UCL Group Stage MW 2: The Balls Are Frozen

Zososoxfan

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This UCL MW brings us a couple of the fixed matchups UEFA preordained for our entertainment: a Barca-Bayern affair and Haaland vs. Dortmund. Lots of great matchups this week:

Tuesday (13/09)
Spurs @ Sporting (early match)
Inter @ Plzen (early match)
Barca @ Bayern
Atleti @ Neverlusen
Brugge @ Porto
Ajax @ Pool
Stuttgart @ Marseille

Wednesday (14/09)
Zagreb @ Milan (early match)
Celtic @ Donetsk (early match)
RB Salzburg @ Chelsea
Sevilla @ Copenhagen
Benfica @ Juve
PSG @ Haifa
Dortmund @ MANC
Napoli @ Rangers
RB Leipzig @ Real Madrid

Group A
Pool need to pick themselves up off the mat and it's not going to be easy against Ajax, who clobbered Rangers. Napoli will look to cement their good start against Rangers, but Rangers need to get points at Ibrox to even have a realistic chance at 3rd.

Group B
I just don't care that much about this group yet. Someone help me here.

Group C
Barca-Bayern should be fantastic. Lots of world class players and interesting tactics here. Both teams looking to test their mettle early in the season. Inter need 3 points away at Plzen to right the ship. Can anyone tell me how Plzen qualified?!?

Group D
The 2 teams that won in MW 1 are playing each other, so this match could have a real impact on finishing places for the two teams likely to advance. The two teams that lost will be looking for 3 points to get back into the race to finish top 2.

Group E
We get our first look at Potter's Chelsea, and it's a stiff test against a RB Salzburg side that drew with Milan. We'll also see if Zagreb can build off their stunning win over Chelsea.

Group F
Madrid take on RBL who was shockingly beat by Donetsk in MW 1. Celtic will be keen to come away with at least a point against Donetsk.

Group G
Can Dortmund do anything to slow down Haaland and MANC? Does Sevilla have anything left in the tank this season? They should roll Copenhagen, but they've been playing well below their expected performance thus far.

Group H
PSG travel to Israel to give Haifa fans the opportunity to see MNM. Juve-Benfica has the potential to be a real fun match.
 

scott bankheadcase

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I haven't cut the cord yet and don't subscribe to Paramount... so a pleasant surprise when I was scrolling stations a minute ago to see the Spurs game on Unimas.

It's bonus that I won't be able to understand the announcers.
 

Zososoxfan

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I missed the first 10 mins of Spurs-Sporting, but it's a pretty cagey affair so far. Spurs are trying to press and win the ball high up the pitch. When the press gets beat, they drop into a low block and squeeze the space at the back. In possession, they're playing into the forwards for a quick flick into space. Sporting seems ready for it though, and/or Arry and Richy aren't sharp. Spurs have also had some success switching it in the back and getting the wingers and wingbacks into 1v1s. For my taste, the switches are taking too long with one pass too many to create much. But Sporting are starting to leave too much space between the lines.

I don't have a clear idea of what Sporting are trying to do. They're going at Davies-Perisic a fair bit, but Spurs are committing defenders there to have +1.
 

Kliq

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The sound of the crowd for these UCL matches sounds muted. Feels like there is a rocking atmosphere in Lisbon but we can't really hear them.
 

Kliq

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Former Spurs youth player Marcus Edwards was a Lloris save away from an incredible goalazo.
 

Zososoxfan

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Team has looked better since Deki came in for Son.
Spurs' best 3 ATM is with Deki and Richy flanking Kane. No forward played that well today, but Deki adds so much more in the buildup. Conte doesn't seem to value creativity in the CMFs that much, but then he needs the creation to come from somewhere else. Perisic has been good in that regard today, but it hasn't been enough. Kane usually drops in to provide some, but he's been off.
 

Kliq

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That suuuuccckkkkksss, but can't say Sporting don't deserve it.
 

67YAZ

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Klopp with some expected rotation: Matip, Tsmikas, Thiago, & Jota in.
 

Kliq

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I think Thomas Muller is the most underrated player...perhaps ever. All he's done is be insanely productive, win every major trophy at every level, and has been doing it for a very long period of time.
 

Zososoxfan

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I think Thomas Muller is the most underrated player...perhaps ever. All he's done is be insanely productive, win every major trophy at every level, and has been doing it for a very long period of time.
Uhhh, Who are the people underrating him? I think he's generally considered to be one of the best players of his generation. So, not in the Messi-Ronaldo realm, but as good as anyone else pretty much.
 

Kliq

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Uhhh, Who are the people underrating him? I think he's generally considered to be one of the best players of his generation. So, not in the Messi-Ronaldo realm, but as good as anyone else pretty much.
How about this...I think he is significantly better than Iniesta.
 

Kliq

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Today might be a good reminder that Barcelona reportedly didn't sign Davies because they didn't think a Canadian player could be Barcelona quality.
 

Zososoxfan

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How about this...I think he is significantly better than Iniesta.
OK, hard disagree there. But let's discuss some other time.

This Bayern-Barca game is living up to it early on. Both teams stacked all over the pitch. Pedri not doing enough with the best chance of the game so far, but credit to Neuer for an excellent save.

I'm no Bayern expert, but I'm happy Gnabry is on the bench. Are Bayern fans happy with Musiala and Coman over him?

Lewa with a good chance, argaurgmadflgaldgj
 

67YAZ

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Huge exhale for Liverpool. They score first...an it's Salah!

By no means is this over, but it feels such a relief for them to hold a lead.
 

Zososoxfan

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Sabitzer just missed following a nice play by Sane. Dembele and Raph have switched sides. I think Araujo is pseudo man-marking Muller. He's still in the line at times, but at others he starts shadowing Thomas. I think Christensen may be shadowing Mane as well, but it might only be in certain instances.

I think the switch by Barca might be to get Raph against someone slow...slower than Davies that is. And it's not like Davies can relax against Dembele.
 

SocrManiac

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We benched a defender on my beer league team for not following runners.

VVD’s form is getting particularly worrisome.
 

Kliq

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Magisterial. Attached to the ball like a teenager to his cell phone.
 

Zososoxfan

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Gavi was gassed too to be fair. Pedri needed to bury that to make this a game. Brutal finishing from Barca today. They've had plenty of chances.
 

Kliq

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"Neuer at 36 years of age is still playing at the top of his footballing tree. (Long pause) And it is a Sequoia."

I know people don't like Ray Hudson but when you don't have any skin in the game I think he's really funny.
 

Zososoxfan

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Encouraging at least to see Barca continue to go for a goal. If they concede another one I think they'll pack it in, but they belong on the field, and I can't say that for the last few meetings with Bayern, or even other European competition last year.
 

rguilmar

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"Neuer at 36 years of age is still playing at the top of his footballing tree. (Long pause) And it is a Sequoia."

I know people don't like Ray Hudson but when you don't have any skin in the game I think he's really funny.
I’ve found him much more enjoyable when he’s not calling three to four La Liga games a week. He’s better in smaller doses.