UEFA Champions & Europa League 2014-15 Season Thread

by Guest Tue 24 Feb 2015, 9:38 pm

First topic message reminder :

sportform wrote:Messi is no Harry Kane.

by Stella Wed 13 May 2015, 3:36 pm

I'll be cheering on Madrid. I do think Juventus will snatch a win (overall) though. I can see a 1-1

by Guest Wed 13 May 2015, 5:38 pm

Big night for Pogba, been the hype, now he needs to start justifying it on the big stage. Been out for a while & fear he might be rushed back & it backfiring for the lad.

Just going to side with Madrid for this one 3-1.

by socal1976 Wed 13 May 2015, 5:52 pm

kingraf wrote:They didn't pull the breaks, so much as they didn't have the ball. Barça don't know how to hang back. Literally, they all jump in and hope one of them end up with the ball. That's why Thiago was at times just walking past them. Their inability to deal with set plays was also not a case of them not pulling breaks... they literally can't deal with set plays. Bayern aren't a set piece team (think they scored from one corner in 2014?) and they had a free for all.

If Real beat Juve, I'd be reasonably confident of a victory over Barça. We hit the cross bar, and had a razor close off side called in the last Clasico... so a little luck... and a different result is possible. MSN are peaking at the right time though, so if there's a decent ref, one who lets play flow, the final could be Harlem Shake.

As for the Valencia game... it was a good game. But I expect that from Valencia. They had Barça in all sorts of trouble a few weeks ago, but couldn't close the deal, and got caught bad. Good side, and if they can strengthen the side a bit next season, they can be there or thereabouts in la Liga

KR, in the past I would agree that Barca couldn't do much without the ball. But I think this Barca team I much more direct. And they don't need massive amounts of possession as they did in the past. Yes that is still the style they prefer to play. But now they often play a quick long ball to Suarez and bing bang in one or two passes he either scores or sets up the goal. Plus I think with Busquets and Raktic both in there as opposed to Xavi they are more comfortable in playing without the ball.

by Duty281 Wed 13 May 2015, 6:20 pm

LiamB wrote:Big night for Pogba, been the hype, now he needs to start justifying it on the big stage. Been out for a while & fear he might be rushed back & it backfiring for the lad.

Just going to side with Madrid for this one 2-1.

And who takes it after normal time?!

I'll plump for a steady 1-1 draw.

by Guest Wed 13 May 2015, 7:00 pm

Typo 3-1

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 8:07 pm

This game is like the last ten minutes scramble of a cup tie, but from the word go

by Fernando Wed 13 May 2015, 8:10 pm

Madrid 1-0 Juventus - Ronaldo pen

Didn't look a pen at 1st glace.

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 8:10 pm

Juventus' game-plan out of the window. Really clumsy tackle, Juventus have to score now and that will suit Madrid perfectly.

by Guest Wed 13 May 2015, 8:11 pm

Terrible decision

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 8:11 pm

First glance no, second glance yes. Lumped into him, clumsy as hell

by monty junior Wed 13 May 2015, 8:21 pm

Pirlo has been absolutely rubbish so far.

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 8:24 pm

Game is being played at far too high of a pace for Pirlo to be effective.

Real Madrid are very open considering they're through if the score stays the same.

by monty junior Wed 13 May 2015, 8:25 pm

Yup, Juve need to change things up in the midfield.

by monty junior Wed 13 May 2015, 8:30 pm

Think the referee will be unveiling his pink Real shirt at the end of the game.

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 8:32 pm

I think he's been fine to be honest.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 8:33 pm

Real have been wonderful

by Duty281 Wed 13 May 2015, 8:34 pm

Poor old Juventus - victims of a horrendous decision.

Still, open game, certainly more chances to come.

by Hammersmith harrier Wed 13 May 2015, 8:40 pm

A penalty for that?

Would never have been given or even taken seriously in the other penalty area.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 8:51 pm

That was pretty clear!

by Fernando Wed 13 May 2015, 9:02 pm

Madrid 1-1 Juventus - Morata

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:03 pm

Madrid have to score 2 then to go through. Needed a lot more control in the midfield.

by Duty281 Wed 13 May 2015, 9:03 pm

Yes, Juve, yes!

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:09 pm

Sentimentality must be the only reason Madrid have kept Casillas, he's been really poor for a while now and Mourinho was totally right to drop him. There are lots of better goalkeepers in world football now.

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:14 pm

Ancelotti has to sub Bale off, he's totally gone mentally from this one it seems. I expected him to stay at Madrid but on this display, I wonder whether his heart is in it at all.

by NickisBHAFC Wed 13 May 2015, 9:15 pm

Come on Juve!!!!!

by monty junior Wed 13 May 2015, 9:17 pm

Pirlo is like a rag doll out there, so past his best.

What a chance for Bale!

by Fernando Wed 13 May 2015, 9:18 pm

Well that's a penalty Laugh

I love the Madrid fan who launched the ball back at Bale narrowly missing his face...

by Fernando Wed 13 May 2015, 9:20 pm

Scrap that not a penalty Ok!

Juventus getting chances on the break now Ok!

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:22 pm

Real Madrid have not been great in the second half, Ronaldo hasn't really been in the game.

by Fernando Wed 13 May 2015, 9:23 pm

Barzagli on for Pirlo

#DefensiveMasterclassTime Laugh

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:28 pm

It was so good from Real first half, but they should have scored more. Now they have played worse but missed chances.

by **Crimey** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:29 pm

Real Madrid do lack depth attacking-wise.

by Hammersmith harrier Wed 13 May 2015, 9:37 pm

Bale has mentally checked out at Madrid, he looks like a man longing for the comforts of England and a less demanding media.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:38 pm

Isco is frustrating

by Fernando Wed 13 May 2015, 9:39 pm

FT Madrid 1-1 Juventus

Juventus through 3-2 on Agg

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:40 pm

TEVEZ, PIRLO, VIDAL Very Happy

by Duty281 Wed 13 May 2015, 9:41 pm

Yes Juve.

As for Bale, he was never world-class, hence he's failing to meet some unrealistic expectations based on some form which he could never maintain, particularly in such an alien environment.

by Hammersmith harrier Wed 13 May 2015, 9:41 pm

Such a refreshing change to see a European team with defenders who can actually defend.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:42 pm

I thought they rode their luck a lot, and you can't see Suarez, Neymar and Messi only scoring 1 goal in a game against them.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:44 pm

Good to see an Italian team in the CL final.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:46 pm

Glad it's not a Clasico final

by GSC Wed 13 May 2015, 9:46 pm

Bale will be scapegoated for this but Real will never dominate long term with this setup.

by NickisBHAFC Wed 13 May 2015, 9:46 pm

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

by Jermaine2015 Wed 13 May 2015, 9:47 pm

Duty281 wrote:Yes Juve.

As for Bale, he was never world-class, hence he's failing to meet some unrealistic expectations based on some form which he could never maintain, particularly in such an alien environment.

That is very shortsighted. Gareth Bale was world class until Real Madrid's boo boys decided he was stealing too much of Cristiano Ronaldo's thunder.

Bale's treatment isn't too dissimilar to what happened to Arjen Robben many years ago.

by GSC Wed 13 May 2015, 9:49 pm

Bales obviously a world class player.

Most expensive player is a stretch but he remains a quality player

by Hammersmith harrier Wed 13 May 2015, 9:50 pm

I don't think three seasons of brilliant performances is a flash in the pan Duty, he has unfortunately been Madrid'd, if he goes then they'll move on to someone else like Isco or Rodriguez. The thing is you would think they'd have learned from previous mistakes that packing a team full of overpriced world class talent doesn't usually result in consistent success, the previous galacticos were a lot better than this lot too.

by socal1976 Wed 13 May 2015, 9:52 pm

Juve were great incredible how morata the Real product scores in both legs to put out his old team. His equalizer was very well taken. I think Bale has been world class at least before this season, his form has been awful this year. I still think in the long term he can be a superstar there.

by Jermaine2015 Wed 13 May 2015, 9:53 pm

Real Madrid need to sort out their defence. Iker is finished and needs to retire. Sergio Ramos is almost as terrible as Jerome Boateng...And a better left back would help as well.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 13 May 2015, 9:54 pm

To be fair, if Real had gone in at 2-0 there could have been no complaints. Actually think Pirlo might love a game against Barca, there are holes all over that side.

by socal1976 Wed 13 May 2015, 10:04 pm

Jermaine2015 wrote:Real Madrid need to sort out their defence. Iker is finished and needs to retire. Sergio Ramos is almost as terrible as Jerome Boateng...And a better left back would help as well.

I don't see what Casillas did wrong in the match, he probably had the best match of any Real player pulling off two crucial saves. The save on Morata in the second half was a great save. Real's defense is awful, Ramos for me is not very good and Pepe is possibly worse. Varane is the only good CB they have. And I actually think Marcelo is pretty good he gives them a lot of pace and work rate down that side.

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