2022-23 UEFA Champions League

4Ad

Haaland took his goal brilliantly..He seems really well liked by his ex Dortmund teamates...

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619572#Comment_119619572

Anyway. Haaland is like some Zlatan / Inzaghi hybrid who can stay onside.

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619565#Comment_119619565

Plus he dived about a minute earlier

citytillidie

Match Day 2 Results

Group A

Liverpool FC (ENG) 2 V 1 AFC Ajax (NED)

Rangers FC (SCO) 0 V 3 SSC Napoli (ITA)

Group B

Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) 2 V 0 Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)

FC Porto (POR) 0 V 4 Club Brugge (BEL)

Group C

FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) 0 V 2 FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

FC Bayern München (GER) 2 V 0 FC Barcelona (ESP)

Group D

Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) 2 V 0 Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)

Olympique de Marseille (FRA) 0 V 1 Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)

Group E

AC Milan (ITA) 3 V 1 GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)

Chelsea FC (ENG) 1 V 1 FC Salzburg (AUT)

Group F

FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 1 V 1 Celtic FC (SCO)

Real Madrid CF (ESP) 2 V 0 RB Leipzig (GER)

Group G

Manchester City FC (ENG) 2 V 1 Borussia Dortmund (GER)

F.C. Copenhagen (DEN) 0 V 0 Sevilla FC (ESP)

Group H

Juventus (ITA) 1 V 2 SL Benfica (POR)

Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) 1 V 3 Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Mr.Nice Guy

Yikes, just saw Allegri lost again.

ShamoBuc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619609#Comment_119619609

Bye bye Allegri surely at this stage.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619577#Comment_119619577

English players don't dive.

TheRiverman

Guardiola a complete idiot at the end of the game.

Esse85

If De Bruyne gave that assist, the media would be creaming themselves, but Cancelo, it's no big deal.

SlickRic

Haaland will rightly get the plaudits, as will Cancelo, for that ludicrous goal.

But Foden, Alvarez and Silva changed the game completely.

Mahrez and Grealish on the same team is just terrible. Slow, lethargic, predictable.

The changes happen, and they looked like scoring with every attack.

TheRiverman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619666#Comment_119619666

Grealish on any team is terrible.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619666#Comment_119619666

Foden in particular is a great player to bring on as the opposition is tiring.

Officer999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619615#Comment_119619615

Tuchel to Juve would be a good move for both

breezy1985

Seeing Joe Hart still playing is even weirder than constantly forgetting Ramos is at PSG

NIMAN

I hope Uefa come down hard on Rangers for playing the anthem.

Can't be going ahead and doing what you want?

Didn't they fine teams in the past cos someone in the crowd had Palestinian flags on show?

The Golden Miller

BVB regained their big team mentality under Klopp, but lack ambition from upstairs. They should of pushed on from the position they were in, like Liverpool after winning Europe in 05, neither built on their foundation when they had the chance. Dortmund now half a tier below the top teams, and hard to see them making that ground anytime soon.

Only for Reus' presence and ability over the last decade, they'd have been further behind. The man has carried them at the expense of his own career and legacy. We talk about great players here and there, but Reus is probably the greatest playmaker of his generation, going under the radar for years, as BVB regressed.

He'll be remembered as a cult hero like Totti but to an even lesser extent. People forget he was being nominated for Ballon D'ors from a very young age, cover player for FIFA and seen as Germany's greatest talent. Injuries haven't helped, but it's been his loyalty to Dortmund really. Any hot streak or good form from BVB, normally coincides with him fit and pulling the strings.

Vision, speed, creativity, passing and through balls, goal scoring and ability to dictate the tempo of a game. Few with the complete ability he has. A better and more complete player than Muller when fit for example, but not an ounce of the recognition or plaudits he's received. His loyalty should be commended in this day and age though. A truly gifted genius who will be scarcely remembered in the future unfortunately

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619615#Comment_119619615

He's been unfairly treated by the Juve fans. Left and came back after Juve regressed hugely. Fans expected instant success and there has been slow improvement over the last year or so. He'll get them back to the top if given time, Juve fans very shortsighted. It's i big rebuilding job

NIMAN

They let top players go too and didn't replace them.

Any team will suffer a drop off in results if the squad isn't improved.

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619971#Comment_119619971

Their deterioration has been overstated. They've alot of injuries too, and confidence is shot. Their success was built on 1-0 wins and grinding it, since Allegri was reappointed, they are performing similarly, but just lacking that cutting edge, to always just about win by one goal. Chiesa out a huge hit. They will get to that point again and they'll start coming out the right side of these tight games.

But since it hasn't happened straight away, fans are on them, and winning these tight games has become a thing in their head, and like at the weekend, everything seems to go against you. The fans should get off their back, don't really know what they're expecting, to start playing champagne football? It can be a hard watch playing that style for fans though, when the results aren't coming.

And don't forget, Allegri leaving the first time, and Ronaldo joining sent them back years. Their strength was their unity, workmanlike approach, great balance of attack and defence. This harmony went out the window with Ronaldo joining, everyone pushed slightly out of position to accommodate him, everything geared to putting the ball at his feet for tap ins. The balance and ethos of that Juve got destroyed, in terms of team chemistry and onfield performance. It's very hard to rebuild that, look at United too. Dybala, who was leader of that team, got pushed further back and his influence lessened.

As someone who doesn't like Juve I hope Allegri goes, because if he's left there and gets it right, they'll be impossible to beat again imo.

NIMAN

Apparently he is on 7mill per year on a 3yr deal, so could they even afford to sack him?

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119620089#Comment_119620089

Of course, once you've the Agnelli's funding you. Don't think the club wants to see him go, they see the improvement and aware of the injuries. The fans just impatient to get back to where they were

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619878#Comment_119619878

But but but but....LOYAL..AND RESPECT!!! Embarrasing carryon, its not even the scottish national anthem that they played.

cj maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619004#Comment_119619004

I'd imagine a scolding, and that's all.

Brewster

Be absolutely crazy and so petty to make an issue of this. It was an absolutely magnificent display by the Rangers fans ahead of the game and a great tribute to the late Queen. To deny otherwise would be petty in the extreme.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621073#Comment_119621073

Doesn't matter UEFA have rules surrounding pre match procedure and against overtly political stances during matches.

You can't just allow the bits you like (although let's be honest the idea that UEFA are politically neutral is a joke)

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621141#Comment_119621141

I understand that, and I generally understand why they have these rules in place, but let’s be honest, Rangers fans sing the anthem at most games anyway, last night was never going to be any different. The club has been praised across the British media today and UEFA will look silly if they pursue this in my honest opinion, but it probably won’t stop them!

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621207#Comment_119621207

Well if you allow this you allow tributes to all leaders including the dodgy ones. It could mean Ukrainian players having to stand for Putin some day.

UEFA will only look silly to British media and royalty obsessives but most fans will understand.

Will British media be as praising if Celtic make all the players stand for the national anthem or Paradise ?

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621315#Comment_119621315

or Russian clubs and Putin more like! Oh look I agree this isn’t straightforward, never is. Not sure I understand your point about British media and Celtic. Celtic fans and their distasteful banner from their game last night are in the media for very different reasons today. It wasn’t necessary at all.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621433#Comment_119621433

My point is you can't pick and choose which political statements you like. What the Rangers fans thought was a lovely tribute could be easily turned against them.

What if Johnny from Cabra dies and Celtic want to make Rangers stand for the National anthem. It gets very messy very fast if exceptions are made.

ShamoBuc

Rangers should be punished/fined. They went against what they knew were the rules, it's pretty simple really.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119622561#Comment_119622561

Absolutely. You'll always get the but but Celtic argument. They are both as bad as each other for whinging, but they were definitely in the wrong here according to the rules.

Brewster

Rangers will face no action. However, Celtic will face a probe in relation to their fans offensive banner display, again not going to surprise too many.

ShamoBuc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623164#Comment_119623164

Why won't Rangers face any action?

Also, this is not a Rangers v Celtic thing.

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623182#Comment_119623182

I don’t know the reasons, just read about it online. I think it’s probably the common sense outcome in fairness.

WillmaDickfit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621551#Comment_119621551

Johnny from Carbra isn't the King of the Country Celtic is from though

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623237#Comment_119623237

Doesn't matter that's the whole point of making exemptions as soon as you do it's a sht show.

citytillidie

UEFA making the exemption has just opened a can of worms for themselves

A Dub in Glasgo

Hang on, Rangers the club decide to go against UEFA rules and no action. Celtic the club do not go against the rules yet UEFA action? WTF?

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623918#Comment_119623918

ADIG, clubs always take the rap for the bad behaviour of a small minority of fans, whether it’s setting off a flair, one fool running onto pitch, displaying an offensive banner etc etc. The club carries the can. You can argue about the injustices of all this, no doubt, but it’s the way it’s done. It was clear from social media that many Celtic fans are upset with the ones that displayed these offensive banners.

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623913#Comment_119623913

I think this is slightly sensationalist! If for example a high profile figure was to pass away in France, and PSG decide to sing the French National Anthem at a European fixture as a tribute, I hardly think UEFA will be too worried in fairness!

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119624843#Comment_119624843

Whereas Rangers it was actually orchestrated by the club and they get away with it.

City and Chelsea requested the same and didn't do it when told no so it's not fair Rangers get off with it.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119624853#Comment_119624853

And if it's Putin or Orban ?

If it is some club owned by the Chinese or Gulf state governments ?

Rangers asked and were told no. It doesn't matter that it was a fluffy cute head of state who died.

A Dub in Glasgo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119624843#Comment_119624843

The point I was making is that Celtic are being charged for the actions of the fans and Rangers as a club directly went against UEFA and are not being charged

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119625043#Comment_119625043

Come on, in fairness, it does matter that it was the British Head of State who passed away. Uefa fully understand this too.

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119625914#Comment_119625914

Look, I understand the point you are making. However, at the end of the day, one set of actions is fully respectful and the other set of actions is fully disrespectful. What should get punished, the respectful or disrespectful actions?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119626143#Comment_119626143

Both.

Rangers requested the anthem and were told no. They can't claim any innocence here.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119626127#Comment_119626127

One man's terrorist and all that comes to mind.

Different people can be revered or hated in different places. Thats why it has to be blanket.

Brewster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119626162#Comment_119626162

Look, I absolutely see your point of view. Clearly we both agree Celtic should be punished. The British anthem will be played at all games this weekend in premier league, I have no doubt the league authorities were positively involved by what went on at Ibrox. In life authorities sometimes have to show some common sense, and this was one of those occasions I feel. But as I say, I do understand where you are coming from, but ultimately common sense won out on this occasion.

jacool

Firstly, there is a world of a difference between the English Premier League and the European Champions League.

Secondly, Chelsea, Manchester City and Glasgow Rangers all requested permission, from UEFA, to play God Save the King before the game, and all 3 requests were turned down.

Thirdly, Rangers knew that the playing of the anthem was sanctioned for this weekend in Scotland anyway.

The fear of saying "common sense won out" is that you are depending upon everyone agreeing about what is "common sense".

UEFA have made an error here, and this omission will come back to bite them when someone "dodgier" might pass away e.g. Berlusconi in Italy, if AC Milan were in the Champions League at the time.

citytillidie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119624853#Comment_119624853

It is not if a club now goes against the directive of UEFA on anything they can point to Rangers not being fined for not following procedure.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119626614#Comment_119626614

The opposite of common sense won out.

Common sense would be for Rangers to have not played the anthem they were told specifically not to play.