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Yeah, nothing needs saying wrt Dortmund.
I thoroughly enjoyed Juventus v Barcelona. As you say, a goal for Barcelona would have changed it a lot but Buffon saved expertly from Iniesta. I hadn't seen Dybala before.
I love Juventus' stadium. I think they faced criticism (or at least surprise) for limiting capacity in favour of atmosphere rather than maximising seats (take note Arsenal). What a good decision too. Brilliantly atmospheric stadium and Juventus' record there is seriously impressive.
was just saying that at home last night. my ideal football stadiumQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
The atmosphere was electric. The Italian and German supporters seem to be able to keep the volume levels going all night, similar to the Turkish and Greek teams. The English supporters fade in and out at best. Even Anfield is a library for the majority of games and only comes to life for the really big occasions. Even in those they fade in and out depending on what's happening on the pitch.
Still though, 40,000 is pretty stingy for a club of Juve's size and importance. I wonder if they have the option of increasing it at some point? The biggest thing is that the fans are now right on top of the pitch compared to the old Stadio delle Alpi with the running track around it.
I missed the Monaco Dortmund game, I hadn't copped on to early ko time.
The penalty Bayern won looked very similar to the one Ireland got against Georgia but Bayern didn't have a cool dude in Robbie Keane to dispatch it safely. Great noisy colourful atmosphere in Munchen
A distinct lack of cool dudes seems to have cost Bayern the tie tonight.
Considering BM were down to 10 in the 2nd half, Madrid were distinctly cautious about taking advantage. First half was good, the second half was dull as dish water.
I thought Real pretty much battered them after Bayern were reduced to ten, chance after chance for fifteen minutes before they eventually took one.
UEFA's insistence that the Dortmund-Monaco game go ahead today was crazy. The incident yesterday - in which lives could very easily have been lost - was clearly an extremely distressing and traumatic one for the entire Dortmund team and staff. How they'd be expected to be mentally right to play a game a day after that, I have no idea.
Nuri Sahin admitted in a post-match interview that his head wasn't even focused on the game earlier until he was already half-way through it: https://twitter.com/ViasatFotball/st...34963281956866
Crazy alright. I think they should have just refused to play as a club though, instead of giving their individual players the option. That would have put UEFA in an impossible position really and shown up their decision as ridiculous and insensitive, instead of complaining about it after they lost.
I'll tell you who cost Bayern: Dunphy. Before the game he said that "Ronaldo was a shadow of his former self". I texted my friends to put money on a Ronaldo hat-trick. Hopefully they didn't because he only scored two.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Poor form for UEFA to ask Dortmund to play a day after they were all almost murdered. I know the calendar gets a bit congested at this time of the year but....
I see UEFA are now claiming they didn't force the clubs to play the game and that the rescheduling decision was made after both clubs were consulted: http://www.the42.ie/borussia-dortmun...38213-Apr2017/Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Quote:
Originally Posted by The42.ie
Maybe the lack of communication was between the Dortmund suits and the team management/players.
I had considered Madrid to be the nr 1 team left in the comp and BM nr 2.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Bayern were pretty much rubbish from the 2nd half ko onwards, even Lahm carelessly the ball away. That's mainly why I thought it was a poor 2nd half, I thought RM should have been able to bury the tie on the night. Battered isn't a word I'd use, RM managed to create a few very good chances in the 2nd half but really only turned the screw after Bayern were obviously all knackered out.
In the possible event of Lewandowski and Hummels returning, bench Muller, the door has been left open for Bayern to rescue the tie.
I get the impression that Dortmund did not make their case properly. Their bosses should have got together with Monaco's bosses and agreed together to ask/demand for a postponement, but they didn't. Clearly the players were effected but the plight of the players wasn't fully appreciated until the game progressed. Then they all start moaning to Uefa.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I was reminded of Neil Lennon and how reluctantly his fortitude was appreciated after the the time he turned up to play for NI against Norway in a friendly after receiving death threats, hundreds loudly booing his every touch and a spineless NI manager post game. Lennon still refused to give in and turned up to play in an away fixture and just stood down after he was told his family had received death threats.
Even after all that, you still had people thinking Lennon brought this all upon himself.
EL news, excellent refereeing from some Spanish bloke at Lyon v Besiktas this evening. Also he couldn't help himself from offering a genuine consoling gesture towards the Besiktas goalie after he made a howler for Lyon's second.
Not like those nasty rugby refs who just poke fun at players' shortcomings.
Soccer 6 Rugby -2
I'd agree with your pecking order even if the bookies didn't, Real being number one I mean, not so sure about Bayern being number two.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I think 'battered' is certainly a more accurate word than 'cautious' to describe Real's dominance after the sending off. Sure, ideally, they would have loved to have finished the tie but it wasn't for the lack of ambition. They took complete control, the game was played in Bayern's half and generally pretty close to their goal.
I actually thought it was really impressive by Real, they were still playing a very strong team away from home, even if they did have a numerical advantage.
I checked with the BBC match tracker to see if things unfolded as I had thought and I think it backs up what I'm saying. I've extracted everything of relevance from the time of the sending off until Ronaldo's winner. I think it indicates total dominance in any man's language and but for Neuer and some poor finishing (as opposed to Real's lack of ambition) the tie would be over.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBC Live Text
Chiellini's goal was like a defender's version of the Berbatov "just taking a lie down" volley.
After all that tricky like stats waffle, you neglected to appreciate the import of "the door has been left open for Bayern to rescue the tie" :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Seeing the refereeing decisions that have went Real Madrid's way in this tie, I am sorely tempted to put a hundred grand on Barcelona overturning the deficit against Juventus.
It was insanely naive on my part. I thought that by demonstrating that Real had at least nine shots at goal in a mere eleven minute spell, that it might force you to soften your bizarre stance that they became cautious after the sending off. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Mad game tonight. Poor decisions went against Bayern, marginal ones against Real. Overall I thought the right team went through but you'd like if it could happen without the controversy. Some day soon perhaps.