UEFA Champions League Thread [Archive]

[Jimmy Enslashay]

Watch out for Benfica. Barcelona can have little problems in spurts, and Benfica rarely miss good chances at goal. Benfica are the definite dark-horse this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if they scrape through over Barcelona.

Lyon will beat Milan. People tend to highly underrate Lyon as a side, which is wrong. They are one of the better European sides full-stop. Milan are very inconsistent, so it could go either way. On better form, Milan will get through.

Arsenal are also in with a good chance to topple Juventus, though I really am backing Juventus to get through. Arsenal are on a good European run, and seem to have gained some luck holding sides, but I don't believe it will hold, especially against a side as good and on-form as Juventus. Though, they were lucky to get through against Bremen.

Inter should get through on both contests. However, if Ajax get through, I will back them against Villareal, also.

 

[Poverty]

Arsenallllllllllllllllll 1-0!!!!!!!!!

Hope Benfica beat barca. I need arsenal to win Champions League.

 

[livemusic]

Why, did you put money on it?

 

[El Gigante]

Come on Arsenal! What an amazing victory. Viera will be sad now, he's gonna miss the second leg

I reckon either Benfica or Arsenal will win the CL this year

 

[DQuaN]

What a great game.

Juve went to pieces right at the end. Lots of key players will be missing for them next week.

 

[Poverty]

What a great game.

Juve went to pieces right at the end. Lots of key players will be missing for them next week.

Which might be a bad thing. The different set of players could play a game arsenal arent used to and wont know how to respond.

I suppose im just imagining the doomsday scenario

Were are the Chelski fans

Didnt put money on the game but I just relised Ive grown to love arsenal so much. I screamed like a ***** when henry's shot just went wide.

 

[El Gigante]

Even though i support Chelsea, i still really like Arsenal. They're just so effortlessly cool, and i like their kit as well.

 

[Dave A]

I hate Arsenal as a rival club but I think they play great football, I don't mind them doing well in the Champions league, because they're a good team. I can't stand Reyes though, that kid needs to learn to stay on his feet, if he ever played football with me, I'd give him something to roll on the floor clutching himself over.

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

Even though i support Chelsea, i still really like Arsenal. They're just so effortlessly cool, and i like their kit as well.

I'm in complete agreeance. I support Chelsea, but I've always liked Arsenal. Henry is one of my favourite players outside of Chelsea, if not my outright favourite outside of Chelsea, and I do like the rest of the team. Reyes does annoy me sometimes, too, for the same reasons. Occasionally Senderos gets on my nerves, as does Adebayor and Van Persie. But I really do like the team.

What an amazingly unexpected win, and very unexpected that Arsenal would simply outplay Juventus. They are definitely on the return. It's going to be even harder for Juve next week, without three of their key players, especially Viera, who would be a very big help against the club he captained only last year.

I was surprised by the Benfica v Barcelona match, too. Not because of the outcome, as I very much expected a draw, but mainly because it was scoreless. I was thinking at least 2-2. Moreira had a brilliant game, and Valdés didn't have a bad game, either. Both Benfica and Barcelona should have put away a couple of the bigger chances, really. I thought that free kick was going in near the end of the game, as well.

I predict a 2-1 AC Milan win tonight, although I really do like Lyon. I predict a 1-0 Inter win, also.

 

[Mike Rotch]

That was Arsenal like back in the days when they won 49 on the trot. Effortless counterattacks with one touch passing, Cesc really came of age last night. I lost count of the times Henry skinned Vieira and the Juve RB.

Vieira didnt exactly justify the whole "why did you sell such a great player" moan, and Trezeguet was AWOL the entire night. Camoranesi and Zebina were just plain stupid to get reds.

What nationality is Zebina anyway?

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

French.

Trezeguet has been very inconsistent lately, from what I've seen. I may be wrong, but it seems one game that I watch he's at his best, and the next time I see him he's at his worst. I really do like him when he's at his best, as when he's at his best, he can be put up in the top five strikers in the world, in my opinion.

 

[Touring Mars]

If Arsenal can just play like that next week, they'll be laughing - two sublime goals, the second was brilliant, not least for the totally unselfish pass from Fabregas (with defenders bearing down on him) to set Henry up for the goal...

Juventus disgraced themselves in the final 10-15 mins though... and it would have been criminal if Camorenese's late chip had gone in... his behaviour summed up Juventus to a tee - lacklustre. Applauding the Arsenal fans and smirking as he went off (after a series of pathetic fouls) was an insult to them and (even more so) to the Juve fans (and coach)...

 

[El Gigante]

I'd love to see Arsenal win in Turin, that would be great. As for the matches tonight, i think Lyon could pull off a shock and get a win against Milan. As for Inter, i think they will probably beat Villarreal by a couple of goals.

 

[Dave A]

What an amazingly unexpected win, and very unexpected that Arsenal would simply outplay Juventus. They are definitely on the return. It's going to be even harder for Juve next week, without three of their key players, especially Viera, who would be a very big help against the club he captained only last year.

I was surprised by the Benfica v Barcelona match, too. Not because of the outcome, as I very much expected a draw, but mainly because it was scoreless. I was thinking at least 2-2. Moreira had a brilliant game, and Valdés didn't have a bad game, either. Both Benfica and Barcelona should have put away a couple of the bigger chances, really. I thought that free kick was going in near the end of the game, as well.

Unexpected results in both games, Arsenal were the better team noticably, but reember Juve have also got some key players back for the next game like Nedved and he can create magic. It's not in the bag for Arsenal yet, if Juve score in the first 20 mins I think Arsenal will be on a steep uphill battle the rest of the game, if Arsenal score one first it's over for Juve, they'd need 4 goals to win.

And yeah, the Benfica match was a funny one, the number of shots that should have been goals was astounding. Barca were the better side by a long shot judging from the highlights, but even Benfica had a couple of good chances. Great performance from Benfica's keeper though, even though the shot's could have been better placed many times, he did everything right, exept when he threw the ball to a Barca man .

 

[DQuaN]

but reember Juve have also got some key players back for the next game like Nedved and he can create magic.

He will be back, but Del Piero is very doubtful. And now Camoranesi, Zebina, and Viera will all be missing too.

As for the barca game, i was ASTOUNDED that no goals were scored. There seemed to be a force field over the two goals.

 

[Dave A]

I thought Del Piero was almost defnitely going to be back, oh well, looking better for the British if he's not .

 

[35mm]

Moreira had a brilliant game

It was Moretto on Benfica's goal, not Moreira. And he sucks. He made a couple of good saves, no doubt about that, but he also was very lucky and made - as he usual does - some nasty mistakes.

Anyway, I agree that a 2-2 or even a 3-3 would suit the score better, but it's a good thing for Benfica that they didn't suffer any goals at home. I believe that there's still a chance for them. 👍

 

[Poverty]

I hope lyon win so arsenal will have to face them or benifa in the final so arsenal win.

 

[livemusic]

I would like to see Arsenal v Barcelona at the final.

 

[DQuaN]

I wouldnt'!

 

[Dave A]

That's make for a fantastic game, you must like the idea of a game like that.

 

[El Gigante]

I think the final's gonna be Lyon vs Benfica

 

[livemusic]

I think the final's gonna be Lyon vs Benfica

Please, who would watch that...

 

[El Gigante]

Me

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

It was Moretto on Benfica's goal, not Moreira. And he sucks. He made a couple of good saves, no doubt about that, but he also was very lucky and made - as he usual does - some nasty mistakes.

Yikes! I keep saying Moreira.

Well, despite the mistakes that he made, which could have been fatal, he did make some astounding saves, which I believe overshadowed those mistakes (well, besides that one mistake).

And yeah, the Benfica match was a funny one, the number of shots that should have been goals was astounding. Barca were the better side by a long shot judging from the highlights, but even Benfica had a couple of good chances. Great performance from Benfica's keeper though, even though the shot's could have been better placed many times, he did everything right, exept when he threw the ball to a Barca man .

Well, watching the game, Barcelona were definitely the better side in the first half, but Benfica came out a different team and matched Barca very well, there was really nothing between them (except a goalkeeper ).

So. Andriy had an off match. That did surprise me. I really did think there would be goals in that game, too. The Inter v Villareal game didn't surprise me at all, though.

 

[Dave A]

Arsenal are through, well done to them.

 

[DQuaN]

Boring match. But im happy as punch!!!

A new champions league record set by Arsenal too. 8 Clean sheets in a row.

 

[Poverty]

Yes very very dull match. Bloody italians kept going for arsenal players legs. I think the ref was a bit unfair towards arsenal.

 

[El Gigante]

I'm glad Arsenal are through, i'd like to see them win it. I was hoping Benfica would thrash Barcelona, sadly they didn't.

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

I'm not sure whether I've stated this before, but I'm picking Arsenal to win the Champion's League. Go the Premier League sides!

I'm bracing for an Arsenal v Barcelona final. AC Milan were lucky to get through, and I was actually really hoping Lyon would scrape through, as I really do like them. Though I wouldn't be surprised if Villareal knock Arsenal off, as they're looking quite strong, and Riquelme is absolutely brilliant. But Arsenal should get through the way they're playing.

Barcelona v Milan should be very interesting, with both sides not looking as strong as you would think recently. I was really disappointed with Shevchenko's performance against Lyon.

Either way, Arsenal for the trophy.