2025/2026 International Club Football Thread

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

City getting pumped by the worst Madrid team in years. PL really is as garbage as we think, maybe even more garbage than we think.

It’s more down to the Premier League’s overall quality where teams get seven bells of #### knocked out of each other every week. It drains teams.

I think you alluded (I could be wrong) to this yourself.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I mentioned that there's a shift later in the competition because a Bayern or PSG has such an easy league they can rest guys in league games and focus on UCL. Also important to note those leagues actually cater to their clubs in Europe by moving games, PL does not. But Liverpool got pretty thoroughgoingly outplayed by Galatasaray, City getting destroyed by a mediocre Madrid. Chelsea has actually looked probably the best of the English teams so far, which kind of says it all.

[Locke]

Pep looking unhappy. My favourite look on Pep.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Fate of England's coefficient now on Palace, Forest and Villa's shoulders. No pressure or anything.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

To be fair, when you finish first, you should get the best draw.

At the very least, after years of drawing Barca and Bayern in their prime, Arsenal are due a favour in Europe.

Such an odd line of commentary from pundits on this.
What's the point of winning the group stage if you don't get a better draw?

It's like being baffled when Colorado lines up against Seattle of Utah to start the NHL playoffs. That's the point!

[Senator Clay Davis]

Two things can be true at once:

1. The team that ended the group phase with the best points total deserves a better draw. Indeed, every bracket based system rewards the #1 seed with, in theory, an easier draw than the rest.

2. There is still a draw component to this, and Arsenal were on the receiving end of an incredibly easy draw. No need to apologise for it, you earned your good fortune, but the Gods did smile upon you when they could have been cruel.

Remember last year, when Liverpool finished first in the group phase? Their draw got them PSG in the round of 16. Lady luck did not shine on them, and they were one and done. A lot has broken Arsenal's way this year, so this is where we remember how important it is to cash these opportunities cause Arsenal could come back next year with an even better team, but the Gods may be uncooperative and you end up with no chances to cash anything.

[Winsor_Pilates]

It was definitely a fortunate draw but someone gets a fortunate draw every time there's a draw.
The top team certainly should be that team.

The obsession with it seems to only be when it's Arsenal, which is trendy thing to do these days.
Having never lived in Europe, I didn't realize Arsenal was this hated and obsessed about before.