2016-17 UEFA Champions League Thread

[Akmuq]

RIP the English-Italian coefficient rivalry.


@Dennisch realistically it's not gonna happen unless another country gets a couple of moneybags owners a lá PSG and City.

 

[Dennisch]

realistically it's not gonna happen unless another country gets a couple of moneybags owners a lá PSG and City.

Yeah that was something that was already in my mind. This idea pretty much destroyed any chance for any of the 'smaller' teams to make it anywhere in the CL.

 

[Brend]

How it's still called the Champions League is beyond me.

 

[Dennisch]

How it's still called the Champions League is beyond me.

Oil Money League hits too close to home for the UEFA.

We're Corrupt and We Want All The Money League too.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

It should just revert to it's old name of European Cup.

 

[Liquid]

It's interesting how the English league still dominiates the coefficient chart when English clubs have sucked in the CL for over 5 years now. Yes, Chelsea won in 2012 but it's hardly the 2005-2009 run where there was at least one English club in every final. The last three in a row have been won by Spain and two of those were All-Madrid finals, let alone All-Spain.

Take away one of England's spots and make the clubs work harder. They've been on cruise control for far too long.

 

[mustafur]

Isn't Spain on maxed out Coefficient?

England is second highest because of Man city getting to the Semis, and Liverpool making the final in Europa.

That's the best your gonna get if your not Spain atm.

Having two sides in the CL final and winning the Europa league is going to give you crazy coefficient points.

 

[Akmuq]

Group stages start next week, can't wait to see Spurs back in the Champions League, hoping to go to a match if I get the chance.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Group stage starts tomorrow, Celtic are away to Barca but they did lose at home to newly promoted Alaves on Saturday, Spurs play their first 'home' game at Wembley against Monaco on Wednesday and Leicester begin their first ever CL campaign in Bruges, Arsenal are away to PSG and the other intriguing encounter is Juventus v Sevilla.

 

[Brend]

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE -MATCHDAY 1

Tuesday:

Basel v Ludo Razgd 19:45 at St Jakob-Park

Paris St G v Arsenal 19:45 at Parc des Princes

Benfica v Besiktas 19:45 at Estádio da Luz

Dynamo Kiev v Napoli 19:45 at Kiev Olympic Stadium

Barcelona v Celtic 19:45 at Camp Nou

Man City v B M'gladbach19:45 at Etihad Stadium

Bayern Mun v FC Rostov19:45 at Allianz Arena

PSV Eindhoven v Atl Madrid19:45 at Philips Stadion

Wednesday:

Bayer Levkn v CSKA 19:45 at BayArena

Tottenham v Monaco 19:45 at Wembley

Legia War v Bor Dortmd 19:45 at Polish Army Stadium

Real Madrid v Sporting 19:45 at Santiago Bernabéu

Club Brugge v Leicester19:45 at Jan Breydelstadion

FC Porto v FC Copenhagen 19:45 at Estádio do Dragão

Juventus v Sevilla 19:45 at Juventus Stadium

Lyon v Dinamo Zagreb 19:45 at Parc OL



And so it begins, Europe's biggest prize is up for grabs - Matchday 1 has some nice match-ups both days, predictions? My choices are:

Basel, PSG, Benfica, Napoli, Barcelona, Draw, Munich, Draw

Leverkusen, Draw, Dortmund, Real, Draw, FC Porto, Sevilla, Draw

 

[mustafur]

RIP Celtic

 

[Brend]

RIP Anyone who goes to the Nou Camp

FTFY

 

[Liquid]

RIP Celtic

...apart. That's what Barcelona will do but I'm sure Celtic will show great character.

 

[Brend]

...apart. That's what Barcelona will do but I'm sure Celtic will show great character.

Original! I've never heard that one before.

 

[Liquid]

Original! I've never heard that one before.

Nothing against Celtic the club, it's Rodger's media handling style. It often leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

You know that when they lost to Alaves on Saturday they made seven changes?, no idea why, probably to prepare for the might of Celtic, but that means Iniesta, Messi and Suarez will be fresh for tonight.

 

[Brend]

Nothing against Celtic the club, it's Rodger's media handling style. It often leaves a lot to be desired.

Yeah I was just kidding regarding the character thing. All those turgid FB and Twitter accounts have ran it into the ground. !

 

[sems4arsenal]

God have mercy on @Brend been there, got hammered there.

 

[Dreadmed]

Just seen pics of the weather that hit Manchester a few minutes ago, my sympathies for anyone who got caught out in that tempest!

Edit: Man City vs Borussia M'gladbach abandoned.

 

[daan]

Cavani scored in first minute against Arsenal.

Celtic not getting beaten yet.

 

[Liquid]

Paris score after 40 seconds. Nice to see someone showing Arsenal that crossing is a thing.

 

[daan]

Ooops.

 

[Brend]

Well, this is fun.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Not the best start for the Brits then, City got drowned, Arsenal losing after 44 seconds and Celtic are getting slammed!

Edit: Arsenal 1-1, Sanchez scores!

 

[Dennisch]

PSV are completely dominating Atletico but fail to score.
Terrible missed opportunity for 3 points, or at least 1.

 

[mustafur]

Well, this is fun.

Rest in Pieces is not exactly what I meant lol.

 

[Brend]

Rest in Pieces is not exactly what I meant lol.

!

It's the taking part that counts!

 

[mustafur]

It's the taking part that counts!

Pretty much, making the group stage is basically job done for this Europe season the draw was not kind.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Good point for Arsenal...

 

[sems4arsenal]

Very good point for Arsenal, Ospina saved our bacon to be fair but we nick a great result for the second match in a row. We only played well when Xhaka and Giroud came on, not sure what Wenger was thinking with the starting Xi.