Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[puddleduck]

So moaning then? Football is the only sport where players are apparently allowed to call the ref what they want and attempt to influence him. It's also got the most knob-heads playing it... go figure.

 

[AkshayC]

Farce ! to say that they were influencing the ref.
How you can be so sure that they were influencing, I suppose you were not there ? May be they aren't influencing at all. Also there is confidence factor which according to me plays an important role. Like here, Sanchez claim on penalty might have lacked confidence so ref didn't go for it. So May be they were just conforming it.



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[barmyarmy]

Bayern have a chance; Chelsea don't. Thought they were woeful tonight. Poor in defence and profligate in front of goal. If they play like that against Barca they'll go down to a heavier defeat that Leverkeusen.

 

[Haarithan]

Seconded. Were tactically pawned by 10 man Benfica.

 

[AkshayC]

Probably seems to me an "El Clasico" in the final.

 

[shravi]

That was a good game. Really looking forward to the second leg. Also looking forward to Chelsea players playing as training cones and laughing at Luiz, Cahill and Ivanovic trying to defend and failing in catastrophic fashion.

I thought Coentrao and Ramos were serious liabilities today. Real is lucky Bayern only scored 2 imo.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I think Mourinho got it wrong tonight. Should have started with 3 men in midfield. They were completely overrun in the first half, Alonso had another poor game, and as they tried to counter this with Di Maria going central they left the full backs exposed.

The scoreline sets up a very exciting second leg though.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Great result for Chelsea. I'm actually quite pleased they won - I wouldn't mind seeing them win the competition this year; they've been trying long enough.

 

[barmyarmy]

It would be ironic if they did wouldn't it? This is the worst team they've had for years.
I still expect Barca to roll them 2 or 3-0 at the Nou Camp.

 

[shravi]

Ooh, ended up looking a little silly with my post up there. Like Colin though, I fully expect Barca to win comfortably at home.

 

[barmyarmy]

Ooh, ended up looking a little silly with my post up there. Like Colin though, I fully expect Barca to win comfortably at home.

Well let's be honest. On another night that was 4-0 to Barca. I thought the Fabregas miss was the worst; they all seem to be going for the Messi dinked finish rather than just burying it in the corner.
I've got no problem with Chelsea doing what they have to to win and getting lucky but it's hard to see how they can survive another 90 minutes without conceding.

 

[shravi]

Well let's be honest. On another night that was 4-0 to Barca. I thought the Fabregas miss was the worst; they all seem to be going for the Messi dinked finish rather than just burying it in the corner.
I've got no problem with Chelsea doing what they have to to win and getting lucky but it's hard to see how they can survive another 90 minutes without conceding.

Which Fabregas miss though? Both were equally bad- the attempted dink and the open goal after Iniesta's shot.

 

[thedon5]

Great result. Is it just me or are Barca weak in England, with the loss to Arsenal last season too?

 

[barmyarmy]

I guess there's less space on narrow pitches like Stamford Bridge.

 

[Haarithan]

I still expect Barca to roll them 2 or 3-0 at the Nou Camp.

So do I, but the fact that no team has overturned first leg semifinal defeats to qualify for the final since 2006-07 (Milan and Liverpool getting the better of Man Utd and Chelsea respectively) makes me slightly nervous. But yeah, can't see Barca ending up NOT scoring again, especially at the Camp Nou. Only twice have they actually failed to score this season (Sevilla and Chelsea).