Champions League 2024-25

[ZenI]

By who? Don't see it. There's a shortage of top sides. Basically City or title again.

By us, Simone, Bayern, Inter, City of course, Pool', maybe even Sporting...

 

[Maradona37]

System is nicer as the old format got stale, but all the big teams are gonna go through the league phase, and then it's a home and away knockout system very similar to the old format.

Hopefully we see some upsets if some of the weaker sides are unseeded and are playing against stronger seeded teams in the play-off round. Though that might make the round of 16 onwards more of a procession.

As with most things there's two sides of the story.

 

[serghei]

By us, Simone, Bayern, Inter, City of course, Pool', maybe even Sporting...

I think City and us have the best chances, the rest... nah...

 

[MontenegrinCuler]

x.com

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Proud losers, lmfao

 

[serghei]

The only way to beat Madrid is to have great passing skills. They do not press like mad men at all, but some of the teams they play against are not that great technically. They give the ball away like idiots and invite pressure all the time.

 

[fergus90]

Barca Bayern
Villa Juve
Liverpool Real
Real Milan
Bayern PSG
all coming up and most of those you'd have to wait until at least the QF, or the odd competitive R16 fixture in the previous format.

Purposely left out any Arsenal fixtures as they have zero European history.

 

[ZenI]

I think City and us have the best chances, the rest... nah...

Come on dude... Pool and Bayern have a good chance. Inter and Simione could grind something out, but less likely. Sporting could surprise, Gyökeres on fire and they play some very good football - don't underestimate them this season, won all 8 games in the league so far with 25 goal difference.

 

[Ter Stature]

One trick pony wingers are the best weapon against the high and slow defense of Barcelona. I already wrote in the next topic that it will be very difficult for us against both Real and Bayern. I do not rule out that we will lose with a big score. We will be much better when we have fast central defenders in the center of defence.

I just hope they at least go for one tackle on those guys, not like Ramos was every shy to break others legs.

 

[serghei]

Come on dude... Pool and Bayern have a good chance. Inter and Simione could grind something out, but less likely. Sporting could surprise, Gyökeres on fire and they play some very good football - don't underestimate them this season, won all 8 games in the league so far with 25 goal difference.

Anything can happen, but in a knockout tie Madrid is clear favorite over all but City.

 

[ZenI]

Also, what is PSV up to this season? Grabbed a point against Sporting at home, grabbed another one today against PSG away?

 

[fergus90]

It's difficult to draw any conclusions on winners in October, there's so many games to play. See what squads are looking like come Feb or March.

I would be surprised if Real didn't get a full back in January. Not sure Ancelotti should even be expected to win back to back cups with those defensive options. I know he done very well last year but their basically back to Pavon-esque depth.

 

[Ter Stature]

Football has declined, none of the real Madrid players seem great without their team.

Maybe its because real is like their national teams...

 

[serghei]

To beat Madrid you need to be confident in your technical ability and don't give up on your game plan. The issue is 1-2 teams may have that kind of elite ability on the ball to implement that type of game plan on full 90 mins.

Likes of Liverpool, Bayern, are good teams, but their style of play is rather direct and similar to Madrid, while having lesser players compared to those of Madrid.

 

[Maradona37]

To beat Madrid you need to be confident in your technical ability and don't give up on your game plan. The issue is 1-2 teams may have that kind of elite ability on the ball to implement that type of game plan on full 90 mins.

Likes of Liverpool, Bayern, are good teams, but their style of play is rather direct and similar to Madrid, while having lesser players compared to those of Madrid.

Liverpool became a little more measured under Klopp in the second half of his tenure, and they seem to have a greater element of control under Slot. Bayern can slow the game down and be less vertical when they want to, they're very capable.

Nevertheless, I agree with your general point: Man City and Real Madrid have the recent pedigree in the competition (and the overall pedigree for the latter too), and it's up to other teams to prove they can supplant them/eliminate them.

It's going to be interesting anyway.

 

[fergus90]

Football has declined, none of the real Madrid players seem great without their team.

Maybe its because real is like their national teams...

Because it's all about stats now. xG, xAssists etc etc so players are brought up like robots. Before people used to enjoy it for what it was.
Nowadays you've got more data scientists working at Brighton & Hove Albion than you have at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.