Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[Haarithan]

Dortmund played their worst home game in ages against Malaga. No way are they inferior to Man United or Real Madrid.

Too bad Juve got eliminated, Serie A's coefficients will only further see a downgrade now and we might have to put up with only three Champions League reps from Italy over the next few years..

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Yea, but you are making it sound so simple and matter-of-fact now that it has actually happened. Dortmund didn't necessarily go through because they were the superior side over the two legs. They just had two glorious opportunities fall at their feet in the dying minutes of the game and somehow wrestled it into the back of the net. Dortmund were pretty poor for the majority of the 2nd leg. They had a lot of possession but most of it was just Santana dallying around with Subotic.

Dortmund pwned Malaga in the first leg. Clearly the better side over two legs.

 

[Bevab]

Italy do deserve four CL spots though, the fight for that third spot has been quite incredible.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Juve's non spectacular style is very similar to those past great AC Milan teams that won the C-League a few times in the early 2000s. What really has showed them up @ this stage of the C-league is the lack of a world class striker.

dunno about the styles but yeah the reason that milan side could win CLs is because at all times in the early 2000s they could call on a world class attacking player in either shevchenko or kaka. even 10 years ago the talent was a little more evenly distributed though so the competition was a little weaker.

Italy do deserve four CL spots though, the fight for that third spot has been quite incredible.

calciopoli set them back a lot, you could kinda compare it to england taking almost 10 years to re-establish themselves after their european ban. they'll get back on track, I think this last season has seen a bit of turn around, italy was a bit unfashionable in the last 5 years but a lot of the biggest players are now saying they'd move to italy if the chance arose.

however, with the rise of german teams (the financial fair play rules will help them establish themselves as they're the best run league financially in europe) and PSG I don't think getting that 4th spot will be that easy. not that it really matters, imo 4th spot shouldn't really be getting into the CL from any league.

 

[Epic]

When Dortmund schooled Madrid that was the stage of season when they were looking fairly average & everyone was on Mourinho's back. Athletico were even ahead of them @ this point.

The real Madrid that won la liga last year only real started showing up late february/early march when they beat Barca twice & United the C-League second leg.

Alright, how about their domestic performances against Bayern last season and the season before that? IIRC, they were on some ridiculous 5 match win streak vs Bayern going into this season.

Dortmund pwned Malaga in the first leg. Clearly the better side over two legs.

This.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Yea, but you are making it sound so simple and matter-of-fact now that it has actually happened. Dortmund didn't necessarily go through because they were the superior side over the two legs. They just had two glorious opportunities fall at their feet in the dying minutes of the game and somehow wrestled it into the back of the net. Dortmund were pretty poor for the majority of the 2nd leg. They had a lot of possession but most of it was just Santana dallying around with Subotic.

And Real didn't exactly have it all their own way either - which we have already discussed at great length.

 

[War]

Dortmund played their worst home game in ages against Malaga. No way are they inferior to Man United or Real Madrid.

Don't think they are inferior. As i said, its fair to say Madrid, Barca, Bayern are the top three clubs in the world right now easily.

But Dortumund, United, Juventus can tussle as to who is the next best. None is clearly better than the other, especially when at fully strength. Bench strength is another issue.

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Alright, how about their domestic performances against Bayern last season and the season before that? IIRC, they were on some ridiculous 5 match win streak vs Bayern going into this season.

Bayern have clearly stepped up to another level this season, to the point where its not unfair to say they are strongest all-round team in Europe currently. No noticeable weakness even with Kroos & Badstuber (spell check) out injured for long periods.

Barca currently have a big hole in their defense that many teams still feel they can exploit.

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dunno about the styles but yeah the reason that milan side could win CLs is because at all times in the early 2000s they could call on a world class attacking player in either shevchenko or kaka. even 10 years ago the talent was a little more evenly distributed though so the competition was a little weaker.

Well of course the formations are different. Those Milan teams played the Christmas three 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-1-2, while Juve is 3-5-2/3-5-1-1.

But Pirlo is the common style trait in both sides as the registra dictating the play. And both formations don't/didn't have wingers, but depended on their full-backs bombing forward to supply the width.

Typical catennacio style Italian football. Juve need now the top class strikers to perfect it.

 

[Epic]

The draw for the semi-finals:

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid

Personally wanted the Clasico and the Klassiker done with, but meh, this will do.

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Bayern have clearly stepped up to another level this season, to the point where its not unfair to say they are strongest all-round team in Europe currently. No noticeable weakness even with Kroos & Badstuber (spell check) out injured for long periods.

Barca currently have a big hole in their defense that many teams still feel they can exploit.

Sure, but they were a top 3 side then as well, weren't they?

 

[shravi]

This is perfect. I want an all German final.

 

[Haarithan]

I find it rather spooky Barca haven't played the second leg of a knockout tie away from home since the 2008-09 Champions League semis against Chelsea. That's four long years to go with the fact that they just got "lucky".

 

[Bevab]

I found Chelsea winning the previous title more spooky TBH.

 

[Dipak]

Go Barca! Bayern are really difficult to defeat. Hope we do it somehow. Even hope that Dortmund thrash Madrid

Anyways there are CL threads in the vBookie forum in which you can place bets if you want.

 

[Anish.]

Real Madrid to win CL , mark my words .

 

[AkshayC]

Go Barca! Bayern are really difficult to defeat. Hope we do it somehow. Even hope that Dortmund thrash Madrid

Good to see a Barca fan, At least there is hope for us (F.C. Barcelona) ! Forca Barca

Real Madrid to win CL , mark my words .

They were going good last year too

 

[Epic]

For football's sake I hope Dortmund win this thing, they're probably not ready yet, but they'll never be if the "bigger clubs" keep looking to poach their top quality talent.

 

[Anish.]

Hmm,then the big clubs go down . But I am supporting Dortmund , it's my favorite team other than Arsenal . Great talent !