2016-17 UEFA Champions League

Mr.Nice Guy

PSG chasing 2 goals and Emery uses 2 of his 3 subs to change the full-backs: Kurzawa for Maxwell, and Aurier for Meunier. PSG fans giving him stick. The other sub was Jese for Lucas. Di Maria and Ben Arfa still on the pitch despite being poor. Young striker Augustin not given a run out. Baffling decisions really.

Update: Di Maria makes it 2-2!

Flint Fredstone

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

PSG chasing 2 goals and Emery uses 2 of his 3 subs to change the full-backs: Kurzawa for Maxwell, and Aurier for Meunier. PSG fans giving him stick. The other sub was Jese for Lucas. Di Maria and Ben Arfa still on the pitch despite being poor. Young striker Augustin not given a run out. Baffling decisions really.

Sssshhh

Mars Bar

And Di Maria then scores so he'll be having the last laugh

Mr.Nice Guy

It ends 2-2. Boos ring out as Arsenal secure top spot. Paris press will be worth a look tomorrow.

That's almost 2 defeats in a row for PSG heading into the match on Sunday against Ligue 1 leaders Nice.

jacool

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Man City look absolutely awful, amazing to think this is a Pepe Guardiola team.

This was more or less their B team.
Having said that, it goes to show that
a) they have no strength in depth and
b) Celtic were out of their depth.
Had City needed to win this game they would have had Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho etc. playing.
God bless TV3, bigging up Celtic, who ended up with no wins from their 6 games. Not a place for honesty, clearly.

fryup

was there a skirmish at the city celtic match last night?

something seemed to upset the celtic crowd in the 2nd half...wonder did someone expose a union jack to them or the like??

TheCitizen

jacool wrote: »

This was more or less their B team.
Having said that, it goes to show that
a) they have no strength in depth and
b) Celtic were out of their depth.
Had City needed to win this game they would have had Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho etc. playing.
God bless TV3, bigging up Celtic, who ended up with no wins from their 6 games. Not a place for honesty, clearly.

Celtic were 4th seeds in a difficult group and had been out of the Group stages for a couple of years. They will be better next year for this years experience and contributed to a couple of very good games. In a different group like Leicester's one they would've competed for a top 2 qualifying spot. So despite the opening heavy defeat in Barcelona you're wrong Celtic are not out of their depth in the Champions League.

UEFA are getting this all wrong. Celtic are a champions team, they belong in the Champions league, but instead they and others like Ajax or champion teams from Belgium or Sweden have to play 2 or 3 qualifiers some of them starting in July. UEFA have made changes recently which makes it even more difficult for Champion teams like Celtic from outside the big leagues to get into the Group stages and instead will make life easier again for an EPL also ran outfit like Spurs for example who hardly ever win anything, who when they do get to the CL put in a half arsed attempt because they don't really want to be there at all.

A bit of honesty with some posters is needed around here, clearly.

TheCitizen

fryup wrote: »

was there a skirmish at the city celtic match last night?

something seemed to upset the celtic crowd in the 2nd half...wonder did someone expose a union jack to them or the like??

I believe there were a few Celtic fans who bought up spare tickets and were in the City end. Some of the Citeh fans didn't take kindly to opposition supporters in their midst.

Some great singing from the Celtic support last night, there was a bit of an atmosphere in the Etihad there for a change.

Jelle1880

fryup wrote: »

was there a skirmish at the city celtic match last night?

something seemed to upset the celtic crowd in the 2nd half...wonder did someone expose a union jack to them or the like??

Apparently there was a bit of a fight in the home end with City fans and one or more Celtic fans.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/06/manchester-city-celtic-fans-fighting

fryup

Celtic fan who threw hamburger at police horse

:P thats a first for football hooliganism

inforfun

PSV being absolutely rubbish in this season's CL sealed the deal that the Dutch champion will have to go through 2 qualifiers in 2018.
There was a time we had 2 group places and 1 team in the qualifiers.

Andersonisgod

Legitimately excited about Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund tonight. While I'd love to see Dortmund get the better of them I do worry that if they do the eye of Sauron (Perez) will turn to Tuchel.

kfallon

Are RTE showing Real v Dortmund tonight?

EDIT: It is, nice one!

JP Liz V1

Hope Leicester win tonight keep up their win record so far

Utopia Parkway

jacool wrote: »

This was more or less their B team.
Having said that, it goes to show that
a) they have no strength in depth and
b) Celtic were out of their depth.
Had City needed to win this game they would have had Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho etc. playing.
God bless TV3, bigging up Celtic, who ended up with no wins from their 6 games. Not a place for honesty, clearly.

Celtic in fairness did about as well as could be expected given the group and would have finished 3rd had they not missed a gilt edged chance to win late in the game over in Germany. Performed very well in both games against City and away to Monchengladbach. Big regret is they didn't really turn up for the home game against the German side. The Barca games obviously were just outclassed.

Mr.Nice Guy

Lyon vs Sevilla could be good entertainment. That's the one I'm going to check out. Lyon need to win by two goals or more to qualify, while Sevilla tend to want to attack. Interesting that Lyon's keeper Anthony Lopes plays. He was said to have traumatic deafness after having firecrackers thrown at him away to Metz at the weekend.

Lyon XI: Lopes; Rafael, Yanga-Mbiwa, Diakhaby, Morel; Gonalons, Tolisso, Darder; Ghezzal, Valbuena, Lacazette.

Sevilla XI: Rico; Mariano, Rami, Pareja, Mercado, Escudero; Iborra, N'Zonzi, Nasri; Vitolo, Sarabia

Real Madrid XI: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric; Vazquez, Rodriguez, Ronaldo; Benzema.

Dortmund XI: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Sokratis Bartra, Schmelzer; Castro, Weigl; Dembélé, Pulisic, Schürrle; Aubameyang

Porto XI: Casillas; Pereira, Marcano, Felipe, Telles; Danilo, Torres; Corona, Jota, Brahimi; Andre Silva

Leicester City XI: Hamer; Hernandez, Morgan, Wasilewski, Chilwell; Drinkwater, Mendy, Gray, Schlupp; Okazaki, Musa.

alchemist33

TheCitizen wrote: »

Celtic were 4th seeds in a difficult group and had been out of the Group stages for a couple of years. They will be better next year for this years experience and contributed to a couple of very good games. In a different group like Leicester's one they would've competed for a top 2 qualifying spot. So despite the opening heavy defeat in Barcelona you're wrong Celtic are not out of their depth in the Champions League.

UEFA are getting this all wrong. Celtic are a champions team, they belong in the Champions league, but instead they and others like Ajax or champion teams from Belgium or Sweden have to play 2 or 3 qualifiers some of them starting in July. UEFA have made changes recently which makes it even more difficult for Champion teams like Celtic from outside the big leagues to get into the Group stages and instead will make life easier again for an EPL also ran outfit like Spurs for example who hardly ever win anything, who when they do get to the CL put in a half arsed attempt because they don't really want to be there at all.

A bit of honesty with some posters is needed around here, clearly.

Celtic are not deserving of an automatic spot in the group stages. If their performances had been better over the last few years, they wouldn't have gradually slipped back to the position they now have to qualify from.

Mr.Nice Guy

Tolisso heads against the crossbar for Lyon. Vitolo hit the post for Sevilla earlier. Two penalty shouts for both sides but the ref not interested. Sevilla one was a peno I think. Fun game this, end to end.

Andersonisgod

Schurrle has been pretty poor thus far.

Mr.Nice Guy

Spurs are losing 1-0 at Wembley to CSKA.

Lyon hit the crossbar again through Valbuena. Might be one of those nights.

Edit: Spurs have equalized. Porto are beating Leicester 3-0.

LuckyGent88

Dortmund miss a glorious opportunity to draw level with real.

Andersonisgod

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Dortmund miss a glorious opportunity to draw level with real.

They've gotten into some great situations but a lack of composure and poor decision-making by their attavkers have let them down.

Mr.Nice Guy

Half-Time and 0-0 between Lyon and Sevilla. Lyon have hit the woodwork twice. Sevilla hit the post as well. Still in the balance.

Dirty Dingus McGee

The pure cowardice from Benzema and Ronaldo in the wall was priceless.

Andersonisgod

The lack of finishing is shocking but the approach play is really stunning.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Dortmund fall asleep for the second goal.

They're defence has been ****e for a long while.

Dirty Dingus McGee

2-1, Aubameyang

Andersonisgod

If I could be any footballer (Messi aside) I'd be Weigl. Ridiculous pass to Schmelzer for that goal. Prodigy.

kksaints

Terrible play by Marcelo for the goal.

pappyodaniel

Schurlle and Dembele have been poor tonight. Huffed and puffed but the sharpness isn't there. Is Gotze on the bench?

irishguitarlad

I hope Lyon score to make things interesting.

Andersonisgod

Really not Ronaldo's night again.

Mr.Nice Guy

irishguitarlad wrote: »

I hope Lyon score to make things interesting.

They haven't impressed me offensively in the second half. Sevilla have defended well and Lacazette has been a disappointment.

Skylinehead

Lovely goal Reus

LuckyGent88

Lovely break from Dortmund

pappyodaniel

Get in you slaaaag!

cj maxx

2-2

Dirty Dingus McGee

2-2 Marco Reus.

Great game.

Andersonisgod

Mor has been excellent since coming on and he instigates that sweeping counter attack. Ronaldo's 1 vs 1 miss looks costly now.

tanko

Shocking play by Marcelo causing the second goal, what was he thinking.

super_furry

Arsenal v Real Madrid draw confirmed

Agent Coulson

Sulky Ronnie walks off without being a sporting and shaking hands.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Great game.Dortmund are always good to watch they'd be some team if they strengthened in defence and didn't waste so many chances, there build up play is top class.

Just for a laugh I really really hope arsenal draw Real Madrid in the next round.

dr.kenneth noisewater

super_furry wrote:

Arsenal v Real Madrid draw confirmed

Thought they were playing Bayern?

MisterAnarchy

tanko wrote: »

Shocking play by Marcelo causing the second goal, what was he thinking.

He has a habit of going awol.
2-1 up with 7 minutes to play needing only to win he shouldnt be caught so far up the pitch.

Mr.Nice Guy

It ends goalless in Lyon. Chances were there for the home side but they didn't have the quality required to convert them. Sevilla defended impressively and deserve second spot.

kfallon

Best game of football I've seen in a while.

Andersonisgod

With the way Dortmund play and their reliance on hugely talented but still green young talents you can't help but wish them well always. They've got some real gems on the pitch but it's on the sideline where the greatest strength of this team lies. In Thomas Tuchel they have a great coach, a legitimately great coach to match any of the really great coaches in world football. He's put together a side that play magnificent football and that can upset any team in this tournament.

irishguitarlad

Arsenal and Real Madrid would be a great game and even though I'm a chelsea fan I would be hoping that arsenal stuff them. I really do detest Madrid.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Andersonisgod wrote: »

With the way Dortmund play and their reliance on hugely talented but still green young talents you can't help but wish them well always. They've got some real gems on the pitch but it's on the sideline where the greatest strength of this team lies. In Thomas Tuchel they have a great coach, a legitimately great coach to match any of the really great coaches in world football. He's put together a side that play magnificent football and that can upset any team in this tournament.

Tuchel cost them against Liverpool last year. Didn't instruct his team to suck the life out of the game and kill it off when they had the chance when the well in front.Defensively they've been absolutely ****e in since he's been there, he has to take the blame for that regardless of how good they are going forward.Their defence will probably cost them in the later stages of the champions league again.