UEFA Champions League Thread [Archive]

[Dennisch]

That's it for Arsenal.

 

[lxmmy]

2-0. So unlucky, just two lapses of concentration and bang we get punished. Even though the 2 goal deficit, I'm happy that Arsenal showed up and created numerous opportunities plus the defence coped with the trio for most of the game. Just got to go for it at the Nou Camp.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Arsenal refuse to be outbantered. Decent performance today, outdone by stupid marking for the 1st goal and I'm not going to even talk about the second.

 

[lxmmy]

Arsenal refuse to be outbantered. Decent performance today, outdone by stupid marking for the 1st goal and I'm not going to even talk about the second.

Didn't even know the reason for bringing on Flamini. Coquelin put in a good performance.

Juventus-Bayern draw 2-2.

Pique misses next leg.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Unlucky Arsenal, they did pretty well.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Didn't even know the reason for bringing on Flamini. Coquelin put in a good performance.

Juventus-Bayern draw 2-2.

Pique misses next leg.

To concede the Penalty to knock us out to focus on the double. Tactical Genius by Arsene

 

[Liquid]

Pique misses next leg.

Yeah, that's a small crumb of comfort given that all Arsenal have to do is beat Barcelona 3-0 at Camp Nou.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Yeah, that's a small crumb of comfort given that all Arsenal have to do is beat Barcelona 3-0 at Camp Nou.

Piece of cake.

 

[lxmmy]

Bartra, Mathieu or Vermaelen are all capable centre backs still to replace Pique.....

 

[Dennisch]

Yeah, that's a small crumb of comfort given that all Arsenal have to do is beat Barcelona 3-0 at Camp Nou.

Pique took that card on purpose. It's 0-2 and he has a yellow under his belt. What to do, what to do. I know! I'm gonna kick that guy down, take a card, sit out a pointless game, and go fresh to the next round!

 

[lxmmy]

Pique took that card on purpose. It's 0-2 and he has a yellow under his belt. What to do, what to do. I know! I'm gonna kick that guy down, take a card, sit out a pointless game, and go fresh to the next round!

I don't think going fresh into the next game was his sole idea but just to get rid of the yellow card hanging over his head so if they proceed then he doesn't miss an important leg with the likes of Bayern or Juventus. And how is a second leg against Arsenal a pointless game?

 

[Dennisch]

I don't think going fresh into the next game was his sole idea but just to get rid of the yellow card hanging over his head so if they proceed then he doesn't miss an important leg with the likes of Bayern or Juventus. And how is a second leg against Arsenal a pointless game?

He's going fresh into the next round. If Barca loses or play a draw in the first leg, and the outcome for the second leg is uncertain, they may need Pique. If he grabs a yellow in the return against Arsenal or the first leg of the next round, they might miss him.

And it's a pointless game (for Pique) because scoring 3x against Barca in Camp Nou isn't going to happen.

 

[lxmmy]

He's going fresh into the next round. If Barca loses or play a draw in the first leg, and the outcome for the second leg is uncertain, they may need Pique. If he grabs a yellow in the return against Arsenal or the first leg of the next round, they might miss him.

And it's a pointless game (for Pique) because scoring 3x against Barca in Camp Nou isn't going to happen.

If you watched the game, Arsenal opened the defence while playing deep and had potential to score 2-3 goals. Now with Pique out who is their best defender, this now allows Arsenal to press higher and create more chances. We may need to only score 2 and go into penalties.

 

[Dennisch]

If you watched the game, Arsenal opened the defence while playing deep and had potential to score 2-3 goals. Now with Pique out who is their best defender, this now allows Arsenal to press higher and create more chances. We may need to only score 2 and go into penalties.

You forget one thing.
Barca isn't the one that needs to score anymore. Arsenal needs to go all in, opening up their midfield and defence. Who are running around in that area?

By far the strongest attacking trio currently running around between the chalk lines.

 

[lxmmy]

Barca isn't the one that needs to score anymore. Arsenal needs to go all in, opening up their midfield and defence. Who are running around in that area?

We will play in the same style as we still made chances while playing deep but with Welbeck or Walcott in striker who will press the back line and run behind the defence a lot more and replace Mertesacker with Gabriel, who is a lot quicker. And we really don't need height against the trio but pace.

 

[Dennisch]

chances

Goals is what they need. Chances are worthless. Entertaining but worthless. Don't get me wrong, I hope the next game will be a thriller, but if you can't score in your own house, it's most likely that it isn't going to happen in Barcelona.

 

[lxmmy]

Goals is what they need. Chances are worthless. Entertaining but worthless. Don't get me wrong, I hope the next game will be a thriller, but if you can't score in your own house, it's most likely that it isn't going to happen in Barcelona.

Chances are what creates goals and so without Pique then this would add to the amount of openings we get.

You posted game over for Arsenal even after just the first goal. If you even watched the game, you would know Arsenal were extremely unlucky with the goals conceded.

 

[Dennisch]

Chances are what creates goals

How many goals did Arsenal score tonight?

without Pique then this would add to the amount of openings we get.

A club like Barcelona can replace someone like Pique with someone of equal skill. It's not as if Barca now need to scrape in their misfits barrel to find a player.

You posted game over for Arsenal even after just the first goal.

That was after the penalty. Posted at 22.25, my time. Game started at 20.45. That was 1 minute after the 0-2.

If you even watched the game.

This is going to be one of the few times I'm using this smiley.

you would know Arsenal were extremely unlucky with the goals conceded.

I'm a neutral football fan, I am not blinded by club love. A proper pass from Neymar on Messi is hardly being unlucky.

And the penalty. Well. It was a faul. And if that's near the goal, in the box, it's a penalty. That's maybe partially unlucky.

 

[lxmmy]

How many goals did Arsenal score tonight?



A club like Barcelona can replace someone like Pique with someone of equal skill. It's not as if Barca now need to scrape in their misfits barrel to find a player.



That was after the penalty. Posted at 22.25, my time. Game started at 20.45. That was 1 minute after the 0-2.



This is going to be one of the few times I'm using this smiley.





I'm a neutral football fan, I am not blinded by club love. A proper pass from Neymar on Messi is hardly being unlucky.

And the penalty. Well. It was a faul. And if that's near the goal, in the box, it's a penalty. That's maybe partially unlucky.

Before the ball reached Neymar, we had everyone advancing up as Barcelona defence were making mistakes at the back so as we piled on the pressure, crosses were being putting in which the defence had an instance of advancing to come out of position then a clearance to Neymar which removed 8 players out of the equation and only left Koscielny and Monreal to be left with the 2-2 on with Messi and Neymar.

The penalty was a proposed clearance with no malice but Messi coming at pace and making contact with the foot of Flamini as he tried to hit a clearance from Mertesacker's pass.

I would be the first person to slate Arsenal if they had a bad performance but the Barcelona goals came out of nowhere.

 

[Akmuq]

Arsenals defence can't be expected to keep Barcelona out for 90 minutes, they will face more of those counter attacks in Camp Nou if they've to chase the game.

 

[adamp93]

Yeah, that's a small crumb of comfort given that all Arsenal have to do is beat Barcelona 3-0 at Camp Nou.

Actually 3-1 would be enough, it's getting easier by the minute.

I didn't agree with Wenger brining on Flamini but you can't really blame him for the penalty. Mertersaker sent him up 🤬 creek without a paddle with his pathetic clearance and the tackle had to be made. If Coquelin was in the same place I can't see it working out too differently.

 

[Ross]

Let's face it, the Arsenal v Barca tie is all but sorted. With home support, I can't see Barca conceding any, let alone 3 goals. Juve v Bayern is the one to watch. On a knife edge going back to Munich where either team can win it.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Over to Man City now.....

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Champions League back this week with the second legs

Tuesday
Real Madrid v Roma (2-0)
Wolfsburg v Gent (3-2)

Wednesday
Chelsea v Paris St-Germain (1-2)
Zenit St Petersburg v Benfica (0-1)

 

[Dennisch]

Totti comes in and receives a standing ovation from the crowd in the Bernabéu. Pure class, and well deserved for such a great player.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Comfortable 4-0 aggregate win for Real Madrid and well done to Wolfsburg on making it to the quarter's after a 4-2 aggregate win over Gent.

 

[lxmmy]

An astounding performance by Szczesny. By far his best show for Roma this season and someone to be regarded for next season for Arsenal as a possible replacement for Ospina. But on the other hand, Salah seemed like he forgot to finish.

Keylor Navas had gone 8 games consecutively in the UCL without conceding. One more to equal Jens Lehmann's record.

 

[m8h3r]

Comfortable 4-0 aggregate win for Real Madrid and well done to Wolfsburg on making it to the quarter's after a 4-2 aggregate win over Gent.

I spoke to a few people who were writing off Wolfsburg when Man Utd played them in Germany, I told them to watch out and that they'd be a dark horse but I could see then getting to semis providing they don't get a major player next round.

 

[lxmmy]

I spoke to a few people who were writing off Wolfsburg when Man Utd played them in Germany, I told them to watch out and that they'd be a dark horse but I could see then getting to semis providing they don't get a major player next round.

Draxler & Max Kruse combination is quite strong but their defence is quite mediocre with the exception of Naldo but I can't see them being in the Semi's holding off the likes of Benfica, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern or PSG.

 

[Dennisch]

Chelsea vs PSG is a great game to watch. Glad I made it home in time.

Second half could have gone either way, but Zlatan decided it was time.