2014-15 UEFA Champions League

batistuta9

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Fun stat I saw somewhere. Messi has 52 goals in 2014, Ronaldo has 54. Messi has far more to his game than goals, Ronaldo not as much. 2014 was a bad year for Messi yet apparently Ronaldo is superman, you do the maths. Will FIFA reopen voting as they did last year? Absolutely not.

do you think the two of them are on junk?

Andersonisgod

batistuta9 wrote: »

do you think the two of them are on junk?

No. I think both are the ultimate in contrasting footballers. Ronaldo, a freak super-athlete with great technique, backed by the Real Madrid machine that has been designed to accentuate his positives and hide his negatives. Then there's Messi, the most glorious naturally gifted footballer the human eye may ever witness, carefully honed, crafted and moulded to be the greatest footballer ever at La Masia, backed by a wonderfully assembled group at Barcelona each in tune with the philosophy taught at La Masia.

batistuta9

Andersonisgod wrote: »

No. I think both are the ultimate in contrasting footballers. Ronaldo, a freak super-athlete with great technique, backed by the Real Madrid machine that has been designed to accentuate his positives and hide his negatives. Then there's Messi, the most glorious naturally gifted footballer the human eye may ever witness, carefully honed, crafted and moulded to be the greatest footballer ever at La Masia, backed by a wonderfully assembled group at Barcelona each in tune with the philosophy taught at La Masia.

would you ever have any doubts about it or would it surprise you if they were?

they came in to my head when listening to some american guy on the second captains podcast recently, i can't remember who he was talking about but initially but mentioned barry bonds (?) in baseball breaking all the records - doping, lance armstrong - doping. those two weren't brought into it however.

Andersonisgod

batistuta9 wrote: »

would you ever have any doubts about it or would it surprise you if they were?

they came in to my head when listening to some american guy on the second captains podcast recently, i can't remember who he was talking about but initially but mentioned barry bonds (?) in baseball breaking all the records - doping, lance armstrong - doping. those two weren't brought into it however.

I'm not sure if I would be surprised but you would have to put it into context, as in the environment in which they compete. If you are to believe some reports, all the top teams seem to dope in one way or another, that isn't proven of course and, if it were true, I highly doubt Messi or Ronaldo would be at it anymore than anybody else. Of course though it's an unproven and unfounded accusation.

I think there's a few reasons the records are tumbling. The quality of the pitches, the speed at which modern footballs move, the increased speed of games, the way football has changed in its execution and tactics, improvements in sports science, the modern version of the offside rule (as evident in Messi's third goal tonight) also lends itself greatly to favouring attackers and, finally, Messi is a once in a lifetime talent whose come along at the right time, who went to the right club and has fulfilled his immense potential through his, and others, hard work.

blueser

klose wrote: »

I read if city lose tonight they will go back to being 3rd seeds again next year.

The seedings are quite often ridiculous. I think Roma are nominally the fourth seeds in our group this season, yet are on the verge of possibly qualifying for the knockout stage. Fugure that one out.

Skylinehead

Seeds change next year to league champions getting #1 don't they?

ShoulderChip

blueser wrote: »

The seedings are quite often ridiculous. I think Roma are nominally the fourth seeds in our group this season, yet are on the verge of possibly qualifying for the knockout stage. Fugure that one out.

Sorry what?
You believe they were ridiculous seeded because a fourth seeded team has almost made it through by coming second?
Would you prefer if they just put the top two seeds through without having any group games? that way this can not happen again? Or should the group games occur but always result in the predetermined group standing as destined by the seedings?

dfx-

blueser wrote: »

The seedings are quite often ridiculous. I think Roma are nominally the fourth seeds in our group this season, yet are on the verge of possibly qualifying for the knockout stage. Fugure that one out.

what's to figure out about the fourth seeds being able to qualify?

citytillidie

Tonight's games
Group A
Malmö FF (SWE) 0 V 2 Juventus (ITA)
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) 4 V 0 Olympiacos FC (GRE)

Group B
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) 2 V 2 Liverpool FC (ENG)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI) 0 V 1 Real Madrid CF (ESP)

Group C
FC Zenit (RUS) 1 V 0 SL Benfica (POR)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) 0 V 1 AS Monaco FC (FRA)

Group D
Arsenal FC (ENG) 2 V 0 Borussia Dortmund (GER)
RSC Anderlecht (BEL) 2 V 0 Galatasaray AŞ (TUR)

citytillidie

Tonight's Games
Group A
Olympiacos FC (GRE) V Malmö FF (SWE)
Juventus (ITA) V Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)

Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) are already through and will top Group A so long as they do not lose by more than one goal to Juventus (ITA) on the final day.

Juventus (ITA) need a point to qualify, and can top the group if they beat Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) by two goals or more. However, if they lose that could let in Olympiacos FC (GRE).

Olympiacos FC (GRE) would go through if they beat Malmö FF (SWE) and Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) see off Juventus (ITA), courtesy of their head-to-head record with Juventus (ITA).

Malmö FF (SWE) will qualify for the Europa League at the expense of Olympiacos FC (GRE) if they beat them.

Group B
Liverpool FC (ENG) V FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) V PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)

Real Madrid CF (ESP) have won the group leaving Liverpool FC (ENG) and FC Basel 1893 (SUI) to battle for second place.

A point will be enough for FC Basel 1893 (SUI) to qualify for the knockout stage, while Liverpool FC (ENG) must win to progress.

PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) can qualify for the Europa League if they beat Real Madrid. A draw would be enough if Basel beat Liverpool FC (ENG).

Group C
AS Monaco FC (FRA) V FC Zenit (RUS)
SL Benfica (POR) V Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) are through because second-placed AS Monaco FC (FRA) and third-placed FC Zenit (RUS) play each other. A win against SL Benfica (POR) will guarantee top spot.

AS Monaco FC (FRA) will progress with a draw or victory against FC Zenit (RUS). Either result would also see them take first place if Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) lose to SL Benfica (POR), with the German side having lost to AS Monaco FC (FRA) home and away.

AS Monaco FC (FRA) will also finish first if they win and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) fail to win their final game.

FC Zenit (RUS) need to beat AS Monaco FC (FRA) to qualify, and will top the group if Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) lose to SL Benfica (POR) as well.

Group D
Galatasaray AŞ (TUR) V Arsenal FC (ENG)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) V RSC Anderlecht (BEL)

Both Arsenal FC (ENG) and Borussia Dortmund (GER) have qualified for the knockout stage, while RSC Anderlecht (BEL) will finish third and secure their place in the Europa League.

That means the only thing to be decided is who will finish as group winners.

Borussia Dortmund (GER) are in the stronger position because their superior goal difference over Arsenal FC (ENG) means a point against RSC Anderlecht (BEL) should be enough.

Arsenal FC (ENG), however, need to beat Galatasaray AŞ (TUR) and hope Borussia Dortmund (GER) lose to RSC Anderlecht (BEL) to take first place.

citytillidie

Tonight's Results
Group A
Olympiacos FC (GRE) 4 V 2 Malmö FF (SWE)
Juventus (ITA) 0 V 0 Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)

Group B
Liverpool FC (ENG) 1 V 1 FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) 4 V 0 PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)

Group C
AS Monaco FC (FRA) 2 V 0 FC Zenit (RUS)
SL Benfica (POR) 0 V 0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)

Group D
Galatasaray AŞ (TUR) 1 V 4 Arsenal FC (ENG)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) 1 V 1 RSC Anderlecht (BEL)

Seeded Teams
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
AS Monaco FC (FRA)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Unseeded Teams
Juventus (ITA)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
Arsenal FC (ENG)

2nd Chance in Europa League
Olympiacos FC (GRE)
Liverpool FC (ENG)
FC Zenit (RUS)
RSC Anderlecht (BEL)

Kharrell

Monaco qualified by scoring four goals in their six games. That must be a record low?

The Golden Miller

Kharrell wrote: »

Monaco qualified by scoring four goals in their six games. That must be a record low?

Ironic, considering that the last time they were knocking about in the champions league they were banging goals in left, right and centre

citytillidie

Tonight's Games
Group E
FC Bayern München (GER) V PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
AS Roma (ITA) V Manchester City FC (ENG)

Manchester City FC (ENG) will progress to the last 16 if they beat AS Roma (ITA) in Italy and PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) fail to defeat group winners FC Bayern München (GER) in Germany.

Manchester City FC (ENG) can still progress if they secure a score draw and PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) lose to FC Bayern München (GER).

However, if both games end in a draw, then AS Roma (ITA) progress.

PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) must beat FC Bayern München (GER), and hope AS Roma (ITA) do not beat Manchester City FC (ENG), to qualify. If PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) and Manchester City FC (ENG) both win then PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) will qualify because of their superior head-to-head record.

Any of the bottom three sides could finish in the Europa League.

Group F
FC Barcelona (ESP) V Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
AFC Ajax (NED) V APOEL FC (CYP)

FC Barcelona (ESP) and Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) are already assured of their place in the knockout phase.

The pair meet at FC Barcelona's (ESP) Nou Camp in their final match to decide who will finish as group winners.

A win or draw will see Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) finish top, but a home win will see five-time European champions FC Barcelona (ESP) overtake them.

AFC Ajax (NED) know they will finish third with a win or draw against APOEL FC (CYP) at the Amsterdam Arena and qualify for the Europa League. But APOEL FC (CYP) will overtake them with a win.

Group G
Chelsea FC (ENG) V Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
NK Maribor (SVN) V FC Schalke 04 (GER)

Chelsea FC (ENG) booked their place in the last 16 with a comfortable 5-0 win at FC Schalke 04 (GER) in their penultimate group game.

That means third-placed FC Schalke 04 (GER) must beat NK Maribor (SVN), and hope Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) lose at Chelsea FC (ENG), to progress.

If FC Schalke 04 (GER) win and Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) draw, then Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) will qualify courtesy of their superior head-to-head record.

NK Maribor (SVN) cannot finish in the top two, but would finish third and clinch a Europa League place by beating FC Schalke 04 (GER).

Group H
Athletic Club (ESP) V FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
FC Porto (POR) V FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Qualification for the knockout phase has already been settled, with FC Porto (POR) finishing as group winners and FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) claiming second place.

So the attention turns to the battle for third place. Athletic Club (ESP) will move into the Europa League if they win or draw their home match against FC BATE Borisov (BLR), who have to win to leapfrog their opponents.

LuckyLloyd

Savage work citytillidie, as always.

efb

Ibra!

Agent Coulson

Zlatan 1 - Barca 0 after 16 mintues.

Agent Coulson

Zlatan 1 - Messi 1

efb

Messi!

miralize

Neyyymarrrghghghgh

efb

Sweet from Neymar Jr.

efb

Enjoyable match this

efb

Suarez!

citytillidie

Tonight's Results
Group E
FC Bayern München (GER) 3 V 0 PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
AS Roma (ITA) 0 V 2 Manchester City FC (ENG)

Group F
FC Barcelona (ESP) 3 V 1 Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
AFC Ajax (NED) 4 V 0 APOEL FC (CYP)

Group G
Chelsea FC (ENG) 3 V 1 Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
NK Maribor (SVN) 0 V 1 FC Schalke 04 (GER)

Group H
Athletic Club (ESP) 2 V 0 FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
FC Porto (POR) 1 V 1 FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Seeded Teams updated
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
AS Monaco FC (FRA)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
FC Bayern München (GER)
FC Barcelona (ESP)
Chelsea FC (ENG)
FC Porto (POR)

Unseeded Teams updated
Juventus (ITA)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
Arsenal FC (ENG)
Manchester City FC (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
FC Schalke 04 (GER)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

2nd Chance in Europa League updated
Olympiacos FC (GRE)
Liverpool FC (ENG)
FC Zenit (RUS)
RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
AS Roma (ITA)
AFC Ajax (NED)
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
Athletic Club (ESP)

dirkmeister

Ger Canning is pronouncing "Thiago" as if it rhymes with Diego whenever he says Thiago Motta.


Is that correct?

Hank Scorpio

Anyone watching Sky? Souness and Carra couldn't stop laughing. Funny stuff, Souness said something about G Nev getting bronzed up with a tan or something

Pinturicchio

dirkmeister wrote: »

Is that correct?

No.

Ger Canning is the worst commentator I have ever heard.

miralize

Gerry Armstrong has to be the worst, "i'm afrayed"....

Andersonisgod

Luis Suarez has arrived, Luis Enrique has arrived, Barcelona have risen again. Commanding, controlled, majestic, not words you could have used too often to describe Barcelona performances against top teams in the last couple of years but here Barcelona were all those things and more, the kind of performance to inspire confidence among the squad and supporters and strike fear into the heart of Europe's elite clubs.

Credit goes to so many. Luis Enrique deserves massive credit for trying something different, his decision to start with 3 at the back gave us control of the game, he was brave with his selection and his substitutions worked. The front 3 shone as individuals and collectively, all scored but its Messi who makes it all possible, to dare mention a rival to his throne is an affront to football itself. Credit to Xavi Hernandez, cracking 20 minute cameo, looks fitter than he has in years, the maestro is winning his fight with father time. Pique did well, Ter Stegen did very well but dammit young Marc Bartra has stepped up, the Masia graduate looked like a well groomed Puyol out there, barking orders, putting his body on the line, bringing calm to the play on the ball, this guy is surely the future of the Barcelona defense.

Top of the group, but more than that, a reminder that Barcelona are not going away. A masterclass, the kind only Barcelona can deliver. The Catalan club are on the rise again.

greendom

And so is the hyperbole.

DubDani

Someone created a spreadsheet with the % draw likelyhood, under consideration of all non possible draws etc.



Going by that Calculation Chelsea is most likely to draw Leverkusen, Arsenal most likely to draw Bayern and Man City most likely to draw Dortmund.

citytillidie

Round of 16 draw

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) V Chelsea FC (ENG)
Manchester City FC (ENG) V FC Barcelona (ESP)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) V Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Juventus (ITA) V Borussia Dortmund (GER)
FC Schalke 04 (GER) V Real Madrid CF (ESP)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) V FC Bayern München (GER)
Arsenal FC (ENG) V AS Monaco FC (FRA)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI) V FC Porto (POR)

TheNap

hmmmm

aodea

citytillidie wrote: »

Round of 16 draw

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) V Chelsea FC (ENG)
Manchester City FC (ENG) V FC Barcelona (ESP)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) V Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Juventus (ITA) V Borussia Dortmund (GER)
FC Schalke 04 (GER) V Real Madrid CF (ESP)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) V FC Bayern München (GER)
Arsenal FC (ENG) V AS Monaco FC (FRA)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI) V FC Porto (POR)

is their a redraw then for the last 8?

citytillidie

aodea wrote: »

is their a redraw then for the last 8?

Yes draw in March for the quarter finals

NIMAN

DubDani wrote: »

Someone created a spreadsheet with the % draw likelyhood, under consideration of all non possible draws etc.



Going by that Calculation Chelsea is most likely to draw Leverkusen, Arsenal most likely to draw Bayern and Man City most likely to draw Dortmund.

Did any come to pass? Don't see it.

ScummyMan

Tough draw for Liverpool.





/runs

Gits_bone

Easy one for Arsenal for once.

DubDani

NIMAN wrote: »

Did any come to pass? Don't see it.

Real, Juve and Shaktar got the one they were most likely to get statistically. But other then that it was quite a bit off. Shows Maths is not always a good predictor.

NIMAN

DubDani wrote: »

Real, Juve and Shaktar got the one they were most likely to get statistically. But other then that it was quite a bit off. Shows Maths is not always a good predictor.

Law of averages will mean some teams will always get the ones they are meant to.

I always said Maths was a waste of time.

jonneymendoza

finally arsenal have a reasonable decent draw

Andersonisgod

Damn, I can hardly believe that. Toughest possible draw for Chelsea and Barcelona.

dfx-

How many to the nearest 10 are Schalke going to go out by this year...

greendom

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Damn, I can hardly believe that. Toughest possible draw for Chelsea and Barcelona.

Two of the greatest teams ever to have drawn breath. Should both get through no bother

Andersonisgod

greendom wrote: »

Two of the greatest teams ever to have drawn breath. Should both get through no bother

I wouldn't be so presumptuous, who knows what shape both sides will be in by the time the of the fixtures. That being said, they will both be the favorites in their respective ties and rightly so.

NIMAN

Think Barca will have a tougher test than Chelsea.

Andersonisgod

NIMAN wrote: »

Think Barca will have a tougher test than Chelsea.

Possibly, it seems they will play Real Madrid and City within 4 days of eachother.

citytillidie

ScummyMan wrote: »

Tough draw for Liverpool.





/runs

Yep away to Benfica might be hard for the U18's in their Champions League

citytillidie

Its back tomorrow night with the following games

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) V Chelsea FC (ENG)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) V FC Bayern München (GER)

And On Wednesday
FC Schalke 04 (GER) V Real Madrid CF (ESP)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI) V FC Porto (POR)

NIMAN

Draw
Away Win
Away Win
Draw