2017/18 UEFA Europa League

spiralism

One of Marseille or Salzburg in the final, nice.

Should be a cracking tie between Arsenal and Atleti. I can't imagine gunners are too happy with it, Atleti could be caught on the hop once but over two matches i struggle to see Arsenal being able to handle them.

TomSweeney

GavRedKing wrote: »

The winner of the Arsenal v Atletico will probably be confident of winning the thing.

I wouldn't rule out Arsenal anyway, should be a good game.

Im almost 100% sure they will win it.

It's like last year with Man U - no chance of 4th so a back door into the UCL.

Mr.Nice Guy

Salzburg and Marseille were actually in the same group together at the start of the campaign. Salzburg topped the group on 12 points with Marseille second on 8. Salzburg beat Marseille 1-0 in their home game and the reverse fixture was a goalless draw. I think this will be a close run thing.

Arsenal vs Atletico could also be quite close. Can't wait to see Costa at the Emirates. :cool:

spiralism

Atletico/Arsenal will be close in terms of scoreline, but no team can make a 1-0 look as convincing as Simeone's Atletico. People sleep on them a bit, if they were in the premier league they'd have been the dominant force this decade and sitting on 3/4 titles. Since the turn of the year and Costa's return they've looked very strong.

citytillidie

Semi Finals
1st Legs 20:05 Kick Off
Marseille (FRA) V Salzburg (AUT) - Live on BT Sport 3
Arsenal (ENG) V Atlético Madrid (ESP) - Live on BT Sport 2

Mr.Nice Guy

I hate that these matches are on at the same time as I'd really love to watch both. Team news:

Arsenal XI: Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere; Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette.

Atletico XI: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Godin, Lucas; Correa, Thomas, Saul, Koke; Griezmann, Gameiro.

Marseille XI: Pele; Sarr, Rami, Gustavo, Amavi; Lopez, Sanson; Thauvin, Payet, Ocampos; Mitroglou.

Salzburg XI: Walke; Lainer, Caleta-Car, Ramalho, Ulmer; Haidara, Samassekou, Wolf, Berisha; Dabbur, Hwang.

Costa on the bench for Atletico.

I'll say 2-2 between Arsenal and Atletico, and Marseille to win their first leg 2-1.

Agent Coulson

Arsenal have 80+ minutes against 10 men time for Ozil to show why he is worth that £300k weekly wage.

monkey9

Simeone acting the complete eejit on that touchline. Some meltdown.

Agent Coulson

Simeone sent off now after 12 minutes.


It's all going Arsenals way.

Kiith

And Simeone sent to the stands.

2nd yellow wasn't a yellow for me, but no question on the first. The time the tackles happen should never impact the severity of the punishment.

Simeone is a hothead muppet

Wheeliebin30

Kiith wrote: »

And Simeone sent to the stands.

2nd yellow wasn't a yellow for me, but no question on the first. The time the tackles happen should never impact the severity of the punishment.

Clearest yellow ever.

Turtyturd

monkey9 wrote: »

Simeone acting the complete eejit on that touchline. Some meltdown.

Did the same in the CL a few years back when they blew it against Real.

Quazzie

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Simeone sent off now after 12 minutes.


It's all going Arsenals way.

Both calls by the ref were correct to be fair

titan18

This ref is going to lose the run of this game if he keeps going like this. Needs to apply some common sense imo.

stryker mcqueen

That red card is a disgraceful decision , give the lad a final warning ffs , 2 yellows in 10 mins is a joke , wasn't even a dirty game

Mr.Nice Guy

Thauvin puts Marseille in front! Header from a lovely Payet set-piece cross.

Quazzie

stryker mcqueen wrote: »

That red card is a disgraceful decision , give the lad a final warning ffs , 2 yellows in 10 mins is a joke , wasn't even a dirty game

Two tackles that both warranted a yellow card. Why should he get a warning? The first yellow was the warning

inforfun

As long as it will be a Marseille - Arsenal final, i ll be happy.
Means Feyenoord will go directly to the group stages of the EL anad have a nice quiet pre-season without qualifiers.

Marseille 1-0

Captain Obvious

stryker mcqueen wrote: »

That red card is a disgraceful decision , give the lad a final warning ffs , 2 yellows in 10 mins is a joke , wasn't even a dirty game

The yellow card is the warning. Can't really complain if you get another for stamping on someone.

Wheeliebin30

Quazzie wrote: »

Two tackles that both warranted a yellow card. Why should he get a warning? The first yellow was the warning

Same stupid logic that Buffon shouldn’t have been sent off.

ebbsy

Possibly he should have been hauled off after the first yellow.

Especially with this ref, although the 2nd was defo a yellow.

kksaints

Header onto hand for Marseille's goal. Is that not a free out?

Quazzie

Oblak really is a terrific keeper.

theoneeyedman

Arsenal are going to Arsenal this, aren't they?

stryker mcqueen

Captain Obvious wrote:

The yellow card is the warning. Can't really complain if you get another for stamping on someone.

The yellow card is a yellow card , not a warning .....He mistimes the second one , doesn't chop the player in half....Common sense would be to tell the player to calm down and he's on his last chance , thats the difference between top level ref's and the rest.

Kiith

Amazing dive by Lacazette there.

super_furry

Arsenal need a goal here. In fairness to the referee, the only thing he's got wrong is not booking Lacazette for that dive.

monkey9

stryker mcqueen wrote: »

The yellow card is a yellow card , not a warning .....He mistimes the second one , doesn't chop the player in half....Common sense would be to tell the player to calm down and he's on his last chance , thats the difference between top level ref's and the rest.

What are you talking about? A yellow card is the very definition of a warning, why do you think it's referred to as a caution?

titan18

I know he wins the ball but he cleans the man out and his leg is high. How's that not a yellow card considering what Vrsalko got them for

Commentary's lauding of him is bloody nauseating too. Get a room ffs

Quazzie

stryker mcqueen wrote: »

The yellow card is a yellow card , not a warning .....He mistimes the second one , doesn't chop the player in half....Common sense would be to tell the player to calm down and he's on his last chance , thats the difference between top level ref's and the rest.

It's very definition is that it's a warning (caution)

A yellow card is shown by the referee to indicate that a player has been officially cautioned.

SOURCE

super_furry

stryker mcqueen wrote: »

The yellow card is a yellow card , not a warning .....He mistimes the second one , doesn't chop the player in half....Common sense would be to tell the player to calm down and he's on his last chance , thats the difference between top level ref's and the rest.

If someone complete two yellow card offences they should get two yellow cards. The problem is that too many referees bottle it and let bad challenges go when they shouldn't because it's early in the game.

Mr.Nice Guy

Payet pinging around some lovely passes.

Utopia Parkway

titan18 wrote: »

I know he wins the ball but he cleans the man out and his leg is high. How's that not a yellow card considering what Vrsalko got them for

Commentary's lauding of him is bloody nauseating too. Get a room ffs

The two yellows for the sending off were correct but I do have the impression that he's being an enormous homer here.

Agent Coulson

How can Arsenal pay Ozil £300k a week he must be one of the laziest players in the world today.


You would expect a player earning that kind of money to dominate a European semi final playing against 10 men.

Turtyturd

That’s a poor attempt by Griezman.

sonic85

Some really soft going to ground in this game. It's a bit depressing seeing lads falling to the floor with minimal contact

Toobz

Ospina would probably have been at City if he hadn't signed for arsenal. Unbelievable distribution.

AdamD

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Arsenal have 80+ minutes against 10 men time for Ozil to show why he is worth that £300k weekly wage.

Agent Coulson wrote: »

How can Arsenal pay Ozil £300k a week he must be one of the laziest players in the world today.


You would expect a player earning that kind of money to dominate a European semi final playing against 10 men.

Its almost like you're watching the game just waiting to give out about Ozil

Turtyturd

Typical Xhaka.

Agent Coulson

AdamD wrote: »

Its almost like you're watching the game just waiting to give out about Ozil

I'm waiting to be entertained by one of the highest paid footballers in the world.


All I see is a lazy footballer walking around against a team with 10 men.

Quazzie

Agent Coulson wrote: »

I'm waiting to be entertained by one of the highest paid footballers in the world.


All I see is a lazy footballer walking around against a team with 10 men.

Ozil regularly comes out on top in terms of distance covered by players, so the lazy tag doesn't apply. You can say ineffective sure, but he's not lazy.

Soups123

Quazzie wrote: »

Ozil regularly comes out on top in terms of distance covered by players, so the lazy tag doesn't apply. You can say ineffective sure, but he's not lazy.

Always comes out on top, it's a lazy comment repeated by many onwatchers

Mr.Nice Guy

Half-Time and Marseille lead 1-0. Marseille on top as it stands and Salzburg have yet to test Pele in goal. Gustavo doing very well in defence for Marseille and Payet is producing some lovely passes. Been impressed with Salzburg's right-back Lainer who is getting forward often and had their best effort.

Marseille will be happier but I still have a feeling Salzburg can find a goal. Always a chance with Rami in defence who looks shaky.

kksaints

Good game in Marseille. Salzburg were very shaky for the first 20 minutes but have improved since then although all their moves seem to break down when Hwang gets involved. Payet is playing very well for Marseille. Both teams are trying to play good, quick attacking football.

ERG89

Simeone in the stands prowling like a guy waiting to use a toilet

Mr.Nice Guy

Salzburg should have had a peno. Lainer taken down by Lopes. He's been great for the Austrians tonight.

kksaints

Should have been a penalty there for Salzburg.

~Rebel~

Fairly heroic defending from Atleti here, but looks hard to hold this out for another half hour. Have to fancy Arsenal to at least get one before it's over.

ERG89

All from Griezmann trying a nutmeg on the edge of his own box. It was coming though.