and the idea that a championship squad can or cannot be bought.
It probably shows how much football we see. And how soon we forget, or better: how less we care. There´s superb matches in the round of last16 and quarterfinals each year (think 2015/16: PSG vs Chelsea and Bayern beating Juve after extratime after a 2-2 away draw at Juve) but last year was the super duper matchup, when PSG smacked around Barca and then you-know-what happened...has there been a bigger round of 16 matchup than PSG-RM?
As Zomp pointed out, Real isn't going to win the CL because of their awesome youth development. It would the equivalent of the Dodgers beating the Yankees. Sometimes a team with a transfer budget of $190 million can beat a team with a budget of $220 million.has there been a bigger round of 16 matchup than PSG-RM? All of the potential ramifications, for star players (Chrissy and Neymar), a star coach (Zidane), and the idea that a championship squad can or cannot be bought. The implications if PSG wins are enormous as it likely sends RM into a massive spending frenzy that would negatively impact many of the 16 CL teams. And if RM wins, how does PSG respond? Big blow to the French league, etc
cool stuff
It's not just superclubs. Remember, Ranieri didn't make it through one season at Leicester City following a title win more miraculous than any trophy Real has ever won.Zidane would win back-to-back European titles, plus a La Liga title and a bunch of other minor titles, and get fired the next season? I realize superclubs have the least loyalty and the most what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude of all sporting organizations, but that would seem extreme, particularly with respect to a club legend like Zizou.
Yep. If Karius and the back line remain conscious, they're going to be a tough out for everyone.When they play, like this, they can play with ANYONE in the world
I guess you were trying to be funny here but RM hasn’t spent much money in the past three years.Good for those scrappy underdogs Real Madrid showing those blue bloods PSG that heart and teamwork can overcome a team that is bought and not built!
Fair enough.How awesome is it that LFC can rest players in a round of 16 UCL match? What a showing today. And Alexander-Arnold kindly asks all of you to chill out and sit down. He’s got this.
Zidane's spell is already seventh all-time in games managed by a Madrid manager, and if he lasts another couple months he'll be in the top five.It's not just superclubs. Remember, Ranieri didn't make it through one season at Leicester City following a title win more miraculous than any trophy Real has ever won.
If I saw that in my daughter's club team game I'd yell "Not towards the middle!!!" And then the sliding attempt that missed the ball completely? Yikes.Hilariously terrible pass by Christensen probably gifts the Barcelona a ticket to the next round. Uggh.
They have massively outperformed their peripherals this year. Expected goals models have them in 6th, close to Arsenal and Chelsea and well behind Spurs and Liverpool, let alone City. Some of that is De Gea playing out of his mind all season, but how sustainable is that? They started the season hot against bad opposition but since about mid October they have been pretty profoundly mediocre. Plus they have a tough remaining schedule (4 of their final 11 against other top 6 teams). They are in real danger of falling out of the top 4.2nd in the league, favorites to advance to the quarter finals of the champions league, and in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
They’ve hit a rough patch for sure, but don’t exaggerate. If United aren’t contending for the title next year with a few additions then you could make the argument that nobody will besides city.
Exactly. And there just isn’t a sense that the team is getting better or is building the spine of what will become a title winning side. This was a massive match and Mourinho started with Pogba, Rashford, and Martial - the three younger players around which the team is supposedly being built - on the bench. None of those players seem to be getting better under Mourinho.They have massively outperformed their peripherals this year. Expected goals models have them in 6th, close to Arsenal and Chelsea and well behind Spurs and Liverpool, let alone City. Some of that is De Gea playing out of his mind all season, but how sustainable is that? They started the season hot against bad opposition but since about mid October they have been pretty profoundly mediocre. Plus they have a tough remaining schedule (4 of their final 11 against other top 6 teams). They are in real danger of falling out of the top 4.
The number of teams who go straight in to the group stages has increased from 22 to 26:So UEFA has made changes to the Champions League for next season.
The biggest change appears to be automatic qualification for the 4th place team in the top 4 leagues (which right now are Spain, Germany, England, and Italy). It used to be 4th place had to enter into the last qualifying round before the group stage.
Shame that most games will probably be behind the Turner paywall.They also announced kickoffs will be staggered, taking place at 12:55 and 3:00 ET, instead of all kickoffs at 2:45.