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Champions League Round of 16 (15th Feb - 16th Mar)

giorno

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We was promised Mbappé and Messi don't work defensively. What gives :mad:

Also it's kind of insulting how much fitter Verratti is compared to our oldies :lol:
 

Morty_

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One of the best I've seen PSG play this season. Even Messi looks arsed today.
RM have to many old legs, midfield get tons of praise, but its not as good as people think anymore.
 

Cloud7

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Carlo has set up Madrid really well here. For all the possession PSG aren’t doing much with it and most of it is in front of Madrid. The only joy they’ve found have been the moments when Mbappe forced errors out of Carvajal.
 

giorno

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RM have to many old legs, midfield get tons of praise, but its not as good as people think anymore.
Yep. I mean it's still fantastic when we're able to play at our pace, but if the opponents can push a high tempo, they struggle

Insane to me how much Ancelotti has been leaning on them this season with Valverde and Camavinga as backups :houllier:
 

Hansi Fick

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This game is so slow and low intensity, Real parking the bus and PSG not able to sustain pressure as they're not pushing high enough. Boring as feck.

Well what do you expect with a bunch of pensioners on the pitch, and two reactive manaagers..
 

giorno

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Carlo has set up Madrid really well here. For all the possession PSG aren’t doing much with it and most of it is in front of Madrid. The only joy they’ve found have been the moments when Mbappe forced errors out of Carvajal.
They already had 2 BIG chances...i mean, we're still real madrid, 2 big chances in less than one half is kind of a lot
 

ekestubbe

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This is the first time I see RM play this season, and I was looking forward to seeing Benzema play since so many people mentioned him for ballon d'or, but holy shit is he bad.
 

DWelbz19

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
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Mahrez has really stepped it up this season. I didn’t think he had the minerals to step up to a big club like Kante but fair fecks to him.
One of the City players I wished we got. Proper RW too.
 

Lecland07

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Real Madrid have been overrated this season. The team is almost a care home with all the old players.
 

SportingCP96

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I’m going to go shower with my toaster plugged in. Talk to y’all another day.
 

Amadaeus

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Real madrid following the nice playbook because they know psg attackers arent clinical. Messi also makes too many turnover. Neymar for di Maria makes the most sense if neymar is fit and then if stalemate, Danilo needs to come of for wiljinaldum. If Pochettino is brave, might need to take out Messi as well because psg are missing a striker and intensity with his inclusion
 
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Morty_

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Football at walking pace in Paris, hope for more in 2nd half.
 

Iker Quesadillas

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This is the first time I see RM play this season, and I was looking forward to seeing Benzema play since so many people mentioned him for ballon d'or, but holy shit is he bad.
He's been injured for a few weeks and almost certainly not fully recovered.
 

giorno

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Ancelotti need to change something. Need to figure out how to beat their press or we lose this. Also seriously we need to start matching their aggressiveness
 

jadajos

Last Man Standing finalist 2022/23
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How do City play the same 11 for the 345th time in a row without getting a single injury?!
 

Morty_

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Ancelotti need to change something. Need to figure out how to beat their press or we lose this. Also seriously we need to start matching their aggressiveness
We play the same midfield since 2015 mate, its not going to happen unless Valverde/Camavinga comes on.
 

Hansi Fick

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Real madrid following the nice playbook because they know psg attackers arent clinical. Messi also makes too many turnover. Neymar for di Maria makes the most sense if neymar is fit and then if stalemate, Danilo needs to come of for wiljinaldum. If Pochettino is brave, might need to take out Messi as well because psg are missing a striker and intensity with his inclusion
Wijnaldum isn't playing. Also, Pochettino isn't brave.
 

stefan92

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How do City play the same 11 for the 345th time in a row without getting a single injury?!
Being so much better, that they rarely have to go to their physical limits helps a lot (not saying they are not doing hard work, that's absolutely essential for them, but it is quite controlled hard work).
 

Hansi Fick

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How do City play the same 11 for the 345th time in a row without getting a single injury?!
Being so much better, that they rarely have to go to their physical limits helps a lot (not saying they are not doing hard work, that's absolutely essential for them, but it is quite controlled hard work).
They do not play the same 11 in a row, like ever.
 

WeePat

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Amazing the mileage Real Madrid got out of their midfield and some other players. Well past their peak now though and it's showing tonight.
Surprised to learn Casemiro is only 29. Could have sworn he was at least 33.
 

Red Pumpkin

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Watch me being proven wrong in the second half but my word, I'm not impressed by Messi. Slow, cumbersome. I suppose he tries to play between the lines but it just looks like he is in passing shadow, Verratti and the other can't seem to thread it in against Reals superb positional play and Messi doesn't move to help his mates.

Militao has been a beast, as has Mendes. Mbappe very lively, capably supported by Mendes. Wouldn't hurt if there had been a striker up top who could finish of Mendes&Mbappes actions on the left
 

giorno

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If Neymar is fit enough, Messi out for Neymar and they pummel us
 

Amadaeus

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Wijnaldum isn't playing. Also, Pochettino isn't brave.
He played on the weekends. If they need a goal, he is more attack oriented than Danilo. Also it is Messi, I don't think any manager would be brave enough to take him of especially in this type of game. Messi is really sloppy, but he is also capable of pulling something out of nowhere.
 

Hansi Fick

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He played on the weekends. If they need a goal, he is more attack oriented than Danilo. Also it is Messi, I don't think any manager would be brave enough to take him of especially in this type of game.
The problem is that both Messi and Di Maria are finished, the team could probalby carry one of them for the odd moment of quality but not both.
 

ti vu

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Remove Mbappe from this game, and I don't see how PSG would trouble RM with this kind of slow transition and sideway passing.
 

stefan92

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Remove Mbappe from this game, and I don't see how PSG would trouble RM with this kind of slow transition and sideway passing.
Neither team looks like a title contender today.