UEFA Champions League 2010-11

[culloty82]

Odd no-one's started this yet, so might as well do the needful. Barcelona looked awesome last night, why couldn't Messi turn it on like that in South Africa? No real shocks last night, but major surprise Valencia won so comprehensively in Turkey. Man United v Rangers though was 96 minutes of my life I wouldn't mind getting back - it's all TV3's fault, I tell you!:)

[Schumi]

Man United v Rangers though was 96 minutes of my life I wouldn't mind getting back

I'm glad I watched Barcelona v Panathinaikos so! It was men against boys for the most part really but the 3rd Barca goal was worth watching any match for.

[shakermaker1982]

I had Man Utd to win in a 5 game accumulator. The other 4 came in. Gutted.

Not sure what game to watch tonight.

[Jofspring]

Might be a weird question but did anyone hear the song played when Cluj score and do they know what it is? I usually hate songs played when teams score but it actually sounded good and the crowd where going bananas to it.

[HarpoJoyce]

Might be a weird question but did anyone hear the song played when Cluj score and do they know what it is? I usually hate songs played when teams score but it actually sounded good and the crowd where going bananas to it.

I didn't hear the music from the match but maybe a piece of this Anthem. (with lyrics).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIqb3EWPf2U

Obviously CFR Cluj wouldn't be my first team in Cluj. But they got a nice win last night, it'll bring their Europe League challenge 'til the fifth game and the return in Basel. They are Romania's oldest club and represent (or represented) the railway workers in the area.

Before the current owner of CFR 1907 Cluj, Arpad Paszkany, bought into second Division CFR in the late 1990's was said to have gone to Universitatitea Cluj ("U") but was refused because of he was obviously an ethnic Magyar. I don't believe that story myself.

Guardian article, 2007, when CFR was in Chelsea's Champion's League group.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/dec/04/europeanfootball.sport1

Club website (EN)
http://www.cfr1907.ro/en/

The International pictured in the youtube clip above is Ciprian Deac ( now 'Deak' in Magyar means 'Student', everything is connected).

[OwlsFan]

Ferguson disrespected Rangers and paid the price. He has done it before and got away with it, not on Tuesday. Credit to Rangers though for an excellent defensive performance.

Arsenal as ever will flatter to deceive in the early stages. Nice to watch though unlike the game above.

Real played Ajax off the park but only won 2-0.

Messi showed what he can do when given room.

They are the 4 games I channel hopped between.

[shakermaker1982]

I watched Madrid - Ajax. Impressive but wasteful in front of goal. I think they had 30 shots. Di Maria had 8 (6 on target).

[superfrank]

I'm glad I watched Barcelona v Panathinaikos so! It was men against boys for the most part really but the 3rd Barca goal was worth watching any match for.
The fifth one stood out for me. It was a perfect ball by Messi and he didn't have a lot of space to do it in. I didn't watch the whole game but it seems like Messi had a stormer.

I caught the Chelsea match last night. First 50 minutes were reasonably well, though at times Zilina played well. After Chelsea went 4-0 up, they stopped playing for thirty minutes or so and Zilina had several half-chances. Better end product and they could have got back into it. 4-1 was a lucky enough result for Chelsea.

Thomas Muller's goal was a cracker.

[Closed Account 2]

Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

[OwlsFan]

Tough draws for Spurs and Arsenal:

Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

[Closed Account 2]

Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

[KK77]

Don't see any reason why Spurs won't beat Milan. Man U and Chelsea should have no problems either and Arsenal obviously will have it all to do.

[gustavo]

Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

[OwlsFan]

Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

Ok. me you and edmundo will have our own fantasy league ;)

[bennocelt]

Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

wow just notice its the same as edmundo, ha

[DeLorean]

Can't see United having much of a problem with Marseille really.


Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

[Closed Account 2]

Interesting game last night between Valencia and Schalke, the Germans came away with a 1-1 thanks to a goal "made in Spain" (set up by Jurado and scored by Raul) was painful watching it on Sky, they had the la Liga commentary team (Gerry Armstrong ?) who knew nothing about Schalke asdie from Huntelaar, Raul and Jurado.

[shakermaker1982]

Interesting game last night between Valencia and Schalke, the Germans came away with a 1-1 thanks to a goal "made in Spain" (set up by Jurado and scored by Raul) was painful watching it on Sky, they had the la Liga commentary team (Gerry Armstrong ?) who knew nothing about Schalke asdie from Huntelaar, Raul and Jurado.

Try watching Spurs-Milan with Ray Wilkins as co commetator. Crouchy this and Crouchy that. Spurs put 3 passes together and he's hyperventilating. I like Gerry when watching La Liga but doubt his knowledge of German football is too hot.

[shakermaker1982]

I'll also do my predictions:

Roma v Shakhtar
Milan v Spurs
Valencia v Schalke
Inter v Bayern
Lyon v Real
Arsenal v Barca
Marseille v Man Utd
Kopenhgn v Chelsea

I'd have gone with Valencia and Milan before the games last night so have stuck with them.

[legendz]

It's been yet another disappointing night for the majority of Irish fans who enjoy English clubs failing. Off the back of Spurs win, Arsenal won tonight.

[DeLorean]

I backed Van Persie to score (in 90mins) and Arsenal to win last night at 11/2. Only threw a tenner on it but how bad. Couldn't believe some of the odds. Arsenal were 16/5 to win the match. I thought that was insane seeing as it was at The Emirates, don't care who they were playing! Barcelona were 1/4 to go through overall, mental stuff.

[bennocelt]

I backed Van Persie to score (in 90mins) and Arsenal to win last night at 11/2. Only threw a tenner on it but how bad. Couldn't believe some of the odds. Arsenal were 16/5 to win the match. I thought that was insane seeing as it was at The Emirates, don't care who they were playing! Barcelona were 1/4 to go through overall, mental stuff.

Funny didnt post this BEFORE the game!!!!

[OwlsFan]

Enjoyed both games last night. Nice to see Shakhtar winning at Roma who had up till then a fantastic or (as Chris Kamara would say) unbelievable home record. Arsenal vs Barca was also an excellent game. All up for grabs in the second leg. For all their great players, Barca still work extremely hard without the ball and that's a fair measure of their success. Didn't see the Milan vs SPurs game and missed the headbutt. Talk of Jordan removing his glasses in anticipation but haven't seen it :(

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/dailyrecord3/feb2011/7/7/jordan-gattuso-110457580.jpg

[plankton]

If he had messed with Joe Jordan in his prime, it would have been some spectacle!!

[bennocelt]

Gattuso is such a dick anyway, how many times does he spend rolling around on the ground crying like a baby?

[DeLorean]

Funny didnt post this BEFORE the game!!!!

If I was going to lie, I think I would have come up with something a bit more worthwhile than a tenner at an 11/2 shot. You must have serious trust issues!

Anyway, I didn't really think Arsenal were going to win, just thought the odds were very generous.

[bennocelt]

If I was going to lie, I think I would have come up with something a bit more worthwhile than a tenner at an 11/2 shot. You must have serious trust issues!

Anyway, I didn't really think Arsenal were going to win, just thought the odds were very generous.

Must follow up with good tip then to redeem:)

[DeLorean]

Must follow up with good tip then to redeem:)

I'm a pretty poor gambler I must admit, although I did have another small click a couple of weeks back. It was mostly Championship games, which seems to have become easier to predict than the PL. Not sure what I'll do for the weekend but I think Forest to beat Cardiff and Celtic to beat Rangers wil feature somewhere. Leeds and Norwich has the look of a draw but I don't like doing draws.

[Predator]

Enjoyed both games last night. Nice to see Shakhtar winning at Roma who had up till then a fantastic or (as Chris Kamara would say) unbelievable home record. Arsenal vs Barca was also an excellent game. All up for grabs in the second leg. For all their great players, Barca still work extremely hard without the ball and that's a fair measure of their success. Didn't see the Milan vs SPurs game and missed the headbutt. Talk of Jordan removing his glasses in anticipation but haven't seen it :(

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/dailyrecord3/feb2011/7/7/jordan-gattuso-110457580.jpgWhat way is that for a captain of a football team to be acting? There is some irony in the fact that it seems to say "RESPECT" on the arm of his shirt.

[DeLorean]

What way is that for a captain of a football team to be acting? There is some irony in the fact that it seems to say "RESPECT" on the arm of his shirt.

His behaviour was ridiculous before I start, but I do have a lot respect for the man's will to win. He's 33 and has won it all, yet it still means so much to him. If the likes of Robinho and Ibrahimovic had half his desire, Milan would be much richer for it.

[bennocelt]

His behaviour was ridiculous before I start, but I do have a lot respect for the man's will to win. He's 33 and has won it all, yet it still means so much to him. If the likes of Robinho and Ibrahimovic had half his desire, Milan would be much richer for it.

And what about all the diving? Remember one world cup game he was taken off THREE times to receive "treatment"
Gattuso is nothing but a cnut!

[DeLorean]

And what about all the diving?

You'll notice I didn't claim he was the world's greatest role model.


Must follow up with good tip then to redeem:)


Forest to beat Cardiff and Celtic to beat Rangers. Leeds and Norwich has the look of a draw

That'd have been a handy treble for you!

[legendz]

Been a poor enough game so far tonight in Marseille.

[Schumi]

Great game in Milan, I don't know how it's still 0-0.

[elroy]

Barca one up on Arsenal at half time. Best thing that couldve happened was the barca goal before half time. Arsenal havent played at all so far. Second half could be interesting. Can only see Barca going through though.

[osarusan]

Poor old Arsenal. Until Van Persie was sent off, their tactic of aimlessly hoofing the ball away and allowing Barca come at them time and time again was working fine. After his red card, all they could do was aimlessly hoof the ball away and allow Barca come at them time and time again.

[legendz]

Good result for Irish fans who love to see the fall of English teams.

[shakermaker1982]

Anybody think Van Persie knew he was offside? The ref should have had a quiet word and saved us from the next 2 weeks of "what if Arsenal didn't go down to 10 men" from Gooner fans and the London media.

If Fabregas wasn't fit then don't play him or pull him off at HT (Rodney Marsh). I also wouldn't be happy pre game if I saw my captain have a love fest with the whole of the opposition in the tunnel........we are going into battle here pal, get your game face on!!!

[Stuttgart88]

I don't think Arsenal had a tactic of "hoof it" and neither do you osarusan. They just weren't able to cope with Barcelona, simple as. However, football is such a mad game that if that clown Bendtner had taken a good chance at the death, they'd have gone through. It wasn't a great ball by Wilshere actually - awkardly playing it with the wrong foot about a yard behind where Bendtner would have found it hard to miss.

Whether or not RVP knew he was offside I think the ref made a balls of the situation. Carragher can get away with a yellow for his assault on Nani yet RVP gets a red for two relatively harmless incidents?

Arsenal can't really feel too hard done by though. Barcelona got the thin end of the wedge on two key decisions in London, and should have had a first half penalty last night.

I think where Arsenal can count themsleves unlucky is the mounting injury toll. They are now probably using their third choice keeper, are carrying their captain and most creative player, are missing their most important ball-winner (Song) and Walcott who was playing very well before his injury. Their best CB has missed the whole season and their best goalscorer has missed a lot of games (maybe not bad luck - he always misses lots of games) Arsenal don't spend big and can afford injuries far less than anyone else in the title run-in.

[old git]

Anybody think Van Persie knew he was offside? The ref should have had a quiet word and saved us from the next 2 weeks of "what if Arsenal didn't go down to 10 men" from Gooner fans and the London media.

If Fabregas wasn't fit then don't play him or pull him off at HT (Rodney Marsh). I also wouldn't be happy pre game if I saw my captain have a love fest with the whole of the opposition in the tunnel........we are going into battle here pal, get your game face on!!!

bit of a joke alright as captain of arsenal he should be 110 % committed to beating barcelona save the love fest for after the game... cant really see him getting a game in barca midfield next season !!! .. rumour has it mister wenger had a hissy fit in tunnell after game as well

[OwlsFan]

Sad day for the Premiership when their best footballing team was played off the park, even when they had 11 men. Amazing to see that Arsenal could not hold on to possession for more than a few passes. Barcelona is a great team but how were they able to deny the Gooners any space? Can other teams not do the same in the Premiership?

As for Van Persie, I don't believe for 1 second that he didn't hear the whistle. If you watch the whole game, you will see that none of the players either before or after the incident had any problem hearing the whistle during the whole game. He lied. Some day players will take responsibility for their own stupidity (which is what is was when he was on a yellow) and the ref was obviously a letter of the law man. The sending off was harsh and the ref might have had a word with him instead but he had already booked an Arsenal player for holding on to the ball and not allowing Barca take a quick free kick. To be honest, I don't think it affected the outcome although Arsenal could have won it in the end.

[shakermaker1982]

When Almunia kept making those saves last night I thought Arsenal were going to sneak it but the chance fell to Bendtner. A good striker would have taken that chance.....I liked the line Arsenal kept (both defenders and midfielders) during the first half. Barca had loads of possession but there wasn't too much space in front of the back 4 and they kept trying to chip the perfect ball over to Messi/Pedro and Villa. Unfortunately a silly mistake by Fabregas meant they had to open up a bit more in the 2nd half.

Barca look sensational at times but my God talk about trying to walk into the net.

I'd also love to see how they'd get on against somebody like Stoke. Great clash of styles.

[KK77]

When Almunia kept making those saves last night I thought Arsenal were going to sneak it but the chance fell to Bendtner. A good striker would have taken that chance.....I liked the line Arsenal kept (both defenders and midfielders) during the first half. Barca had loads of possession but there wasn't too much space in front of the back 4 and they kept trying to chip the perfect ball over to Messi/Pedro and Villa. Unfortunately a silly mistake by Fabregas meant they had to open up a bit more in the 2nd half.

Barca look sensational at times but my God talk about trying to walk into the net.

I'd also love to see how they'd get on against somebody like Stoke. Great clash of styles.

Not much chance of Stoke imposing their style seen as they wouldn't have the ball.

[shakermaker1982]

Not much chance of Stoke imposing their style seen as they wouldn't have the ball.

Hard tackles, goal kicks, throw ins........I think it would be hilarious. No team is ever going to outplay Barca. Mourinho has one way of dealing with them i.e. congest middle of park & force Barca to go out wide but is there anybody able to do that this year? That was a top Inter side last year and they managed to beat them with only 30% of the ball.

[DeLorean]

Sad day for the Premiership when their best footballing team was played off the park, even when they had 11 men. Amazing to see that Arsenal could not hold on to possession for more than a few passes. Barcelona is a great team but how were they able to deny the Gooners any space? Can other teams not do the same in the Premiership?

Yes, the good teams. Chelsea and Man Utd have murdered Arsenal on more than a few occasions over the past three or four years, and Liverpool have coped pretty easily with them as well.


As for Van Persie, I don't believe for 1 second that he didn't hear the whistle. If you watch the whole game, you will see that none of the players either before or after the incident had any problem hearing the whistle during the whole game. He lied.

I think it was an absolutely ridiculous decision, petty beyond belief. I can't stand Arsenal but I think Van Persie was dead right to abuse the referee after the match. Even if Van Persie had heard the whistle, he was in a full motion of lining up a shot and instinctively kicked it towards the goals, it's not as if he drove it into the stands or kicked it away in petulance.


To be honest, I don't think it affected the outcome although Arsenal could have won it in the end.

We'll never know if it would have changed the result, but I don't think that's the point. Of course Barca deserved to get through, but the better team should go through or get knocked out fairly*. If I was an Arsenal fan, I'd certainly have been more optimistic if the final chance fell to RVP other than Nicklas "World Class" Bendtner.

*Not suggesting Arsenal were treated unfairly overall, as they got the better end of a couple of decisions in the first leg especially.

[dfx-]

Hard tackles, goal kicks, throw ins........I think it would be hilarious. No team is ever going to outplay Barca. Mourinho has one way of dealing with them i.e. congest middle of park & force Barca to go out wide but is there anybody able to do that this year? That was a top Inter side last year and they managed to beat them with only 30% of the ball.

I really wish people would stop saying it about Inter. Inter just just just got away with their tactics. It wasn't a masterplan...a good goal by Bojan in injury time being disallowed got Inter through. To say nothing of the offside goal in the first leg. And it means that attacking teams like Germany v Spain in the World Cup and now Arsenal v Barcelona have tried to copy it.

And failed.

[shakermaker1982]

Man Utd did it back in 2009 home & away and beat Barca. Chelsea under Hiddink also tried it and nearly succeeded the year after. There is a template to beat Barca.

[OwlsFan]

I think it was an absolutely ridiculous decision, petty beyond belief. I can't stand Arsenal but I think Van Persie was dead right to abuse the referee after the match. Even if Van Persie had heard the whistle, he was in a full motion of lining up a shot and instinctively kicked it towards the goals, it's not as if he drove it into the stands or kicked it away in petulance.

Why did he need to lie then about not hearing the whistle? Why not say "I was in full motion of lining up a shot and instinctively kicked it towards the goals" (a pretty poor effort at that) but no, he gestures towards his ear, pretends he didn't hear the whistle when every other whistle apparently had been heard throughout the game. Both chasing players had given up the chase and he must have been aware of that. I agree it was petty of the referee to send him off but players on yellow cards have to be responsible for their own actions and for getting sent off for non-related game incidents like taking jerseys off when scoring, jumping in to the crown and shooting at the goal after the whistle has gone when all are dog standard yellow card offences, no matter how petty.

[Stuttgart88]

I really wish people would stop saying it about Inter. Inter just just just got away with their tactics. It wasn't a masterplan...a good goal by Bojan in injury time being disallowed got Inter through. To say nothing of the offside goal in the first leg. And it means that attacking teams like Germany v Spain in the World Cup and now Arsenal v Barcelona have tried to copy it.

And failed.Offside goal and a slam dunk penalty not awarded to Alves in the first leg. Mourinho got lucky big time.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm half with you, half against you OwlsFan. I reckon VP did know he was given offside but it was totally petty to be sent off and he was entiteled to have been given the benefit of the doubt. Footballers just do these things instinctively. The first yellow was pretty harsh too.