2023-24 UEFA Champions League

The Golden Miller

Jaysus, I was way off with Atleti. Still, Pep undone again by, not the best defensive team, but by a good workmanlike team. Serious limitations to his style, and when there are good defensive and workmanlike teams, will always get found out when it matters

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122036665#Comment_122036665

I'm delighted Madrid won but they were blessed. City were by far the better team and just couldn't find the net. It could easily have been 3 or 4-1 on the night.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122036897#Comment_122036897

Nothing makes me happier than when Pep loses a game after controlling it all match and having all the possession.

TheCitizen

why do Man City fans sing hey Jude from the Liverpool band? What’s that about

TheCitizen

1968 when it was released City won the second division. Google is your friend

theoneeyedman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122036897#Comment_122036897

I think what they need I'd MORE central defenders, 4 or 5 big, defensive players is obviously not enough.

As I said yesterday, for all their possession, they didn't endanger the Real goal all that much, and a slip from the otherwise excellent Ruddiger gifts them the goal they did get.

golfball37

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037345#Comment_122037345

City were champions of England in 1968?

NIMAN

Lunin made about 15 saves, but they were all comfortable saves.

For all the possession, City didn't trouble madrid that much when you look at it from dangerous chances.

IncognitoMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037345#Comment_122037345

It's actually in hommage to the first European cup won by Manchester Utd in 1968 😂

DvB

Looking at the highlights, for me City looked far more of a threat when Grealish was taken off. He might be a fine player but he's awful for slowing down the play & looking for free kicks (borderline cheating most of the time IMO) and I'm not sure he suits peps system to be honest.

IncognitoMan

City have failed to beat a few sides over the years in Europe when they are well drilled and organized. Real aren't even a team that has a lot of practice playing this way but they do have the players to hurt anyone on the break so are always dangerous even when sitting back.

Real had a plan and worked it brilliantly. Calculated risk is what I would call it. You'll won't stop City (or any really good football side) from ever getting a shot. So accepting they will have chances you can make sure the quality and time they have to take those shots is as little as possible.

It will require some luck, a lot of ties in Europe require an element of luck. It's the nature of a cup competition. On another night City could have had everything go right for them and they walk into the Semi-finals.

munchkin_utd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034017#Comment_122034017

and looking at the results Man Utd and Newcastle are specifically to blame because if they had not shockingly come last in their groups, they would have got a bonus for proceeding to the next round albeit in the Europa league, and then more points if they got some draws and wins against relatively easy opposition.

Newcastle had a rather hard group so could be excused (although if the english logic is right that Paris and Dortmund are from inferior sub par worthless leagues with no proper game practice, an English team worth a billion euro should have been beating them off the field, you would have thought) but Utd managed to come last in a group with Copenhagen and Galatasary which is inexcusable. Even if they just drew their home game to Galatasary, and them winning 2-1 with 20 minutes to go, they would have gotten 3rd and entry to the Europa league and England likely an extra champions league place as a result.

Donkeys.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037387#Comment_122037387

They won the second division now called the championship and Hey Jude was the popular song at the time

Suvarnabhumi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037623#Comment_122037623

In '68 the won the 1st division, now known as the Premier League. It was also the last time they won it without cheating.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037668#Comment_122037668

you’re right had to google again there. 1967/68 was their second first division/EPL title. Franny Lee Mike Summerbee et al

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037605#Comment_122037605

Yeah Man United were shocking considering the group they were in. Plus how they repeatedly threw away leads. It was funny to watch at how mentally fragile they are/were. No real fight/organisation.

The fact that the younger home grown lads McTominay, Mainoo stood up since should put the “high profile names” to shame. Garrnacho although not home grown did brilliant since he came in.

I think a lot of those Man United players that are in that side for a long time were too comfortable.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037471#Comment_122037471

Lunin made four incredible saves.

IncognitoMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037769#Comment_122037769

You might be shocked to find out that Scott McTominay is 27 years old… Home grown yes, but he is a senior member of the squad now.

Bang on with the rest of it though. It's as fragile a group of players as they come

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122038594#Comment_122038594

Jayus, is he that old? I thought he was around 23 ish!

IncognitoMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122038600#Comment_122038600

Yeah him and Rashford (26) are ones that everyone seems to still think of as young progressing players but the truth is they are in their "prime" now basically with years of experience behind them.

Scott is closing in on 200 Utd appearances and Rashford is closing in on 300.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122037345#Comment_122037345

Perhaps Google isn’t your friend given recent reports. I digress.

citytillidie

Semi-Final 1st Legs (20:00 Kick-offs)
Tuesday 30th April
FC Bayern München (GER) V Real Madrid CF (ESP) - Live on TNT Sports 1 / RTE Two

Wednesday 1st May
Borussia Dortmund (GER) V Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) - Live on TNT Sports 1 / Virgin Media Two

munchkin_utd

yea, champions league is on tonight but with the English media almost ignoring it, boards users seem to be uninterested too.

eagle eye

I'll be watching it. Hoping for a Real Vs Dortmund final.

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081113#Comment_122081113

Around the dinner table today at work, when I said "should be a good game tonight ", a Liverpool fan replied, "why who is playing".

Sums up epl fans. Nothing exists outside of the epl.

CalamariFritti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081262#Comment_122081262

Wouldn't be saying that if they were in it :)

Infoseeker1975

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081262#Comment_122081262

It is always about Liverpool:)

munchkin_utd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081694#Comment_122081694

Sure they couldnt even get motivated to play Atalanta at home in the Europa cup. European specialists me hole - but if they had got to Dublin for the final it would have been the most important game of the year in any competition international or club, obviously. (its still only the europa cup, even if your favourite team or trainer is in it or wins it)

Anyhow, yea, on paper and with the traditional help of the ref / "rub of the green" Real would be considered favourites both today and over the 2 legs but if Bayern can stay reasonably solid in defence and avoid rash challenges that only against Real you get frees/ penos awarded or lads sent off for, they could overcome Real. Theres enough world cup and Champions league winners in Bayern to not be too intimidated coming up against Real/ Uefa

On the other side, jesus, Dortmund are so inconsistent this year that you wouldnt fancy them, but if you were to ask that there liverpool fan from the dinner table they would tell you that teams foundering about in the league not having won it for decades can still make a run to a very unexpected Champions league final if not title.

CalamariFritti

If it had been City I would have been very worried for it to be a one sided affair. But Real is something Bayern has done before and can do again. They wouldnt be afraid of them for sure. Come on Bayern!

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081942#Comment_122081942

Overcome Real/uefa. Yeah it's all a fix, sure that's the only reason they win so many CLs.

Or perhaps its Franco doing it.

Infoseeker1975

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081942#Comment_122081942

Atalanta were the better team so deserved to go through. You have serious issues with Liverpool:)

~Rebel~

should be a fun match. Think Real will take the tie comfortably enough overall with the second leg in Madrid, but I could see tonight’s game being tight enough.

Fitz*

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081942#Comment_122081942

Are you from Sligo by any chance?!

Fitz*

Very little coverage of the CL semi finals in the English media. You wouldn't know they are on. Tbf, there's been feck all coverage in the Irish media either.

Damien360

Anyone know if the Livescore app is restricted in NI ? Away for the night. It won't be showing the game but directs me to TNT via discovery plus.

y0ssar1an22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122082290#Comment_122082290

sky have always been crap at reporting on games they do not have.

y0ssar1an22

torn on who i want to win tonight, prob just leaning bayern. real have won it enough and have a dodgy enough past. but i cant stand kane.

on the other side, dortmund.

sligeach

Bayern should be 1-0 up in under a minute. Tame enough finish by Sane, keeper saves it.

~Rebel~

I'd like a narrow Bayern win for tonight - think Real will definitely win in Madrid, so Bayern need to be going there with something to hold onto to keep it alive and exciting.

Pipmae

Leandro Trossard reffing the Bayern v Real Madrid game. 😉

y0ssar1an22

the constant circle jerk over bellingham is annoying. he has a long way to go before you can compare him to zidane.

y0ssar1an22

vini junior, 1-0

breezy1985

Very old school Carlito goal. 00's Milan style.

retalivity

That is criminal by Dier & mainly Kim, leaving that much space in the middle

golfball37

some pass

ShamoBuc

Keeper really should have come for that.

castletownman

Good work from the cameraman picking up the hot women in the crowd.

Reminds me of the specific thread for one of Euros on here back in the glory days.

Damien360

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122083033#Comment_122083033

Twice in a few minutes to the same two women.

Damien360

What's Kane's usual role in Bayern. He is playing almost midfield tonight, very deep and recycling the ball.

Real are very calm under pressure and seem happy to let Bayern have the ball in their own half. Bayern pressed deep for about 25 mins and then stopped.

Tuchel is incredibly animated on the sideline.

Surely the tackle on Bellingham in the last few mins should have been a sending off as it was last man and a clear goal scoring chance. Poor free kick off Kane resulted.

Acosta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122082952#Comment_122082952

Kim has been a disappointment this season. Expected a lot more from him