Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[m_vaughan]

Quarter Finals
Real Madrid vs Tottenham
Chelsea vs Manchester United
Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Inter Milan vs Schalke

Semi Finals
Inter/Schalke vs Chelsea/Man United
Real Madrid/Spurs vs Barcelona/Shakhtar Donetsk

GREAT! Is this the work of Platini to pit the 2 strongest English clubs against each other so that one goes out?! Seriously, why United at this stage?!

Madrid vs Spurs is going to be a cracker and a potential El Classico in the semi final too!

That Real Madrid-Chelsea final is possible now. Spurs and Shakhtar are potential banana skins for us and Barca respectively but at the beginning of the draw they were the two teams I think both would be happy with.

That el-Clasico semi final would mean that Real and Barca will play each other 4 times in the space of 2 weeks. Overload!

 

[Akash00]

I predict Shakhtar to knock out Barca.

 

[Haarithan]

GREAT! Is this the work of Platini to pit the 2 strongest English clubs against each other so that one goes out?!

Lol but how can you accuse Platini for that ?

 

[JBlues08]

Lol but how can you accuse Platini for that ?

Well, I'm a conspirator.

He never likes English teams anyway.

 

[Auwais]

He never likes English teams anyway.

Right...

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I think over 2 legs, Utd have to be favourites. Chelsea seem to be still adjusting their tactics to accomodate for their squad, while Utd have a different situation where Berbatov has scored lots of goal this season but the Hernandez-Rooney combo looks great. If we do go through, should definitely be favourites v Inter (if they go through as well). The width of Nani, Valencia, Park etc will be crucial against Inter in semis.

 

[War]

Nice draw..

 

[JBlues08]

I think over 2 legs, Utd have to be favourites.

That might be true given that the second leg is at Old Trafford but TBH, I think this tie is 50-50. It could go either way and a lot would depend on what happens in the first leg.

Chelsea seem to be still adjusting their tactics to accomodate for their squad

While that is true but I'm not too sure whether Ancelotti will go 4-4-2 and play an open game like the recent league meeting and risk conceding an away goal.

Anyway, I think I'm looking forward most to the Madrid vs Spurs tie. That should be a cracker!

 

[Auwais]

Madrid/Spurs is probably the tie of the round.

My heart says Spurs might be able to nick an unlikely upset but my head says with the nous of Mourinho, they'll steamroller Spurs.

Only problem is I expected both Milanese clubs to do that. Third time unlucky for 'Arry?

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Well Spurs had the advantage over the Italian clubs. Both of them played really narrow, and Spurs' strength comes from pacey, tricky wingers in Bale and Lennon. Both of them were excellent against the milan sides.

Madrid-Spurs will be interesting. Maybe we'll see Bale on the right and play as an inverted winger to take advantage of Ronaldo's failure to track back often. Madrid look much more threatening with the Marcelo-Ronaldo combo as opposed to Arbeloa, but can they afford to play so attacking?

 

[m_vaughan]

I'd play Arbeloa in the first leg because we have enough width already being provided by Di Maria, Ozil and Ronaldo.

Arbeloa is clearly the better defender than Marcelo in terms of solidity and tackling and we will need him against Bale.

It'll be great to see VdV back at the Bernabeu. He had become a crowd favourite last season. Lets hope he doesn't spoil our party though and that potential el clasico semi final clash.

 

[BKB1991]

Madrid-Tottenham is a gun clash. Madrid to win it for me, but expect the Spurs to put up a spirited display atleast in White Hart Lane.

Not really pleased about seeing United-Chelsea. we look the favorites of the game, but I would have rather preferred anyteam other than Chelsea. Was going to go for the Chelsea game in May, so was hoping we would get any other team then them.

 

[JBlues08]

Oh dear, the first two quarter finals are ready look done and dusted.

Peter Crouch's sending off was definitely the turning point of the match. After that, Madrid dominated pretty much the whole game. Spurs defended well but Madrid just had too much for them in the end.

The result at San Siro was surely one that I did not expect. I didn't really watch the match but from the looks of it, Inter must have defended pretty poor again.

Well, with the scoreline from both matches so far, it looks like the second leg will just be a formality.

 

[AfridiRulez]

I can't see Inter and Spurs coming back in the 2nd leg! Both got thrashed pretty badly...

 

[Haarithan]

A big OUCH for Inter over the last 72 hours at the San Siro , firstly a drubbing by their arch rivals before this shocker .
Axe Chivu !!! Cordoba's clearance for the 5th goal & Rannochia's OG ==
Ends a painful season of Europe for the Italian clubs .