Champions League

[KingLeo10]

hilarious how BBZ continues to mention juve as if these guys aren't simply the biggest losers/chokers among the top clubs of europe.

2 CL Wins, 7 Losses

I agree with Milan and Germany, and lately France and Real Madrid, however. just don't mention juve.

 

[Devils]

Son is an amazing player, my lord what a killer.

Asian assassin!

 

[Total-Football]

we need de ligt. that muscle man. a true renforcer

 

[BBZ8800]

Yes, this style of play works better in CL. It doesn't mean you can't win playing differently like we did in the last decade. If you have a plan and you apply it, you can win. But I agree sitting deep and playing on the counter is more often the right approach for CL.

We can play like Pep's Barca, but if we can't achieve that, then the most logical and efficient options for a Cl are:
1. Play like Pep's Barca, which is almost impossible
2. Play faster, direct, efficient and with a strong defense
3. Play a weak copy of Pep's style with a slow, sterile, inefficient possession game

It doesn't mean that a possession team can't win a Cl.
But lately, all big club and Nt cup tournaments were won by efficient, slightly more direct teams with lethal finishers.

Ajax didn't have good finishers.
They don't have experience.
And their defense as a whole isn't that great.

"All" they have is beauty and a nice possession game in the middle without great defense and attack.

In short, they lack majority of key ingredients to win knockout ties in the last few years.
Real have refs and all key ingredients, on the other hand.
Experience, direct, lethal attackers, defense, mental strength.

 

[messi2140]

We can play like Pep's Barca, but if we can't achieve that, then the most logical and efficient options for a Cl are:
1. Play like Pep's Barca, which is almost impossible
2. Play faster, direct, efficient and with a strong defense
3. Play a weak copy of Pep's style with a slow, sterile, inefficient possession game

It doesn't mean that a possession team can't win a Cl.
But lately, all big club and Nt cup tournaments were won by efficient, slightly more direct teams with lethal finishers.

Ajax didn't have good finishers.
They don't have experience.
And their defense as a whole isn't that great.

"All" they have is beauty and a nice possession game in the middle without great defense and attack.

In short, they lack majority of key ingredients to win knockout ties in the last few years.

There is option C: play shit football and get annihilated by Roma.

 

[serghei]

We can play like Pep's Barca, but if we can't achieve that, then the most logical and efficient options for a Cl are:
1. Play like Pep's Barca, which is almost impossible
2. Play faster, direct, efficient and with a strong defense
3. Play a weak copy of Pep's style with a slow, sterile, inefficient possession game

It doesn't mean that a possession team can't win a Cl.
But lately, all big club and Nt cup tournaments were won by efficient, slightly more direct teams with lethal finishers.

Ajax didn't have good finishers.
They don't have experience.
And their defense as a whole isn't that great.

"All" they have is beauty and a nice possession game in the middle without great defense and attack.

In short, they lack majority of key ingredients to win knockout ties in the last few years.
Real have refs and all key ingredients, on the other hand.
Experience, direct, lethal attackers, defense, mental strength.

It's impossible to play like Pep's Barcelona without a world class manager who is an avid follower of that style. So we can forget about that for the time being.

But it's possible to play a possession game with good build-up while also being a very good counter attacking team. You need mixed players. Fast, strong, technical, good in possession etc.

Damn, you've to say that Real Madrid are extremely fortune to have great scorers in UCL throughout the years.

On the other hand, we've Luis Suárez and his whopping 4 UCL-goals in 23 games since 16/17.

That's not sustainable for any team who aspires to go deep in UCL...

Once Messi is unavailable or having an off-night, it's game over for us.

They are very professional in CL in the last decade or so. They put in professional, composed performances, they don't do many stupid mistakes, and they almost always prepare the game very well.

 

[eaman]

Another poor performance from real but they'll manage to get through. Even though I do give Ajax a chance seen as real usually don't like playing at home probably coz they can't handle the pressure from their extremely hard to please fans. Usually what happens though the other team fluff many chances and real sneak through. Really wish the champions league was a proper league. I'm sure Barca would've won more than Madrid in the last few years if it was. Also I really think they should change the offside rule to the players torso being offside and not these trailing feet or even toes they seem to be giving now

 

[raki]

I still believe in a Ajax upset since Ramos is out for the 2nd leg.

 

[eaman]

They are very professional in CL in the last decade or so. They put in professional, composed performances, they don't do many stupid mistakes, and they almost always prepare the game very well.

No mistakes? You mean other teams strikers make mistakes and miss plenty of chances especially at the bernebeau. They have not been the best team in Europe in the last 3 years. I'll give them 2017 as a year they were the best but that's it. We should have really done a double champions league win in 2012. Played well in both legs v Chelsea but just missed chances. We were the best in Europe in both years as we were also la liga champions and proved it throughout the year. Real winning 3 champions leagues in the last 3 years and only one league is not good enough to be considered the best

 

[Morten]

Poor performance, but a win, not surprised.

 

[Newcomer]

Poor performance, but a win, not surprised.

Very good game by Ajax.
They played well and showed a lot of heart. However, against Real Madrid in CL, you need to capitalize on those times of domination and score. Real didn't need much to score 2 good goals in the other hand.
Bit of naivete from Ajax and cold hard realism (plus some luck and good end of refereing) from Real Madrid. This is what matters in the end. Bit useless to play that well but nothing to show at the end for Ajax.

 

[Morten]

Very good game by Ajax.
They played well and showed a lot of heart. However, against Real Madrid in CL, you need to capitalize on those times of domination and score. Real didn't need much to score 2 good goals in the other hand.
Bit of naivete from Ajax and cold hard realism (plus some luck and good end of refereing) from Real Madrid. This is what matters in the end. Bit useless to play that well but nothing to show at the end for Ajax.

Bit too early to conclude anything, Ramos is out for next match, and we are really no better at home than away, sometimes it feels like we are actually stronger away.

 

[Birdy]

Despite Zidane having left, RM still smells the usual way of going through:
Being worse than your opponent, being lucky in crucial moments and taking advantage of some (the least to say) controversial referee decisions:

Of course the inexperience of Ajax was evident. Asensio goal was a perfect illustration of a goal conceded due to naive defending

 

[Messigician]

Would say something but stoichkov already summed up my feelings for me

 

[viper76]

Yet again people here underestimate RM they're always starts the season slow than step up when it's matter now they're the favorite to win the CL & copa and have a very good chance of winning the la liga .