Champions League 2016/17

[mistermagic]

Hell of a game that. A little unlucky not to win, but that's never an easy place to go especially for a 'derby'. One thing City haven't had to do this season is come from behind, so good to see they have that in the old locker.

Sterling is looking great so far.

You can't possibly be serious.

 

[Dirk]

Champions League resumes today.

Here are my ratings for the 4 German Teams (2 Duells with british teams this time)

Sporting Lisbon vs Borussia Dortmund : DRAW

Difficult match for Borussia without many regulars. Actually they've lost a bit of their pace from 3 weeks ago, couldn't even win at home against Berlin. But they should be strong enough to get a draw which would be valuable in the end

Bayer Leverkusen vs Tottenham: DRAW

Bayer is a team you can't predict. They are playing world class one day and the next they are "Kreisklasse" (Non League Niveau). They were great against Borussia Dortmund lately and the next matchday they made the same mistakes that cost them a win against Moscow and Monaco in the Europa League. They should have 2 Wins already but they got only 2 Draws so far. Because Tottenham is way better than Moscow I only expect a draw for Bayer at home.

Celtic vs Borussia Mönchengladbach: DRAW

Another difficult match for a German team in the CL. Gladbach momentarily a bit out of form. In the CL they lost deservedly 0-4 against ManCity (and they could've lost higher). Against Barca at home they couldn't hold the 1-0 lead and lost in the end with 1-2.
In the Bundesliga they lost their 10 Game consecutive Home win record when the mighty HSV came for a visit last weekend ( They missed 2 penalties in that game).
So, with a full packed Celtic Park and this electrifiying atmosphere it will be interesting to see how this young team reacts. They must deliver now, no excuses this time. I am hoping for a draw but wouldn't be surprised if they lose again. They are still inexperienced in Europe.

Bayern München vs PSV Eindhoven: WIN

This should be the easiest one to predict. Bayern has to win and Bayern will win. They have lost at Atletico and if they want the #1 spot they can't lose any points now. And actually they haven't won in 3 competitive matches ( 2 draws in the Bundesliga) so they are even more motivated. If they can't win this match.....Holla die Waldfee (no translation available )

 

[JimJams]

Beat Copenhagen tonight and we're all but through and would look good for top spot.
Only standout in the team selection is Andy King instead of Amartey. That presumably means Drinkwater playing the more defensive role. Tinker away.

 

[JimJams]

1-0 at half time for us. Started pretty poorly, which seems to be our standard now and grew into the game. Look good for a win here.

 

[Super_horns]

Bloke on loan from Monaco has scored potentially the winner against them!

 

[JimJams]

More points in 3 Champions league games than 8 Premier League games.

And no goals conceded either.

 

[JimJams]

Porto have nicked a last minute winner against Brugges. Shame, would have been great for us if it'd have remained a draw.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Massive win for Leicester, 9 points should definitely see them guaranteed at least 3rd spot but are now in touching distance of a place in the last 16, I reckon 1 more point will see them safe. Not a bad point either for Spurs over in Germany, a clean sheet and now 4 points on the board, they will have to pick some more points up over the next 3 games to make it through.

Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
CSKA Moscow 1-1 Monaco
Real Madrid 5-1 Legia Warsaw
Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Borrusia Dortmund
Club Brugge 1-2 FC Porto
Leicester City 1-0 Copenhagen
Dynamo Kiev 0-1 Sevilla
Lyon 0-1 Juventus

 

[St. Juste]

Spurs incredibly lucky to get away with a point in Germany, Leverkusen blew them away second half.

And Leicester will have the biggest wage budget / transfer budget in their group so no surprise they're doing well, 3 wins certainly a good return.

 

[JimJams]

You're embarrassing yourself now.

 

[DarkSithLord]

You're embarrassing yourself now.

He started doing that long ago.

 

[Dirk]

Spurs incredibly lucky to get away with a point in Germany, Leverkusen blew them away second half.

and a match has 2 halves. And in the first half Leverkusen was incredibly lucky not to get 1 or 2, especially the Dele Alli Header was a 100percent chance. So this draw is ok. Leverkusen did what they always did in the Europa League this season: They need endless chances to score. And even when they dominate a match like the match in Monaco they blew all away in a moment (back then it was the equalizer in the 94th minute, when Monaco converted its only chance of the match). Those 2 points they lost back then could cost them dearly in the end.

Kudos to Leicester City. Not many Champions League Newcomer have won their first 3 matches.

 

[G-Dragon]

Barca vs City should be great tie!

 

[Modernist]

Barca vs City should be great tie!

Can't see anything but an easy Barca win.

 

[Stevencc]

It'll be a good test to see how far City have come in the short time they've been managed by Guardiola. No one will be expecting them to win but it'll be interesting to see how much of a game they make of it.

The Liverpool fans should like this one as the possession stat will be a big talking point.

 

[JimJams]

Worse teams than Man City have beaten Barca this season.

 

[Stevencc]

True, but Messi is back now.

 

[JimJams]

Yeah but he's shit. And he played in the loss to Alaves.

 

[Dirk]

The Fiver, the Guardians' daily footy news, labelled this match: FC Barceqatar vs Abudhabichester City.

******

I am more interested in Celtic vs Gladbach today because Barca and ManCity will make it to the next round but those two teams are competing for the Europa League spot.

 

[silkyman]

Kudos to Leicester City. Not many Champions League Newcomer have won their first 3 matches.

Without wanting to sound like a curmudgeonly old bastard, the 'best ever newcomer' line quite a lot down to the change in the seedlings. In the past it's been done on your European history, so Leicester would have been in pot three this year instead of the top seeds that the Champions of England (absolutely rightfully) now are.

Can only beat what's in front of you, mind. Which I suspect City won't be doing tonight.

 

[Benji]

Got to keep a close eye on Messi, imo. He could be going places.

 

[Stevencc]

Fernandinho with the slip

Gift for Messi.

 

[Stevencc]

Barca haven't been very impressive at all, poor by their standards actually - giving the ball away regularly. Still, they go in ahead. 1-0 (or 52.5% - 47.5% for Pagnell and Bilo).

 

[mistermagic]

City have been poor until the last period of the first half. Taking far too many risks at the back, midfielders not present enough, wingers and full-backs not troubling the makeshift Barca defence (75% French just sayin'), Silva is nowhere and De Bruyne not doing much.
It got better with the Nolito and Gundogan turning into Messi.

The game needs a City goal. I'd be Pep, I'd put Aguero and Sané on at half-time.

 

[GodsGift]

Barca have been poor because of City's effective gameplan. Fernandinho's slip is the only reason Barca are ahead, while City had 2 or 3 good chances themselves.

 

[Stevencc]

Ahahahahahaha.

Hahahahaha.

Hahahaha.

Bravo.

 

[JimJams]

You wouldn't see Joe Hart do that!

 

[Stevencc]

For those that didn't see it...

https://my.mixtape.moe/nksbny.mp4

 

[JimJams]

That's that then. Good, City to come 2nd if we come top means we can't play Barca!

 

[Benji]

I did say about Messi. City have been poor.