Champions League 2024/25

jsp said:
Decided not to watch last night.

Didn't want to jinx it like I did last week.

Good that they're out.

Huge result for PSG they've always been the bottle jobs in Europe.
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They had to fight for it, Liverpool had them under the cosh in the second half.

Their team does look very good this year. You were right!
 
I don't see them in the league as the games are on DAZN but in the CL games when I've seen them they look really good.

Think the worry would be the attackers are all a bit flaky not sure there's 1 that you'd bank on taking the chances in games. Dembele is flying and has the quality but we've seen with him throughout his career form can come and go.

Think it's a pretty wide open field once we get the quarter final line up, doesn't look like any of the teams are unbeatable this year everyone has got a weakness
 
Dembele's form is stupid - 21 goals in his last 15 games, 29 goals for the season. He's in the sort of form that can win you a CL.

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on PSG though, I only decided to take a proper look since you said they've got a great team.

I'd agree with you on the winners though, it's a tough year to call.

Looking forward to the Madrid game tonight! That's finely balanced.
 
It's hard to watch a lot of the teams this season unless you've got a dodgy feed because all the leagues are now on different channels.

I'd heard a few things about PSG through various podcasts that I listen to but was only when I saw them play City that I thought they looked the real deal. The absolutely wiped the floor with them and that midfield gives them great control of games.

Dembele's stats are insane he just looks a totally different player this season. I saw someone say they'd done a lot of work with him on just hitting the target rather than trying to hit the perfect shot every time and it's totally changed his game.

Barca look very good but that high line I think could be exploited by a team who's got some good midfield runners that can do the third man run to get in behind them.

I'll watch that Madrid game tonight should be a cracker.
 
Once it went to pens Liverpool were all but doomed - Donnarumma is an absolute don in penalty shoot outs!
 
Madrid have to be the favourites from what I have seen. PSG do have the team to break down their defence, but going forward there is no comparison to Madrid

Bayern and Barca are a notch down from those two.

But any of that 4 winning would not be a surprise. But you've got to back Madrid really, given their history in the comp, their forwards and the fact UEFA refs are easy on them.
 
I never noticed Donarumma had a face scar before. So I looked it up, it was from a stud, nasty challange, lots of blood.
 
Barca have given Madrid a couple of heavy defeats this season so hard to see how they are a notch below but I do kind of agree with you.

In this competition you can't really go against Madrid.
 
I love how stupidly big the technical areas are at the Atletico Madrid stadium. That’s the Simeone influence right there
 
Yeah both teams just cancelling each other out very few chances so far.
 
Haven’t seen a replay but assume that one landed somewhere near the bernebau
 
He's went for the unstoppable pen - top corner with power, and missed it badly. I try them all the time and fail, they're so hard.
 
Hard and low across your body is always the way to go with a pen.

Right footer hit bottom left, left footer goes bottom right.

Ball always pulling away from the keeper.

It’s gone to pens.

Have to fancy Atletico here the Real players look shattered.
 
Hmmm, remember when I said UEFA love a real win. How was that pen disallowed
 
not controversial at all he’s kicked it twice.

So cruel on Atletico.

Oblak should save that last pen, maybe just beaten by the power but he will be fuming he didn’t keep that out.
 
Atletico are so unlucky there.

Disallowing their pen makes no sense, it doesn't give the pen taker any advantage at all to hit it with both boots at the same time. If anything it's a disadvantage.

I suppose the rule is there so you can't run up and touch it out of your feet or feign a direction.
 
Has he? I've not seen the aftermath but didn't look it to me.
 
jsp said:
Hard and low across your body is always the way to go with a pen.

Right footer hit bottom left, left footer goes bottom right.
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Disagree with this.

As a right footed player. You pick the ball up. Put it down stare at the bottom left post and place it bottom right. Whilst it's easier to get more power if you're going left you should be going high as you arent going to get it as far across going left. As a right footed player if you're going low you should be going right because it's a lot quicker and easier to create that angle to the post to the right. Just need to make sure you disguise it.
 
IDFD said:
Disagree with this.

As a right footed player. You pick the ball up. Put it down stare at the bottom left post and place it bottom right. Whilst it's easier to get more power if you're going left you should be going high as you arent going to get it as far across going left. As a right footed player if you're going low you should be going right because it's a lot quicker and easier to create that angle to the post to the right. Just need to make sure you disguise it.
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Always feel if you go right you lose power. Means if you don’t get it right in the corner then the keeper has more of a chance.

Power beats the keeper if he goes the right way.
 
Quarter Final line up

PSG vs Villa
Real Madrid vs Arsenal
Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich
Dortmund vs Barcelona
 
Not sure how long before Saka is back for Arsenal feels like they'll need him over the two legs to beat Madrid.

Madrid I thought last night looked really poor going forward but you saw flashes of what those front players can do but Atletico didn't give them to many chances to exploit. Though Mbappe's run for the penalty was frightening the speed that guy changes direction at is unreal and it was the one time where Atletico let him get open in space the rest of the time they had someone right up his back every time.

Very hard to see Villa beating that PSG side if they can keep up this sort of form probably feels like it'll be a step to far for Villa. Same for Dortmund up against Barcelona very hard to see how they get the better of them over the two legs.
 
Madrid looked exhausted. I dont see Arsenal beating them though.

PSG look like the team to beat.
 
jsp said:
Always feel if you go right you lose power. Means if you don’t get it right in the corner then the keeper has more of a chance.

Power beats the keeper if he goes the right way.
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The majority of keepers will also be right handed/footed meaning they are better at diving to their right (the players left) especially when getting down low and will have a longer reach and a stronger hand. What you may lose in power you do gain in accuracy and I think you're more likely to scuff it going left and low. These players have to have a bit of variety though. Keepers are aware of their usual tendencies. Not like us down the football pitch who can use the same pen routine every time.

Don't really like any of the teams left. Will cheer on an unexpected Villa or Dortmund win!
 
IDFD said:
The majority of keepers will also be right handed/footed meaning they are better at diving to their right (the players left) especially when getting down low and will have a longer reach and a stronger hand. What you may lose in power you do gain in accuracy and I think you're more likely to scuff it going left and low. These players have to have a bit of variety though. Keepers are aware of their usual tendencies. Not like us down the football pitch who can use the same pen routine every time.

Don't really like any of the teams left. Will cheer on an unexpected Villa or Dortmund win!
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For me I had quite a powerful shot so that's why I always went that way and when you watch players take pens most will go across the body as you are pulling the ball into side netting on the left side rather than pushing it on the right side if that makes sense. When I was in goal always found it easier to spot players opening their body to go to the right side so you could go early.

Top players have to mix it up now because the keepers have access to so much more data on where you put your pens they can play the percentages. It's why I think so many players now play the waiting game with the keeper.

Bellingham took a great pen in this game he sliced the ball on purpose to trick the keeper everything about his setup looks like it's going left but he actually kicks it right. The disguise on that is really tough for the keeper to read you'd basically have to assume it's a bluff.

Can't be having a British side win it if it isn't us.
 
Hope Madrid stuff Arsenal - that is my one hope for these QF’s.

I reckon Inter might take out Bayern. But would fully expect PSG, Madrid and Barcelona to win through.
 

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