Still Not the Super League: Champions League 23/24

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

And Milan gets one as well, so we're back to where we were at the start of the day.

As it stands PSG and Dortmund advance. Newcastle needs a goal (and PSG to stay drawn or lose) to advance. Newcastle has the head to head tie breaker vs PSG.

 

[fletcherpost]

Newcastle catching all the breaks. They need to score and make the most of their luck.

 

[fletcherpost]

Milan score. Great build up. What a gut punch for Newcastle.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Milan score. Great build up. What a gut punch for Newcastle.

I think at the moment, Milan needs a Dortmund goal in order to advance though not 100% sure of the tiebreaker between PSG and Milan.

 

[rguilmar]

Man, I’d love Gio to score and put Milan through

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

I think that due to the loss to Antwerp than Porto may have just jumped Barca for #1 in Group H. Unless there's a head to head tie breaker I'm missing.

 

[rguilmar]

I think that due to the loss to Antwerp than Porto may have just jumped Barca for #1 in Group H. Unless there's a head to head tie breaker I'm missing.

Pretty sure head to head is the first tie breaker so Barca win the group.

 

[nayrbrey]

The round of 16 draw took place earlier this morning.

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/draws/

Porto vs Arsenal

Napoli vs Barcelona

Paris St-Germain vs Real Sociedad

Inter vs Atletico Madrid

PSV vs Borussia Dortmund

Lazio vs Bayern Munich

Copenhagen vs Manchester City

RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Knockout Rounds start today.

Copenhagen - City is on CBS (or Paramount+) while RB Leipzig takes on Real Madrid (on Paramount+ or TUDN).

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Ederson with a howler that leads to a Copenhagen equalizer, 1-1 in Denmark at 34 minutes.

 

[rguilmar]

Leipzig had the ball in the back of the net early against Madrid but it was called offside. I am not sure why though as it looked pretty clear that the goal scorer was behind the second man when the ball was mishit to him. Another player was in an offside position. I have both games on without sound but I’d be curious as to the reasoning.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Bernardo puts City up again, 1-2 going into halftime.

 

[teddykgb]

Leipzig had the ball in the back of the net early against Madrid but it was called offside. I am not sure why though as it looked pretty clear that the goal scorer was behind the second man when the ball was mishit to him. Another player was in an offside position. I have both games on without sound but I’d be curious as to the reasoning.

Just showed it on half time I think the ref got it right. Heinrichs is pushing the Gk (slightly) in an offside position and it probably affects the play enough that it has to be called

 

[OCST]

Ederson with a howler that leads to a Copenhagen equalizer, 1-1 in Denmark at 34 minutes.

Really was a terrible clearance, put it right to one of the attackers at the edge of the box.

 

[rguilmar]

Just showed it on half time I think the ref got it right. Heinrichs is pushing the Gk (slightly) in an offside position and it probably affects the play enough that it has to be called

Thanks for that. I have the Madrid-Leipzig game going on my phone with the Man City game on a big screen at a bar so it was hard to see exactly what happened.

 

[SocrManiac]

Really was a terrible clearance, put it right to one of the attackers at the edge of the box.

Ederson’s feet are the only part of him that make sense in that City squad. If they become sketchy there’s no way he isn’t replaced.

 

[OCST]

Ederson’s feet are the only part of him that make sense in that City squad. If they become sketchy there’s no way he isn’t replaced.

Even at their most dominant I feel like City could be gotten at for the odd goal. Even when they pound the crap out of the Burnleys and Norwiches it’s 6-1 and not a clean sheet, they switch off and give up a cheapie more than they should.

 

[the1andonly3003]

Did Tuechel's Dortmand team play like this? Bayern does not look like a technically sound team. Lazio just drops 10 back into the box muffling any movement. Bayern looks like Hodgson's England NT at the Euros 2016

 

[Kliq]

Did Tuechel's Dortmand team play like this? Bayern does not look like a technically sound team. Lazio just drops 10 back into the box muffling any movement. Bayern looks like Hodgson's England NT at the Euros 2016

We will know for sure if Harry Kane starts taking corners.

 

[the1andonly3003]

Even at their most dominant I feel like City could be gotten at for the odd goal. Even when they pound the crap out of the Burnleys and Norwiches it’s 6-1 and not a clean sheet, they switch off and give up a cheapie more than they should.

Unimas would have put the City game if Julian Alvarez were a bigger star, but we got Real Madrid instead

 

[the1andonly3003]

We will know for sure if Harry Kane starts taking corners.

Wonder if Tuechel and Sarri had a nice remembrance about Chelsea pre-match

 

[ifmanis5]

Mbappe with a classic bender inside the box.

 

[nayrbrey]

Mbappe with a classic bender inside the box.

That was impressive AF. He also broke a few clips on the side of net that they had to replace.

 

[Kliq]

Bayern grab two goals in the first half to take control of their tie against Lazio after coming in trailing 1-0. Kane and Muller with the goals.

 

[ifmanis5]

Another Mbappe beauty to seal it. "As cool as a bomb disposal expert."

 

[DontTauntOrtizMe]

Another Mbappe beauty to seal it. "As cool as a bomb disposal expert."

The Scottish announcer was hilarious, "Like opening the blood bank to Dracula."

 

[Kliq]

The Paramount+ studio show, with Micha Richards, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Kate Abdo is completely insane, in a chaotic fun way.

 

[rguilmar]

The Scottish announcer was hilarious, "Like opening the blood bank to Dracula."

Pretty sure it was former MLS manager Ray Hudson who has a whole repertoire of unique catchphrases. He was doing La Liga commentating for a while and his act started to get a little old when you hear him multiple times a week, week after week, year after year. In smaller does though he’s entertaining.

 

[Kliq]

Yes, Hudson is best enjoyed in small doses. He did once host a show on Bein titled "The Magisterial Show" which was very funny.

 

[InstaFace]

And a Spotify podcast!
https://open.spotify.com/show/3TLkJ0rvChkE0qDH1EpYbA

Hudson is like the Gus Johnson of European soccer. The part of your brain that is over it all, jaded and has no room for silly or campy hates him. But something about his genuine, unrestrained enthusiasm and love for what he's watching is infectious, and gets the child in you to tell that serious part to shut up and just have fun, the way he's having fun.

 

[rguilmar]

Hudson clearly loves the game, and honestly he’s usually very entertaining. He’d be happy calling a U-8 game in some random suburb of Chicago. Honestly, I’d be scared to meet anyone more passionate about anything than Ray and his love of soccer. After about a decade though, it was probably time for him to move to another league. I definitely remember him fondly, partially because he was calling some of those peak Messi at Barca and CR7 at RM years (and I still think “old chameleon eyes” anytime I see Xavi) and partially because he shared quite a bit of knowledge.

ESPN has also saddled with me the likes of Kasey f*cking Keller now who is far and away the most boring announcer in the history of sports or public speaking. I don’t think he likes Spain or soccer or talking.

 

[Zososoxfan]

The Paramount+ studio show, with Micha Richards, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Kate Abdo is completely insane, in a chaotic fun way.

Kate and Thierry are alright, but Micha, Jamie, and the production team make the show intolerable for me. It's a little too silly and modern ESPN-y (over the top HAWT TAKES).

 

[rguilmar]

Huge goal for Barca to take the lead 1-0 (and 2-1 on aggregate). They’ve deserved the lead.

 

[rguilmar]

Second goal in two minutes. Lamine Yamal is worth the price of admission. Too bad the culés don’t seem to recognize that fact. He did all the work though won’t figure in the stats.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Arsenal with all the pressure so far, but still trail 1-0 in aggregate at home vs. Porto.

 

[rguilmar]

Napoli with a goal now. Both teams look up for it. Some really good soccering going on.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

OMG what beautiful passing and footwork from Odegaard on the assist to Trossard.

 

[Silverdude2167]

This ref is trash, no way that was a foul, especially with all the clutching and grabbing Porto has been doing.

 

[Silverdude2167]

How many fouls does Porto get before they get carded?

 

[rguilmar]

Old school tiki taka goal by Barca to restore the 2 goal lead.

 

[Zososoxfan]

Barca soooooo lucky not to get evened up, and then Roberto of all people creates a goal for the side. Visca Barca!!

 

[Silverdude2167]

Porto player bear hugs Saka from behind and the ref says play on.

Porto should be thanking their stars for having a ref who likes to let them clog up the game.

 

[rguilmar]

Barca soooooo lucky not to get evened up, and then Roberto of all people creates a goal for the side. Visca Barca!!

Congrats my dude. Fully entertaining two matches.

 

[Silverdude2167]

They just let a play go on for 1 minute while a guy was clearly offside. Sometimes you wonder what the Linesman is doing, it was not close.

 

[lars10]

Porto player bear hugs Saka from behind and the ref says play on.

Porto should be thanking their stars for having a ref who likes to let them clog up the game.

Porto play the most cynical brand of football imaginable... bunkering to a whole new level, with a ton of diving and laying down on the ground.

Edit: like their intentions were to get to PKs starting out the game.

 

[lars10]

how was that not a card?

 

[lars10]

The fouls this ref does call have been super weak at times.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Deep sigh of relief. Very nice performance by Raya in the shootout.

 

[rguilmar]

Barcelona became the first club to start two players under the age of 18 in a UCL knockout game, Lamine Yamal (16) and Pau Cubarsi (turned 17 this season). Sure, it has something to do with their finances, but it has more to do with the talent of the kids. They are legitimately among the most important players at the club. Crucially for many at the club, both are Catalan.

It’s getting close to time to bubble wrap them for a while and protect them for the future.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Barcelona became the first club to start two players under the age of 18 in a UCL knockout game, Lamine Yamal (16) and Pau Cubarsi (turned 17 this season). Sure, it has something to do with their finances, but it has more to do with the talent of the kids. They are legitimately among the most important players at the club. Crucially for many at the club, both are Catalan.

It’s getting close to time to bubble wrap them for a while and protect them for the future.

Do you think there is anything to this claim floating around the internet that Yamal is actually older or is it just a rumor invented by jealous Real fans?