Champions League Knockouts (12 Aug - 23rd Aug)

E-mal

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I am worried Chelsea or City will pick up Upa while we keep looking for that elusive left footed centre back.

Such a bizarre idea. Just get the guy in FFS.
 

KirkDuyt

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Have Atletico ever dominated a game of football? They must be the shitest top team in the history of sports.
 

slored1

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Trippier is still shite. How on earth can he get into this Atletico side.
 

BayernFan87

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God how I hate these constantly falling, rolling around and moaning Atletico players. A club full of Neymars
 

Bastian

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I am worried Chelsea or City will pick up Upa while we keep looking for that elusive left footed centre back.

Such a bizarre idea. Just get the guy in FFS.
Yeah, get it done asap.
 

VorZakone

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I am worried Chelsea or City will pick up Upa while we keep looking for that elusive left footed centre back.

Such a bizarre idea. Just get the guy in FFS.
Weren't Vidic and Ferdinand both right-footed? And Carvalho/Terry too? Pique & Puyol as well?
 

SilentStrike

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Leipzig are so much better than Atletico.

Spanish teams are always filled with diving cnuts, can't imagine anyone being a La Liga supporter.
 

Bobski

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RBL making all the running, Upe exceedingly impressive, but awful up front.

Set up for the usual ATM strangle.
 

Paul_Scholes18

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Watching Atlético often leads to dull games. Although it was a great way to knock out Liverpool.
 

Mb194dc

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Attritional battle lacking any real quality in the final third and loads of fouls.

Not the best game ever for sure. Think Athletico will make few changes given stacked bench. Costa done nothing.
 

Ecstatic

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God how I hate these constantly falling, rolling around and moaning Atletico players. A club full of Neymars
Your analogy does not make sense because Neymar is the anti-Simeone player par excellence!
 

fps

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Upamecano has caught the eye with his powerful bringing of the ball out of defence and pocketing of Costa, he’s clearly frustrated players higher up the pitch aren’t pushing more.
 

E-mal

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Weren't Vidic and Ferdinand both right-footed? And Carvalho/Terry too? Pique & Puyol as well?
Exactly. Is just a stupid idea especially considering Maguire has played left side all his career.
 

FrankWhite

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Good player, but he is more a central midfielder deployed on the wing than a pure winger with dribbling capabilities who would score a lot of goals
I would still try to get him if for nothing else, the versatility will give us quality depth. And I bet he won't cost Grealish money. He's 21 by the way.
 

Mogget

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Have Atletico ever dominated a game of football? They must be the shitest top team in the history of sports.
Looking at the amount of money they've spent recently their underdog excuse has gone too.
 

paraguayo

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Is there anyone left on the 'i love atleti' island? They've transformed every big televised game they were in into crap. And the games against minnows are also crap.
 

Theafonis

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I am worried Chelsea or City will pick up Upa while we keep looking for that elusive left footed centre back.

Such a bizarre idea. Just get the guy in FFS.
Is United looking at Gabriel from Lille? Left footed, pacey, can play the ball out. He was linked with Arsenal recently.
 

fps

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Carrasco has been Atletico’s only bright spot for me, pace control and danger, but he’s been kicked relentlessly.
 

broccoli

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Leipzig playing cute football but they're not cutting Atletico open. Need more movement in the box.
Difficult to cut Atletico because they barely lose defensive shape. It will be interesting to see if any of Nagelsmann cards are actually effective.
 

Morty_

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Feels like all these neutrals like the story of Atletico, being an underdog, turned into a top club, and thus wants them to win CL.
But then they remember they actually play incredibly dull football, wants them out for the sake of entertainment, then forgets all about how dull they play the season after, rince and repeat.
 
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hubbuh

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That will be the sensible thing to do. Build on what Ole is doing although a tad unfair on the baby faced assassin.
This season is make or break for his 'project' with us. If we're out of the race before the turn of the year then the top brass really need to be making moves on a team that can take us further.
 

Red Devil 26

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Costa doesn't look up to much these days. Looks like he's lost that physical edge. Was an absolutely battering ram in his pomp. It's kinda sad to see him look so meek.
 

Bepi

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Games like this end with the better quality breaking up the organised runners in the closing minutes. Owen-esque level of insight, I know, and still... :p
 

E-mal

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Just get Upamecano and Sancho this season please. Then we can take it from there next season.
 

poleglass red

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Feels like all these neutrals like the story of Atletico, being an underdog, turned into a top club, and thus wants them to win CL.
But then they remembers they actually play incredibly dull football, wants them out for the sake of entertainment, then forgets all about how dull they play the season after, rince and repeat.
its a nice story, bit like Wolves, but the football whilst technical is dreadful to watch
 

mazhar13

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Both sides started off well via some nice wing play. Carrasco has caused Klostermann tons of problems and left him exposed on multiple occasions, but Atletico's full backs getting attracted to Olmo & Nkunku has left spaces for bot Angelino and Laimer. Unfortunately, neither side has committed enough players into the box to get on the end of crosses. Atletico eventually decided to sit back and absorb pressure in order to deal with the wing backs, and it's working so far. Leipzig are looking toothless on the attack with very few players making runs past Atletico's defensive line. Poulsen's often the only one looking to get on the end of chances, but he's contained by two defenders. All of that nice interplay between the midfielders, Olmo, and Nkunku's going to waste because of their lack of incision. This has also thrown off Poulsen, who keeps looking inside for goalscoring threats and eventually screws up the pass to his wing backs.

I think Nagelsmann's going to make Leipzig more aggressive in the 2nd half. He'll demand Olmo to make more runs past the defensive line. I also wonder if he'll change Leipzig's attacking shape and put Laimer into more of a midfield role. Laimer's great at making runs beyond the defensive line, so I can see him being moved infield to help with that. On the other hand, they'll miss him defensively on the right wing, so they might just keep him there for the time being. I can also see Nagelsmann pushing Sabitzer slightly wider so that he can get more involved on the attack. That can allow Laimer to make more runs through the middle and Olmo more space in the middle to get the most out of his creativity.

With Atletico, I struggle to see how they can do any better. Ideally, they need to press Kampl immediately and prevent him from settling on the ball. Sabitzer wouldn't be as much of a threat on the ball, so they can give him space whilst cutting out his passing options. Upamecano is there to be targeted, so if they can Diego Costa on him, they can potentially cause some problems for Leipzig. Klostermann's also struggled defending the right flank, so some more wing play there would help them. I'd encourage Renan Lodi to push up and have Carrasco pick up the ball in slightly more central areas to worry Klostermann and drag Upamecano away. Despite all of these suggestions, I expect Atletico to sit back and defend for their lives in the hopes that they can get that one counter to trouble Leipzig.

This tie can still go either way. Leipzig need more runners, and Atletico need to exploit Leipzig's defensive weaknesses more.