This has been an absolute battle so far. RM trying to get that away goal, but being patient doing so. Alteti looking to break quickly and have had a couple of opportunities. Great match so far.
2017 Champions League Knockout stage
- Thread starter Senator Donut
- Start date
Hmmm.
I think Atleti will tire in the 2nd half. So far, it´s their game, really perfect for the drama.
I still hate the constant arm-waving and card-calling for each foul. But perfect from Cakir to give two yellows (Gabi and Ramos, both captains!) for that poor behaviour. I thought that´s the wrong ref, to be honest, but so far he´s having a good game.
I think Atleti will tire in the 2nd half. So far, it´s their game, really perfect for the drama.
I still hate the constant arm-waving and card-calling for each foul. But perfect from Cakir to give two yellows (Gabi and Ramos, both captains!) for that poor behaviour. I thought that´s the wrong ref, to be honest, but so far he´s having a good game.
Everyone crowding the ref after every foul, that's getting old even if some of these tackles are hard AF.
That was some impressively bad defending by Athletico. Ball watching, hands up for out-of-bounds, everyone stopped playing after the initial shot. Wow.
Don't know how Oblak even got to Kroos' initial hit. RM playing much better in the last 5 minutes once they pushed Kroos back up into his MF role. Seems like the idea was to have him provide some cover for Marcelo and he wasn't doing well with it.
I'm gutted. Simeone moved his line way too far back.
If Bale had not been injured, this match-up would have been entirely different. Isco has been magical and fits so well in this system.
If Bale had not been injured, this match-up would have been entirely different. Isco has been magical and fits so well in this system.
I was kind of into a Real-Juve final until yesterday when we found out that Real is splashing out €45m on a 16 year old and Juve paid Riaola €27m to find a taker for Pogba. Good god. Maybe Ajax can take down ManU in the Europa Cup final for some semblance of hope for the "minnows."
I don't know what you're talking about. Real-Juve has the makings of an epic UCL final. Juve has a nearly impenetrable D and a solid offense than can counter or build from the back. This RM squad is probably the best squad they've had in quite some time with world class players pretty much 2-deep at every position when healthy. Their offense can beat you pretty much every which way and their D is sharp and underrated. Both deserving finalists, don't care how much money they splash.
Just yesterday, it was announced that Real Madrid was set to sign one of Atletico's most promising youth players, Theo Hernandez, who is on loan at Alaves, for 30 million.
I agree that Atletico couldn't maintain that level of intensity for the full 45 minutes of the first half. I'm fine with Simeone trying to slow it down especially since a goal against was a game-ender. But I'm frustrated that Atletico sat so far back from 20-45 minutes. This style does not explain or excuse the Benzema/Isco goal--that was poor defending--but Real Madrid took control of the match in this window and seemed way too comfortable.
One writer for the Spanish paper AS wrote that Atletico started out in a 3-5-2 but switched to 4-4-2. Maybe this switch was a result of the plan to save energy and not be overexposed on defense. But I really liked the 3-5-2.
Some [maybe] interesting data I put together earlier today: in the last 10 years (I gave Juve and RM credit for making it to the finals this year):
- 32 different clubs have qualified for at least the UCL QF
- 16 clubs have only made it that far once
- 6 clubs have made it that far twice
- 3 clubs have made it that far thrice
- 2 clubs have made it that far 4 times (PSG - who has never been past the QF, and Atleti)
- MAN U and Chelsea have made it that far 5 times each
- Madrid made it 7 times, Bayern made it 8, and Barca made it at least to the QF 10/10 in the last decade.
- That bears repeating-Barca have made it at least to the QF every year for the past decade. Whoa.
- Barca has not lost a final (3/3).
- Only 9 different clubs have made it to the finals in the last decade (Barca, MAN U, Chelsea, Bayern, Inter, Madrid, Dortmund, Juve, and Atleti)
- Only 15 different clubs have made it to the semis (same as above, but plus Arsenal, Liverpool, Lyon, Schalke, MANC, and Monaco - each only once)
- Porto, Benfica, and PSG have never made it past the QF despite having qualified for QF more than once (PSG 4x QF (!), Porto and Benfica 2x each)
- EPL has had 7 different clubs make the QF
- La Liga and Ligue 1 have each had 5 different clubs make the QF
- Bundesliga and Serie A have each had 4 different clubs make the QF
Sloppy clearances by the Juve CBs (granted, not easy to reestablish possession when Real is attacking with all 10)
True, but RM has been pounding Juve's defense for 20 minutes. They've cracked up the pressure to an unreal level.
Yeah, even though Real had more scoring chances in the first half I thought Juventus looked like the better side. That's completely flipped on its head in the second half. RM just completely dominating.
At this rate they may not even get two shots on goal, let alone score twice.
Juve had a couple promising counterattacks that didn't quite work out just before Real's second-half goals, but they look like they have nothing left in the tank now.
The only thing missing for Juve in the second half was Isiah Thomas getting subbed out after aggrevating his hip injury. As Soxy wrote, a dominating second half.
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I'm interested in how you thought he did on goals two and three.
I know the second one took a big deflection but I thought he was flat footed on it. The third one too. I can't help but think he believes he could've done better.
The rest of the footballing world should be hoping for a Madrid exodus. James is 100% gone, and I have to think Morata's not far behind. More interestingly, will Bale or Isco go if they're not considered starting XI? In a perfect Madrid world, they both realize that they will get good PT along with Benz and CRon as the attacking trio, but it would be good if one of them left. I can't see Madrid getting a price that satisfies them for Bale and Isco is now getting recognized for the being the beast he is, so I doubt he's going anywhere. Asensio is likely OK waiting another year before getting annoyed since he's so young. Diminished squad depth and/or significant decline from Benz/CRon is hopefully how RM gets knocked off their current lofty perch. This squad is outlandishly stacked.