2021/2022 Champions League: Not the Super League

SoxFanInCali

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2005
15,873
California. Duh.
Chelsea thought they'd won it with a Werner goal in the 85th minute, only to give up the equalizer in stoppage time to drop them into second place in their group.
 
Zososoxfan

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,542
South of North
SoxFanInCali said:
Barca down 2 now. Ter Stegen looked more like Loris Karius there.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's a good shout. He's not the only one, but he absolutely loses his mind when he plays Bayern.

Barca aren't playing all that bad, but the chasm between the two sides is stark. There's not a single Barca player playing up to their abilities, and they aren't familiar enough with Xavi's system yet for that tide to raise all boats. Pique actually looks decent but he's overmatched by Lewa. Araujo is getting isolated as Dest is pressing high. Dest isn't dangerous enough on the outside once the defender is in position. FDJ is playing alright, but he lacks killer instinct in front of goal. Busi had a bright start to the match but the physicality has already worn him down. Gavi is giving great effort but he's looking his age and inexperienced in this one. Mingueza isn't a LB and he's being targeted and exposed there. Dembele has been threatening but he just can't put it all together. Memphis just doesn't have the quality right now.

It should be noted that Barca will likely look a lot better once Pedri, Fati, and Aguero return. That being said, this 3ATB formation put a lot of pressure on the D and Bayern was able to exploit it. They're pure class right now and Barca isn't.
 
bosox4283

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,773
Philadelphia
Zososoxfan said:
It should be noted that Barca will likely look a lot better once Pedri, Fati, and Aguero return. That being said, this 3ATB formation put a lot of pressure on the D and Bayern was able to exploit it. They're pure class right now and Barca isn't.
Click to expand...
How long have those two (Pedri and Fati) been out? It feels like forever.
 
SoxFanInCali

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2005
15,873
California. Duh.
Group winners:
City
Liverpool
Ajax
Real
Bayern
Man United
Lille
Juventus

Runners up:
PSG
Atletico
Sporting
Inter
Benfica
Villarreal/Atalanta (decided tomorrow)
Salzburg
Chelsea

The draw to see who ends up with PSG (Chelsea obviously to be avoided as well, but they can't be drawn with another English team) will be Monday.
 
teddykgb

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,460
Chelmsford, MA
Chelsea really plying with fire finishing second. With 3 Prem group winners they really have very high odds of drawing a tough opponent
 
OilCanMDS

OilCanMDS

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 29, 2007
455
Washington, DC
Zososoxfan said:
Yeah, that's a good shout. He's not the only one, but he absolutely loses his mind when he plays Bayern.

Barca aren't playing all that bad, but the chasm between the two sides is stark. There's not a single Barca player playing up to their abilities, and they aren't familiar enough with Xavi's system yet for that tide to raise all boats. Pique actually looks decent but he's overmatched by Lewa. Araujo is getting isolated as Dest is pressing high. Dest isn't dangerous enough on the outside once the defender is in position. FDJ is playing alright, but he lacks killer instinct in front of goal. Busi had a bright start to the match but the physicality has already worn him down. Gavi is giving great effort but he's looking his age and inexperienced in this one. Mingueza isn't a LB and he's being targeted and exposed there. Dembele has been threatening but he just can't put it all together. Memphis just doesn't have the quality right now.

It should be noted that Barca will likely look a lot better once Pedri, Fati, and Aguero return. That being said, this 3ATB formation put a lot of pressure on the D and Bayern was able to exploit it. They're pure class right now and Barca isn't.
Click to expand...
The difference in talent on attack considering the players missing on both sides really illustrates the difference in the management of these teams over the past 5 years. Bayern is missing Goretzka, Kimmich and Gnabry, but can still put out Lewa, Muller, Coman, Sane and Musiala. Barca is missing Aguero, Fati, and Pedri and they put out Depay, FDJ, Dembele starting his first game in like 7 months, a RB and two guys under 18 that didn't play soccer with the first team before this season. Even when Barca is fully healthy, they are missing the veteran players that teams like Bayern are fielding because they elected to sign guys like Coutinho, Pjanic and Griezmann over the past 5 years without any consideration for if they fit into the team or are actually good players outside of the club teams in which they've excelled.

Bayern is a well constructed team with vets, stars in their prime and up and coming players with potential in the starting lineup and off the bench, while Barca is (and has been for the last few years) a random assortment of players that don't complement each other and young promising players being asked to patch the holes in a severely flawed roster.
 
bosox4283

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,773
Philadelphia
OilCanMDS said:
Even when Barca is fully healthy, they are missing the veteran players that teams like Bayern are fielding because they elected to sign guys like Coutinho, Pjanic and Griezmann over the past 5 years without any consideration for if they fit into the team or are actually good players outside of the club teams in which they've excelled.
Click to expand...
Agreed with your post/point. The case with Pjanic is different, though, as it seems like the deal with some sketchy transaction to manipulate the team's balance sheet.
 
Dummy Hoy

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,429
Falmouth
SoxFanInCali said:
They have to be hoping for Lille. The other options are Bayern, Real, and Ajax.
Click to expand...
I think there's a few big name teams that are ripe for the taking. I'm not frightened of Madrid, United, or Juventus. Ajax looked great but let's see them play a real team, and Lille is Lille.

I can see all of those teams losing.

edit: Bayern is of course terrifying
 
bosox4283

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,773
Philadelphia
Is it still the case that you cannot be paired with the other team from your group in the next round? So, Atletico cannot draw Liverpool?
 
Zososoxfan

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,542
South of North
SoxFanInCali said:
They have to be hoping for Lille. The other options are Bayern, Real, and Ajax.
Click to expand...
Dummy Hoy said:
I think there's a few big name teams that are ripe for the taking. I'm not frightened of Madrid, United, or Juventus. Ajax looked great but let's see them play a real team, and Lille is Lille.

I can see all of those teams losing.

edit: Bayern is of course terrifying
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think it's flipped around. All the group winners are hoping to avoid Chelsky.

WRT Bayern, it's an incredibly well-run club that resembles the better Barca and Madrid sides of the past 15 years. Big fish that can use the domestic league to poach talent that is tailored to their style, some home-grown talent central to the XI, and still rich enough and well-run to pluck the most important players from abroad when necessary.
 
HowBoutDemSox

HowBoutDemSox

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 12, 2009
10,643
Mighty Joe Young said:
yep .. you can’t play another club from the same country (or FA) , or one from the same group.

So, for example Liverpool can only play one from this group

Paris Saint-Germain
Sporting CP
Inter Milan
Villarreal
Benfica
RB Salzburg
Click to expand...
That really limits Chelsea’s possible matchups, since they can’t play City, Pool, or United (fellow EPL teams) nor Juve (same group) in the round of 16. That leaves only Ajax, Bayern, Real, and Lille.
 
bosox4283

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,773
Philadelphia
SoxFanInCali said:
Group winners:
City
Liverpool
Ajax
Real
Bayern
Man United
Lille
Juventus
Click to expand...
It doesn't really matter, because every match-up is rough at this point, but I'm hoping Atletico draws Lille or Juventus in the next round. My next two would be Ajax and ManU. I don't want to see City or Bayern.
 
fletcherpost

fletcherpost

sosh's feckin' poet laureate
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,409
Glasgow, Scotland
Can Atletico shit house their way past Bayern?

Great draw for three of the English teams.

Messi v Penaldo for the advertising revenue.
 
HowBoutDemSox

HowBoutDemSox

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 12, 2009
10,643
But wait, there’s controversy:
Manchester United were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi set for another showdown, but controversy surrounded Monday's draw.

The aftermath was shrouded in confusion after it appeared United's ball in the draw was not put back properly after an initial error. United were originally drawn against Villarreal but rules state teams from the same group cannot face each other in the first knockout round.

Villarreal were then drawn against Manchester City. It was not immediately clear if United's ball was put back into the draw, which could have led them to face Atletico Madrid. But Liverpool were placed in this part of the draw incorrectly, with the Reds having been in the same group as Atletico. The LaLiga side then drew Bayern Munich.

ESPN has contacted UEFA for comment regarding the validity of the draw.
Click to expand...
https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/story/4546676/uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-draw-for-2021
 
67YAZ

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
9,528
Mighty Joe Young said:
Full draw


Benfica vs Real Madrid
Villarreal vs Manchester City
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich
RB Salzburg vs Liverpool
Inter Milan v Ajax
Sporting Lisbon v Juventus
Chelsea vs Lille
PSG vs Manchester United
Click to expand...
I know I should be happy with Liverpool’s draw, but last time these two squared up, Minamino ended up at Anfield.
 
teddykgb

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,460
Chelmsford, MA
The next step is to hope for Liverpool to draw Atletico in the redraw and for the collective whine that will emanate out of Liverpool to somehow cure Coronavirus
 
HowBoutDemSox

HowBoutDemSox

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 12, 2009
10,643
Somewhere John Henry is shaking his head, lamenting that such things would never happen in the Super League.
 
teddykgb

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,460
Chelmsford, MA
Any truth that those responsible for the original draw have been sacked and the new draw will be performed by Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs?
 
67YAZ

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
9,528
teddykgb said:
Any truth that those responsible for the original draw have been sacked and the new draw will be performed by Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs?
Click to expand...
I heard Michael Carrick will be the caretaker for the balls until he spills them all over the floor.
 
HowBoutDemSox

HowBoutDemSox

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 12, 2009
10,643
teddykgb said:
I wonder how much Roman had to pay to ensure he got Lille both times. What were the odds of that?
Click to expand...
C'mon, he paid for a result, he's not paying twice just because they had to re-draw. You don't get Bond villain rich by writing more checks than you need to.
 
pedro1918

pedro1918

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
5,240
Map Ref. 41°N 93°W
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom