European Football Thread

[Gazz]

He's good, he's no Ryan Taylor though.

[MJB]

Phenomenal free kick.

Ronaldo to go and grab one up the other end now, then?

Yes.

Messi 2-2 Ronaldo.

[Jimmy]

I should've bet on it, really

[IAceI]

Back on the Barcelona v Real Madrid match after a brief affair in Milan. Messi versus Ronaldo, irresistible - the two best players in the world do battle with each other. If one of these sides gets Neymar it'll just be unfair on everyone else.

Over in Marseille, PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 2 in 2 minutes. Just keeping up with Jones', or the Messi's and Ronaldo's at least.

Edited October 7, 2012 by IAceI

[IAceI]

My God did you see what that nearly was!? Montoya of all people hitting the bar.

[EddieG]

ROQUE SANTA CRUZ!

[IAceI]

Will always do a job will Santa Cruz.

Mancini is in the ground and reportedly sat with Falcao's agent. May also be looking at Isco.

[EddieG]

He can keep his fucking hands off.

[Lineker]

Being in Spain for el Classico is great.

[IAceI]

Currently Dortmund 1 Schalke 2 in a massive derby game for these two teams. No Kuba or Goetze for Dortmund but Reus seems to be doing everything he can to ensure they get something out of this. Affelay had Schalke 1-0 up early doors and then Hoger right after half time on the break. Reus just whipped in a free kick for Lewandowski to get one back. Half an hour to go or so, atmosphere is electric.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Fuck me the Barca game sounds mental, going to have to try catch the repeat of that one. Finished 5-4 to Barcelona.

In other news, Milan were 3-0 down to Lazio and pulled it back to 3-2, 15 points off the top and their season continues to go from bad to worst, Allegri is running on borrowed time. Juve continue their unbeaten streak by beating title rivals Napoli 2-0.

[IAceI]

It's crazy for AC Milan. It's almost like selling your best players is counter productive. Who knew?

[Lineker]

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is to open disciplinary proceedings relating to match-fixing at Napoli.

The charges refer to the Serie A club's 1-0 defeat against Sampdoria on the final day of the 2009-10 season.

The club, along with former goalkeeper Matteo Gianello and ex-coach Silvio Giusti, will now face a FIGC disciplinary committee.

Napoli defenders Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava have also been charged for failing to report the alleged fix.

A statement on the federation's official website read: "The FIGC can confirm that, following an investigation by the public prosecutor of Naples, the federal prosecutor will open disciplinary proceedings in relation to the Sampdoria-Napoli match of 16 May, 2010.

"Matteo Gianello, Napoli's former player, and Silvio Giusti, Napoli's former coach, are accused of violating Article 7 (sections 1, 2 and 5) of the sporting code of justice.

"Between them, they are accused of attempting to alter the outcome of the match to secure a victory for Sampdoria in exchange for money.

"[They are] also accused of having approached colleagues Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava, from whom they received a refusal."

A wide-ranging criminal and sporting probe into illegal betting and match-fixing in Italy has already led to several arrests and bans.

Juventus manager Antonio Conte was suspended for 10 months for not reporting match-fixing when he was in charge of Siena, then in Serie B, in the 2010-11 season.

[IAceI]

Zemanlandia is in full swing once again. For all those who became Athletic Bilbao fans last season because of their entertaining football and hate them now because they're rubbish should go watch Roma. It's just thoroughly entertaining football. There feels like there is about 10 goals every match they play. Currently 2-0 up against Udinese thanks to two quick goals from Lamela. Totti is just an absolute force, he gets the ball, turns with it and slips a player in like it's the easiest job in the world.

They were entertaining and unpredictable last year with Luis Enrique well they're even more entertaining and unpredictable with Zeman now. Brilliant fun to watch.

EDIT: And from 2-0 up they're now 3-2 down with just a few minutes to go. Di Natale has scored a spinning outside side foot goal and just chipped a penalty down the middle with 87 on the clock. What a scamp.

Edited October 28, 2012 by IAceI

[Colly]

Nice work Ace.

[IAceI]

I said they were brilliant to watch and unpredictable. I didn't say at any point I thought they would win or even that I thought they would hold onto their 2-0 lead. That's what makes watching Roma so much fun!

[EddieG]

Ace or JohnnyP, or whoever else here watches Serie A.. any chance Juventus are still involved in bribing officials?

How the fuck was this goal disallowed AFTER seemingly some reviews with other officials?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KIkh6gPppo

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

I'd put money on it that they aren't to be honest, though yeah, I watched that game and that decision was piss poor, yet still not half as bad as some others I've seen at times over the last season or so.

[Colly]

Just a linesman error by the looks of it, he's signalled the ref and he's disallowed it. Happens.

[IAceI]

I read something the other day, bad linesman decision in England: "Shit ref, shoot all the officials" bad decision in Italy: "They've paid the officials!"

Probably just a bad decision on the officials part, but I don't really pay enough attention to all the off the pitch goings on in Italy. Or I'd never watch any football