CL Last 16

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Part Moyes, part the squad SAF left him. Naive in the extreme to think yesterday would've ended up any different with SAF at the helm

NickisBHAFC wrote:Why are they saying Bale has the flu? If he had the flu he would 100% be at home in bed. He obviously has a cold.

Lovely opening goal by Madrid, sexy football.

Been a very good even game so far.

Luka Modric been the best player on the pitch for me.

Man flu, deadly.

Seriously though Madrid haven't played since last Wednesday and Bale only returned to the camp yesterday - vaguely possible he had flu and a couple of days in bed.

Early yet, but if BM don't get to the final. Will Guardiola get some stick?

Man Utd pushed BM for 145 minutes until crumbling.  

Could you imagine a Chelsea - Bayern final? Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

The Special Juan wrote:Could you imagine a Chelsea - Bayern final?  Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Chelsea in the final will be them with a back 6 3 defensive midfielders and a striker asked to do the impossible.

Did you see the instance last night when an Atletico player cut in on the edge of the box to shoot - Chelsea had a back four (position wise) and 2 holding midfielders between the penalty spot and edge of the box - and they still managed to get 2 players onto the line either side of the goal keeper.

I've never seen anything like it.

gawd we had a go at chelse and some degree Athletico- but these two arnt setting the world on fire either

Aye, just one of those years where the first two legs have been pretty boring. All four sides have not wanted to be out of it unlike last year.

Bale to score one of his trademark 20 yarders would light up this game.

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Could you imagine a Chelsea - Bayern final?  Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Chelsea in the final will be them with a back 6 3 defensive midfielders and a striker asked to do the impossible.

Did you see the instance last night when an Atletico player cut in on the edge of the box to shoot - Chelsea had a back four (position wise) and 2 holding midfielders between the penalty spot and edge of the box - and they still managed to get 2 players onto the line either side of the goal keeper.

I've never seen anything like it.

Yeah they were taking defensive football to a new level. Unbelievable.

This game has been more intriguing, yesterday was just dull.

Lineker tweeting he would get his ears pinned back if this finished 0-0.

Good call Howard

terrible semis, home teams so worried about the away goals and with so much to lose there just not attacking. be better to get rid of away goals

webb had a very good game

The Special Juan wrote:Could you imagine a Chelsea - Bayern final?  Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Exactly, seen it before and we saw it again in the Super Cup. I really hope Athletico can get a result at the Bridge, or if Real can somehow hold on in Munich.

But i think its looking like a Chelsea vs Munich final sadly.

1-0 is a great result to take to bayern.

Madrid will counter attack all night long.

Worth remembering that Madrid nearly threw away a 3-0 lead in Dortmund (really should've done Mkhitaryan missed some sitters)

Very true.

No Ronaldo in that game and Dortmund are much more direct, more of a threat to Madrid's goal.

Going to be a very close tie in my opinion, Madrid have a great chance of going through - thought Bayern would have an away goal.

Agreed with what the sky pundits were saying after the game, Bayern are playing pedestrian football, they have two of the best and quickest wingers in the world and they are just wasted cutting in and slowly passing it back to the midfielders. Constantly crossing it in to one man in the box, Madrid and United are both poor defensively but they created few clear cut opportunities in those games. Boateng, Dante and Rafinha are abysmal at the back, nothing wrong with bossing the game but you have to have some end product and with every round they some to be less and less potent. Wasn't impressed with Madrid either tbh, but they are in the driving seat imo.

monty junior wrote:Agreed with what the sky pundits were saying after the game, Bayern are playing pedestrian football, they have two of the best and quickest wingers in the world and they are just wasted cutting in and slowly passing it back to the midfielders. Constantly crossing it in to one man in the box, Madrid and United are both poor defensively but they created few clear cut opportunities in those games. Boateng, Dante and Rafinha are abysmal at the back, nothing wrong with bossing the game but you have to have some end product and with every round they some to be less and less potent. Wasn't impressed with Madrid either tbh, but they are in the driving seat imo.

It's funny that they've come round to this point of view - a few of them were trying to bring it up against United but Souness was having none of it, saying they were one of the best around and in full flight could hammer anyone.

I expected them to get an away goal and go through but I can see Madrid playing in exactly the same manner and with a fit Ronaldo and Bale seriously exploiting Bayern on the counter.

Yea exactly, I thought they would get an away goal too but you get the feeling without one they are really going to struggle. Unless Pep drills it in to them to be more direct i'm not sure how they really plan to score the necessary goals to go through. The only time they created a genuine chance was when Robben ran direct and it was cut back to Gotze. Barca played a style that suited their smaller and more intricate players, playing the same way, but it was quicker and sharper, Bayern don't have a Messi,Xavi or Iniesta to unlock a defence. They have far bigger, stronger and dynamic players and they should have stuck to those strengths.

football's a funny game. look at the stats and it looks like Bayern dominated last night. However I honestly feel Madrid can be a little disappointed to only have the one goal advantage. They wasted a couple of really good chances and got in behind the Bayern high line on more than a few occasions.

I expect Madrid to score in the return leg, so Bayern would have to score at least 3 to progress. On last night's showing it's going to be tough. I thought they looked very very average last night really.

Both home sides are going to have to attack at some stage. That leaves them vulnerable to the counter attack which both Madrid teams can do well.

I think both Bayern and Chelsea are happy at the goal difference but both will be wary of the away goal threat. I think it's all pretty even. Both home teams are well capable of scoring but both can concede as well. Not thrilling stuff so far but at some stage the home sides will press forward and the away sides will fancy their chances if they can regain possession and launch a counter.

TBH, I can't call any of the two games. Who plays better on the day really!

Not a stand-out team left.

One other thing. I have always wanted whichever British team was left to win.

It's just, i don't want JM to win.

Such a dilemma. And i mean it.

Who's looking forward to tonight then?

Some overrated foreigners, with a whistle-happy ref, throwing themselves on the floor in varying combinations and states of "injury". The backdrop will be a corporate stadium with no atmosphere, save for the whistling that Munich will get as they make 300 sideway passes in the first ten minutes.

All that, with Tyldesley and Townsend sending you to the brink of despair, before Keane says something needlessly controversial.

Predictions? I'll say Ribery for the best dive, narrowly pipping his team-mate Robben. Bayern to win by about 500 passes, but lose on goals scored.

Who says football is dead?

I'll go with a score draw.

Duty you bitch!

I don't care who wins. We'll still beat them in Lisbon.

CFCNick wrote:I don't care who wins. We'll still bore them in Lisbon.

All about winning Nick.

Pardon, Freek?

And Nick - I sure hope (and think) so.

tight in the beginning, bayern get desperate, robben/ribery flopping about & diving, real break and score. prob end 2-1 to bayern or 2-2. hope madrid win, cant stand pep & watching another bayern final will bore me no end. like to see a mourinho/ancelotti final and ronaldo back in lisbon.

Hope Madrid get to the final and win it personally. Love Ronaldo as a utd fan and also a massive fan of Bale being welsh myself.

Tonight, see it being almost identical to the 1st leg but with Bayern scoring with home advantage. I can see it finishing 1-1 or 2-1 Bayern, with Madrid going through on away goals.

You're welsh and a utd fan liam??!

Life hasn't dealt you a good hand has it

2-1 madrid


come on Madrid

Olly wrote:You're welsh and a utd fan liam??!

Life hasn't dealt you a good hand has it

Wales in Norfolk Olly?

Geography was never my bag!   

Real are my preference from here on in. Mean Real won't win it.

Whoever scores first tonight progresses for me. I think it'll be a decent game.

The Allianz Arena is a lot of things, but empty in atmosphere is not one of them.

I assume every other stadium in world football is a corporate stadium by your reckoning?

When you've manned the main stand at Treyew Road Rafa every other stadium pales into significance.

It's constant noise Raf which doesn't mean it's a good atmosphere, there's no ebb and flow to the noise which makes it mundane and boring.

One thing UEFA got right

The champions league anthem

Goosebumps everytime

I've been there. It's an amazing stadia, and whatever your complaints of it's atmosphere, I can honestly say I didn't think it was lacking.

I suppose it depends on your definition Freek. Greatest atmosphere I've ever felt was at the Wanderers in a ODI against England. Felt like I was in choreographed pantomime. God love Kevin Pietersen. Ellis Park is also alright once all the Afrikaans people have had enough to drink, but you spend the last ten minutes wondering whether your car is still where you left it.

If RM get one out of the first two goals, i see it being a hard night for BM.

Adrian asking if Real fans wish they had Jose to "shut up shop or whatever the Spanish is".

Erm....... doesn't he know Real's semi final record under Jose???

Feel like a banana.

It feels a bit championship at the moment. RM cant string a pass together

oh Bale!!!!

Pretty bad miss from Bale there.

I hate Ribery

I like Pepe's fro. He seems quite groovy with it on.

Munich 0-1 Madrid. Deserved from Madrid, been the better side so far.

3 goals for Munich needed now. This is going to be very interesting.

Tie over.