I honestly think they are on par with anyone at the moment. They obviously don't have the offensive creativity of Barcelona, Real or Bayern but they are more solid and have that typical Italian structure and discipline than any of them. As you say, Barcelona and Bayern are not the same sides of the past few years which I think brings that entire foursome to the same level plus Atlético Madrid and PSG. Maybe the most unpredictable CL in years.
Champions League Round of 16 (14th Feb - 15th Mar)
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Just what I was thinking.
I see where they (the fans) are coming from. 2-1 is not a bad loss at all given the crucial away goal that they scored. I definitely fancy their chances of progressing to the next round now.
City and Leicester might progress into the next round. Arsenal and Spurs
It's a decent result for them, no doubt. But it's still kinda weird to be pumping fists in air and be grinning from ear to ear when you've just lost and been comprehensively outplayed for the majority of the game.
We wouldn't be celebrating such as result if we played that poorly, we'd be shaking our heads in dismay and considering ourselves lucky to still be in the tie. I'm just pointing out the differences in fan attitudes/expectations.
Sevilla in nutshell really. We drew 0-0 away vs Juve, won 1-0 vs Atletico, won 2-1 vs real. Then around the same period we can feck up vs Granada, Sporting Gijon, and whatever relegation battling team you can find.
As @Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87 puts it, we made it unnecessary difficult for ourselves. Leicester are still in it, and it annoys me that we couldn't be clinical to kill the game.
You's looked the far better side. I mean on a different night, it could have been 3/4 nil. Although you's made it difficult, I can't see Leicester progressing here. They'll be up for it in the home tie but defensively, they're terrible and I can't see them not conceding again.
Should be a good game, though.
Against Bruges, Copenhagen and Porto? Plus they're a much worse team now than last fall, bereft of confidence
That is true @Robbie Boy, I agree. In normal circumstances we should go through, as it is our duty vs Leicester, with all due respect to Leicester. But what is great about football is that it is unpredictable. Unfortunately, we could end up making the biggest dissappointment in our own european history.
Leicester did what they could tonight, all cred to them. 1 chance, 1 goal, and they got good result to take home, despite the shambolic defending. All cred to Ranieri and his players. I wish them all the best in the league, but I hope they'll be without confidence yet again when we face them in Mars.
I can see why Leicester is so happy with the loss given the fact that they were outplayed and should have lost by a three goal margin. I still think Sevilla will progress to the next round, they have been very solid this season and I can see them getting at least a draw in the away leg. Juventus is more or less through, definitely one of the favourites to win this year Champions League, just quietly doing their business consistently while the other top teams are not as consistent.
Debatable. I'd easily have PSG, Bayern and Real ahead of them. Maybe Atletico as well, as they seem made for the CL.
Well technically you're right as those 3 you mentioned are currently the top 3 favourites according to the bookmakers, Juventus is actually on the same odds as PSG too. As impressive as PSG was in their win against Barca, I don't think they will win. I can see them going far, but they will most likely be knocked out in the semis or an elite team like Bayern/Real if they meet in the next round. I might be wrong about this, but teams who usually win the Champions League has made it to the final at least once. I'd have Bayern as favourites due to the quality of their squad and Ancelotti who is the King of Champions League and it would be a great story if Juventus or Atletico Madrid can win it, due to the many heart-breaking defeats in the finals and near-misses they went through.
Paris Saint Germain 4 : 0 Barcelona
Benfica 1 : 0 Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich 5 : 1 Arsenal
Real Madrid 3 : 1 Napoli
Manchester City 5 : 3 Monaco
Bayer Leverkusen 2 : 4 Atletico Madrid
FC Porto 0 : 2 Juventus
Sevilla 2 : 1 Leicester
That are the results of this round. How do you think the probabilities are for the teams to go to the next round?
Bayern, PSG, Atletico and Juve seem to be through - I think the probability for them to go through is far over 90 %.
Some other results are tricky. If Benfica gets an away goal (and the BVB is always prone to defensive errors) Dortmund needs to win with a 2-goal-margin at home. Napoli with its fans at home is tricky, too. The needed 2:0 win is not unthinkable either. City now has the better cards - so there is Pep's history with away matches in the final stages - I do not think that that City team is great in controlling... And Leicester just would need a 1:0 win - that seems to be achievable.
Benfica 1 : 0 Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich 5 : 1 Arsenal
Real Madrid 3 : 1 Napoli
Manchester City 5 : 3 Monaco
Bayer Leverkusen 2 : 4 Atletico Madrid
FC Porto 0 : 2 Juventus
Sevilla 2 : 1 Leicester
That are the results of this round. How do you think the probabilities are for the teams to go to the next round?
Bayern, PSG, Atletico and Juve seem to be through - I think the probability for them to go through is far over 90 %.
Some other results are tricky. If Benfica gets an away goal (and the BVB is always prone to defensive errors) Dortmund needs to win with a 2-goal-margin at home. Napoli with its fans at home is tricky, too. The needed 2:0 win is not unthinkable either. City now has the better cards - so there is Pep's history with away matches in the final stages - I do not think that that City team is great in controlling... And Leicester just would need a 1:0 win - that seems to be achievable.
I do not think that loosing the away match is really the special but loosing by two or more goals is. Drawing away or loosing by one goal seems ok in away matches.
And I guess never before so many of the better teams have been 2nd after the group stage...
Dortmund & Benfica is the only one I can see where the first leg loser goes through.
Bayern and Real are not perfect but still lead the pack.
Juventus won't win it they never do.
Leicester actually came away with a good result all things considered, but I doubt they will qualify. An early goal for them, with the crowd getting behind them in the second leg they might have a chance, but I doubt they will keep a clean sheet. Last season, Huth and Morgan were playing out of their skins, this season they both look like lumbering accidents waiting to happen.
Just watching SSN and watching Harry Kane's news conference. Is he trying to steal the doziest sounding footballer from Rooney? Sounds dense at the best of times, but his "Ermmm" is after every 4 words.
Heh, if everything goes as it should, we'd have psg, real madrid, bayern munich, juventus, atletico, city, sevilla and dortmund in the quarter finals. Tasty. Only way this could've been better was with barcelona instead of sevilla and chelsea instead of dortmund.
Can't find a Europa league thread, Bilbao concede!
Never done it before, but: Tag me on that.
Bayern will win in this season, the team has got a determination I've never felt in some time. Guys like Robben, Lahm and Ribéry know it's their last chance. We are not playing in a beautiful way, but we play just as good as it's necessary. We will do it.
Bayern will win in this season, the team has got a determination I've never felt in some time. Guys like Robben, Lahm and Ribéry know it's their last chance. We are not playing in a beautiful way, but we play just as good as it's necessary. We will do it.
I'm picking Bayern as well, Ancelotti pretty much guarantees a UCL trophy and with Barca on their way out and Real inevitably cursed by being the holders Bayern are the clear favorites for me
What about Juve?! Very balanced side. PSG also found their form. Even Atletico are in the mix. Who's gonna win the Champions League?! It's a tough call..
I have a horrible feeling City are going far this year.
They might outscore teams. They will have to - their defence stinks.
I can't see how they would beat Real Madrid or Bayern over two legs. Even PSG will give them trouble.
At home? Hardly. Our league record is 22-5 at home, overall the only home game where we were not defensively stable was vs. Legia, which was hardly a normal game. The record with Bürki as GK is even more impressive.
The Westfalenstadium has been a fortress for many years now and will continue to be so vs. Lissabon. I have no doubt that we turn this tie. An extremely lucky 1-0 in the first leg won´t be enough to get the Portuguese into the next round.
So - time to push up that thread again as tomorrow the second legs start...
Tuesday:
Arsenal - Bayern Munich (1:5)
Napoli - Real Madrid (1:3)
Wednesday:
Barcelona - PSG (0:4)
Borussia Dortmund - Benfica (0:1)
The other four matches next week!
Tuesday:
Arsenal - Bayern Munich (1:5)
Napoli - Real Madrid (1:3)
Wednesday:
Barcelona - PSG (0:4)
Borussia Dortmund - Benfica (0:1)
The other four matches next week!
I hope Napoli really give it a go tomorrow, a two goal deficit isn't impossible to overturn against that leaky defence. Of course Ronaldo and Bale could just as easily blitz them on the counter but they definitely have the talent to cause a shock.
Going to have a cheeky fiver on a Arsenal 3-0 win.
Arsenal will lose at home as well I guess. Bayern just loves to Play Teams like them. They only struggle against high pressing and/or Counter attacking sides like Atletico or maybe Chelsea, Liverpool etc.
They will not have any Troubles against Arsenal as Long as Wenger is in Charge.
Real will easily go through.
I am thinking about which game to watch tomorrow. On paper Dortmund - Benfica should be the only interesting one but I somehow feel that Barca could be up for a legendary night.
They will not have any Troubles against Arsenal as Long as Wenger is in Charge.
Real will easily go through.
I am thinking about which game to watch tomorrow. On paper Dortmund - Benfica should be the only interesting one but I somehow feel that Barca could be up for a legendary night.
Close enough for a new 5-year deal? Can a loss be a loss?
I hope for two early goals to kill all dreams of a comeback quickly, then smooth sailing to the QF.
Looking at our current form and their current form, you'd probably better invest that fiver in beer.
Ancelotti's only weakness in CL. His teams have a tendency to switch off when they go into a second leg with a big advantage. Get ready for your very own La Coruña
Paris Saint Germain 4 : 0 Barcelona-I can see Barcelona pulling off an amazing comeback to be honest, with the results since the first leg and the knowledge in the players heads that they are soon to be free of their manager. If there was ever a team capable of scoring a hatful for fun its Barca. And if they don't overturn it Id expect them to win 3-1 or 4-1 and just fall short.
Benfica 1 : 0 Borussia Dortmund-Cant call this one.
Bayern Munich 5 : 1 Arsenal Will be pretty amusing if Arsenal get battered again to be honest but can see it being a lot closer than the first leg.
Real Madrid 3 : 1 Napoli Madrid should win. Be interesting if Napoli score early though.
Manchester City 5 : 3 Monaco Hopefully Monaco eliminate City, cant stand seeing them in the competition.
Bayer Leverkusen 2 : 4 Atletico Madrid I like Atletico so hopefully they will finish the tie.
FC Porto 0 : 2 Juventus Id love to see Juve win the tournament.
Sevilla 2 : 1 Leicester Should be Sevilla, but wouldn't be surprised to see Leicester somehow spring a surprise.
Benfica 1 : 0 Borussia Dortmund-Cant call this one.
Bayern Munich 5 : 1 Arsenal Will be pretty amusing if Arsenal get battered again to be honest but can see it being a lot closer than the first leg.
Real Madrid 3 : 1 Napoli Madrid should win. Be interesting if Napoli score early though.
Manchester City 5 : 3 Monaco Hopefully Monaco eliminate City, cant stand seeing them in the competition.
Bayer Leverkusen 2 : 4 Atletico Madrid I like Atletico so hopefully they will finish the tie.
FC Porto 0 : 2 Juventus Id love to see Juve win the tournament.
Sevilla 2 : 1 Leicester Should be Sevilla, but wouldn't be surprised to see Leicester somehow spring a surprise.
I can also see Barca making an amazing comeback, if there's any team who can do it, it's them but if PSG scores 1, they are done. Their first leg was 3 weeks ago...damn 3 weeks feels such a long time in the footballing world.
Agree about City. Would love nothing better than to see them dumped. Would personally like to see PSG or Monaco lift the trophy. Was rooting for Leicester to go all the way till that shameful sacking. Hope they also get dumped.
Last 8 for me: PSG, Benfica, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Monaco, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Sevilla.
Paris Saint Germain 4 : 0 Barcelona - Barca 3-1 at Camp Nou - PSG qualify.
Benfica 1 : 0 Borussia Dortmund - 2-1 Dortmund, shock but a win for Benfica
Bayern Munich 5 : 1 Arsenal - 1-1 or 2-2, Bayern through.
Real Madrid 3 : 1 Napoli - 1-1 Madrid
Manchester City 5 : 3 Monaco - 2-1 Monaco, City through.
Bayer Leverkusen 2 : 4 Atletico Madrid - 0-1 Madrid 5-2 on aggregate.
FC Porto 0 : 2 Juventus - 0-0 Juve through.
Sevilla 2 : 1 Leicester - 1-1 Sevilla though.
Benfica 1 : 0 Borussia Dortmund - 2-1 Dortmund, shock but a win for Benfica
Bayern Munich 5 : 1 Arsenal - 1-1 or 2-2, Bayern through.
Real Madrid 3 : 1 Napoli - 1-1 Madrid
Manchester City 5 : 3 Monaco - 2-1 Monaco, City through.
Bayer Leverkusen 2 : 4 Atletico Madrid - 0-1 Madrid 5-2 on aggregate.
FC Porto 0 : 2 Juventus - 0-0 Juve through.
Sevilla 2 : 1 Leicester - 1-1 Sevilla though.