Champions League Predictions?
Hello monkeys,
The Champions League semifinals begin today with Real Madrid and Atletico facing each other today and Juventus and Monaco playing tomorrow. In my opinion, the Madrid derby will be a tight affair with Real Madrid beating Atletico 2-0. Imo the Monaco-Juventus game will be tight as well, with Monaco just beating Juventus 1-0. Chances will be sparse to come by in that game as Juventus have arguably the best defense on the planet. What are your thoughts? In my opinion, it will end up being a Real Madrid-Monaco final with Real Madrid winning back-to-back Champions League titles.
Any Champions League Watchers on Here? (Originally Posted: 04/23/2013)
Bayern vs Barcelona today, Madrid-Dortmund tomorrow. As a Bayern fan, I'm biased but I think this is the year we overcome our hiccups and actually win it all. I think Madrid will handle Dortmund (just barely) and if last season was any indicator, Madrid-Bayern will be a great game.
Did you see the Gotze news today? I'm hoping for a BVB-Bayern final out of sheer awkwardness, plus I hate the Spanish teams. Looking good for Bayern so far
Big time Madridista here, but more or less I'm happy as long as Barca gets rocked, which they are. 2-0 lololol
Also, ya that's weird they announced Gotze today
Yeah, honestly, I'm a bit disappointed in Bayern buying out Borussia's talent. They're not usually mega spenders like City or Chelsea, but they've been spending a lot more than I'd like this past year. However, Gotze could very easily be the face of German football and that country's very own little Messi, so it makes a lot of sense especially when considering his age. I just hope Borussia continues to be strong because it improves the image of the Bundesliga as a whole.
And yeah, I hate Barcelona, so I love seeing them getting rolled. The sad part is that the refs missed 3 clear hand balls, so Bayern should be up even more than what they are. This team is scary good and will be godly with Pep + Gotze on their squad as well.
I hate Barca too. I want Madrid to win. I also like Bayern too.
viva barca
Bayern is basically collecting all the football talents in Germany. No doubt they're just getting stronger every year. Anyway, I so enjoyed seeing Barca being humiliated.
Lol I'm not watching, but 4-0 Bayern over Barca? BEAT. DOWN.
Even with the second leg at home, Barca will have a tough time overcoming a four goal deficit.
Especially with the second leg at home with the away goals rule
They can't even play the "we didn't have Messi" card like they would have if PSG had managed to dump them out. Hilarious. Should be a very good game tomorrow. People are sleeping on Dortmund big time, probably even more now with the Gotze news. They might be able to use the "nobody believes in us" motivation to their advantage.
4:0!
Absolutely thrilled that Munich killed Barca. Wasn't expecting that big of a blow out, but they are probably trying to kill them so as not to end up like AC.
@notaspammer: Agreed!
And while I think Gotze is a great player, not that happy he's going to Munich. Where the hell are they going to play him without sacrificing their other talents' pitch time?
I'm guessing that Robben is probably going to leave to make room for Götze. Claudio Pizzaro might be out too sadly, even though he's had some massive games off the bench. No way Gotze sits on the bench; way too expensive for that. That midfield is absolutely PACKED though and so is the striker position. What's even scarier about this team is that its still super young. Gotze and Mueller are only 20 and 23 respectively and they're arguably BM's best players! They are going to dominate this decade.
Yeah, def feel that either Ribery or Robben will be on their way out. They are getting kinda old to compete with these young kids anyways. And yeah, haven't seen much of Kroos lately, but he's also an awesome player. Plus Luis Gustavo, Scheinsteiger, etc. It will be a shit show just getting a starting sheet for these guys.
Robben's been linked with Milan, they'd be fun to watch if he goes there (imagine a lineup with El Shaarawy and Robben on the wings with Balotelli in the middle...frightening). Pizarro is getting older, but he could probably still do a job for them next year as fourth choice striker/impact sub off of the bench. He probably stays unless he gets a big contract from a Middle Eastern team like Raul did.
@Streetwannabe: Kroos is injured. I forgot about him, he's also amazing and young (probably has a higher ceiling than Scheweinstager and that's saying something). That's why I felt this Gotze purchase was very unnecessary because Bayern already has one of the deepest, youngest, most talented squads in Europe. To make things even less fair, they're not even suffering from heavy debt/financial problems like a lot of Spanish, Italian, or English teams playing at the top level are. This team is such a well-run business and are only now about to take over the footballing world. I wish I could do a valuation on this club because if this were a public entity, I would invest in them right away and have been saying that since I started following them back in 2009 (the first year I actually started watching Euro Football after loving the Euro 2008 competition).
Didn't know he was injured, that sucks. Hope he's fit for final because I love watching him play. And yeah, it is a very interesting model (say as opposed to Arsenal whose profit model is; raise good players and sell them, instead of just trying to win). There was recently a very good article on FoxSoccer on the different league's financial structures, here's a basic breakdown: Spain and Italy- Winner takes all model (hence teams like Barca/Madrid/AC/Inter/Juve who have all the money and win every year)
Germany and England- More communal, winner only earns 3:1 as much as bottom team as opposed to something like 9:1 in Spain.
Im gonna nut in my pants if Borussia Dortmund wins the final over Bayern. Germany would explode I think.
On a separate note, does anyone else find it interesting that Borussia Dortmund is publicly traded company? Besides a handful of prominent Portuguese and Dutch teams, no other brand name FCs do this...
ManU?
Rangers raised £20mm in an IPO, I think they're listed on the London Exchange.
Celtic definitely does, not sure about any others as I've never found it that interesting of an "investment".
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/s…
Can't wait for borussia vs real match. Both teams play really well on the counter, and play an aggressive style. Should be a great match.
Hala Madrid
(but ya BVB is fun to watch)
I got a silver banana to give to the first person who can guess the correct score of the Real vs BvB game. I believe it's at BvB's stadium in case it matters (correct me if I'm mistaken). I'm thinking it'll be a 1-1 tie. BvB will play defensively to prevent conceding at home but Real will have too much firepower to be completely shut out. Ronaldo should score 1 on a header/set piece, but Real's shaky back-line will get exposed on a Borussia counter after overextending.
2-1 Madrid
3-1 Madrid
Oh my. 7 minutes and BvB is up
2-0 BvB! Late to the show since they already scored, but it's a long game and I would guess this anyways.
BVB!!
Ouch. Controversial play. Was that a penalty? Ronaldo with the equalizer
RONALDOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I guess BVB is going to win 2-1. However, the winning team will be beaten up by Bayern anyway haha
LEWANDOWSKI! What a performance. If they get one more, this tie is over.
It's over. The Spanish reign on world football is done. Germany is the new power
fuck my life
at least it was BVB.
What is going on?! You know that Lewandowski is going somewhere this summer now. 4 goals is ridiculous.
Rumors are saying that Lewandowski is going to Bayern. I'm going to be furious with my team if that's the case. We already have Mandzukic and Gomez who are in their primes and we have Pizzaro off the bench. Gotze alone was unnecessary but Lewandowski is just too much.
OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. I'd love Bayern to get another talented striker, but seriously, I want to see the Bundesliga improve as well and the Dortmund-Bayern rivalry is a great way to increase the popularity of the league. I'd hate to see Dortmund get liquidated right when the club turned the corner.
Yeah, I doubt he'd go to Bayern (idk if they'd be willing to dish out 32mm for Gotze and another +30mm for Lewandowski), but Manchester United, City, Madrid, Chelsea are all viable suitors.
But I agree, I really hope BVB keep their core team and talent so that they can keep some competition in the Bundesliga.
There's big talk about Lewandowski going to Man U. I could see City or Chelsea also. Doubt he goes to Spain
I dunno if BvB will be willing to sell Lewandoski after they just got rid of Gotze, even if he asks to leave. That will pretty much just decimate the team, and then you will see Hummels, gundogan, and reus want to leave too. If they do sell him tho, I can't really see a good replacement that would be willing to join BvB, except maybe Jovetic.
I love the way BvB plays, it would be a shame if they start to become characterized as a selling team right after they started to become a force again. (Arsenal fans know all too well how that feels)
Lol I'm an Arsenal fan when it comes to Premier League football and I've been so frustrated with the team and their constant selling. Imagine how good the team would have been if they kept Nasri, Fabregas, Van Persie, Alex Song, etc. combined with Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxalade-Chamberlain, etc. They'd be a top 5 team in Europe lagging only the current semi-finalists.
There are whispers today that they signed Stevan Jovetic though, so there might still be hope for The Gunners after all, but they're likely out of the Champions League for next season unless Tottenham/Chelsea choke or they miraculously beat Manchester United this weekend.
Fellow Arsenal man here. Frustration is the word. I understand its a business and no one knows that more than Arsene (who incidentally I feel if he wasnt a smart educated man, would have thrown a hissy fit by now. I def feel there is something to the point that because he has an Econ degree, he relates to the business side more than the football side). Nasri, I'm OK with going, it was very good value. And he's proved to be inconsistent. Fabregas was always leaving but its interesting with his situation. He clearly doesnt fit into that side, and the coach doesnt play him enough with squad rotation etc, I could see him leaving.
The fact that they're still chasing Champ League qualification shows how good Wenger is and how good the side could be with a few additions. A striker and a defender are definites. I feel they could do with a holding player and another goalkeeper. Vermalaen is not the same player anymore, so I wouldnt be averse to selling him.
I like Jovetic but I think he's kind of redundant with Cazorla and Wilshere there. He's not an out and out striker so it could be replicating things. I'd like to see 3/4 players come in to add to the squad but more if some leave (i.e Podolski, etc)
@Accrual, they may also sign Lars Bender from Bayer Lev. this summer to fill Diaby gap! God I hope they sign A) Good defensive mid B) Top striker C) A half competent defense man.
Arsenal's defense is god awful to watch and embarrassing.
Completely agree. They play that ridiculous zone marking on corners and its so infuriating. Definitely need a few defenders in.
Apparently they have £70mm to spend if they end up qualifying for the CL. I think they'll sneak into the top four this year, have you seen their remaining fixtures? Man U will be tough as always, but they have nothing to play for and have to come to Emirates. Rest of their fixtures are QPR, Wigan, and Newcastle (all in the bottom five at the moment). Chelsea has the Europa tie and at least one of Chelsea/Tottenham will have to drop points when they play each other.
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