2017/18 UEFA Champions League

mickmackey1

blueser wrote: »

the likes of Bayern, Barca and Real won't let in three.

Two of them have already let in 3 in this season's CL.

blueser

mickmackey1 wrote: »

Two of them have already let in 3 in this season's CL.

Yeah, that's true. But they won't keep on in that fashion, will they?

mickmackey1

blueser wrote: »

Yeah, that's true. But they won't keep on in that fashion, will they?

Maybe not, but City look so powerful.

Turtwig

City squad depth for centre backs is lacking. Stones, in particular, and Otamendi have become pivotal.

Fernandinho is irreplaceable imo.

JPA

blueser wrote: »

Can't see us doing it. Too many games, an immense workload on the squad. Plus, in my opinion, we won't win the CL anyway. Pep is of the "you score two, we'll score three" school of thought. Now that may well work in the PL, but the likes of Bayern, Barca and Real won't let in three.

That is not his mindset but a consequence of his style of play. If possession breaks down, City can be in trouble but if possession breaks down somebody has made a mistake or bad decision.

They have the 2nd best defence in the league and doing well defensively in Europe. What you said is not backed up by the facts.

citytillidie

So UEFA have announced dates and Qualification Changes from next season

There will now be an extra preliminary round before the 1st Qualifying Round

Preliminary Round 26th & 29th June
4 Teams
These teams will contest in a 4 team mini tournament with the winners going onto the 1st qualifying round and the 3 losers dropping into the Europa League qualifying 2nd round.

Teams are winners of Gibraltar, Andorra, San Marino & Kosovo

1st Qualifying Round 1st Legs 10/11 2nd Legs 17/18th July
33 Teams + Winners from Preliminary round
Teams here
Astana (KAZ)
Malmo (SWE)
Rosenborg (NOR)
HJK (FIN)
Vikingur Gota (FAR)
Cork (IRL)
Spartaks Jumala (LAV)
Valur (ISL)
Flora Tallinn (EST)

Winners from Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Israel, Scotland, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Albanian, Bosnia, Georgia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Armenia, Luxembourg, Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Malta & Wales.

2nd Qualifying Round 1st Legs 24/25 July 2nd legs 31 July 1 Aug
Champions Path
3 teams + 17 winners from 1st qualifying round

Winners from Austria, Croatia & Romania

League Path
6 teams

Runners up from Turkey, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Netherlands, Greece & Austria.

3rd Qualifying Round 1st leg 7/8 2nd leg 14 Aug
Champions Path
2 teams + 10 winners from 2nd qualifying round

Winners from Netherlands & Greece

League Path
5 teams + 3 winners from 2nd qualify round

Runners up from Portugal, Ukraine & Belgium
3rd from France & Russia

Play off round 1st leg 21/22 2nd leg 28/29 Aug
Champions Path
2 teams + 6 winners from 3rd round

Winners from Czech Republic & Switzerland

League Path
4 winners from 3rd round

Group Stage
32 Teams
2017-18 UEFA Champions League Winners
2017-18 UEFA Europa League Winners
1st - 4th in Spain, Germany, England & Italy
1st & 2nd in France & Russia
Winners in Portugal, Ukraine Belgium & Turkey

4 Winners from Champions path
2 Winners from League path

inforfun

1st - 4th in Spain, Germany, England & Italy

Round those up, put them on a plane to the middle east and have them play their own Super dooper mega league.


And the rest of Europe can go back to proper European knock out football where only champions play for a cup for champions.

Badabing

Very tough schedule for Celtic, potentially 8 games in 8 midweeks. Players will have 3 weeks off max. Similar to this year but with extra qualifying round.

citytillidie

Playing Tuesday
Group E
Sevilla (ESP) V Liverpool (ENG) - BT Sport 2 / TV3
Spartak Moskva (RUS) V Maribor (SVN) 5pm - BT Sport 3 / Eir Sport 1

Group F
Manchester City (ENG) V Feyenoord (NED) - BT Sport ESPN / Eir Sport 1
Napoli (ITA) V Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) - BT Sport Extra 3

Group G
Monaco (FRA) V RB Leipzig (GER) - BT Sport Extra 1
Beşiktaş (TUR) V Porto (POR) 5pm - BT Sport 2

Group H
APOEL (CYP) V Real Madrid (ESP) - BT Sport Extra 2
Borussia Dortmund (GER) V Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) - BT Sport 3 / BT Sport 2

Playing Wednesday
Group A
CSKA Moskva (RUS) V Benfica (POR) 5pm - BT Sport 3 / Eir Sport 1
Basel (SUI) V Manchester United (ENG) - BT Sport 2 / Eir Sport 2

Group B
Anderlecht (BEL) V Bayern München (GER) - BT Sport Extra 3
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) V Celtic (SCO) - BT Sport 3 / Eir Sport 1

Group C
Qarabağ (AZE) V Chelsea (ENG) 5pm = BT Sport 2 / BT Showcase / Eir Sport 2
Atlético Madrid (ESP) V Roma (ITA) - BT Sport Extra 2

Group D
Juventus (ITA) V Barcelona (ESP) - BT Sport ESPN / RTE 2
Sporting CP (POR) V Olympiacos (GRE) - BT Sport Extra 1

NIMAN

@ inforfun, think you are going to be on the end of a beating this week?

and SHOCK, HORROR : Man Utd and Celtic both playing Wednesday night yet RTE2 are showing Juve v Barca !! Fair play to them.

ziggyman17

NIMAN wrote: »

@ inforfun, think you are going to be on the end of a beating this week?

and SHOCK, HORROR : Man Utd and Celtic both playing Wednesday night yet RTE2 are showing Juve v Barca !! Fair play to them.

they will not be thinking that when the viewing figures come in........

Jayop

Yep, might be right from a football pov but given the vast majority of fans in Ireland support united or Liverpool, when they play they should be shown. Can you imagine them not showing a Dublin gaa game because there's a more attractive game elsewhere? Can you ****. If neither those are on they should show the other more popular teams.

GavRedKing

NIMAN wrote: »

@ inforfun, think you are going to be on the end of a beating this week?

and SHOCK, HORROR : Man Utd and Celtic both playing Wednesday night yet RTE2 are showing Juve v Barca !! Fair play to them.

They showed Dortmund v Madrid in the early rounds too. It makes a welcome change watching a CL game on Irish TV that isnt Celtic/Utd/Pool.

inforfun

NIMAN wrote: »

@ inforfun, think you are going to be on the end of a beating this week?

and SHOCK, HORROR : Man Utd and Celtic both playing Wednesday night yet RTE2 are showing Juve v Barca !! Fair play to them.

All depends what City put on the pitch how bad it will be.

But no matter what, 5000 traveled to support them so the pubs will have a decent night.

GavRedKing

Monaco, Dortmund and Atletico are 90 mins away from failing to get out off the group stages.

GreNoLi

Porto take the lead at besiktas, well worked free.

GreNoLi

Besiktas equalise, need a point to qualify.

GreNoLi

Besiktas qualify for knockout phase.

Mr.Nice Guy

I was hoping Besiktas would get something from the game with Porto. It gives Monaco a glimmer of hope for qualifying to the next stage. They need to beat Leipzig tonight to keep their hopes alive.

GreNoLi

Firmino puts pool ahead in second minute.

KERSPLAT!

Good start for Liverpool

Mr.Nice Guy

Monaco 1-0 down. Jemerson O.G.

dfx-

Looks like a very soft, slow pitch in Seville, like it's absorbing the bounce.

Mr.Nice Guy

2-0 to Leipzig. Werner with the goal. Monaco all over the place defensively. Jemerson who scored the O.G. for the first goal gave the ball away.

Lackey

Liverpool saved by the post ......
Jesus second near miss as I type

GreNoLi

Good save Karius, liverpool have both of Africa's best players.

GreNoLi

Good game, chances galore, should be 2-2.

GreNoLi

LOL, carbon copy as McManaman says, pool two up.

DJIMI TRARORE

It's hilarious,both teams forgetting how to defend

niallo27

Liverpool dark horses for the champions league. You would fancy them to beat anyone on their day.

DJIMI TRARORE

I'm not prone to exaggeration,but this could finish 10-8

GreNoLi

Spartak really missed a trick in the early kick off.

Mr.Nice Guy

Leipzig have a penalty. Falcao with the foul.

And it's 3-0. Werner smashes it home.

GreNoLi

Sevilla representing la liga to the max, game over after half an hour.

GavRedKing

niallo27 wrote: »

Liverpool dark horses for the champions league. You would fancy them to beat anyone on their day.

With the way they defend, no hope.

They can beat anyone with the attack but the other end will get torn apart by a good side in the latter stages.

GavRedKing

Monaco will struggle to finish 3rd at this stage. Theyve been useless.

Mr.Nice Guy

Falcao scores. Nice header. 3-1 now to Leipzig.

Mr.Nice Guy

Naby Keita scores for Leipzig. 4-1. Oh Monaco. Keita made a mockery of Glik with that goal. 60 seconds or so between those goals.

niallo27

GavRedKing wrote: »

With the way they defend, no hope.

They can beat anyone with the attack but the other end will get torn apart by a good side in the latter stages.

The top teams didn't tear them apart last year in the league. Chelsea won't tear them apart Saturday. Their defensive woes are exaggerated hugely sometimes. Only 1 conceded at home all season in the league.

irishman86

Ronaldo giving Benzema the easiest goal of his career

Berserker

niallo27 wrote: »

Liverpool dark horses for the champions league. You would fancy them to beat anyone on their day.

This year could be their year!

niallo27

Berserker wrote: »

This year could be their year!

Hopefully hopefully.

KaiserGunner

niallo27 wrote: »

The top teams didn't tear them apart last year in the league. Chelsea won't tear them apart Saturday. Their defensive woes are exaggerated hugely sometimes. Only 1 conceded at home all season in the league.

Yeah but this season Spurs and Man City tore Liverpool apart. I do agree though, Liverpool could be a dark horse for the champions league, but ultimately will fall short with the defensive play and poor goalkeepers.

GavRedKing

niallo27 wrote: »

The top teams didn't tear them apart last year in the league. Chelsea won't tear them apart Saturday. Their defensive woes are exaggerated hugely sometimes. Only 1 conceded at home all season in the league.

You said darkhorses, so ill agree on that but theres about 6, 7 other teams id put ahead of Liverpool for winning the CL, including 3 English sides, the English sides, for clarity, would also be outsiders IMO.

City are the best equipped.

Chelsea wont bate them, Id fear an easy Pool win given the circumstances around the game.

Theres also a gulf between the best in Europe and the best in England, the best in England already walked through Pool 5-0.

It is better for the PL as a whole that 5 of the sides get through, should see one of the sides get to the semi finals if they get a favourable draw.

batistuta9

ac jimbo: apoel playing like lemons :pac:

fyfe79

GavRedKing wrote: »

You said darkhorses, so ill agree on that but theres about 6, 7 other teams id put ahead of Liverpool for winning the CL, including 3 English sides, the English sides, for clarity, would also be outsiders IMO.

City are the best equipped.

Chelsea wont bate them, Id fear an easy Pool win given the circumstances around the game.

Theres also a gulf between the best in Europe and the best in England, the best in England already walked through Pool 5-0.

It is better for the PL as a whole that 5 of the sides get through, should see one of the sides get to the semi finals if they get a favourable draw.

Would City and Chelsea be outsiders? I'd have Spurs and Pool as real outsiders (ie. not going to win it). Utd, who knows. But nobody would be surprised if City or Chelsea won the thing.

Hmm, maybe I read that wrong. You mentioned 3 English sides, so perhaps you're excluding City and Chelsea.... carry on....

WoollyRedHat

I think Sevilla are intentionally trying to propel themselves back to the Europa League.

ERG89

Dortmund & Liverpool both concede in rapid succession. Meanwhile water is still wet.

DJIMI TRARORE

Next 10mins will be fun,pool could collapse

GavRedKing

fyfe79 wrote: »

Would City and Chelsea be outsiders? I'd have Spurs and Pool as real outsiders (ie. not going to win it). Utd, who knows. But nobody would be surprised if City or Chelsea won the thing.

Hmm, maybe I read that wrong. You mentioned 3 English sides, so perhaps you're excluding City and Chelsea.... carry on....

I meant that city, utd and chelsea would have better chance at winning it compared to Liverpool.

I dont think any of the 5 English sides will win it but I think City will have the best tilt at it.

I dont think Chelsea will win it anyway, we're still short of quality.