2012/13 UEFA Champions League thread

[Kaney]

PODOLSKI

[Monkey D. Lars]

Lewandowski 4-0

[Matt]

Come on Ajax, Kiev and Olympiakos, please score.

[stokeriño]

Loved Mourinho with the 5 added minutes. Classic.

[GoGo Yubari]

That reaction was priceless.

[Starvinho]

1-1 FT. Fair result.

[Cheeky Hughes]

I doubt anything would have come of it, but how the bloody hell can the referee blow for full time on a fast counter attack at exactly five minutes, after all Real's timewasting? Bit shoddy.

Quite like our campaign in general really.

[Baddar]

Oh, grand. United-Real in the last 16, then. :/

[FLiam]

Wow, that Mexes goal. Out of this world.

[Matt]

So the final 16 is pretty much set already, in fact next Tuesday's games are pretty much irrelevant apart from placings.

Porto and PSG

Arsenal and Schalke

Malaga and AC

Dortmund and Real

Shaktar/Juventus/Chelsea

Bayern and Valencia

Barcelona and Benfica/Celtic

Man Utd and Galtasaray/Cluj

[Starvinho]

Oh, grand. United-Real in the last 16, then. :/

Don't be silly, we're United, we'll obviously get a favourable draw.

[GoN_]

Well, I doubt we (Benfica) go through. Unless Celtic screws it up big time.

[Kaney]

I fucking hope you don't go through.

[GoN_]

Well "I fucking hope" we do. I doubt it will happen anyway. Barcelona will crush us once again and Celtic won't lose in Scotland to Spartak so, nothing to worry there, pal.

[stokeriño]

Bless you Matt for including Chelsea on that list.

[Matt]

Bless you Matt for including Chelsea on that list.

Well... It could happen.

[stokeriño]

Yes. Although I will have to try extra-hard at Stamford Bridge not to spend half the match glancing up at the big screen for possible Shakhtar/Juve updates.

[Marcos]

It looks to be a very tough selection of teams who are likely to finish 2nd in their groups.

As it stands just now: PSG, Arsenal, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus, Valencia, Benfica/Celtic and Galatasaray/Cluj. I can see some cracking last 16 ties against those who won their group (United, Barca, Bayern (if they do finish top)).

Although saying that it'll probably all change in the next round of fixtures and it'll make for some shit games!

[brenchill]

I think Guardiola will be disaster. He did so well with Barca because he inherited Xavi, Messi and Iniesta. Barring bringing Pique back, his dealings in the transfer market were laughable most of the time.

Yes, because David Villa, Alexis Sanchez, Daniel Alves are awful. Hell, even Mascherano...

Btw, do you know how was the Barca he inherithed that had Xavi, Messi and Iniesta?

http://en.wikipedia....80%9308_La_Liga

Oh and by the way, that Rijkaard team also had Ronaldinho and Deco...

David Villa? Are you kidding me? He cost a fortune and has barely played. Alexis Sanchez has hardly lived up to his reputation either.

I don't understand the point you are trying to make with the link?

[Matt]

I think Guardiola will be disaster. He did so well with Barca because he inherited Xavi, Messi and Iniesta. Barring bringing Pique back, his dealings in the transfer market were laughable most of the time.

Yes, because David Villa, Alexis Sanchez, Daniel Alves are awful. Hell, even Mascherano...

Btw, do you know how was the Barca he inherithed that had Xavi, Messi and Iniesta?

http://en.wikipedia....80%9308_La_Liga

Oh and by the way, that Rijkaard team also had Ronaldinho and Deco...

David Villa? Are you kidding me? He cost a fortune and has barely played. Alexis Sanchez has hardly lived up to his reputation either.

I don't understand the point you are trying to make with the link?

Bit harsh on Sanchez, only 23 and he scored 12 goals (+5 assists) in 20 starts (+5 sub appearances) in the league last year. That's not bad at all. Villa's record is hardly terrible either, you can't really blame Pep for him getting injured.

Edit: I don't even disagree that Barca made a fair few poor signings under Guardiola but Sanchez and Villa really aren't great examples of that.