Champions League results (attn. Tape Delayers: contains spoilers)

[cartman]

Wow, what a shocking night of football. I think all of us had either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the final, now both are out. Arsenal was talking smack about the treble, now they have to hope their lead in the Premiership holds out. Real Madrid continues their collapse in trophy competitions, despite having the most talent loaded roster in all of sports.

[Mac Howard]

Real Madrid's attacking game is "talent loaded" but their defensive game isn't. It's a very unbalanced squad.

[Easy Mac]

Thats what hapeens when you cheat on Posh Spice

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Real Madrid's attacking game is "talent loaded" but their defensive game isn't. It's a very unbalanced squad.

This is so true. Their defense is average. If they would just shell out some dough on world class defenders WHO PLAY DEFENSE, they truly would be unstoppable (see Chelsea - solid defense, so many shutouts - and really starting to go places).

[Sharpieman]

That was a great game between Chelsea and Arsenal. How many soccer fans think Beckham is incredibly overrated? (playing devil's advocate)

[cartman]

Ummm... Beckham didn't play last night because he picked up a yellow card in the last CL match, pushing him over the limit and earning an automatic one game ban. Real definitely missed him last night in the midfield.

[andy m]

chelsea made arsenal look very human last night.

[MikeVic]

Damnit. Real Madrid is out. :( Ronaldo probably wasn't trying or stuff. He's saving up for the World Cup.

[klayman]

Ummm... Beckham didn't play last night because he picked up a yellow card in the last CL match, pushing him over the limit and earning an automatic one game ban. Real definitely missed him last night in the midfield.
I wonder if Victoria gave him a yellow card on their vacation :)

[Chubby]

Real Madrid's midfield was only "inadequate", no way they were going to win with just that. Their opponent had been putting up extra-terrestial's!

[Desnudo]

I can't believe Depo beat Milan. And why was Bass Masters on ESPN2 instead of the game?

[3ric]

Incredible game by Deportivo. I'm still awestruck at what I saw last night.

[MIJB#19]

I think there's a bug out there, no way it's realistic to have Monaco, Chelsea, Porto and Deportivo as the last four teams competing...:rolleyes:

[daedalus]

Wow, what a shocking night of football. I think all of us had either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the final, now both are out. Arsenal was talking smack about the treble, now they have to hope their lead in the Premiership holds out. Real Madrid continues their collapse in trophy competitions, despite having the most talent loaded roster in all of sports.I don't remember seeing anything about Arsenal talking smack. Could you point me toward that please?chelsea made arsenal look very human last night.With the possible exception of probably a combined 10-15 minutes, I thought Chelsea looked better than Arsenal in both games.

I like Edu and am glad he finally got a chance to play first team football but, dang, he's not very strong defensively. I'm also less than thrilled with Lauren's play at right back. Meh.

The really sucky part about this is that this probably lets Rinieri keeps his job now, which means Chelsea is going to be SCARY next year. I mean, I'm happy for the guy, he deserves a fair chance . . . it just sucks for the Gunners. Maybe enough people will be grumpy about their lack of playing time that the team will implode.

[cartman]

I don't remember seeing anything about Arsenal talking smack. Could you point me toward that please?

Well, it was in just about any London paper I'd pickup to read, especially after the tie with Man Utd. that gave them a 30 match start to the season without a loss. Wenger in particular was saying it was destiny that they would get the treble.

[Mac Howard]

>The really sucky part about this is that this probably lets Rinieri keeps his job now

Can't help but feel for the guy - he was weeping with joy at the end of the match.

[fantastic flying froggies]

I think there's a bug out there, no way it's realistic to have Monaco, Chelsea, Porto and Deportivo as the last four teams competing...:rolleyes:
You can thank the new champion's league format for that...

The previous years, such 'small' clubs would have lost out in the 2nd round group...

(when I say 'small', it's all relative of course. I mean compared to Arsenal, Man U, Real or Milan AC or the like...)

[Desnudo]

You can thank the new champion's league format for that...

The previous years, such 'small' clubs would have lost out in the 2nd round group...

(when I say 'small', it's all relative of course. I mean compared to Arsenal, Man U, Real or Milan AC or the like...)

What do you mean froggies? What's changed in the group play format?

[Crapshoot]

Eh- I think my prediction of Porto winning it all looks a lot better now.

[SirFozzie]

What do you mean froggies? What's changed in the group play format?

Old CL Format: 32 teams: 8 Groups of 4 teams. Top 2 from each group advance to a 2nd group stage, of four groups of four teams. Top two from each group advance to the quarter finals, and it's a straight knockout competition from there.

New CL Format: 32 Teams, 8 Groups of 4 teams, Top 2 from each group advance to the knockout rounds (two legs)

This new set up saves teams four games, in an attempt to reduce the amount of games teams play

[fantastic flying froggies]

Last year, you had two group phases.

1st phase would qualify the first 2 in each group, 8 groups total so you had 16 teams qualified for the 2nd phase.

Those 16 teams were then placed in 4 new groups, with the first 2 of those making it to the quarter-, semi and final, which were all knockout stages.

This year, those 16 teams did not go in new groups, but instead directly into a knockout stage.

Bottom line, a team like Monaco, which has a relatively limited roster, is able to make it to the semifinals playing only 4 games after initial group play. Last year, they would have needed 8 games and would probably not have made it... Plus it is easier to beat someone on 2 games than to finish 1st in a group of 4.

That's my take on it anyway, I could be wrong.

EDIT : SirFozzie beat me to it, I was pretty long in writing my answer...

[Desnudo]

Eh- I think my prediction of Porto winning it all looks a lot better now.

I hope they do. I've really enjoyed watching them play.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Plus, they really have the most experienced squad at this level, which bodes pretty well for them...

[Crapshoot]

I hope they do. I've really enjoyed watching them play.
They've been fun havent' they ? Like a Madrid with a defense, and a little less pure talent and flair. I think Porto-Deportivo will be interesting, but I expect Chelsea to cakewalk Monaco. Im still going with a Porto-Chelsea final (I had Porto-Arsenal earlier), but Juan Carlos Valeron can single handedly change that- best player no one's heard of.

[MIJB#19]

Monaco beat Deportivo 7-3 on the road to the semi's (and knocked out Real Madrid), so calling Monaco a cakewalk for Chelsea is a bit far fetched...
I mean, Chelsea knocking out Arsenal is so different because the two teams know eachother from the league matches.
Porto have European final stages experience, while Chelsea is arguably the most talented team of the four.

Aadik, Juan Carlos Valeron is not an anonymus player in Europe. I think football fans know him as the #10 of Deportivo and with Makaay gone he's even more in the spot lights.

[Sharpieman]

Who are the stars on FC Porto?

[Crapshoot]

Monaco beat Deportivo 7-3 on the road to the semi's (and knocked out Real Madrid), so calling Monaco a cakewalk for Chelsea is a bit far fetched...
I mean, Chelsea knocking out Arsenal is so different because the two teams know eachother from the league matches.
Porto have European final stages experience, while Chelsea is arguably the most talented team of the four.

Aadik, Juan Carlos Valeron is not an anonymus player in Europe. I think football fans know him as the #10 of Deportivo and with Makaay gone he's even more in the spot lights.


MIJB, I know- I just figured that he's not particularly well known if at all over here- I didn't think their were too many Europeans at this board.

on a different note, is it the redemption season or what- Elber beating Bayern twice, Morientes destroying Real ? Anyone see any other potential grudge matches left ?

[Crapshoot]

Who are the stars on FC Porto?

At this point, Benny McCarthy is probably the biggest name- and Vitor Baia is famous as well. Carlos Alberto has bags of potential, but remains to be seen. Deco is probably the biggest star in actuality- playmaker in the Aimar mold- although nowhere near that class. Paulo Ferrera is a fairly talented right-back, and a move to a bigger stage seems inevitable. Otherwise, Jorge Costa is a solid old hand at the back, and Aleinchiv is a former Roma attacking midfielder- lots of talent, never quite utilizied it fully.

[Sharpieman]

Geez its sad that I've never heard of these guys, I always here of Italian, Spainard and English stars instead Porto. I wonder why that is.

[MIJB#19]

On a different note, is it the redemption season or what- Elber beating Bayern twice, Morientes destroying Real ? Anyone see any other potential grudge matches left ?Let's see:
Porto vs Deportivo - I see Jorge Andrade left Porto for Deportivo in 2002
Monaco vs Chelsea - Emmanuel Petit is not playing much for Chelsea, yet has started his career at Monaco

I guess nothing special here for the semi's, but the final can be great if Monaco and Deportivo will play eachother again...

[BreizhManu]

Monaco beat Deportivo 7-3 on the road to the semi's.

8-3 not 7-3

[fantastic flying froggies]

8-3 not 7-3

One of the wildest games I have ever seen !
It seemed that every time one of the teams pushed forward, they were in a position to score a goal... Absolutely crazy !

Sure beats the 0-0 or 1-0 from the Italian Calcio of the 80s ... :D

[MIJB#19]

8-3 not 7-3I lost count after 5...:o