Group G is odd, every team could still go through and it's only 1 game left. I guess there's no club that stands out in quality there. Wouldn't like Sevilla to finish 2nd though, facing them again would be too much after last few years 
Champions League | Matchday 6
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
All done and dusted after match day 5 too.Top the group having been ahead in games for a total of 74 minutes.
Don't tempt us to hire Big Sam as interim just before the weekend game
Gavi is 17 years and still 3 months old. Amazing how good he isDemir (18)
Gavi (18)
Pedri (18)
Abde (19) He was excellent vs. Espanyol.
Nico (19)
Barca's squad went from potential catastrophy to potential 2nd coming of '08-'11 Barca in the space of six months.
I am going to say it, Reece James is one of those very rare players' like Rooney who can pretty much do everything to a high level. You could probably play him as: WB, FB, CB, DM, CM, AM and you'll get high levels out of him regardless. Only position I am not sure about is GK, as even at CF I reckon he would be alright.
We have conceded 24 goals in 50 games. 31 clean sheets.
WBA scored 5. An anomaly.
Other than that, it’s 19 goals in 18 games in which we have concede.
Only 2 teams have scored more than once against us in 50 games. Incredible.
WBA scored 5. An anomaly.
Other than that, it’s 19 goals in 18 games in which we have concede.
Only 2 teams have scored more than once against us in 50 games. Incredible.
So who can we/are likely to face in the 2nd round?
A) PSG
B) Porto/Atletico
C) Dortmund/Sporting
D) Inter
E) Barca/Benfica
G) Lille/Sevilla/Salzburg (group is a toss-up)
H) Juventus
Is that right?
A) PSG
B) Porto/Atletico
C) Dortmund/Sporting
D) Inter
E) Barca/Benfica
G) Lille/Sevilla/Salzburg (group is a toss-up)
H) Juventus
Is that right?
Hopefully Barca or Juventus. Those are the only teams i'm semi-confident we can beat.
I don't think Barca are getting through.
I actually want Barca through, don't want them getting CL through winning the Ropey League. Also would enjoy seeing them get another 8-2 battering along the way too.
While on paper it feels tough for Barcelona, but my gut feeling says Bayern would drop off the intensity which may allow Barcelona to win. Bayern plays Dortmund away from home in the weekend before their CL game. They unlikely to overexert themselves in a meaningless game for them after a big game.
PSG may be able to finish above City. May actually tune in for that one tomorrow. I also hope Porto can hold off AM as they're always a nightmare to deal with in KO football.
Ah yeah that might influence it, but Bayern look worlds apart from Barcelona right now. They could've easily lost tonight.
Huuuuugggeeeee game tonight vs Dortmund.
50,000 people in the stands tonight the atmosphere should be electric.
Sporting have been in fantastic form and have grown a lot as a team since the Ajax game. Lots of learning curves for this young team but they picked it up quick.
Sporting are going to have to be the aggressor and Dortmund know that which could play into their favor.
If we score first it will be huge because the stadium will be rocking. I have not been this nervous and excited for a game in a long time. Would be amazing to go through the group stage in Amorim's first CL.
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50,000 people in the stands tonight the atmosphere should be electric.
Sporting have been in fantastic form and have grown a lot as a team since the Ajax game. Lots of learning curves for this young team but they picked it up quick.
Sporting are going to have to be the aggressor and Dortmund know that which could play into their favor.
If we score first it will be huge because the stadium will be rocking. I have not been this nervous and excited for a game in a long time. Would be amazing to go through the group stage in Amorim's first CL.
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Just read about how crazy the situation for Wolfsburg (currently last in group G) is: if they win against Lille, they are through, depending on the result in the parallel game they could even top the group. If they lose or draw, they will stay last in the group. So they can still reach positions 1,2 or 4, but not 3, so they will definitely not play in the EL.
Jesus can it be game time already I can't sit still.
Think the likes of Milan and Sherrif still have a chance of qualifying if they win their final 2 games
We will be a bit better overall and much more focused in February maybe? If anything, yesterday’s drubbing will persuade our board to act aggressively in the January market. Let’s see if we can defeat Atalanta on Saturday and reduce the gap to one point. Not going deep in the CL may be ok, not qualifying for the next one would be bad.
A match against Barca is not meaningless for the players...
Man City vs PSG is going to show where PSG really is right now with Poch.
Any chance PSG can get a result at City? Thought they were lucky to come away with a 2-0 win back in September if City didn't miss their chances, and PSG seems inconsistent this season. City will most likely win 2-0 but hoping for a Messi's masterclass as anything to stop City and take down a peg will be nice.
I am not sure what is great about exert yourself when you're guaranteed to top the group. This was what they did last season against Atletico Madrid after they're guaranteed to top of the group:
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029447/
Don't worry, Dortmund are still in fairly bad shape and Sporting have to be considered favourites for this tie.
Bayern is having troubles right now. They need that win (at home!) to make a statement, not because of the group constellation.
Ajax is playing half a B-team but still very exciting team.
I like the Besiktas team, match could go either way I think.
I like the Besiktas team, match could go either way I think.
I am not dismissing that, but I am leaning toward them use this time to rest and shift more focus to their domestic campaign. They had to play Dortmund weekend before Barcelona game. Even if they had the business done. They would still want to ensure they don't slip up in the league and let Dortmund back into it.
Oh stop it. Sporting have made it to the KO rounds all of 1x since 94.
Dortmund are by far the favorites. Sporting should not even be in this position with a young team and inexperienced coach.
Well, you have a team. Dortmund has a hospital this season so far.
Dortmund bench players would start for us. I wish we had Malen
Ajax press like absolute madmen.
Can’t argue with that penalty for Besiktas. Very odd from the Ajax player.
Commentators on the Inter game can't stop saying Canhaloglus name. Keep just coming up with stories about him, or what he's done past matches.
22mins in has must have said his name about 100times. Surely they've got some kind of bet going on about how many times they can mention him by name.
22mins in has must have said his name about 100times. Surely they've got some kind of bet going on about how many times they can mention him by name.
Well, he did score maybe the best free kick ever (or at least up there with the Roberto Carlos one)... but yeah, I've never seen him do anything of note in any of the games I've actually seen him play.
Yet you got his name wrong.
Of course I did, I'm shit with spelling of foreign names. I did check, but then couldn't copy and paste from flash scores and was like "feckit, they'll know who I mean, plus some absolute cockend on the caf will be able to pretend they're a clever cnut by pointing out I spelt his name wrong"
If we were to ignore form and injuries I'd agree with you. But nominal squad strength means little if you can't translate it onto the pitch.
All I'm saying is if 100 times wasn't enough it's reasonable to go for 150.
Ajax lucky they are not 3-0 down. Besiktas forward missed a proper sitter and another good chance. Ajax have had plenty chances of their own but they are not crucial in the final third.
Haller gets another CL goal. 1-1.