2020/21 UEFA Champions League: The Road to Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

coremiller

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It is not accurate that City have been more defensive. City bought Dias and he is awesome. Otherwise they’ve played Gundogan further forward and gave Rodri more responsibility as a lone holding midfielder while keeping the fullbacks inverted to support. City have been more attacking this season, not defensive.

But that Fa cup match may have been one of the most boring matches ever played so that part is super accurate
City averaged 101 league goals the last three years; they are on page for 79 this season. City averaged 85 xG the past three years; they are on pace for 74 this season.
 

teddykgb

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City averaged 101 league goals the last three years; they are on page for 79 this season. City averaged 85 xG the past three years; they are on pace for 74 this season.
This is basically an Aguero sized gap. City have no credible striker and have had to work way harder to threaten but that has little to do with a more defensive approach. Just a less potent one.
 

Dummy Hoy

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No sane, Agüero hurt, Jesus out of form at times, sterling out of form at times, DeBruyne was out for a while...all of these things are factors as is the global pandemic and Pep’s strategic adjustments.

Even given this, saying City isn’t fun to watch is silly; but again- just an opinion.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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Second leg underway with City up 1-0 (3-1)

Most importantly Mbappe is cooling his heals on the bench (calf strain I think)

Also .. the field has a lot of white stuff on it ... is that snow ? It’s cold in Manchester today.

Has to be snow ... the pitch is incredibly slow.

Yes ... it’s snow ... in Manchester ... in May.
 
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allstonite

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WHOA. "That Latino temper"?
Yikes caught that too. This game is awful. Choppy to start. Got into a little bit of a rhythm in the middle of the first half but has been non stop fouls and whining since.

Beautiful pass by Ederson to set up that first goal
 

cromulence

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Zososoxfan

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I want Madrid to get past Chelski to setup the international final. Then Pep can stomp on Madridista dick yet again, and then find Mou and punch HIM in the dick too because goddamnit Mou deserves it.

Also, yeah PSG need to grow TF up. I hate the overuse of the term mentality, but Barca's lacked it in European competition for years and I really wanted PSG to get over the hump and thought they had with vanquishing Bayern, but nope.
 

67YAZ

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Shout out to Mahrez, who spent years on the fringes but has persisted to become their cutting edge this season.
 

teddykgb

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To be fair to PSG it must be relentlessly frustrating to repeatedly run into the Great Wall of Portugal. He blocked two efforts with his face!
 

67YAZ

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Ooofff, that's inviting pressure and relying on the Jorginho-Mount-Havertz trio to control the ball for good stretches. Werner better have his finishing boots on today.
 

Kliq

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Ooofff, that's inviting pressure and relying on the Jorginho-Mount-Havertz trio to control the ball for good stretches. Werner better have his finishing boots on today.
Well he couldn't miss that one!
 

Kliq

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Chelsea have given up the odd chance but look so comfortable
Yup, so far I think TT has gotten it right. They mostly denied Real any good chances and have looked dangerous on the counter.

Chelsea have had such a weird season after acquiring so much offensive talent in the transfer window. Mendy and Silva really have made a big difference in turning them into a more disciplined team. Playing Kante and Jorginho at the same time is kind of excessive, but they make it work.
 

67YAZ

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Yup, so far I think TT has gotten it right. They mostly denied Real any good chances and have looked dangerous on the counter.

Chelsea have had such a weird season after acquiring so much offensive talent in the transfer window. Mendy and Silva really have made a big difference in turning them into a more disciplined team. Playing Kante and Jorginho at the same time is kind of excessive, but they make it work.
i haven’t watched a lot of Tuchel ag Chelsea yet, but he seems to have figured out how to get Kante & Jorginho on the pitch together and not get in each other’s way. It’s too bad injuries and Sarri cost us so much if Kante’s prime.
 

teddykgb

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i haven’t watched a lot of Tuchel ag Chelsea yet, but he seems to have figured out how to get Kante & Jorginho on the pitch together and not get in each other’s way. It’s too bad injuries and Sarri cost us so much if Kante’s prime.
its just a fairly basic back 5 with a few guys forward to create havoc. It’s really dull but effective because Kante isn’t human
 

Kliq

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Havertz and Werner working really hard to kill the "Germans are clinical" stereotype.
 

67YAZ

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Chelsea spurning really good chances this half. That shit has a way of biting teams in the ass....
 

Kliq

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Havertz kicked Nacho in the balls. It was not without merit.
 

Kliq

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Imagine spending all the oil money in Siberia on attackers and you get this finishing from Chelsea?
 

coremiller

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This feels perfectly set up for a Madrid gut punch, like a cheap VAR penalty or something. You can't waste that many good chances to put a team away and get away with it.
 

67YAZ

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Azpilicueta is leaving it all out on the pitch. He's been fantastic the second half.

But's what up with his Michael Jackson one glove look?
 

Kliq

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Jeez, Pulisic was waiting all day to make that pass to someone in front of the net. Madrid just gave up.