UEFA Champions & Europa League Football Thread ** spoilers ** [18th - 20th April 2023]

I don't think I have ever seen such a poor competition in terms of quality in the teams.

This has got to be one of the easiest Champions Leagues I have seen for City. If they do not win it. It will be pure bottle.
 
adam cool dude said:
I don't think I have ever seen such a poor competition in terms of quality in the teams.

This has got to be one of the easiest Champions Leagues I have seen for City. If they do not win it. It will be pure bottle.
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Not sure I agree there Adam.

City have been unbeaten and drew only 2 games (i think...one v Dortmund? and last night). They look supreme, last night was literally a 'don't **** it up' match and yet they still threatened to score a lot - I feel like you're forgetting the first half which City could have put the tie to bed was it for a inch of a shoulder and unusual miss from Haaland on the spot. No team is perfect through a CL.

Real look like they did last year, ominously able to switch it on at the right moments to blast a team, i wouldn't bet against them via Man City despite the English bias of BT.

Napoli up until last night were playing supreme football, every bit as good as both the teams above, yet have some how just dropped off the boil and were being touted as real potential winners- again the magic of a knock out tournament comes into play and they're out.

Dortmund were taken out by a weird Chelsea side which is full of very talented players that just seemingly can't put a ball in the back of the net. Anyone who watches them can see they create and build up fine. If they could finish the games would be very different matches.

I think there's been plenty of very talented and quality teams to watch this year, but I seemingly recall you spouting that the CL had lost it's magic last year as well...
 
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shipinabottle said:
Not sure I agree there Adam.

City have been unbeaten and drew only 2 games (i think...one v Dortmund? and last night). They look supreme, last night was literally a 'don't **** it up' match and yet they still threatened to score a lot - I feel like you're forgetting the first half which City could have put the tie to bed was it for a inch of a shoulder and unusual miss from Haaland on the spot. No team is perfect through a CL.

Real look like they did last year, ominously able to switch it on at the right moments to blast a team, i wouldn't bet against them via Man City despite the English bias of BT.

Napoli up until last night were playing supreme football, every bit as good as both the teams above, yet have some how just dropped off the boil and were being touted as real potential winners- again the magic of a knock out tournament comes into play and they're out.

Dortmund were taken out by a weird Chelsea side which is full of very talented players that just seemingly can't put a ball in the back of the net. Anyone who watches them can see they create and build up fine. If they could finish the games would be very different matches.

I think there's been plenty of very talented and quality teams to watch this year, but I seemingly recall you spouting that the CL had lost it's magic last year as well...
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I agree City have been supreme. What I am saying is the quality of the other teams in the comp hasn't been great. Any of Arsenal, United or Newcastle would have beaten Bayern imo. Madrid are the only ones who can put up a fight. This is a stark contrast to the level of competition in the Champions League going back only a few seasons.
 
They’ll have to beat Bayern, Real and one of the Milan teams to win it. Three proper minnows of world football.
 
I can kind of see what Adam is saying, it definitely feels like the bigger teams in Europe are a lot weaker this season. Only Real Madrid look close to their best. Napoli clearly having a great season but fall short in Europe, probably because of a lack of experience at this level. When was the last time that the four semi finalists didn't include a single team leading their league? Real are getting dominated by Barca. Milan and Inter are 4th/5th in Serie A! Over 20 pts behind! Only are even competing for the title in their league, they've got to be favourites.
 
Vandle said:
They’ll have to beat Bayern, Real and one of the Milan teams to win it. Three proper minnows of world football.
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You are looking at those teams through a historical context. Bar Real none of them are the giants they once were.

When we played Barca, Bayern, Inter, Juventus to win our treble it was a completely different ball game back then.

Real Madrid are exceptional but are clearly on their last dance. If City win the semi it will be the most 1 sided final since Liverpool demolished Spurs.
 
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adam cool dude said:
If City win the semi it will be the most 1 sided final since Liverpool demolished Spurs.
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I dont recall that to be honest. The final was Liverpool's worst performance in the KO stages. Spurs just capitulated and decided to start an injured Harry Kane rather than the actually fit and in form little brazilian guy. Plus Salah scored penalties back then. He was a machine.
 
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Bayern literally beat every team comfortably up until they faced City who have hit their stride and look the best team in the world right now... Don't think their sacking of a manager meant they were bad, they were bloody good and we saw plenty of it last night bar Upe-Maguire.

Real are nowhere near on their last dance Adam, they've got an average age of 25 and are squad a chock full of young talent performing in this years competition...

I agree the Italian semi (chuckle) appears very weak but I disagree that this years competition has therefore been weak. That side of the draw has had plenty of strong teams that came unstuck for various reasons that are all part of the workings of a tournament.
 
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