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Champions League 24-25: Mo Games, Mo Money; Mo Problems?


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Posted (edited)

Champions League starts back today.  3 days of games each CL week.  New format.  No groups anymore. It’s the “Swiss Model.”  

Each team plays 8 games for the first round against 8 randomly drawn teams - 2 from Pot A (the heavyweights), 2 from Pot B (second tier), etc.  Top 8 based on points automatically advance to knockout.  9 through 24 (9 v. 24, 10 v. 23, 11 v. 22, etc.) play a 2 game playoff and those 8 winners advance to the 16 team knockout stage.  So 8 teams will play 10 matches before they make the 16 team knockout stage, versus the old format where you only played 6 matches.  That’s good for the fans, but you’re putting the health of these players at more risk, which could then impact league play.  But hey, UEFA gots to get paid.

 

Edited by Jive Turkey
Posted

Fired up for Stuttgart to be playing UCL this year...super bummed that we're doing it without Serhou Guirassy, purchased by Dortmund in the off season.  I fear our experience will be less than ideal, but still excited to be in the fight.

Posted (edited)

Young Boys v. Aston Villa and Juventus v. PSV getting ready to kick off.  Weston getting a start.  Weah and Pepi on the bench.

big day for @RamjetFDO  i'd love to see Villa get the points here on the road.

Edited by Jive Turkey
  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

3-0 Villa. Watkins.

Strike that - handball (very soft BTW) on the rebound and they call it. Still 2-0.

 

Terrible call IMHO. It might have hit his arm hair, but actual handball is questionable.

Edited by Captain Ron
Posted

Liverpool & Milan are a contrast in styles on the counter. Liverpool on their last goal was quick, decisive, direct and easily had an open goal. Milan on the other hand has been slow and plodding. Their biggest failing is that they haven't made the necessary pass in most cases and let the attack die by being run down by the Liverpool defensive recovery.

Posted (edited)

It's very early in the Slot tenure but he really stresses not getting caught on a break. The Klopp high press is gone. The other 2 goals were off set pieces which is nice. Leading up to the Nottingham loss, most of the goals were like the Szobo one. Still trying to figure out the Nottingham lost but this has been a nice recovery. 

Edited by mdmost
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Bummed Stuttgart couldn't come away w/ 3pts after scoring at the 7' mark, but came away really impressed w/ Sparta Praha.  Had never heard of them before (not exactly up on the Czech league), but they were big and fast and opportunistic - reminded me of the Czech national teams I've seen in the WC over the years.  Their goal was an absolutely perfect free kick: 

Those black and gold kits are fuggin tuff lookin too!

Posted
1 hour ago, Firemans4Horn said:

Emi Martinez is one the biggest big game players ever

his highlight reel from 10 weeks as arsenal’s starter, including our run to the fa cup, is unbelievable. and all he’s done since then is show up in huge in the biggest games and competitions, for both club and country. Emi is truly 1 of 1. 

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Super John McGinn with a shockingly untouched free kick to take a 1-nil lead over Phony Baloney.

 

Edited by RamjetFDO
premature e-victory-lation
Posted

Stuttgart FINALLY scores at 93' to take the W @ Juventus.  Our 1st Champions League W since 2010.

Hit a pipe, had a beauty of a goal disallowed via VAR for the ticky-tackiest of handballs (shoulder) and missed a PK, to call out the best opportunities not won.  Arguably could have been 2-0 or 3-0 easily.  We had 10 shots on target to their 1.  Juventus GK stood on his head. 

Posted

Nuri Sahin with the loseriest coaching decision of all time today.

Dortmund up 2-0 at halftime against Real Madrid (no one sent off for either team). He subs on a centerback for an attacker to start the second half and they proceed to lose 5-2. 

  • Fuck Around and Find Out 1

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