Official 07/08 UEFA Champions League Discussion Thread

[troutman]

Matchday 8:

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl...lts/index.html

Milan 20:45Arsenal
Sevilla 20:45Fenerbahçe
Barcelona 20:45Celtic
Man. United 20:45Lyon

[united]

United going with Fletcher over Hargreaves is somewhat surprising to me, also no Tevez in the starting side.
4-3-3 goes to show they are looking to make a statement in this one which I fully expect them to do.

[Locke]

This is it, gut check time. Who goes home today?

I love this.

I'll be tuning in to the Arsenal vs. AC Milan game, cheering for AC.

I'm hoping Lyon can take the lead on Man U and hold onto it this time.

Fenerbahce over Sevilla would be huge upset, so lets see it.

Barca should make short work of Celtic.

[united]

Their counter attack will be key in the match. Nani Rooney Ronaldo will be making quick tricky runs much of the game.

United advance with win
Arsenal advance on draw (away goals)
Sevilla advance with win (away goals)
Barca advance with win

[troutman]

SPOILERS!




















5 Daniel Alves (Sevilla) scores on free-kick! Sevilla make it all-square overall as Daniel Alves lines up a free-kick and from fully 25 metres sends a shot fizzing past Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, beating him to his left despite getting a touch to the ball. It is only Alves second UEFA Champions League goal.

9 Keita (Sevilla) scores! Sevilla have turned the tie completely in their favour now as Seydou Keita hits a stunning drive from even further out than Alves' free-kick. Volkan Demirel might have done better once more as the ball goes straight through him and flies into the top-right corner of the net. Sevilla now lead 4-3 on aggregate and the visitors need to score at least twice to stay in the hunt.

20 Deivid (Fenerbahçe) scores! Fenerbahçe pull themselves right back in the tie as Deivid grabs his third goal of this season's UEFA Champions League - the Brazilian smashing the ball in low right-footed from just inside the penalty area after meeting a corner from the left. The Turkish side still trail on the away goals rule however.

41 Kanouté (Sevilla) scores! Sevilla restore a two-goal advantage on the night as first goalscorer Alves chips the ball over from the right for Frédéric Kanouté, who controls with his chest before turning and volleying the ball in.

79 Deivid (Fenerbahçe) scores! High drama in Spain as Deivid gets his second goal of the night to draw Fenerbahçe level. Alex chipped a high, lofted free-kick into the penalty area which an unmarked Deivid latched onto, turning and striking his initial effort against the post before putting the rebound in from close range. As things stand we are heading for extra time.

- The penalties are over.
- Daniel Alves (Sevilla) missed the penalty saved by the goalkeeper.
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3 Xavi (Barcelona) scores! Barcelona put together a fine move, keeping possession and passing the ball around confidently, before Ronaldinho plays a cute flick into the path of Sylvinho down the left. The Brazilian sends over a cross and Xavi Hernández is there to flick the ball over Artur Boruc. The Spanish side now lead 4-2 on aggregate and look strong favourites.
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41 Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. United) scores! Manchester United break Lyon's resistance four minutes before half-time after a low cross from the right causes havoc in the visitors' box. Nani has the first shot, which is blocked, but Cristiano Ronaldo gives the Lyon defence no chance as he squeezes the ball inside Grégory Coupet's right-hand post. United now lead 2-1 on aggregate.
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84 Fabregas (Arsenal) scores! Milan's grip on the trophy is now hanging by a thread after the holder's lost possession in midfield before the ball broke to Fabregas on the left. The Spanish international drifted in before hitting a low shot that beat Zeljko Kalac low to his right. Arsenal are now in the driving seat with Milan needing to score twice in the final six minutes.

90+2Adebayor (Arsenal) scores! Arsenal have sealed their place in the quarter-finals now as substitute Theo Walcott shows his pace to get down the right and cross for Emmanuel Adebayor. The striker puts the ball in at the far post for his first goal in this season's competition - one that means Milan will surely not be featuring in the quarter-final draw.

[moon]

Brutal second half by Milan hands the game to Arsenal. Sure the refs made some bad calls but they were easily handling the Gunners and should have scored at least once if not twice early on.

I will give the Gunners credit they seem to be luckier than any team I have seen this year in both the Premiership and the Champions League.

[Locke]

Fenerbahce and Sevilla are going to penalties right now.

I thought that Arsenal held most of the play in the first half, but they both had chances in the first that they couldnt put away, I think Arsenal deserved this one, Milan just didnt play very well.

You want to talk lucky? How about Man U. How does that team spend so much and the barely squeak by 1-0? Weak. Man Who?

I could almost say the same about Barca. They should have done better, at least the Scottish team plays a tough aggressive style.

EDIT: Fenerbahce wins on penalties. Incredible goaltending, he stopped 3 of 5 shots.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by moon

Brutal second half by Milan hands the game to Arsenal. Sure the refs made some bad calls but they were easily handling the Gunners and should have scored at least once if not twice early on.

I will give the Gunners credit they seem to be luckier than any team I have seen this year in both the Premiership and the Champions League.

Wow, you watched a different game than I did, Milan hardly had the ball after a good 15 minutes to start the game. Arsenal hit the bar and were hosed on a missed penalty in the first half, but dominated possession and fully deserved the win in the second. Calling a team lucky that has the premiership lead and just became the first English team to beat AC in Milan is lucky? B.S.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Wow, you watched a different game than I did, Milan hardly had the ball after a good 15 minutes to start the game. Arsenal hit the bar and were hosed on a missed penalty in the first half, but dominated possession and fully deserved the win in the second. Calling a team lucky that has the premiership lead and just became the first English team to beat AC in Milan is lucky? B.S.

I am probably being harsh since I absolutely hate Arsenal but I did think that Milan blew a lot of chances to win today and seemed to come apart in the latter half of the second half.

The luck comment is that Arsenal is not the best team in the premiership yet manage to luck into some results to keep them on top and certainly are not a better team than AC.

Not like it matters much what I think they are getting the results and that is all that matters.

[cheevers]

Originally Posted by moon

I am probably being harsh since I absolutely hate Arsenal but I did think that Milan blew a lot of chances to win today and seemed to come apart in the latter half of the second half.

The luck comment is that Arsenal is not the best team in the premiership yet manage to luck into some results to keep them on top and certainly are not a better team than AC.

Not like it matters much what I think they are getting the results and that is all that matters.

I'm curious who you think is better in the prem, as theres really not alot between Arsenal and Man U, both are steller teams, and I don't think you can call it luck they are in first.

[serhat09]

Iste FENERBAHCE farki

Fenerbahce beats the back to back UEFA Cup winners from Spain.

Who expected any less... not me

[604flames]

^^ Volkan for PM! (not that any GS or BJK fans would vote for him)...

Seriously though, the two away goals after the first leg worried me, but they managed to pull it out.

[Locke]

That Fener game was intense. I'm by no means a diehard Fener fan, but I have to say, they are entertaining to watch.

I remember watching the first leg and their Stadium is outrageously intense.

Thats not even mentioning Deivid. Holy crap does that kid have talent, and it looks like he loves playing with Roberto Carlos.

Alright, to the Second leg, matchday 8:

I'll be watching the Roma vs. Real Madrid game, this is going to be insane, a determined Real with a returning and healthy Robinho that has a deficit to make up.

I'm hoping Olympiacos eliminates Chelsea. Enormous upset, come on Olympicaos, make this happen!

I'm also hoping for Schalke over Porto, Schalke has really stepped it up lately.

[troutman]

SPOILERS!

















5 Ballack (Chelsea) scores! Chelsea get the breakthrough they have been threatening after early pressure and it is Michael Ballack with his first UEFA Champions League goal of the season. The German did brilliantly to arch his head at the near post and head in Frank Lampard's inswinging left-wing cross.

25 Lampard (Chelsea) scores! The home side double their lead and it is Lampard who gets the goal, tapping in from close range after Antonios Nikopolidis had saved Ballack's shot from the right side of the penalty area. Lampard's 12th goal in the competition, but first of this season, puts Chelsea 2-0 ahead and looking good for a quarter-final spot.

48 Kalou (Chelsea) scores! Chelsea look home and dry now after a Lampard corner is missed by Ricardo Carvalho but is turned in at the far post by Salomon Kalou - the Ivorian bringing the ball down before poking it in from close range with his right foot for his first UEFA Champions League goal.
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73 Taddei (Roma) scores! Just moments after getting the man advantage Roma now lead the tie 2-1 on aggregate and are firmly in the driving seat with Taddei heading firmly in from a left-wing cross.

75 Raúl (Real Madrid) scores! Madrid will not lay down and are right back in the tie as Robinho slips the ball through to Raúl González, who calmly slots in his 61st UEFA Champions League goal right-footed low past Doni. They still need to score again to force extra time however.

90+2Vučinić (Roma) scores! In added time Roma assure their path into the last-eight as substitute Mirko Vučinić bravely dives in front of Iker Casillas to meet Christian Panucci's cross and head past the Madrid goalkeeper.
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86 Lisandro (Porto) scores! Ten-man Porto have done it as Lisandro López turns on the edge of the penalty area and fires an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net, giving the excellent Manuel Neuer little hope. Now all-square overall, the tie is seemingly heading for extra time.

- The penalties are over.
- Jones (Schalke) scores from the penalty spot.

[Locke]

I have to say, watching the Real/Roma game with an East Indian commentator is hilarious/weird.

I feel like Russell Peter's Dad is commentating this game.

[604flames]

^ Shaka Hislop? Trinidad & Tobago btw..

EDIT: but I thought I had a bottle of Appleton around somewhere!

[vennegoor of hesselink]

I never seem to tire of Real Madrid going out in the round of 16 i guess its the same reason you cheer against the yankees in the baseball playoffs

is that 4 straight years now?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by vennegoor of hesselink

I never seem to tire of Real Madrid going out in the round of 16 i guess its the same reason you cheer against the yankees in the baseball playoffs

is that 4 straight years now?

I have to say, Roma played that very well and Real didnt seem inspired at all. It was a fairly listless game.

Schneider even siad before the game that they were counting on the play of Robinho, so what does Roma do? Gives the guy ZERO time and space.

Smart. Not very entertaining, but smart.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

SPOILERS!















- The penalties are over.
- Jones (Schalke) scores from the penalty spot.

Isn't it all the past England managers that say "You can't practice penalties!".

And the Germans ALWAYS win shootouts

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Isn't it all the past England managers that say "You can't practice penalties!".

And the Germans ALWAYS win shootouts

You cant practice penalties. The actual shot itself isnt overly difficult, its the atmosphere. There is so much pressure and 60,000 screaming/jeering fans, its hard.

The Germans are just cool and calm under pressure and to be fair to the England fans, there is so much more pressure knowing that if you miss your family will be receiving death threats for years.

Alright, Inter vs. Liverpool on tuesday and then its off to the next round. Liverpool have to pull this off!