The Official 14/15 UEFA Champion's League and International Club News Thread

[Locke]

Originally Posted by polak

Group B: Real Madrid, Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets
Group C: Benfica, Zenit, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco
Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Anderlecht
Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma
Group F: Barcelona, PSG, Ajax, Apoel
Group G: Chelsea, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor
Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao, Bate Borisov

H and C are a joke. E and D are probably the toughest, of course, the two teams I cheer for are in it.

I'm assuming Donetsk will be playing all of their matches on the road?

Legia should be in this

Really?

I dont see any way Arsenal dont get through that group. They should win that group.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

that's the part that worries me, they haven't gotten it back yet

having said that, they might go paste someone 6-0 this weekend

but I think Pep does need to make some changes this year, give Shaqiri and some of the younger players more time just to shake things up a bit

the Kroos for Alonso swap was just an ego thing (from Kroos and from BM) and a stupid one for Bayern to do, he could have been their CM for the next decade, Alonso is already dropping off and has 1 maybe 2 years left

Couldnt agree more. They should have paid him.

And yeah, they really need to get their inspiration back.

[cam_wmh]

wait.

If Arsenal is in D, and Barcelona in F, how do they play again next round?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

wait.

If Arsenal is in D, and Barcelona in F, how do they play again next round?

They'll find a way.

Its a shame that Neuer didnt win European Footballer of the year. He's been fantastic.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

They'll find a way.

Its a shame that Neuer didnt win European Footballer of the year. He's been fantastic.

You bring up an interesting point with Neuer.
Here's how I differentiate the winner.
Do Bayern & Germany still win without him?
I think they do.

Does Portugal make it to the world cup without Ronaldo?
Does Real win champions league trophy?
They sure as shiyite do not.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

You bring up an interesting point with Neuer.
Here's how I differentiate the winner.
Do Bayern & Germany still win without him?
I think they do.

Does Portugal make it to the world cup without Ronaldo?
Does Real win champions league trophy?
They sure as shiyite do not.

I think Bayern still wins but Germany does not without Neuer. He was their best player.

I agree with both your points on Ronaldo so I don't have many complaints about him winning, though I would have liked to see Neuer win

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by polak

I'm assuming Donetsk will be playing all of their matches on the road?

That's a good question.

Shakhtar, who will play in the Champions League after winning the Ukrainian Premier League last season, will be forced to play their European matches in Lviv in the west of the country.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...s-9687377.html

[Bagor]

Arsenal fixtures

Borussia Dortmund (A) - September 16
Galatasaray (H) - October 1
Anderlecht (A) - October 22
Anderlecht (H) - November 4
Borussia Dortmund (H) - November 26
Galatasaray (A) - December 9

Chelsea fixtures

Schalke 04 (H) - September 17
Sporting Lisbon (A) - September 30
NK Maribor (H) - October 21
NK Maribor (A) - November 5
Schalke 04 (A) - November 25
Sporting Lisbon (H) - December 10

Liverpool fixtures

Ludogorets (H) - September 16
Basel (A) - October 1
Real Madrid (H) - October 22
Real Madrid (A) - November 4
Ludogorets (A) - November 26
Basel (H) - December 9

Manchester City fixtures

Bayern Munich (A) - September 17
AS Roma (H) - September 30
CSKA Moscow (A) - October 21
CSKA Moscow (H) - November 5
Bayern Munich (H) - November 25
AS Roma (A) - December 10

All fixtures on a neat interactive schedule sheet.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionslea...hes/index.html

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Arsenal fixtures

Borussia Dortmund (A) - September 16
Galatasaray (H) - October 1
Anderlecht (A) - October 22
Anderlecht (H) - November 4
Borussia Dortmund (H) - November 26
Galatasaray (A) - December 9

Finally! An away European match when I'm back in London. Managers have said they don't want their players taking selfies with Arsenal players but what about Arsenal supporters? I should be good right?

[troutman]

That selection show was painful - creepy host (Infantino) whose jokes did not translate well to English.

Players struggling to unscrew the lottery balls and read a slip of paper.

Everyone in the audience looked like they were at a funeral. Why so serious?

[polak]

Originally Posted by Locke

Couldnt agree more. They should have paid him.

And yeah, they really need to get their inspiration back.

What's the fun in picking the obvious choices in every single group? EPL teams choke, all the time. I think they're a good pick to do so.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by polak

What's the fun in picking the obvious choices in every single group? EPL teams choke, all the time. I think they're a good pick to do so.

They do? And there was me thinking they ALL made it out of the groups last year?

Besides, sorry chap, but when I think of the CL and choking, there is one name that rises wayyy above the rest. Your latest, for the moment, new team Bayern.

Having their grubby little paws on the trophy twice only to have it snatched away in the 88th minute and injury time is pretty hard to beat.

And the opposition on both occasions was from? You can look it up .....

[troutman]

Do fans of a team really cheer for other teams from their league in UEFA, or do they hope their domestic rivals lose?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by troutman

Do fans of a team really cheer for other teams from their league in UEFA, or do they hope their domestic rivals lose?

more of the latter.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Bagor

They do? And there was me thinking they ALL made it out of the groups last year?

Besides, sorry chap, but when I think of the CL and choking, there is one name that rises wayyy above the rest. Your latest, for the moment, new team Bayern.

Having their grubby little paws on the trophy twice only to have it snatched away in the 88th minute and injury time is pretty hard to beat.

And the opposition on both occasions was from? You can look it up .....

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

Do fans of a team really cheer for other teams from their league in UEFA, or do they hope their domestic rivals lose?

agreed, more the latter.

Would you have cheered for the Canucks if they had been in a World League for finishing 2nd in the NHL in 2011?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

You bring up an interesting point with Neuer.
Here's how I differentiate the winner.
Do Bayern & Germany still win without him?
I think they do.

Does Portugal make it to the world cup without Ronaldo?
Does Real win champions league trophy?
They sure as shiyite do not.

Thats fair enough, who has a bigger impact for their team. Portugal were basically a one-man show.

I just feel that Neuer is redefining the goalkeeping position and its really hard for Goalkeepers to get much recognition.

Originally Posted by polak

What's the fun in picking the obvious choices in every single group? EPL teams choke, all the time. I think they're a good pick to do so.

The English teams typically do well in the CL as has been pointed out.

What would be fun is to find out what the cost of player acquisitions and payroll comparisons are between all the teams in each group. I could probably make a few educated guesses.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by troutman

Do fans of a team really cheer for other teams from their league in UEFA, or do they hope their domestic rivals lose?

you have to cheer for them to a point, to keep the coefficient for the country high, it's a rolling 5 year number and the top 3 countries get 4 teams, next 2 get 3, etc.

i.e Napoli going out in the playoff was kind of a disaster for Italian football unless they go deep in the Europa League

Italy are only at 3 teams right now, losing out on group stage points hurts since they want to push to get back up and overtake one of the top 3 (England, Spain, Germany) to get that 4th team

[d_phaneuf]

Europa draw today, none of the 1st seeds should have any issues advancing, and with the winner now getting a spot in the CL I think once it gets to the KO rounds it should add some real excitement to the tournament

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

you have to cheer for them to a point, to keep the coefficient for the country high, it's a rolling 5 year number and the top 3 countries get 4 teams, next 2 get 3, etc.

i.e Napoli going out in the playoff was kind of a disaster for Italian football unless they go deep in the Europa League

Italy are only at 3 teams right now, losing out on group stage points hurts since they want to push to get back up and overtake one of the top 3 (England, Spain, Germany) to get that 4th team

So you're saying Italy needs to start spending? Looks like it's time to start gambling again lol.