Champions League final thread

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 24 May 2014, 12:43 pm

7:45pm. Lisbon. Madrid Derby

Doesn't get much bigger than this!

Benzema and Pepe doubts for Real, appears Costa may make it for Atletico

I can't call it, I hope Atletico do it for not only our resident Madrid fan Kia, but also to top off a fairytale season.

Can't beat a bit of champions league anthem

by kingraf Sat 24 May 2014, 12:58 pm

Spent the last three weeks telling everyone this is nothing more than a trophy ceremony, and la decima is in the bag. In reality I know it's a lot closer than that. My family in Madrid got themselves some tickets, so so I hope they see my afore mentioned trophy procession.

by NickisBHAFC Sat 24 May 2014, 3:40 pm

Should of got the shorter video Olly.

Come on Athletico!!!!!!!! Packed Red Lion. Athletico scarfs will be worn. Makings of a good night.

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 6:27 pm

Tight, cagey affair no doubt. Both sides prefer to counter, therefore see them cancelling each other out. Simeone won't allow the space for Bale/Ronaldo either. I don't see this being a fantastic match, probably a 1-0 or penalties.

by Bull Sat 24 May 2014, 6:49 pm

Turan misses out.

by Bull Sat 24 May 2014, 8:15 pm

Boring.

by Fernando Sat 24 May 2014, 8:22 pm

Atletico 1-0 Godin after a major man sausage up by Casillas. That's why Diego Lopez is league no.1

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 8:26 pm

Yeah that was a shocker from Casillas.

by The Special Juan Sat 24 May 2014, 8:28 pm

Why would they play Casillas in the biggest game of all then?

by Bull Sat 24 May 2014, 8:30 pm

Iker >>>> Diego

by The Special Juan Sat 24 May 2014, 8:31 pm

Not these days it appears.

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 8:32 pm

The Special Juan wrote:Why would they play Casillas in the biggest game of all then?

I'm not a fan of chopping and changing keepers.

by kingraf Sat 24 May 2014, 8:32 pm

Bull wrote:Iker >>>> Diego

He really isn't.

by Fernando Sat 24 May 2014, 8:32 pm

Bull wrote:Iker >>>> Diego

If he was that good he'd be keeper in the league Whistle

It's like going Anders Lindegaard > David De Gea

by Bull Sat 24 May 2014, 8:33 pm

I prefer Iker.

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 8:34 pm

Bull wrote:I prefer Ikea.

Interesting Bull.

by Champagne_Socialist Sat 24 May 2014, 8:35 pm

I think Iker is better. Casillas fell out with Mourinho which is why Mourinho dropped him and it looks like ancelotti has dropped casillas to signal a new era eg when Mclaren dropped Beckham in 2007.

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 8:37 pm

Thats 2 of the premier managers in world football that don't fancy Iker.

Atletico on the brink. Might see Real get desperate, Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema invisible

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 8:39 pm

Bale was certainly visible when he fluffed that golden chance but I take your point G.

Can't see Real winning this in 90. Can't see Atletico conceding either.

by kingraf Sat 24 May 2014, 8:40 pm

Champagne_Socialist wrote:I think Iker is better. Casillas fell out with Mourinho which is why Mourinho dropped him and it looks like ancelotti has dropped casillas to signal a new era eg when Mclaren dropped Beckham in 2007.

So Carlo, in all his wisdom, is ushering in a new era, with a player just as old as Iker? I like Casillas, always have, but he hasn't been great shakes for a while. This was a major balls up though. Can't really be too angry, as its the sort keepers make from time to time, he just didn't get away with it.

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 8:43 pm

Ronaldo had a habit of underperforming in big games at United. If he can't rise to this occasion

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 8:43 pm

John wrote:Tight, cagey affair no doubt. Both sides prefer to counter, therefore see them cancelling each other out. Simeone won't allow the space for Bale/Ronaldo either. I don't see this being a fantastic match, probably a 1-0 or penalties.

Pretty much spot on so far.

by Hammersmith harrier Sat 24 May 2014, 8:45 pm

Ancelotti isn't one for doing things for the sake of it, he'll have dropped Casillas because he thinks Lopez is better, simple.

Loving Keane getting ready to blow at the mention of that being a headbutt.

by kingraf Sat 24 May 2014, 8:45 pm

Jose must be having a quiet chuckle at the possibility of Real going trophyless. Because of a St Iker blunder.

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 8:47 pm

Much like Wenger is having a quiet chuckle at Jose going trophyless?

by Hammersmith harrier Sat 24 May 2014, 8:47 pm

GSC wrote:Ronaldo had a habit of underperforming in big games at United. If he can't rise to this occasion

He was fairly pivotal to us winning it in 2008, a lazy generalisation that doesn't factor in all the class performances he had in many important games.

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 8:47 pm

Not like you to blow your own trumpet John Laugh

Even though it is pretty much spot on!

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 8:48 pm

If you extend your definition of big game to most game sure.

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 8:50 pm

You almost feel Real need another Zidane moment. Atletico unlikely to be too open

by kingraf Sat 24 May 2014, 8:52 pm

GSC wrote:If you extend your definition of big game to most game sure.

Champs league final goal does seem a rather loose definition of the term.

didn't he score a 40-yard winner vs Porto?

by Hammersmith harrier Sat 24 May 2014, 8:53 pm

In 08 and 09 he was brilliant in the knockout stages of the champions league, like I said it's a lazy generalisation based on nothing.

by kingraf Sat 24 May 2014, 8:57 pm

Angel has been mighty impressive, taken to a more centralized role like a duck to water

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 24 May 2014, 8:58 pm

Neville comparing Atletico to Mourinho's Chelsea couldn't be more wrong

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 8:59 pm

Olly wrote:Neville comparing Atletico to Mourinho's Chelsea couldn't be more wrong

I think Neville peaked a couple of years ago. Now come the soundbites and cliches.

by Hammersmith harrier Sat 24 May 2014, 9:01 pm

In fairness this is one of the worst finals i've ever seen.

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 9:02 pm

Hammersmith harrier wrote:In fairness this is one of the worst finals i've ever seen.

The 03 final will take some beating. Utter dross that was.

by kingraf Sat 24 May 2014, 9:03 pm

Hammersmith harrier wrote:In fairness this is one of the worst finals i've ever seen.

It really is, but that's how Atleti want it

by The Special Juan Sat 24 May 2014, 9:04 pm

If they win this without Costa and Turan it will be a momentous effort.

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 9:05 pm

This, clearly, isn't going to be Real's night.

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 9:06 pm

Ronaldo maybe taking it off Benzemas toe. Real getting at Atletico for the first time

by Hammersmith harrier Sat 24 May 2014, 9:07 pm

Intra-national finals do seem to exhibit less quality than usual, not that there's been many classic finals in recent years.

by Fernando Sat 24 May 2014, 9:08 pm

Gabi & Miranda being absolute tanks for Atletico.

Sosa on for Raul Garcia.

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 9:09 pm

25 minutes from immortality

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 9:15 pm

Bale has been awful

by Guest Sat 24 May 2014, 9:20 pm

Anxious finish there by Bale.

by GSC Sat 24 May 2014, 9:22 pm

Real are just praying a chance falls to someone else

by TopoftheChops Sat 24 May 2014, 9:22 pm

atletico playing the perfect game at the moment

by CFCNick Sat 24 May 2014, 9:24 pm

TopoftheChops wrote:atletico playing the perfect game at the moment

I hope you're not one those people that slagged off Chelsea for doing the same.

by **owen10ozzy** Sat 24 May 2014, 9:29 pm

Godin has been a beast; as per usual!! And duty thinks Uruguay only have Suarez and Cavani!

If Bale, Ronaldo and Co can't get past Godin then I don't see Welbeck and Sturridge fairing much better.

Credit to Simeone, incredible achievement regardless of if they go on to win this. Is this the birth of the 'Special One Part II'...

by Hammersmith harrier Sat 24 May 2014, 9:31 pm

Godin does have 10 other players helping him out, he's not keeping them out by himself.

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