2012-13 UEFA Champions League

That_Guy

Get fookin' on with it.

Rekop dog

Interesting draw. Real will probably go favourites now with very kind draw.

Have a feeling Malaga will upset Dortmund.

Certified

Bayern v Juve...fantasic game!!

GavRedKing

Bayern v Barca please.

Damn too late.

Will I Amnt

Thought they were doing the semi-finals too
The 4 shortest priced kept apart...

mike65

Bayern Munich v Juventus

Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona

Real Madrid v Galatasaray

Malaga v Borussia Dortmund

for me

Bacchus

Nice draw...

Bayern Munich v Juventus
Paris Saint Germain v Barcelona
Real Madrid v Galatasary
Malaga v Borussia Dortmund

NUTZZ

Bayern Munich v Juventus
Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona
Real Madrid v Galatasaray
Malaga v Borussia Dortmund

GavRedKing

Ibra back to Barca, interesting.

Kylo Ren

Some great games there.

NUTZZ

The rehearsal draw last night;

RandolphEsq

Barca, Juve, Real and Dortmund to progress.

GavRedKing

Steve McLarens top tip on Barca & Messi.

Every tie will be open but PSG will have to defend well against Barcelona. The key thing is to create a ‘box’ around Messi with four players around him on the edge of the area. If you can defend that area, you can stop him.

Yeeessshhhh

Rekop dog

NUTZZ wrote: »

The rehearsal draw last night;

Who cares?

FatherTed

Why are Barca and Real never drawn against each other?

SlickRic

wow Steve.

how did nobody else think of stopping Messi like that?

i bet McClaren thinks he's a fúcking genius with that theory too.

SlickRic

FatherTed wrote: »

Why are Barca and Real never drawn against each other?

they are.

greendom

GavRedKing wrote: »

Ibra back to Barca, interesting.

He's suspended for the first game in the tie, unfortunately

Rekop dog

Juve are 20/1 on betfair now. That's really underestimating their quality.

greendom

GavRedKing wrote: »

Steve McLarens top tip on Barca & Messi.



Yeeessshhhh

So you're left with 6 outfield players to cope with the rest of the Barca team - tell me Steve, how does that work ?

ROCKMAN

Were the semi's sorted aswell ?

NUTZZ

Rekop dog wrote: »

Who cares?

Because it's interesting to see the alternative matches that were drawn?

ArmaniJeanss

ROCKMAN wrote: »

Were the semi's sorted aswell ?

Nope, seems they are changing to doing that draw after the quarter finals are completed.

mitosis

Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

That is certainly not a dream draw for us. Statistically we have not had good experiences with Juventus. It will be difficult and we will need to have two good days against them to reach the semis

Juve director Pavel Nedved

Bayern are one of the hardest teams that we could have faced. We have to approach the tie positively

We're the underdog!

No, we're the underdog!

dfx-

GavRedKing wrote: »

Ibra back to Barca, interesting.

He was back last season with Milan too

SlickRic wrote: »

wow Steve.

how did nobody else think of stopping Messi like that?

i bet McClaren thinks he's a fúcking genius with that theory too.

:pac:

There were four players around him as hit the strike for the first goal on Tuesday. Didn't help much mind..

Bacchus

dfx- wrote: »

:pac:

There were four players around him as hit the strike for the first goal on Tuesday. Didn't help much mind..

There were 5 around him for that goal I think. 4 is the key number, 5 is too many.

JP Liz V1

Would love a Barcelona v Juventus final

roanoke

FatherTed wrote: »

Why are Barca and Real never drawn against each other?

They've been drawn four times against each other. Twice in the modern era and twice under the old EC format.

In the modern era I think 98/99 was the first season where multiple teams from the same country got to play in the CL. Prior to that the only way clubs from the same league could play each other would be if one was the defending EC/CL holder and the other was the current league Champion. This actually happened in 59/60 and 60/61 for Barca/Real. So that explains the 50s to the 00's.

Also the modern era draw system has been designed to keep teams from the same country apart as much as possible/reasonable. I believe(?) the QF's is the earliest two teams from the same country can meet.

This means that both Barca and Real would at least have to get to the quarter finals in the same season to have a chance to meet. This has only happened six times since 98/99 and under those conditions they have still managed to be paired twice.

764dak

roanoke wrote: »

They've been drawn four times against each other. Twice in the modern era and twice under the old EC format.

In the modern era I think 98/99 was the first season where multiple teams from the same country got to play in the CL. Prior to that the only way clubs from the same league could play each other would be if one was the defending EC/CL holder and the other was the current league Champion. This actually happened in 59/60 and 60/61 for Barca/Real. So that explains the 50s to the 00's.

Also the modern era draw system has been designed to keep teams from the same country apart as much as possible/reasonable. I believe(?) the QF's is the earliest two teams from the same country can meet.

This means that both Barca and Real would at least have to get to the quarter finals in the same season to have a chance to meet. This has only happened six times since 98/99 and under those conditions they have still managed to be paired twice.

It was 97/98 since Newcastle United played in the Champions League in 97/98.

Andersonisgod

Very happy with the prospect of Barcelona vs PSG. PSG are clearly a very good side, lots of talent, really slick counter attackers and could pose a very serious threat to Barcelona.

However Barcelona stand for the sum of the parts being greater than the individual, a great academy produced team and history and tradition.


In the other ties I wouldn't be hugely surprised if Malaga and Juventus got through and Galatasaray do pose a threat though Madrid drew probably the weakest of the remaining teams.

FatherTed

roanoke wrote: »

They've been drawn four times against each other. Twice in the modern era and twice under the old EC format.

In the modern era I think 98/99 was the first season where multiple teams from the same country got to play in the CL. Prior to that the only way clubs from the same league could play each other would be if one was the defending EC/CL holder and the other was the current league Champion. This actually happened in 59/60 and 60/61 for Barca/Real. So that explains the 50s to the 00's.

Also the modern era draw system has been designed to keep teams from the same country apart as much as possible/reasonable. I believe(?) the QF's is the earliest two teams from the same country can meet.

This means that both Barca and Real would at least have to get to the quarter finals in the same season to have a chance to meet. This has only happened six times since 98/99 and under those conditions they have still managed to be paired twice.

forgot about the semis 2 years ago

Lawrence1895

Rekop dog wrote: »

Juve are 20/1 on betfair now. That's really underestimating their quality.

Strange, they are only 12/1 with PP

Anyway, Borussia Dortmund should go through to the semis...I guess...I hope

recyclebin

recyclebin wrote: »

Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and Dortmund for the semifinals if they can avoid each other in the quarters.

Well I got the draw right. Now I will have to see if the results will go as planned.

Blatter

Ibrahimovic's 2 game suspension reduced to 1 meaning he can play both games v Barcelona. Huge plus for PSG.

GavRedKing

Should make both legs more interesting now, still think Barca will get the job done over 2 legs.

Rekop dog

Champions League tonight.....anyone???

Bayern v Juve is tie of the season, only two side in the 5 big leagues in Europe to have conceded under 20 goals in their domestic campaigns, neither could be classed as defensive either, not by a long stretch. It's gonna be fascinating.

Best depth in standard in the competition in years at this stage, which is needed as there's very little else to get excited about in football this season with most leagues wrapped up worryingly early.

mitosis

I expect Bayern to take to Turin a couple of goals advantage.

Fizman

mitosis wrote: »

I expect Bayern to take to Turin a couple of goals advantage.

I'd be surprised if they took more than a one goal advantage. I can see Juve progressing over the two legs.

Barca, Madrid, Juve and Dortmund would be my semi finalists.

Rekop dog

They'll certainly miss Javi Martinez tonight, his presence in front of the back 4 has contributed greatly to the much improved defensive unit, it's one area were they could have done without players missing considering how strong and dynamic Juve's midfield 3 are.

Caveman1

I think Juve will be a lot more confident of getting a result in Munich after the Arsenal game.

Juventus seem to be massively under rated for some reason, I'd fancy them to go through over the 2 legs.

Andersonisgod

Really looking forward to the game in Paris tonight. Tito Vilanova back on the bench should really be a boost for Barcelona. Hopefully Xavi and Alba can overcome their injuries to make the starting line up.

It will be interesting to see how PSG approach the game. They have the attacking talent to hurt Barcelona, I wonder if they will press ala Madrid or sit back and counter ala Chelsea.

Some interesting sub plots and a match between the the expensively assembled PSG and the greatest team of their generation, maybe the greatest team ever, Barcelona.

Ilik Urgee

I'll be sure to skip that game thread tonight.

klose

Rekop dog wrote: »

They'll certainly miss Javi Martinez tonight, his presence in front of the back 4 has contributed greatly to the much improved defensive unit, it's one area were they could have done without players missing considering how strong and dynamic Juve's midfield 3 are.

Luis gustavo to fill in i assume? Not a bad replacement!

PurpleSt4in

I reckon PSG could get a result tonight but don't fancy them over two legs.

I reckon Munich will have too much for Juve tonight. I wasn't really that impressed with Juve against Celtic, although they got the job done. Pirlo is definitely up there with my favourite 5 all time players, so I want to see him do well, but I fancied Munich to make the final... BEFORE I saw their miserable performance at the Allianz against Arsenal where they lost 0-2. If they took their chances that game they would have probably walked it. If they take their chances tonight, it could be 2 or 3 to 0. Big test.

Excited about the Champions League final 8... WIDE OPEN. Galatasaray, PSG and Malaga would be the only teams to surprise me if they got to the final. The other 5 are all within a shout of winning.

I don't know if I'll be able to handle Giles not knowing any of the players names, and Dunphy calling players like Javi Martinez a donkey, etc

Nuri Sahin

Beckham starts ahead of Veratti..

Paris St. Germain XI: Sirigu; Maxwell, T. Silva, Alex, Jallet; Pastore, Matuidi, Beckham, Moura; Lavezzi, Ibrahimović

FC Barcelona XI: Valdés; Alba, Mascherano, Piqué, Alves; Iniesta, Busquets, Xavi Hernández; Villa, Messi, Alexis Sánchez




FC Bayern München XI: Neuer; Alaba, Dante, van Buyten, Lahm; Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger; Ribéry, Kroos, Müller; Mandžukić

Juventus XI: Buffon; Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli; Peluso, Marchisio, Vidal, Pirlo, Lichtsteiner; Quagliarella, Matri

Andersonisgod

Terrific to see Xavi and Alba in the starting line up. Personally I prefer it when Pedro is in the side, he offers a lot of balance to the team as a whole but overall a very strong team, certainly one capable of winning any match.

Turtwig

DAFUQ is Beckham doing there?

Pedro is suspended.

Martinez is big loss. Like Juve's line-up looks solid.

roanoke

Fair play to Beckham. I can't imagine there's too many players who have stepped up in level from MLS to a CL QF v Barcelona.

Andersonisgod

Jernal wrote: »

DAFUQ is Beckham doing there?

Pedro is suspended.

Martinez is big loss. Like Juve's line-up looks solid.

Ye the picking up of a third yellow card was a shame, that being said Villa and Sanchez are more than capable players. Though maybe Tello might have been an option.

RandolphEsq

Alba and Alves key for Barca tonight. Big game needed for the 2 CBs as PSG will get attacks going. Attack won't be the beat form of defence for Barca tonight, they need to stay tight.