Champions League 2016/17

[Super_horns]

Well Real Madrid and Bayern are in the 2nd pot for the last 16..

Bet Arsenal get one of them.

Arsenal/Leicester can draw:

PSG/Porto (clearly Arsenal cannot get PSG - Leicester Porto)
Benfica
Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen
Real Madrid
Sevilla FC

Man City can get:

Juventus
Dortmund
Monaco
Atlético Madrid
SSC Napoli

 

[Dirk]

So both matches between Dortmund and Real ended 2-2 and therefore Zinedine Zidane is still unbeaten as manager (edit: after he lost to Wolfsburg in the CL last season). The 21 goals for Dortmund in the group stage is a new CL record (previous was 20 by Barca, ManU and Real ?), another record after last matchdays 12 Goal festival (8-4) against Legia for most goals in a CL match.

Funny though, that Legia Warsaw qualified for the Europa League after their 1-0 win against Sporting. They have 4 points with a dismal 9-24 (-15) Goal Difference, but tbf their last 3 matches saw them improved (3-3 against Real, 4-8 against Dortmund (0-6 was the first match) and 1-0 against Sporting)

 

[Liam_SWFC]

With the form Arsenal are in I don't think they should fear anyone, fantastic performance in Switzerland the other night. Leicester will have to hope for a favourable draw to progress much further in my opinion, the wheels are falling off for them. City will probably get the toughest draw but you'd fancy them to progress, think 2 legs with Juventus would be a good watch. Spurs get the booby prize of the Europa League, they could go on and win it and have a great season or avoiding it might have been a blessing in disguise, we shall see.

 

[Stevencc]

So both matches between Dortmund and Real ended 2-2 and therefore Zinedine Zidane is still unbeaten as manager (edit: after he lost to Wolfsburg in the CL last season). The 21 goals for Dortmund in the group stage is a new CL record (previous was 20 by Barca, ManU and Real ?), another record after last matchdays 12 Goal festival (8-4) against Legia for most goals in a CL match.

Funny though, that Legia Warsaw qualified for the Europa League after their 1-0 win against Sporting. They have 4 points with a dismal 9-24 (-15) Goal Difference, but tbf their last 3 matches saw them improved (3-3 against Real, 4-8 against Dortmund (0-6 was the first match) and 1-0 against Sporting)

Speaking of records, Leicester's 5-0 loss to Porto is the biggest margin an English side has lost by in Champions League and European Cup history.

JimJams

 

[JimJams]

But our balls are so big we don't care. Massive clubs can throw Champions League games and still sail through top of the group.

#mahoosive

 

[mistermagic]

Not sure I mind finishing second tbh as the probabilities of my going to a new ground is much higher than if we finished first. Already did Barca and Dortmund so that's a no-go while we obviously won't get Monaco. That leaves Napoli, Juve, Atletico and... Leicester.

Please, please let it be Leicester.

 

[GodsGift]

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

 

[smat]

oh FUCK OFFFFFFFFF

 

[Dirk]

FFS Bayern against Arsenal, again. Can't believe it!

Dortmund vs Benfica, that's ok
Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid, bye bye Bayer.

 

[GodsGift]

Monaco is a tougher draw for Man City than some might think. They're scoring bagfuls (53 in 17 league games) and Falcao is starting to bang them in again.

Obviously a shit draw for Arsenal but Bayern aren't as good as they used to be. Decent draw for Leicester.

 

[Dirk]

Monaco is a tougher draw for Man City than some might think. They're scoring bagfuls (53 in 17 league games) and Falcao is starting to bang them in again.

Obviously a shit draw for Arsenal but Bayern aren't as good as they used to be. Decent draw for Leicester.

They are coming in form right now given the latest matches in the BuLi.

All 3 english clubs can advance to the next round, no doubt about it, but tbh I only see ManCity in the next round.

 

[Renegade]

Bayern again. The draw is so rigged.

City get the easiest draw after finishing second in their group, hardly seems fair.

 

[Storzy]

Win or lose that is a shitty boring draw.

EDIT: What makes the whole thing so frustrating is that even if we'd have come second, it looks like we'd have gotten Barca...

 

[Bilo]

Bayern again. The draw is so rigged.

Ok, so if it was rigged, why would they want Arsenal vs Bayern? It's a terribly boring draw after all. And who's rigging it in whose favor?

Tough luck for Arsenal. After christmas they're likely to have a bunch of injuries while Bayern will have a month long rest. Fair to say they're up against it.

 

[smat]

They are coming in form right now given the latest matches in the BuLi.

oh good

 

[Renegade]

Ok, so if it was rigged, why would they want Arsenal vs Bayern? It's a terribly boring draw after all. And who's rigging it in whose favor?

Tough luck for Arsenal. After christmas they're likely to have a bunch of injuries while Bayern will have a month long rest. Fair to say they're up against it.

Was being facetious, just find it amusing that the same draws come up consistently at this stage and Real Madrid get handed gimmes. La Liga has the strongest participants and I'll be surprised if the final four isn't a combination of Real, Atletico, Barcelona and another. It's a boring competition no matter which way it's drawn really, I just wish we hadn't been served this tie again. To be fair, Bayern are nothing to be scared of any more and Arsenal should feel confident of going through, I hope they do it this time.

 

[G-Dragon]

Arsenal to beat Bayern. It's the 4th time they've met in the KO stages and they've lost 3 times. But nobody does 4th better than Arsenal.

 

[Storzy]

Liverpool fucking wish they did

 

[thespus]

Heard a Liverpool fan at a pub, likely a G-Dragon sort, claiming Liverpool shouldn't be worried about Arsenal in the title race because we have a large sample size of Arsenal not winning the league. The naivety is astounding.

Shit draw. I'd rather Bayern than Madrid, but it's likely another round of 16 exit. Either way, topping the group and not losing a match in the process is a much better showing than what we've seen the last 6 years. We weren't going to win the CL, and while it would be even better for the squad's confidence to progress to the QFs or SFs, it isn't worth panicking over. The league can be won this season, and given that Liverpool and Chelsea aren't in Europe, a long run may have hampered us. FWIW, I do think we can beat them. We've gone out on away goals to them with a worse side.

 

[Bilo]

Liverpool fucking wish they did

What's up Storzy you alright? You seem to have a bite at everything right now. You can PM me if you just want to talk it out or anything man I'm here for you. Rise above it. Hugs!

 

[JimJams]

Nice draw for us, though any tie will be difficult and see us as underdogs. Lots of football to be played before the ties so hopefully we can produce more Man Cityesque performances rather than the other shite we've been serving up.
I bet Sevilla are buzzing.
Man city please recall Nasri in January.

 

[mistermagic]

Possibly the worst draw in the history of the competition. So boring. Bayern will knock out Arsenal, Barcelona will knock us out, etc etc.

Football is really shit sometimes.

 

[Storzy]

Shit draw. I'd rather Bayern than Madrid, but it's likely another round of 16 exit.

Surely if you think we're going out, we might as well changes things up and play a different team?

What's up Storzy you alright? You seem to have a bite at everything right now. You can PM me if you just want to talk it out or anything man I'm here for you. Rise above it. Hugs!

They're just jokes pal

 

[Liam_SWFC]

All winnable games for the English clubs but tough nonetheless, City have probably got the easiest draw on paper but Monaco are no push overs as Tottenham found out. I reckon Arsenal can honestly beat Bayern Munich with the way they are performing this season, big ask though, tricky one for Leicester against Sevilla. They are experts in knockout football as they have won the Europa League 3 years running, Leicester are still amateurs in that regard and I think Sevilla will beat them over 2 legs. PSG V Barcelona looks a cracking tie.

 

[thespus]

Surely if you think we're going out, we might as well changes things up and play a different team?

The way I see it: we might win the tie 20-25/100 times against Bayern, closer to 5-10/100 against Madrid. I think we're going out, but if there is an increased chance of going through, by my arbitrary estimation, I prefer that option.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

I bet Bayern aren't very happy either...

 

[Libertadores FC]

We'll beat Real Madrid

 

[Dirk]

Tomorrow the Champions League starts the k.o rounds. The 3 remaining German clubs:

Tuesday:
Benfica vs Borussia Dortmund DRAW
Dortmund actually only at #4 in the Bundesliga with already 15 points behind Bayern and 4 Clubs in their back who could spoil their minimun target, the 4th spot and direct CL qualifying. Last weekend they lost 1-2 at #18 Darmstadt which shows perfectly their actual form. Defense is weak but normally they can rely on their offense. So I expect a draw

Wednesday:
Bayern vs Arsenal Win
The eternal CL k.o duel. I am not excited anymore and given the actual showings wouldn't be surprised if for the first time Arsenal could advance on 2 legs. Although Bayern has now again a comfortable 7 point lead in the Bundesliga (more due to the miserable form of the other top 5 clubs than their own "brilliance") they still don't impress under Ancelotti. Last weekend they were held to a 0-0 against #17 Ingolstadt until the 90th minute (but then scored twice in 2 minutes). Normally they are very focussed in the CL k.o rounds and with last weeks announcement of skipper Philipp Lahm's retirement after the season they could be extra motivated to give him a worthy farewell at the end of the season. I predict a narrow 1-0 or 2-1 at Munich and then a draw at London...but as I wrote wouldn't be too surprised this time if they fail against Arsenal

Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid: This match will be played next week

 

[Benji]

Barcelona looking utterly fallable so far. Ineffective in attack, and a very holey defence.

 

[Stevencc]

Barca are being embarassed by PSG so far.

#prayforSaltire.