. It was all carefully thought.

Of course you did.

 

[Pagey279]

Well that's a bit of a kick in the teeth for AC Milan, I was pretty sure they would get beaten at the Nou Camp, but not by four goals! The first by Messi was sublime and those two from him take his tally for this season up to 53! Also no side had ever come back from a two-goal first-leg defeat without the benefit of an away goal before tonight.

I think the question for tonight is; how many will Arsenal lose by?

 

[cuco33]

Wow. What can I say?! Milan just did not have it in them. Parking the bus majority of the first half against Barcelona at the Camp Nou was bound to spell disaster. Milan did have a chance to seal the deal but that post said otherwise. Shame because I wanted to see a huge Italian flag hang off of the Catalan bar I was at lol

Today is do or die for my Porto. I hats how the media all over barely even mention this match up and none are giving Porto a shot. Hello..... porto are two time winners of the CL with our most recent one being less than 10 years ago!!!! We have a solid team this year on par with few years ago when we won the europa league. Not 1 mention, not even a nod, and given not even a chance... yet Porto goes to Malaga up 1-0 (and should have been more!)

Apart from the last week, where Barca were routinely beating Madrid.

Routinely?
Barcelona's record against Real Madrid in last 8 matches:
1 win, 3 ties, 4 losses.

If anything Barcelona is routinely getting smacked around by Madrid. Mourinho figured the Catalan giants out ; )
The reason why RM are in 3rd place in the league this season and many points behind Barca is because of Madrid's own form losing and tieing matches they should have won especially in the first half of the season.

 

[Brend]

Wow. What can I say?! Milan just did not have it in them. Parking the bus majority of the first half against Barcelona at the Camp Nou was bound to spell disaster. Milan did have a chance to seal the deal but that post said otherwise. Shame because I wanted to see a huge Italian flag hang off of the Catalan bar I was at lol



If anything Barcelona is routinely getting smacked around by Madrid. Mourinho figured the Catalan giants out ; )
The reason why RM are in 3rd place in the league this season and many points behind Barca is because of Madrid's own form losing and tieing matches they should have won especially in the first half of the season.

Eh. What. Regarding your last part, that's pretty arrogant, I mean what about last season? I suppose Real won the title because of Barca's shortcomings? Or does it not work both ways?

 

[Lucas]

Mourinho figured out Barça: defend with eleven and play a counter whenever possible. Think everyone has figured it out by now, Madrid has the advantage however because it has quality players and an athlete like Ronaldon in attack.

Sadly, Barça doesn't realize that it shouldn't always use the same strategy. On a bad day, such as in Milan, things can go awfully wrong. On a good day, however, they trash the crap out of anyone.

 

[cuco33]

Eh. What. Regarding your last part, that's pretty arrogant, I mean what about last season? I suppose Real won the title because of Barca's shortcomings? Or does it not work both ways?

Of course it works both ways and the 2 clubs have been simply phenomenal as of late. Real lost 5 times this season alone in la liga, last time they lost 5 or more games was 4 years ago with 10 losses and 5 years ago with 7 where they won it. But the last 8 times the 2 faced each other Barca have only beaten Real Madrid only once. All those classicos and only once! Mind you Mourinho's worst defeat ever came in his first season for Madrid against Barca losing 5-0. That is quite the change going 5-0 defeat to losing only once. I doubt we will ever see a defeat that bad for Real under Mou. And don't blame them for counter attacking. Barca rarely ever play a different style of footy so if strong defense with a fast counter is the tactic to beat them, then so be it. Real also takes it to barca, they don't park the bus like most think. Barca defense isn't as good as it used to be too. I love Puyol but his age is getting to him and he simply can't keep up with fast players like Ronaldo or Di Maria.

Mourinho figured out Barça: defend with eleven and play a counter whenever possible. Think everyone has figured it out by now, Madrid has the advantage however because it has quality players and an athlete like Ronaldon in attack.

Sadly, Barça doesn't realize that it shouldn't always use the same strategy. On a bad day, such as in Milan, things can go awfully wrong. On a good day, however, they trash the crap out of anyone.

I think clubs will exploit the 2 weaknesses to Barca tactics as they never change them. 1 is the big counter we discussed. Let Barca take possession they like to have and remain calm but make sure the defense is solid and well disciplined. Sadly Milan thought they could repeat this at Camp Nou, only this time they didnt play a high line at all with Messi's early goal being crucial (plus Muntari , missing in the midfield and lack of Pazzini to hold and kill time when attacking proved to be disastrous)
2 is take the game to Barca. Attack and attack hard, you might get lucky. Their d is good but not as good as it used to be. Barcelona's first loss of the season came to Real Sociedad, typical Barca possession dominance but RS out shot Barca both in attempts and on target. Besides, under the assistant manager's command they aren't as good. Pep and Tito make smart choices mid match which the assistant seems to lack.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Bayern v Arsenal tonight then...Bayern are missing players like Ribery, Schweinstiger and Robben is a doubt, Wilshire is out for Arsenal, the 'keeper might be dropped (cant spell his name!)..and theres rumours that wenger thinks the tie is lost so will rest players like Walcott and Cazorla!

 

[Touring Mars]

Just turned on the game to find that Arsenal are a goal up already...

Game on?

 

[Ross]

Nice goal from Isco curled into the top left corner from the edge of the box. 1-0 Malaga and 1-1 overall.

 

[Lucas]

I think clubs will exploit the 2 weaknesses to Barca tactics as they never change them. 1 is the big counter we discussed. Let Barca take possession they like to have and remain calm but make sure the defense is solid and well disciplined. Sadly Milan thought they could repeat this at Camp Nou, only this time they didnt play a high line at all with Messi's early goal being crucial (plus Muntari , missing in the midfield and lack of Pazzini to hold and kill time when attacking proved to be disastrous)

Absolutely true. There was one point in the match were Barça's defenders were so up high in the pitch (just behind the half-line) a simple mistake would have costed them the match. Also, I haven't seen it mentioned here, but Messi's second goal should have been void since he was offside when Iniesta passed him the ball.

2 is take the game to Barca. Attack and attack hard, you might get lucky. Their d is good but not as good as it used to be. Barcelona's first loss of the season came to Real Sociedad, typical Barca possession dominance but RS out shot Barca both in attempts and on target. Besides, under the assistant manager's command they aren't as good. Pep and Tito make smart choices mid match which the assistant seems to lack.

I haven't seen every match Barça plays, but I know that Barça have had bad games were they dominate possession, but they just don't shoot on goal. Which is exactly what happened against Milan in the first match. Yesterday, however, was completely different, as Barça wanted to win from the very beginning, having dangerous shots on goal.

However, it's true the defense doesn't seem very solid, particularly Piqué.

Oh, and that reminds me.

I don't know what I've done, but it has been right.




EDIT: Also, ¡vamos Málaga! Saviola, Demichelis, I want you back in River on July!

 

[cuco33]

Omg....

 

[cuco33]

Complete and utter crap. One of the worst games Porto played all season long. All the stars were non-existent. All of them. Moutinho, Varela, Jackson, Lucho, the entire defense...Unbelievable. Terrible passing on top of that....
I won't even complain about Toulan who should have been red carded... Defour deserved to be sentnoff with his reckless challenge. we deserved to lose today.
And now all Porto has to win is the league and national cup. We could have gone into this match 3-0 or more but only 1 goal scored and after today's performance.... unreal... time to order up another scotch!!!

 

[SagarisGTB]

Well done Malaga.

I won't even complain about Toulan who should have been red carded... we deserved to lose today.

Malaga were denied a seemingly legal goal, so it even out a bit. Toulalan was walking a very fine line though.

 

[cuco33]

Well done Malaga. Malaga were denied a seemingly legal goal, so it even out a bit. Toulalan was walking a very fine line though.

Jackson could have been carded on a high challenge for the ball in the 1st half. To me ref was good and didn't want a questionable play to define the outcome.

 

[Brend]

And now all Porto has to win is the league and national cup.

Welcome to the club.

 

[Pagey279]

I think the question for tonight is; how many will Arsenal lose by?

Well don't I feel stupid.

 

[Lucas]

Ice-senal. Can't believe they gave away the first leg.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Arsenal were terrific last night..real battling performance and they need to carry that into the rest of the season as they need to finish 4th in the league...