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Champions League 25/26
Comments
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Not Champions League, but I'm in Madrid at the moment, and saw the Espanyol team bus driving through Madrid today. They play Real tomorrow.0
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Mental them giving a penalty in the Monaco/Man City game for a high foot, Dier is stooping and throwing his head at it, the player makes contact with the ball, then his shinpad hits Dier's nose.
Game's absolutely gone if we're giving out penalties for that1 -
Awful decision but at this point no one is surprised any more.0
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Yeah it was so telling that the second the ref was called to the screen, Donnarumma followed him to the bench to then get info on penalty takers for Monaco, he knew they'd give it straight away0
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Quick comment on Bodo/Glimt v Spurs. Honestly don't know how Spurs walked away from that game with a point. The most undeserving 2-2 you'll ever see. They dominated possession, created chance after chance and missed a penalty.
Spurs hit the post twice and had a goal disallowed which in my opinion should have stood but yet another late equalizer saved us (the 4th OG Spurs have benefitted from in 5 games).
The jury is most definitely out with Thomas Frank at the moment but he needs time.0 -
Gave up on out game and have been watching Chelsea Barcelona. Chelsea have been superb tonight, 3 0 up. Barcelona were down to 10 men towards the end of the 1st half but even given that, Chelsea have torn them a new one0
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Weird why City made 10 changes for tonight's game against Leverkusen, risking now dropping out of the top 80
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Pep basically admitted after the game that he fucked up. 3-4 changes would've probably been fine but you can't make 10 at that level to mainly play guys who haven't played much recently and expect a good performance. What i don't get is why he chose that game to rest players when Leeds at home this weekend would make far more sense.killerandflash said:Weird why City made 10 changes for tonight's game against Leverkusen, risking now dropping out of the top 8
They also have Real Madrid away in their next CL game so that's a likely loss, and then they're going to have a serious battle to get top 8.
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I'm in a similar boat. Why watch Spurs get pumped by PSG when the game of the league stage is Arsenal v Munich on the other side. Thats how apathetic I am to watching Spurs right now.DaveMehmet said:Gave up on out game and have been watching Chelsea Barcelona. Chelsea have been superb tonight, 3 0 up. Barcelona were down to 10 men towards the end of the 1st half but even given that, Chelsea have torn them a new one1 -
Incredibly moronic handball from Van Dijk1
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Very impressive second half performance by Arsenal. Rice was superb.
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Just seen the City score, remarkable0
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Arsenal are safely through to the last 16, where they will be joined by Bayern Munich, everybody else still has work to do:
Table going into the final matchday0 -
Just goes to show the strength of the PL these days. Even in a season where the standards appear to have dropped significantly there are 6 teams in the top 11.
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How that actual F are Spurs 5th in the CL table? hahaha.
European football is absolute sh*t.
Dortmund are supposed to be 2nd in the Bundesliga but Spurs could have had 4 or 5 goals first half before Dortmund shut up shop at half time.
I didn't realise whoever ends top if the league phase gets 2nd leg home tie priority throughout the knock out rounds. It's all lining up for them isn't it? sigh.0 -
Benfica v Madrid - Mental finish Benfica keeper scores with last action of the match to keep them in it2
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5 English teams in the top 8, and they all avoid the play off round. Newcastle finish 12th.
Spurs can't beat Burnley or West ham but somehow end up 4th in the Champions league.
Real Madrid, Inter and PSG all go into the play off round.0 -
Mbappe ends the league phase with 13 goals. The record for a full season is Ronaldo with 17.0
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I deliberately didn't follow any of the games, so was able to watch a cracking MOTD not knowing the scores.
Crazy game between Mourinho's Benfica and Madrid, with Madrid doing a Sheffield United and finishing with 9 players.
Bodø/Glimt after no wins in their first 6 group games, beat City at home then win away at Atletico Madrid to reach the playoffs!1 -
Final League Standings Last 16/ Play Offs
Please note: Top Two will play the return leg at home up to and including the semi final, the other two (top four) get the return leg at home up to and including the Quarter Finals, the other four (top Eight) qualify for the round of 16 but don't get return leg at home tie beyond that (the last 16).
If a playoff team beats any of the top eight they will follow the corrisponding pathway and adopt the 'advantage' the team they beat got.
Play offs: 9-16 are seeded while 17-24 are unseeded
The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn into the knockout phase bracket, against the clubs in each unseeded pair: clubs 9 or 10 against clubs 23 or 24, clubs 11 or 12 against clubs 21 or 22, clubs 13 or 14 against clubs 19 or 20, and clubs 15 or 16 against clubs 17 or 18.
Ties take place over two legs and the seeded team will, in principle, play the return leg at home. Each club will, in principle, play once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.
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Great header from the Benfica keeper to make it 4-2 and send them into the top 24.
As an added bonus it knocked out Marseille and Mason Greenwood.1 -
Firstly pretty good achievement Arsenal winning all their games, considering they still played a few top teams.
People saying shows how bad the rest of Europe are, the reason Spurs have done ok and all the English sides is because the play is different and suits our teams. Look at Newcastle for an example and spurs, teams tend to play more open and go for it and dont sit back (low block) like they do in the premier league. Another reason why Arsenal have had no problems, if they play a team that sits back and plays on the counter they struggle a bit more.
early doors still but still this is when the real stuff starts now, i like the new shape up after initially being skeptical. Most teams have something to play for the last game and the randomness of the draw i think it has given it a nice freshen up.2 -
I think the draw Spurs had also helped.johnnybev1987 said:Firstly pretty good achievement Arsenal winning all their games, considering they still played a few top teams.
People saying shows how bad the rest of Europe are, the reason Spurs have done ok and all the English sides is because the play is different and suits our teams. Look at Newcastle for an example and spurs, teams tend to play more open and go for it and dont sit back (low block) like they do in the premier league. Another reason why Arsenal have had no problems, if they play a team that sits back and plays on the counter they struggle a bit more.
early doors still but still this is when the real stuff starts now, i like the new shape up after initially being skeptical. Most teams have something to play for the last game and the randomness of the draw i think it has given it a nice freshen up.
Villarreal (h), Bodo (a), Monaco (a), Copenhagen (h), PSG (a), Slavia Prague (h), Dortmund (h), Frankfurt (a).
I think that's a very Europa league looking set of games and the only decent team they faced (PSG) beat them. That said you can only beat what it's front of you and they've done very well and kept 6 clean sheets.5 -
I love the current format. Someone did a ‘ranking’ analysis at the start which suggested Arsenal’s fixtures were the 3rd easiest, Spurs 4th, Liverpool 7th, Chelsea 8th, Man C 14th and Newcastle 32nd. Some of that will be down to English teams who are all relatively strong not being able to play each other in the group stageChris_from_Sidcup said:w
I think the draw Spurs had also helped.johnnybev1987 said:Firstly pretty good achievement Arsenal winning all their games, considering they still played a few top teams.
People saying shows how bad the rest of Europe are, the reason Spurs have done ok and all the English sides is because the play is different and suits our teams. Look at Newcastle for an example and spurs, teams tend to play more open and go for it and dont sit back (low block) like they do in the premier league. Another reason why Arsenal have had no problems, if they play a team that sits back and plays on the counter they struggle a bit more.
early doors still but still this is when the real stuff starts now, i like the new shape up after initially being skeptical. Most teams have something to play for the last game and the randomness of the draw i think it has given it a nice freshen up.
Villarreal (h), Bodo (a), Monaco (a), Copenhagen (h), PSG (a), Slavia Prague (h), Dortmund (h), Frankfurt (a).
I think that's a very Europa league looking set of games and the only decent team they faced (PSG) beat them. That said you can only beat what it's front of you and they've done very well and kept 6 clean sheets.0 -
Yes, only one top level side and indeed a number of teams who missed the playoffs completely.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I think the draw Spurs had also helped.johnnybev1987 said:Firstly pretty good achievement Arsenal winning all their games, considering they still played a few top teams.
People saying shows how bad the rest of Europe are, the reason Spurs have done ok and all the English sides is because the play is different and suits our teams. Look at Newcastle for an example and spurs, teams tend to play more open and go for it and dont sit back (low block) like they do in the premier league. Another reason why Arsenal have had no problems, if they play a team that sits back and plays on the counter they struggle a bit more.
early doors still but still this is when the real stuff starts now, i like the new shape up after initially being skeptical. Most teams have something to play for the last game and the randomness of the draw i think it has given it a nice freshen up.
Villarreal (h), Bodo (a), Monaco (a), Copenhagen (h), PSG (a), Slavia Prague (h), Dortmund (h), Frankfurt (a).
I think that's a very Europa league looking set of games and the only decent team they faced (PSG) beat them. That said you can only beat what it's front of you and they've done very well and kept 6 clean sheets.0 -
I just wish they didn't have as many teams involved. It's a shame that the same teams mainly dominant their domestic leagues.
I mean 6 for England seems excessive but it is nice that a slightly smaller team from the premier League could have a chance to progress into Europes top tournament.0 -
There is a huge difference between PL and CL.
CL, Spurs have looked more than comfortable. Apart from Bodo & PSG away, we've mostly dominated games. I still don't know how we came away from Bodo with a 2-2 against the run of play but then again, 2-2 is better than how Man City faired there, isn't it?
Xavi Simons has been very very good in Europe. He is given the time and space to play and he has been able to dictate the tempo and pick teams apart. In the PL, he just doesn't have the physical presence to deal with 2 sitters. He gets snuffed out. Thats the difference. Xavi was excellent last night and against Dortmund and he was head and shoulders
Gray hasn't put a foot wrong in the last two CL games. He didn't misplace a single pass last night, kept it simple and he looked at total ease. We look so much more solid when Spence starts on the right over Porro. Yes, we lose Porro's ability in the final 3rd (he's got a ridiculous amount of assists) but he can't escape the fact that he is at fault for losing his man at least 3-4 times a game leading to chances/goals.
The weak point above all else is Vicario. He needs replacing urgently. He is a great shot stopper when he doesn't have to thing about it but for any manager/coach wanting to play out from the back, he instills absolutely no confidence in his defenders. His distribution is awful. Last night, the only chances Frankfurt created (apart from a break right at the end of the first half) was down to him giving the ball away or putting his defenders under pressure with a bobbly pass. Dogsh*t at corners and crosses.
Vicario and Porro would be the first players to be shown to the exit door if I was in charge.
EDIT >> something to mention, just the 14 first teamers unavailable last 2 CL games as well. Its some effort from the players available to win the last two games. Probably the one bright point in a very dismal season.
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Play off draw has been made. Newcastle will be delighted and a very strong chance that we will now have 6 teams in the last 16.
Bodo/Glimt v Inter Milan
Benfica v Real Madrid
Monaco v PSG
Qarabag v Newcastle
Galatasaray v Juventus
Club Brugge v Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund v Atalanta
Olympiacos v Bayer Leverkusen
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Chris_from_Sidcup said:Play off draw has been made. Newcastle will be delighted and a very strong chance that we will now have 6 teams in the last 16.
Bodo/Glimt v Inter Milan
Benfica v Real Madrid*
Monaco v PSG
Qarabag v Newcastle
Galatasaray v Juventus
Club Brugge v Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund v Atalanta
Olympiacos v Bayer Leverkusen
*- Benfica beat Real Madrid to qualify for the playoffs (and knock them out of the top eight) only to face them in a two legged play off.1 -
At half-time in their away first leg of the knock-out match against Qarabag, Newcastle are 5-0 up and it might have been ten but for the keeper. They have had 18 attempts on goal of which 13 have been on target. Gordon has four of them, giving him ten in the CL this season in nine matches.0
