2018-19 UEFA Champions League

GavRedKing

Spurs the undoubted best performers of this week, one foot in the QFs.

PSG done a professional job on Utd and I cant see Utd going to Paris having to overturn a 2 goal loss.

Real were haunted to win in Amsterdam but will have enough quality to get through when it matters.

Didnt see any of the Roma game but they had a great run last year and if they get adecent draw in the QFs, could easily make the SF again.

ERG89

Very surprised at the Spurs result. I fear after imploding at home last weekend that Dortmund will nosedive & lose the Bundesliga now. Last night looked quite a bad result but I watched the other game tbf.
Real will be happy with that result but damn they were bad against Ajax. Always looked one pass away from being cut open. I don't know how they beat Atletico & drew at Barca in recent weeks after seeing them play like that

Harry Palmr

Ramos so arrogant he admitted picking up a booking so he could sit out the return leg v Ajax, UEFA not happy and could ban him for quarter final first leg should they progress.

citytillidie

This weeks Round of 16 1st Legs
Tuesday 19th Feb
Liverpool (ENG) V Bayern München (GER) - Live on BT Sport 2 / RTE 2
Lyon (FRA) V Barcelona (ESP) - Live on BT Sport 3

Wednesday 20th Feb
Atlético Madrid (ESP) V Juventus (ITA) - Live on BT Sport 3
Shalke 04 (GER) V Manchester City (ENG) - Live on BT Sport 2

ebbsy

After last night it is the turn of the big teams tonight.

Should be a great game.

xtal191

Lyon and Barcelona could be interesting but can see Liverpool giving Bayern a bit of a hiding.

dr.kenneth noisewater

xtal191 wrote: »

Lyon and Barcelona could be interesting but can see Liverpool giving Bayern a bit of a hiding.

Think Liverpool will go through but can see Bayern nicking a goal or 2 without VVD there tonight. Talk of Firmino missing would be a setback as well

TitianGerm

xtal191 wrote: »

Lyon and Barcelona could be interesting but can see Liverpool giving Bayern a bit of a hiding.

Down to 4th choice CB and a midfielder playing CB tonight. RB just back from injury. Bobby a doubt with a virus. It'll be a close game, very important to not let Bayern score I think.

yourdeadwright

Tuff tuff game for Liverpool Matip and Fab as your 2 Cb is huge disadvantage,
Your also then missing Fab from midfield,
I think it'll be a draw or a 2-1 win for Bayern ,

greendom

ebbsy wrote: »

After last night it is the turn of the big teams tonight.

Should be a great game.

Agreed ! Who would you put your money on ? Lyon or Barcelona ?

charolais0153

greendom wrote: »

Agreed ! Who would you put your money on ? Lyon or Barcelona ?

You cant look past barca but i wouldn't be too surprised if lyon got a draw. Barca almost let real back into the title race so they arent unbeatable

AidoEirE

charolais0153 wrote: »

You cant look past barca but i wouldn't be too surprised if lyon got a draw. Barca almost let real back into the title race so they arent unbeatable

Fekir being suspended is a big loss for lyon. I'd still fancy them to give barca a go though

Mr.Nice Guy

I'd love Lyon to get a positive result but I think they need everybody fit to have a hope. Losing Fekir is bad enough but there's doubts over the fitness of Denayer and Ndombele too. If those two don't make it I can't see Lyon having any realistic chance.

Hard to know what to expect. When they produce their maximum they can beat anyone as they showed against City and PSG, but they're so inconsistent. My feeling is Messi will break their hearts. I think Barca by a goal (or two or three if Denayer, Ndombele are absent).

Mr.Nice Guy

Lyon vs Barcelona teams:

Lyon XI: Lopes; Dubois, Marcelo, Denayer, Mendy; Ndombele, Aouar; Traore, Depay, Terrier; Dembele.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Sergi Roberto; Messi, Suarez, Dembele.

Pleased to see Ndombele and Denayer have made it. Terrier gets the nod ahead of Cornet in attack. Lenglet and Dembele will be eager to impress on their return to France. Umtiti has also made the bench.

Fancy Barca to win with that formidable attack but hope there's an upset in store.

Berserker

xtal191 wrote: »

Lyon and Barcelona could be interesting but can see Liverpool giving Bayern a bit of a hiding.

Liverpool going to go to town on Bayern and win by three goals according to RTE. Is the Lyon v Barcelona game on television? Will switch over when Liverpool have the tie won.

eagle eye

I fancy Bayern tonight. Liverpool central defense is a big problem.
Fancy Barca, they had a frustrating game the other night and I reckon the response to that will see them win comfortably tonight.

yabadabado

Think it will be a comfortable win for Liverpool tonight. That Bayern side cant handle power/pace at all.

eigrod

This 3 week gap between legs is a bit crap

Bobby Baccala

Brady mumbling along and repeating himself over and over, just admitted he hasn't seen Gnabry or Coman, who've been on the scene a while now. Surely retirement is imminent.

titan18

Bobby Baccala wrote:

Brady mumbling along and repeating himself over and over, just admitted he hasn't seen Gnabry or Coman, who've been on the scene a while now. Surely retirement is imminent.

He was at Arsenal as director of youth football when Gnabry was at Arsenal as a youth too.

yabadabado

RTE badly need to get in a few panelists that actually watch games or at least do a bit of homework on the match.

blueser

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I'd love Lyon to get a positive result but I think they need everybody fit to have a hope. Losing Fekir is bad enough but there's doubts over the fitness of Denayer and Ndombele too. If those two don't make it I can't see Lyon having any realistic chance.

Hard to know what to expect. When they produce their maximum they can beat anyone as they showed against City and PSG, but they're so inconsistent. My feeling is Messi will break their hearts. I think Barca by a goal (or two or three if Denayer, Ndombele are absent).

They're the team that's impressed me most of all our opponents this season. Very impressive. Not sure they've got enough to overcome Barca over two legs though.

Mr.Nice Guy

Close from Terrier. Denied by Ter Stegen.

Berserker

Bobby Baccala wrote: »

Brady mumbling along and repeating himself over and over, just admitted he hasn't seen Gnabry or Coman, who've been on the scene a while now. Surely retirement is imminent.

Still take him over Kevin Doyle. Not sure what he brings to the table.

dr.kenneth noisewater

Berserker wrote:

Liverpool going to go to town on Bayern and win by three goals according to RTE. Is the Lyon v Barcelona game on television? Will switch over when Liverpool have the tie won.

BT

Berserker

Bayern on the ropes here at the moment.

Loafing Oaf

Games slow to take off again tonight. Is this always the way in the knockout stages or just a weird quirk of this year's competition?

The Talking Bread

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Games slow to take off again tonight. Is this always the way in the knockout stages or just a weird quirk of this year's competition?

??

This has been a very open attacking game. Far from "slow to take off" Numerous half decent chances

Berserker

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Games slow to take off again tonight. Is this always the way in the knockout stages or just a weird quirk of this year's competition?

Watching the Liverpool game and they should be ahead. Game is far from slow.

eigrod

It’s a cracking game for a 0-0

Loafing Oaf

The Talking Bread wrote: »

??

This has been a very open attacking game. Far from "slow to take off" Numerous half decent chances

Berserker wrote: »

Slow, watching the Liverpool game and they should be ahead. Game is far from slow.

Superficially judging the games on being 0-0 at nearly half time, guess I'm up there with the RTE panel.:P

Mr.Nice Guy

Beautiful football from Lyon. Shame Terrier's finish was poor.

Half-Time in France and it's 0-0. Barca on top but Lyon have had chances as well. Been disappointed in Depay and Traore out wide. Not really testing Barca at all. Ndombele been sloppy with his passing too. Good job Denayer made it as he's been very good. Barca's Dembele looking threatening too.

Mr.Nice Guy

Immense performance from Denayer so far.

Loafing Oaf

Guess 0-0 would be okay for Liverpool

Mr.Crinklewood

@RTE

No need to apologise for the loss of commentary

Berserker

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Guess 0-0 would be okay for Liverpool

It's an interesting score. They've been terrible away from home in Europe, losing all three games but you'd fancy them to score. Bayern will be happy with this score. Don't think Bayern had a shot on target all game.

Mr.Nice Guy

Full-Time and it ends 0-0 in Lyon. Fantastic defensive display from Jason Denayer. I need to search out a comp of this display. I've now seen him produce superb showings against Man City, PSG and Barca this season. What a signing he's been. Thought Dubois did well too at RB. Lyon didn't offer much in attack though.

Barca not at their best tonight. Unusually quiet showing from Messi. Suarez went close late on. Thought Semedo was Barca's best player.

Fair play to Lyon for keeping the contest alive heading to the second leg. Done themselves proud.

Harry Palmr

So then four of the most top sides in Europe and not a single goal. Did Coutinho get off the bench?

Gbear

Mr.Crinklewood wrote: »

@RTE

No need to apologise for the loss of commentary

The sheer ****ing arrogance that they think we want the game noise tuned out to hear the studio pundits blather on is pretty emblematic of what's wrong with RTE.

Mr.Nice Guy

Harry Palmr wrote: »

So then four of the most top sides in Europe and not a single goal. Did Coutinho get off the bench?

He came on for Dembele late on but I thought Dembele was a bigger threat overall. Didn't think that substitution worked.

The Golden Miller

Lyon will fancy an away goal on the break in the Nou Camp.

I'd fancy Bayern to do Liverpool at home. They've raised their game for the occasion and will have the experience to grind it out. Liverpool's gung ho football has disappeared when they need it, either that or they're a pass short of pulling it off everytime, plus they've been poor away from home. Need to be more clinical with that ball through the eye of a needle stuff at this level. It's always Guardiola's downfall too.

Bayern could be darkhorses to win it outright too

NIMAN

I think tonights games showed that this is probably the most open CL competition ever.

There's about 6 or so teams who must fancy a good run at it this season. There's not one outstanding team so far on the performances.

Maybe when City stuff Schalke they will be the hot favs?

Kevin Finnerty

NIMAN wrote: »

I think tonights games showed that this is probably the most open CL competition ever.

There's about 6 or so teams who must fancy a good run at it this season. There's not one outstanding team so far on the performances.

Maybe when City stuff Schalke they will be the hot favs?

If ever there was a season its Citys to step up, as a Spurs man I'd have ulterior motives but the game City play deserves a CL sooner rather than later. CR7 and Juventus big obstacle though.

NIMAN

Kevin Finnerty wrote: »

If ever there was a season its Citys to step up, as a Spurs man I'd have ulterior motives but the game City play deserves a CL sooner rather than later. CR7 and Juventus big obstacle though.

I have a sneaking suspicion Atleti will give them a tough game over 2 legs.

callaway92

Barcelona's xG last night was 2.86!

Mr.Nice Guy

Teams for Schalke vs Man City:

Schalke XI: Fahrmann; Caligiuri, Bruma, Sane, Nastasic, Oczipka; Serdar, McKennie, Bentaleb, Mendyl; Uth.

Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Laporte; Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva; Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

BBC think Fernandinho plays in defence. Not sure about that. Wouldn't be surprised if Pep is going 3 at the back. Perhaps it's 3-2-4-1 and he's trying to end the tie early. Schalke don't look like they're eager to be too adventurous since they've left the creative Amine Harit on the bench.

I'll say a City win by two goals.

GavRedKing

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Teams for Schalke vs Man City:



BBC think Fernandinho plays in defence. Not sure about that. Wouldn't be surprised if Pep is going 3 at the back. Perhaps it's 3-2-4-1 and he's trying to end the tie early. Schalke don't look like they're eager to be too adventurous since they've left the creative Amine Harit on the bench.

I'll say a City win by two goals.

City should have nothing to fear at the weekend and I expect them to complete a domestic cup double this year and wouldnt bet against them doing a domestic treble TBH.

CL is the holy grail for City and Pep and theyre not far off being winners IMO bit of luck here and there and they could win it all this year.

Mr.Nice Guy

GavRedKing wrote: »

City should have nothing to fear at the weekend and I expect them to complete a domestic cup double this year and wouldnt bet against them doing a domestic treble TBH.

CL is the holy grail for City and Pep and theyre not far off being winners IMO bit of luck here and there and they could win it all this year.

I agree things are looking good for them on the domestic cup front. I wonder what Pep's private thoughts are on the Liverpool/Bayern tie. Does he want the team that eliminated him last season and which always gives him a tough game to go out and thus theoretically increase his chances of winning the Champions League, or would he be so worried that would help them in the league run-in that he'd rather see Liverpool advance?

CalamariFritti

Am I imagining things or does the Schalke pitch look absolutely massive? Must be max size for sure.

Ardent

Why were the Atletico fans jeering the CL theme tune? Did UEFA punish the club somehow recently?