Champions' League 2013/4

[Charlie Darwin]

Goals within three minutes in both games!

[Stuttgart88]

Jeez, what lovely footwork from Pastore. Cech won't be happy getting beaten at his short angle (as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink calls the near post) but quality goal nonetheless.

[geysir]

Advantage wise, I think PSG badly needed that 3rd goal that they were struggling to get, but "what a goal"as George said.

[geysir]

Tony O'D with the mic in Peter Cech's face, 'at 2-1 you had a chance, at 3-1 you're stuffed'?

How much did it cost to send Tony to Paris to ask that big question?

[BonnieShels]

RTE have opted not to show the clash of minnows Real Madrid and Dortmund and instead opted for the heavyweight clash between Ibrahimovic and Chelsea's big blue bus. Interesting.

It was always gonna be that way.

Probably for the best. Dortmund are a shell at the moment.

[BonnieShels]

I like Bayern, especially when they're playing United or Chelsea.

Lahm is a joy to watch. And I loved the short goal kick routines even when players were marked.

I don't like the club at all.

Individually they have some smashing players. But the cub are filth.

Lahm is a god of a player. One of the greatest I've ever seen.

[Stuttgart88]

Lahm is a god of a player. One of the greatest I've ever seen. me too, truly great.

[geysir]

Dortmund were missing about 6 or 7 players from their first selection, not many clubs can compensate for that against a team as good as Madrid are now.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Lovable orifices as ever, not.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/02/chelsea-fans-rampage-paris-champions-league

[Stuttgart88]

I knew little of Lavezzi or Pastore before last night and didn't even know which country they were from (maybe I should be a RTE pundit) but now I'm thinking of putting a few quid on Argentina for the summer.

[DeLorean]

I like Lahm too, who doesn't... but is he above criticism? He was pretty shocking for Vidic's goal. I know they were marking zonally and all that but he should have seen the obvious danger and went with Vidic (instead of standing there looking at him). I don't think anybody on ITV even mentioned it. I'm pretty sure he got a free ride after being badly at fault for Spain's winner in the Euro 2008 final also which kind of stuck in my mind. Plus, I didn't think he was great at all the other night by his standards. You'd never see him perform a mazy dribble like this for example...

http://balls.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fell-ainii.gif

[Raheen]

I knew little of Lavezzi or Pastore before last night and didn't even know which country they were from (maybe I should be a RTE pundit) but now I'm thinking of putting a few quid on Argentina for the summer.

Both are gifted footballers, but unlike Lavezzi, Pastore's work rate is questionable, he drifts in and out of games. PSG didn't find their rhythm last night but it will come, hopefully in London. Cavani under-performed last night but I expect him to shine in Zlatan's absence.

[Dodge]

I like Lahm too, who doesn't... but is he above criticism? He was pretty shocking for Vidic's goal. I know they were marking zonally and all that but he should have seen the obvious danger and went with Vidic (instead of standing there looking at him). I don't think anybody on ITV even mentioned it.
To be fair, Lee Dixon did highlight it after the game.

[DeLorean]

Oh right... must have missed that.

[Stuttgart88]

I switched off at FT. I'd have thought not covering the posts was a bigger error though. It wasn't a powerful header and only went in because it was well placed.

[DeLorean]

Well I suppose the decision not to put anybody on the post is a risk some managers think is worth taking. Personally I think it's daft. Doesn't really excuse Lahm for not using his considerable experience and football intelligence though.

[BonnieShels]

He's not above criticism. However mistakes can be made at all times.

As Stutts said the criminal mistake was leaving the post unguarded. Alaba just stood there. Marking space is a good idea if in practice it's executed properly.

[Charlie Darwin]

Have been watching Lyon-Juventus so far expecting it to be a good game but it's been really poor, with Juventus just sitting back and letting Lyon create nothing. The bits of the Porto-Sevilla match have been streets ahead.

[DeLorean]

He's not above criticism. However mistakes can be made at all times.

Of course. I just get the feeling if it was one of the centre backs that left him run unmarked, there may have been more finger pointing, weak link talk, etc. Even if it was Robben or Ribery there'd probably be a fuss made about how lazy they were defensively. Lahm just seems like one of those guys that are universally liked, and rightly so... but he messed up big time, regardless of other factors which contributed to the concession of the goal.

[geysir]

It was Bayern's tactic not to put players at the posts, therefore it's not a mistake that there wasn't a player there for that corner/goal.
Bayern don't usually put a man on each post for corners do they? not in a good while anyway.

Remember this one? (at 55 seconds)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fj4TitWsZys#t=57

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah, I don't think you can criticise individuals for sticking to the system. The failure was allowing United's best headerer of the ball yards of space in the box for a free header.

[DeLorean]

Does Geysir not know that Basel beat Valencia 3-0 last night?

[geysir]

I was surprised how cautious Lyon were. It's not that long since they were one of the top teams in Europe, season after season and here they were at home playing with 3 covering midfielders.
juve made hard work of it, though that Giovinco who came on as a sub is one lively midget added the bit of zest that made the difference.

What about that miss by Vucinic? Could we say he shaned it?

[geysir]

Does Geysir not know that Basel beat Valencia 3-0 last night?
:D
Of course I had a look at that for a while, but it was over as a contest after 20 minutes and that with Basel missing about 5 or 6 players.
There's nothing remarkable about Basel winning an EL 1/4 first leg 3-0, it's not even a case of punching above their weight.

[DeLorean]

Suppose Swansea did win 3-0 away to them as well. Three of the four ties look fairly settled barring a big enough surprise. Seville v Porto definitely the stand out second leg.

[bennocelt]

:D
Of course I had a look at that for a while, but it was over as a contest after 20 minutes and that with Basel missing about 5 or 6 players.
There's nothing remarkable about Basel winning an EL 1/4 first leg 3-0, it's not even a case of punching above their weight.

In front of an empty stadium, press here are wondering if they can play more games like this:D
Basel have done enough in Europe now and last season to be guaranteed a CL group stage place next season. Good stuff:cool:

[geysir]

Suppose Swansea did win 3-0 away to them as well. Three of the four ties look fairly settled barring a big enough surprise. Seville v Porto definitely the stand out second leg.
Valencia were the nr 1 seeds, top of the pile at the time of the group stage draw and finished 5 points ahead of Swansea.
Swansea 3 nil result against them was a freak, a one off, a never to be repeated performance, whereas Basel just keep getting results like that year after year and it's just par for their course :).

[geysir]

In front of an empty stadium, press here are wondering if they can play more games like this:D
Basel have done enough in Europe now and last season to be guaranteed a CL group stage place next season. Good stuff:cool:
The funny bit was when the camera picked out the big screen announcing the official attendance of 358.

I wondered how did they suss out there was 358? That's Switzerland for you, no matter if you were the boot cleaner, the sponge squeezer, a member of the B team squad or a cousin twice removed from Murat, entry was by official invitation only and there would be a record kept of you.

[Charlie Darwin]

Swansea won 3-0 because Valencia had a man sent off after eight minutes and had started the season so badly the fans had taken to blocking the players' exit so they could threaten them. Order was soon restored.

[DeLorean]

On the flip side Swansea p!ssed away four points on injury time equalisers which would have made the group a lot tighter. This wasn't Valancia's fault of course, no more than them having a man (rightly) sent off was Swansea's. Swansea won that game comfortably and deservedly so.

I'm not taking away from Basel's result by the way. It's incredible the amount of really excellent results they get against top sides. Don't think I've seen a team punch about their weight so frequently since Rosenborg.

[geysir]

The action is in Dortmund so far. Penalty save and now a goal scored for Dortmund.
Klopp goes from ranting and raging, foaming at the mouth, to pumping high fives with machine gun repetition the next moment.

[Charlie Darwin]

Mkthytarian, how did he miss?! Two open goals he's missed tonight. Dortmund have played all the football tonight. Real don't look in the same class.

[geysir]

It's an exciting game, I think RM are playing well, they are hanging on, but they are hanging on with class.

[Charlie Darwin]

They're finishing better, but the way they've played throughout hasn't been good enough for a team of their calibre. Bale has been awful.

[geysir]

RM weren't the better team tonight but I think how they managed the game after going down 2 nil was commendable.

[Charlie Darwin]

There was certainly a hint of genius in the way they sat back and asked Casillas to keep everything out.

[geysir]

Obviously that was a Mourinho inspired performance for Chelsea, seeing as they happened to win.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was Di Matteoesque in its Hiddinkness.

[geysir]

There was certainly a hint of genius in the way they sat back and asked Casillas to keep everything out.
RM saved the game by their approach in the 3rd 1/4. By the end of the game, the stats were 50/50 re possession/passes/shots.

[Stuttgart88]

Obviously that was a Mourinho inspired performance for Chelsea, seeing as they happened to win.
He just couldn't let the winning goal celebrations go without making it all about him again.

[Charlie Darwin]

RM saved the game by their approach in the 3rd 1/4. By the end of the game, the stats were 50/50 re possession/passes/shots.
They closed it out very well but I think they rode their luck far more than a team of their quality should. Some of their defending was atrocious.


He just couldn't let the winning goal celebrations go without making it all about him again.
I want to hate him but he makes it too difficult sometimes.

[OwlsFan]

He just couldn't let the winning goal celebrations go without making it all about him again.

I am not sure. I think he just used it as an opportunity to give instructions to his players as to how to close out the last few minutes as for a team which has "no forwards", he had 3 on the pitch at the end. Mind you they almost conceded on a couple of occasions.

Is he being censured for leaving the coaching area? I saw the linesman watching him talking away in to the ears of one of the players and doing nothing about it.

[geysir]

I am not sure. I think he just used it as an opportunity to give instructions to his players as to how to close out the last few minutes as for a team which has "no forwards", he had 3 on the pitch at the end. Mind you they almost conceded on a couple of occasions.

Is he being censured for leaving the coaching area? I saw the linesman watching him talking away in to the ears of one of the players and doing nothing about it.
You mean he forgot to tell Torres when he was coming on as a sub, what to do when Chelsea scored a second? or that he ran half the length of the pitch to remind Torres of something that he could just shout out or use the wolf whistle?
Now we are supposed to think that this victory was as a result of his substitutions and special whispered advice to players who are too dumb to remember what they were told to do 5 minutes before, that the whole victory was masterminded by the puppet master himself and when they féck up in a game. that's because they are useless.

[KK77]

8/1 Man U to win the match tonight isn't so bad.

[Charlie Darwin]

Atletico 1-0 up within five minutes. Barca are all over the shop.

[Charlie Darwin]

And within 60 seconds it's gone from 0-0 to 0-1 United and then 1-1 again!

[NeverFeltBetter]

United seemed to be unable to follow their game plan once they took the lead. Rooney had that amazing chance at 1-1. How different it could have been.

[Stuttgart88]

Funny how after Bayern equalised Guardiola stood still, whistled a player over to the dug out, issued instructions and just, well, stayed there. :)

I think I missed two really good games by flicking between the two and not really getting the best of either. I missed United's goal, only saw the replay of Mandukic's and missed all of Atletico's near misses and penalty claim. In short, I made a right balls of watching what was probably a great night's football.

The crowd action at both grounds was great though, and I was impressed by the Barcelona players' magnanimous reaction to defeat.

[geysir]

I watched the Madrid game and kept the Munich game on pause.
It was a superb game in Madrid with some brilliant defensive set up by the home team who held on in relative comfort for a thoroughly deserved win.
It was uncanny to see Ath M. defensive set up out do the the most attack minded team on the planet today with anticipation and sheer football skill.
Here's hoping the the 2 Spanish teams are kept separate in the semi final draw.

[Stuttgart88]

United seemed to be unable to follow their game plan once they took the lead. Rooney had that amazing chance at 1-1. How different it could have been.
That was an amazing chance. ITV commentary blamed it on a heavy pass. Not in my book. Gilt edged chance.