UEFA Champions League - Last 16

swiftaw

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The draw:

  • Schalke v Man City
  • Atletico Madrid v Juventus
  • Man Utd v PSG
  • Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund
  • Lyon v Barcelona
  • Roma v Porto
  • Ajax v Real Madrid
  • Liverpool v Bayern Munich
Atletico vs Juve, and Liverpool vs Bayern should be fun.
 

PedroSpecialK

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If there was a year to draw Bayern, this looks like arguably the best one. No VVD for leg 1 at home is tough though.

I for one am looking forward to how United stop Neymar and co. If it’s by way of excessive force all the better
 

bosox4283

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I don't know enough about Juventus's team this year to really make an assessment, but maybe only Porto would have been a better draw for Atletico. Well, maybe I ought to say: I thought Porto was the easiest draw, and then everyone else is challenging. Some Atletico fans are saying that ManCity and PSG plays styles that are a better match-up for Atletico, but I preferred to avoid them given their huge upside and their potential just to play amazing football.

In a sense, Atletico's chances of advancing depend on the team getting healthy by then, including the return of Costa.
 

DJnVa

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Spurs getting Dortmund. Beat them twice in group stage last season, but they're playing much better this year.

There's a chance the game in London will be the first game at the Spurs new place, which would be cool. Dortmund played in the last game at the old WHL.
 

67YAZ

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Stray thoughts...

Atletico-Juventus should be fantastic. That's a semi-final quality matchup . Hopefully both teams enter in good health and good form.

If ever there was a time to draw Bayern, this is it. Agree with Pedro that missing VVD in the first leg is huge.

If ever there is a time to draw Madrid, this is definitely it. Can Ajax pull off a stick upset?

Spurs-Dortmund promises to be the most entertaining football. Hoping that both teams come out pressing, countering, and generally playing to win both legs.
 

67YAZ

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ManU-PSG just got a lot more interesting, even if we don't know for sure who will replace Mourinho. United have the attacking talent to go toe-to-toe PSG. If the new manager can get that talent organized and bring in some defensive reinforcements?
 

Kliq

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Unrelated, but does anyone else watch the Bleacher Report animated comedy The Champions? It just finished it's first season and is honestly some of the funniest stuff I saw in 2018. There are about 100 little jokes and references in each four minute episode.
 

rguilmar

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I’m pretty excited for the round of 16 draw. In order of matchups I’m most excited about:
1. Tottenham-Dortmund should be extremely entertaining with both teams looking to attack. Dortmund just feel like they have it together and everything is clicking, but Tottenham can hang right with them. I know Spurs won last year, but this is a different Dortmund team.
2. Atletico- Juventus would have been a solid matchup in the final, never mind in the round of 16. Both teams are tough outs. Juve might very well have a huge lead atop Serie A, which could allow them to focus solely on UCL.
3. Liverpool- Bayern is another final-worthy matchup. Bayern is a bit down this year despite the names on the pitch. Could be another high scoring matchup.
4. Man U-PSG just got a lot more interesting. Given the way the Red Devils have been playing this year, it looked like a lopsided matchup, but if the new manager can get them playing how they can play, this should be a fun one.
5. Real Madrid-Ajax is great for nostalgia. Ajax does have some fascinating young players, and Madrid clearly is down this year. I feel like Madrid’s experience and class will win this one, but you never know.
6. Barca-Lyon intrigues me, and not just because of my affection for the blaugrana. Barcelona have the talent, but between injuries, form, and just not finding the groove they are very beatable. Lyon have some stars in Depay and Fekir along with some interesting young players. Once again, I expect the Catalans to win but it could get interesting.
7. Man City-Schalke shouldn’t be close. Schalke have not looked like the same team from last year. I am interested to see how Weston McKennie does, but he has been yanked all over the field this year, from left back to striker.
8. Roma-Porto should be a tight one. Roma have the names and they toppled Barcelona last year, but I could see Porto winning this on a set piece. Should be close enough to be interesting, just a little more tactical than some of the other matchups.
 

Kliq

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2-0 PSG, playing without their stars on the road. This seems like the kind of game PSG would normally lose in Europe.

Mbappe is REALLY good.
 

fletcherpost

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A dose of reality for Man United. Down 0-2 now. Good goal from Mbappe, but a bit too easy. United haven't played great tonight. A bit conservative, and needing a better ball in the final third. A lot of fairly aimless crosses into the box, and some obvious build up play. PSG have beeen pressing really well on Man U who've struggled to play it out of their own half quite a bit.

Can't see a comeback happening.
 

Zomp

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Refereeing didn’t help, but nightmare scenario with United. Martial and Lingard have been fantastic recently and both go off injured, and Pogba will miss the second leg.
 

coremiller

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Very cagey opening at Wembley, both sides feeling each other out and not wanting to take too many risks. But Spurs have looked the slightly better side so far, they have gotten into more threatening positions.

And Aurier is booked for taking down Pulisic.
 

coremiller

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Foyth with two bad giveaways in possession within a couple of minutes. Was a brave choice to start him today.
 

coremiller

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Dortmund have been controlling the play more the last 10 minutes. They have upped their pressing aggression and that's causing Spurs problems.
 

coremiller

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Spurs look a little short of ideas right now. Dortmund are doing very well at closing off the midfield passing angles.
 

Zososoxfan

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Lahoz is comically bad. That was a yellow at minimum and he didn't even whistle a foul. The foul on Verts in the corner was also obvious. He's been equally awful both ways, but still.
 

The Raccoon

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VAR will not review stuff like that if it's outside the box.
But you have to expect a ref to see that foul on Sancho, that was a horrible no-call...
 

coremiller

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Spurs need to make change things up, but I'm not sure how. They really miss Dembele in games like this, someone who can break and progress the ball into attacking areas by dribbling.

The Vertonghen at LB experiment is not working out. He's too isolated for his passing ability to be effective but he lacks the pace to a wide threat and to recover defensively.

Trippier might be more useful than Aurier tonight. After one or two good early looks Dortmund have shut his wide attacking threat down, and Trippier is a better passer and gets involved in the buildup more, which Spurs need.
 

bosox4283

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I haven't watched any Dortmund this year, but the team looks bad. Very defensive and really dependent on the counter-attack. The tactics remind of a bit of Atletico, and the style of play can be maddening.
 

DJnVa

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I haven't watched any Dortmund this year, but the team looks bad. Very defensive and really dependent on the counter-attack. The tactics remind of a bit of Atletico, and the style of play can be maddening.
They're missing their 2 top scorers and 2 defenders.

Of course there's no Kane and Alli either.
 

Gunfighter 09

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So Sergio Ramos got himself booked on purpose, ensuring he will miss the home tie against Ajax. The upside is that he clears his cards and has a fresh set of shithousery ready to go in the quarters, assuming Real advance with a one goal lead and two away goals.

I can’t help it, I kind of like Ramos. What a legendary asshole.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/real-madrid-fans-think-sergio-13997405
 

McBride11

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Spurs need to make change things up, but I'm not sure how. They really miss Dembele in games like this, someone who can break and progress the ball into attacking areas by dribbling.

The Vertonghen at LB experiment is not working out. He's too isolated for his passing ability to be effective but he lacks the pace to a wide threat and to recover defensively.

Trippier might be more useful than Aurier tonight. After one or two good early looks Dortmund have shut his wide attacking threat down, and Trippier is a better passer and gets involved in the buildup more, which Spurs need.
Caught up on DVR. And you nailed first half Vertonghen but my god in the second half he was lethal. He was almost like a LM for the second half.
Spurs D really held down the midfield for Dortmund, they couldn't get much going especially in the second half.
No away goals are glorious.

What do people think of that called back Ajax goal? I guess technically he was offsides but in the run of play seems like such a terrible call. In my heart of hearts I know it was correct but it just doesn't feel right. Added to the 2-1 loss.
 

Gunfighter 09

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Caught up on DVR. And you nailed first half Vertonghen but my god in the second half he was lethal. He was almost like a LM for the second half.
Spurs D really held down the midfield for Dortmund, they couldn't get much going especially in the second half.
No away goals are glorious.

What do people think of that called back Ajax goal? I guess technically he was offsides but in the run of play seems like such a terrible call. In my heart of hearts I know it was correct but it just doesn't feel right. Added to the 2-1 loss.

I don’t think Courtois gets there even without the offside attacker getting in the way. I think of it like an uncatchable pass when there is DPI in American Football. I don’t know if the rule book allows for that kind of interpretation by VAR, but that would be more just.
 

McBride11

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I don’t think Courtois gets there even without the offside attacker getting in the way. I think of it like an uncatchable pass when there is DPI in American Football. I don’t know if the rule book allows for that kind of interpretation by VAR, but that would be more just.
I like that analogy a lot. Guy had no impact on the goal. But not sure the rules allow it
 

Tangled Up In Red

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Just watched the Ajax non-goal for the first time. Wow, so harsh. By letter of law, I guess correct. But not a single player on the pitch, on either side, didn't think it a fair goal. Even Courtois.

That is the challenge of VAR. When tech makes rulings that wouldn't be tolerated on the playgrounds and training pitches. And subsequently ignores (obvious) fouls like on the build-up to the match winner.

Rough day for Ajax/VAR.