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UEFA Champions League (Official Thread)

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Bucknut24;2314229; said:
If it's tied on aggregates is there no extra time?

Watching a match between 2 teams I dunno the names to, and they just basically gave up a goal by sending every man forward even though it was 3-3
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Away goals rule. Galatasaray had two away goals to Schalke's one. First tiebreaker for an aggregate that is level is the team with the most away goals.
 
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Thursby;2314230; said:
I listen to lot of football podcasts, and all I heard was that Barcelona's time has passed. I guess those eulogies were a bit premature. :wink2:
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Well they did play an AC Milan team that sold all of it's best players last summer, so beating them I don't think was something incredible, although impressive. They're definitely on the downhill I think, but still right there with the best teams in Europe.
 
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Merih;2314233; said:
Barcelona advances, but still look at sixes and sevens every time a team has any sort of possession against them. My money is still on Bayern Munich/Madrid/Dortmund.
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I picked Madrid at the start of the season like I did last year, so I have to stick to my guns. I think Bayern Munich is the best of the bunch though. I think they have more hunger to win than other teams because they've lost in the Final two out of the last three years. Add into that fact they have a lot of players from the German National Team that has fallen in the Semi's of '06 WC, Final of '08 Euro, Semi's of '10 WC & Semi's of Euro '12. They desperately want to win something at the top level.
 
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Smudger;2314239; said:
I picked Madrid at the start of the season like I did last year, so I have to stick to my guns. I think Bayern Munich is the best of the bunch though. I think they have more hunger to win than other teams because they've lost in the Final two out of the last three years. Add into that fact they have a lot of players from the German National Team that has fallen in the Semi's of '06 WC, Final of '08 Euro, Semi's of '10 WC & Semi's of Euro '12. They desperately want to win something at the top level.
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Munich is incredible, no doubt. I wouldn't be upset if they won.

Barcelona go as Xavi and Iniesta go. For all of the talent that the Catalans develop, they were always going to take a step backwards as those players aged. Fabregas was supposed to be able to step right in but he's seen his star fade in Spain as the likes of Juan Mata and David Silva have developed into world class players. Even Isco is beginning to pass Fabregas in the opinion of many spaniards.
 
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Merih;2314246; said:
Munich is incredible, no doubt. I wouldn't be upset if they won.

Barcelona go as Xavi and Iniesta go. For all of the talent that the Catalans develop, they were always going to take a step backwards as those players aged. Fabregas was supposed to be able to step right in but he's seen his star fade in Spain as the likes of Juan Mata and David Silva have developed into world class players. Even Isco is beginning to pass Fabregas in the opinion of many spaniards.
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Fabregas can barely get on the field when Xavi is healthy, because they like to run three forwards & three mid, with Xavi, Iniesta & Busquets being in the midfield. It doesn't usually work well for them when all four are in at the same time. Thiago Alcantara has also struggled to find playing time & as a result, it has kind of stunted his development. They're really going to be in a hole as Xavi ages, because everything goes through him. He's there orchestrator & they're never the same when he's not playing. That's probably Barca's greatest long-term concern, but they're greatest current problem is at the back. Puyol has clearly lost a step & struggles for the most part when he actually plays as he's been injured most of the past three seasons. Pique has been pretty inconsistent the past two seasons & the Mascherano at CB experiment has been a complete failure. I was shocked they didn't address this concern at all last summer after it cost them dearly at the end of last season. There other problem, which is huge as well is finding another scorer besides Messi. David Villa has gotten the shaft this year in barely getting any starting time, which makes no sense when you consider his goalscoring prowess. Alexis Sanchez has been a complete failure as he couldn't find the back of the net if you held his family at gunpoint. Add in the disappearance of Pedro & you have yourself a team completely reliant on one man scoring. They really go where Messi takes them. If he is struggling, they all do because nobody else can score.
 
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Arsenal with a bright start to the game. Found an early goal through Giroud after a Walcott cross. Still down considerably with those three away goals given up to Bayern Munich in the 1st leg. Hopefully they can make Bayern work for it today.
 
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Very contentious decision by the ref disallows the equalizing goal for Malaga. Porto defender pushed Julio Baptista from behind & the Porto 'keeper (Helton) who went to grab the cross & dropped it didn't even touch Bapitsta who was on the ground below him. Saviola poked in the open net, but it was disallowed for who knows what reason. Baptista lying on the ground didn't interfere with the play at all.......WOW doesn't matter now. Isco ties it at 1-1 on aggregate with a magnificent shot from the top right of the box into the top left corner of the goal. Brilliant player. Brilliant goal.
 
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Halftime scores:

Bayern Munich 0-1 Arsenal. Bayern Munich up 3-2 on aggregate with big three away goals advantage. Arsenal are going to need a miracle to advance aka at least two goals. Don't see it happening, but you never now & at least they haven't caved in and given up.

Malaga 1-0 Porto. Remarkable goal from Isco tied the aggregate at 1-1 right before the half, although Malaga had a goal contentiously disallowed right before the Isco opener. Could see this one going to extra time, but Malaga really came alive towards the end of the half after the Saviola goal was disallowed.
 
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Merih;2314569; said:
Isco. The next (next next next) big thing coming from Spain.
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Great player. I wonder if he'll be on the move this summer as Malaga won't be able to compete in European competition next season. Should draw a lot of attention regardless. Will be real interested to see who makes a move for him.
 
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Speaking of Isco....

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Interesting turn of events in the Malaga-Porto game. Steven Defour sent off for a second yellow. It was a brainless challenge given he was already sitting one one yellow. Joaquin had beat him to the inside & he just hacked him down from behind. Utterly foolish on his part & now it looks daunting for Porto being down a man for the rest of the game.
 
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Smudger;2314573; said:
Great player. I wonder if he'll be on the move this summer as Malaga won't be able to compete in European competition next season. Should draw a lot of attention regardless. Will be real interested to see who makes a move for him.
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Likely money is Chelsea. The Blues loaned out young Lucas Piazon to Malaga and in exchange (it's rumored) have got first purchasing rights on Isco.
 
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