Who is Valverde coming in for? Carvajal?
Are they back for the second leg?
Just the fact he is available helps a lot imo because he's versatile and energetic, and Modric and Kroos are knackered at the moment.
Yeah that makes sense - especially if one or both can put their feet up at the weekend. That said I'd be surprised if he started over either in the second leg, or am I completely off base?
Congrats. Good result for your boys despite what our Spanish contingent say. Totally in your hands now.
Cheers mate! Undeniably a good result but could have been better given the way the match went - still exceedingly pleased overall though.
I think you'll beat them 2-0.
Under normal circumstances it should be Casemiro-Modric-Kroos indeed. But Zidane likes to make changes from time to time, so he might surprise us all.
Yes. If they don´t get injured again, and knowing our luck this year... Mendy has only muscle overcharge and Fede covid, but was already negative.
Valverde would play on the right, in the midfield. He is a bit shadowed there, but as Gato says at this point and seeing how tired they are, anything is valid
If we were half as clinical on the break as you are, we'd be out of sight already! Suspect there will be ample opportunities in transition so hopefully we can convert a couple.
Wow. I'm nowhere confident enough to expect that. I'm expecting a torturous, agonising 90 mins and then I just hope it goes our way.
Lmfao I'm glad someone's confident
Makes sense! I thought overall you struggled on the right given Carvajal was still half fit - can't recall a single overlapping run he made all game? The knock-on effect was that all your attacks were down our more robust flank - into Kante / Christensen / Azpilicueta. Having someone threatening to get in behind down the right or offering an option in possession could be very meaningful for sure in the second leg.
Madrid are slow and one paced. You have this bar some Hazard, narrative magic.
Who cares if Haaland doesn't have same all-around ability as Benzema. Lewandowski is widely regarded as the best striker in the world and he is nowhere close as skilled as Benzema. Skills is overrated, what matters is how prolific a forward is.
Told you Madrid are awful. Should be an easy enough stroll at home for you provided you put away one, or ideally two, of the minimum 5 clear cut one-on-one chances Madrid will concede to you. Pulisic to score.
I really don't see a different result bar some freak goals or injuries going against them. Out of the teams left they are the only ones that have shown consistent superiority over their opponents. I know the match against PSG is billed as a pretty even matched clash but I really don't see that being true. Strategically things could get interesting but Pep has too much experience and too many players firing at at least near full potential to make me doubt there is nothing but only one result possible this year. Having said that - I agree I'd rather see the other side of the bracket win it.
Pep has a lot of experience completely overthinking things in the CL lately too and PSG made the final last season.
The only issue is your finishing is still probably better than ours.Told you Madrid are awful. Should be an easy enough stroll at home for you provided you put away one, or ideally two, of the minimum 5 clear cut one-on-one chances Madrid will concede to you. Pulisic to score.
If we had Joelinton playing for us at Anfield we would have knocked Madrid out. Unfortunately we had Salah, Firmino, Mane and Jota.
He has better goal contribution per minute over his career than the likes of Aguero,Kane and Cavani do.
Fair enough, he might be up there in terms of numbers, just never done it for me I guess. As I said, good player no doubt, but doing it in Ligue 1 and for possibly one of the best Real Madrid teams ever, with all his off-the-pitch issues etc, I guess he never really stood out to me as someone I desperately wanted for United.
Agree, and we wont stay normal with the possible amount of them bragging about it. I dislike Chelsea, but I cheer for them, though I agree they should've won this
This is Real Madrid's 4th draw in 5 games. That's not to say Chelsea played badly; they played quite well and could win the CL if they play like that. But RM have been running on fumes since half-time during the Clasico.
That would only be an issue if you needed the goals. Madrid can't finish (or create) much either. All they have is Benzema, don't fall for the Vinicius hype as we momentarily made him look good. It's all about Benzema and he'll only get one (chance and goal).
I anticipated this seeing how tired the team looked in that game and the second leg vs Liverpool. When you see Modric and Kroos miss easy passes you know there is something wrong with their energy.
Yeah for some reason I can see them constantly catching PSG out and winning 3-0 or something. I hope not
A top 4 CL scorer of all time never did it for you
but if city bring their A game, they maybe too much for them.Spanish government intervening on Real Madrid's behalf yet again ffs
