2017-18 Champions League

swiftaw

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How much danger is Zidane in? They've been poor in the league this season, if they fail in the CL too, could he be fired?
 

Zomp

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and the idea that a championship squad can or cannot be bought.

Do you mean can or can be bought?


I think if Real loses the tie Zidane is gone before the season is over. I do wonder what Real would do if they get knocked out this early as far as squad turnover goes and for that reason alone I'm kind of hoping PSG wins.

Either way I'm leaving work early to watch.
 

Schnerres

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has there been a bigger round of 16 matchup than PSG-RM?
It probably shows how much football we see. And how soon we forget, or better: how less we care. There´s superb matches in the round of last16 and quarterfinals each year (think 2015/16: PSG vs Chelsea and Bayern beating Juve after extratime after a 2-2 away draw at Juve) but last year was the super duper matchup, when PSG smacked around Barca and then you-know-what happened...
We can hope for a few of those highlights in the PSG vs Real draw. Maybe Real finds its other gear and shifts focus on the CL, we´ll see.

No matter if they win the CL or not, they won´t be satisfied with such bad league standings, they need more depth on their roster, especially after the WC this summer. Some of those youngsters either don´t fit in on that level or need this season to develop. We´ll see if they add a few superstars, some of their mainstays have a ton of depth in their legs.
 

InstaFace

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Zidane would win back-to-back European titles, plus a La Liga title and a bunch of other minor titles, and get fired the next season? I realize superclubs have the least loyalty and the most what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude of all sporting organizations, but that would seem extreme, particularly with respect to a club legend like Zizou.
 

Kliq

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has there been a bigger round of 16 matchup than PSG-RM? All of the potential ramifications, for star players (Chrissy and Neymar), a star coach (Zidane), and the idea that a championship squad can or cannot be bought. The implications if PSG wins are enormous as it likely sends RM into a massive spending frenzy that would negatively impact many of the 16 CL teams. And if RM wins, how does PSG respond? Big blow to the French league, etc

cool stuff
As Zomp pointed out, Real isn't going to win the CL because of their awesome youth development. It would the equivalent of the Dodgers beating the Yankees. Sometimes a team with a transfer budget of $190 million can beat a team with a budget of $220 million.
 

Zososoxfan

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If Real lose and it forces them to overhaul the roster, that would be a blessing in disguise. This team needs to prepare to move on from the CR7, Benz, Ramos, Marcelo, Modric core and losing gives them the cover to do that. Honestly, even if they make it to the UCL Semis and only then get beat badly, it's probably enough along with the horrid domestic record this season. Last year this team was unbeatable, but it seems the extended season that comes with competing for a treble plus the age of the core has caught up with the club. Nonetheless, I'd expect a spending spree resulting in Mbappe, De Gea, and a couple of other stars in the summer regardless.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Zidane would win back-to-back European titles, plus a La Liga title and a bunch of other minor titles, and get fired the next season? I realize superclubs have the least loyalty and the most what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude of all sporting organizations, but that would seem extreme, particularly with respect to a club legend like Zizou.
It's not just superclubs. Remember, Ranieri didn't make it through one season at Leicester City following a title win more miraculous than any trophy Real has ever won.
 

67YAZ

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Trent, VVD, Lovren, & Robertson across the back and the very conservative Henderson-Milner pairing in the midfield. Interesting set up, can’t recall those two starting together in the midfield. My guess is that Klopp feels the front 3 + Wijnaldum & fullbacks will do enough damage to let the CBs and England’s finest will hold down the defense.

ImageUploadedBySons of Sam Horn1518637037.945762.jpg
 

67YAZ

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From the firs few minutes, it looks like Porto has Brahimi pressing Trent hard. The kid is going to have to hold up today.
 

teddykgb

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Been a dive fest thus far, unfortunately. Really cagey but both teams are putting in some real effort when they're not tryign to draw fouls. Reminds me a lot of a classico
 

67YAZ

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Mane with the goal just before 25 minutes! It's been a scrappy affair so far with both teams looking for the counter. Porto has been fine letting VVD/Lovren/Robertson knock the ball around the back, which has lead to some dull spells. But both teams have been pressing through the midfield and bursting forward when gaining possession. That's how this goal was created with a bad Porto pass turning into an interception, a deflection in the box, and a wide open Mane ready to pounce.
 

67YAZ

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And now SALAH! Porto were looking for a call on the edge of their own box, but the ref waved it off. Milner used the time to blast one off the far post that fell to Salah. A couple of juggles to get around a defender and the keeper....Liverpool up 2, which is exactly when they're at their worst.

Edit: And yep, VVD gives up a free kick 30yds out, which goes for naught.
 

Catcher Block

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Lo Celso is really doing his best to lose this for PSG.

First was the stupid backheel and subsequent foul 20 yards out, now a bad foul inside the box for a PK, which is converted by Ronaldo.
 

Schnerres

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Neymar is annoying to watch. Has so much skill, dribbles past three guys on many instances but nothing comes out of it, as he often hangs on to the ball for too long, instead of passing it to the free man. And then the flopping, showboating, etc.
 

koufax32

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How awesome is it that LFC can rest players in a round of 16 UCL match? What a showing today. And Alexander-Arnold kindly asks all of you to chill out and sit down. He’s got this.
 

Kliq

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Good for those scrappy underdogs Real Madrid showing those blue bloods PSG that heart and teamwork can overcome a team that is bought and not built!
 

wonderland

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Good for those scrappy underdogs Real Madrid showing those blue bloods PSG that heart and teamwork can overcome a team that is bought and not built!
I guess you were trying to be funny here but RM hasn’t spent much money in the past three years.

Now I’m sure they are collecting a war chest to turn over the squad in a couple years, however they nowhere near the other top teams.
 

67YAZ

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How awesome is it that LFC can rest players in a round of 16 UCL match? What a showing today. And Alexander-Arnold kindly asks all of you to chill out and sit down. He’s got this.
Fair enough.

'Pool looked great, but what the hell were Porto doing? Just a total collapse and disinterest in defending at the end. They were very cagey in the first half and into the second, but the third goal just broke them completely. Brutal.
 

InstaFace

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With two only minor miracles - Spurs not losing at home to Juve and Chelsea beating an out-of-form Barca - the UCL final 8 could be:

5 teams from England
RM, Bayern
winner of Shakhtar-Roma

That's nuts. Compare to last year where you had Dortmund and Monaco in the QFs, and Leicester as the only EPL representative. Even if one of Spurs and Chelsea fall, having the QFs be "4 teams from england vs 3 continental blue-bloods" would fun as shit.
 

Spacemans Bong

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It's not just superclubs. Remember, Ranieri didn't make it through one season at Leicester City following a title win more miraculous than any trophy Real has ever won.
Zidane's spell is already seventh all-time in games managed by a Madrid manager, and if he lasts another couple months he'll be in the top five.

Getting moved in and out is just a thing on the Continent historically. Even when Madrid won five European Cups in a row in the 50s/early 60s, they used three different managers in four different spells. One of them was Miguel Muñoz, who managed to hold on to the job for 14 years in a row. No idea how he did that.
 

InstaFace

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Barca - Chelsea today. Undercard: Bayern - Besiktas.

Tomorrow, Man U - Sevilla. Undercard: Shakhtar - Roma.

2:45pm ET. Streams will be everywhere.
 

67YAZ

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Chelsea-Barca with a decently entertaining first half. Barca bosses possession for the first 30 min. Messi bizarrely passed on an open one-timer from near the penalty spot and Paulinho screwed up an open header. But Chelsea ended very strong with Willian hitting both posts with absolutely rifled shots. Should be a good second half.

Edit: And Iniesta has looked very feisty today, combining dangerously with Suarez down the left. If signing Countinho preserves Iniesta for a CL final, then that’s pretty good business.

2nd edit: Willian gets the goal he deserves. Why doesn’t this guy get more burn?
 
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DJnVa

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Hilariously terrible pass by Christensen probably gifts the Barcelona a ticket to the next round. Uggh.
If I saw that in my daughter's club team game I'd yell "Not towards the middle!!!" And then the sliding attempt that missed the ball completely? Yikes.
 

67YAZ

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Christiansen got rattled a few time tonight. Horrible how his one mistake undid 89+ minutes of solid defending.

If Christinsen was on my indoor team, he’d owe us all a round. Maybe 2.
 

DJnVa

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ManU-Sevilla play to 0-0 draw, and Shaktar Donetsk beats Roma 2-1.

Also, go check out the De Gea save from today.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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United very lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw, but that's a result that leaves it all to play for at Old Trafford. People who were fortunate enough not to watch this match will be tempted to deem it a Mourinho tactical masterclass or some such nonsense but Sevilla really should have buried them.

Mourinho's United look like shit in general. Its really hard to make the argument that he is building a top side or that this is a team that will contend for the title next year with just one or two more additions. They don't have a clue in possession. They play hard enough but they don't have the swagger of past Mourinho teams and nobody looks like they're having any fun at all.

Rumors about a new contract notwithstanding, I suspect Mourinho is looking for a non-embarrassing exit and is eyeing the PSG job.
 
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Zomp

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2nd in the league, favorites to advance to the quarter finals of the champions league, and in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.

They’ve hit a rough patch for sure, but don’t exaggerate. If United aren’t contending for the title next year with a few additions then you could make the argument that nobody will besides city.
 

coremiller

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2nd in the league, favorites to advance to the quarter finals of the champions league, and in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.

They’ve hit a rough patch for sure, but don’t exaggerate. If United aren’t contending for the title next year with a few additions then you could make the argument that nobody will besides city.
They have massively outperformed their peripherals this year. Expected goals models have them in 6th, close to Arsenal and Chelsea and well behind Spurs and Liverpool, let alone City. Some of that is De Gea playing out of his mind all season, but how sustainable is that? They started the season hot against bad opposition but since about mid October they have been pretty profoundly mediocre. Plus they have a tough remaining schedule (4 of their final 11 against other top 6 teams). They are in real danger of falling out of the top 4.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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They have massively outperformed their peripherals this year. Expected goals models have them in 6th, close to Arsenal and Chelsea and well behind Spurs and Liverpool, let alone City. Some of that is De Gea playing out of his mind all season, but how sustainable is that? They started the season hot against bad opposition but since about mid October they have been pretty profoundly mediocre. Plus they have a tough remaining schedule (4 of their final 11 against other top 6 teams). They are in real danger of falling out of the top 4.
Exactly. And there just isn’t a sense that the team is getting better or is building the spine of what will become a title winning side. This was a massive match and Mourinho started with Pogba, Rashford, and Martial - the three younger players around which the team is supposedly being built - on the bench. None of those players seem to be getting better under Mourinho.
 

SocrManiac

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Why did Pogba need to get better? He was never consistent with Juventus, but he was bossing matches with a much higher frequency. This isn’t an England versus Italy argument, either. Pogba played very well against City in the CL a couple of years back- it’s not like he only beat up on weaker sides.

Mourinho has criminally misused a player that might be a generational talent. Pogba’s swagger and confidence have been completely extinguished. Would have been better for everybody if he stayed in Black and White.

No, I’m not bitter.
 

67YAZ

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From 2012-2015 Pogba played in a midfield 3 with Pirlo and Vidal. In 2015/16 that got downgraded to Khedira and Marchisio; nothing to sneeze at but also not Pirlo and Vidal. In any case, Pogba got to play a much more free, creative role at Juventus flanked by a defensive stalwart and complete box-to-box midfielder.

Mourinho has never allowed a midfielder to play like that. Matic is a defensive stalwart, but Herrera and Fellaini aren't real box-to-box guys who can cover for Pogba on one of those marauding runs or a search for moment of magic on the edge of the box.

Can Mourinho mold Pogba into Lampard 2.0? Would anyone even really want that? This marriage never made sense, and I'm skeptical that it ever will.
 

Zomp

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So UEFA has made changes to the Champions League for next season.

The biggest change appears to be automatic qualification for the 4th place team in the top 4 leagues (which right now are Spain, Germany, England, and Italy). It used to be 4th place had to enter into the last qualifying round before the group stage.
 

swiftaw

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So UEFA has made changes to the Champions League for next season.

The biggest change appears to be automatic qualification for the 4th place team in the top 4 leagues (which right now are Spain, Germany, England, and Italy). It used to be 4th place had to enter into the last qualifying round before the group stage.
The number of teams who go straight in to the group stages has increased from 22 to 26:

UEFA Champions League holders (1)
UEFA Europa League holders (1)
Top four from associations ranked 1st to 4th: Spain, Germany, England, Italy (16)
Top two from associations ranked 5th and 6th: France, Russia (4)
Champions of associations ranked 7th to 10th: Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey (4)

  • If the UEFA Champions League holders have qualified for the group stage via their domestic championship, the vacancy will be filled by the champions of the association ranked 11th (Czech Republic), who otherwise compete in the champions path
  • If the UEFA Europa League holders have qualified for the group stage via their domestic championship, the vacancy will be filled by the third-placed club from the association ranked fifth (France), who otherwise compete in the league path
  • An association may have a maximum of five teams in the group stage - so if the Champions League holders and Europa League holders both come from the same country (Spain,Germany, England, Italy) and didn't finish in the top 4, then the team in 4th would drop to the Europa League.

Also, all teams who get knocked out of Champions League qualifying will get a chance to qualify for the Europa league.
 

Senator Donut

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They also announced kickoffs will be staggered, taking place at 12:55 and 3:00 ET, instead of all kickoffs at 2:45.