UCL 17/18 Knockout Rounds (Draw and Matches)

Studying Spanish" as in that was the idea but it ended up being mostly partying and going to football matches.
Sounds about right based on what everyone I know did who spent a semester in Spain.
 
Davo15 Davo15 Falastur Falastur

ugh. Would rather this be the final or semi.

ETA: So would Txiki.


I think it's the absolute worst draw for both teams. As an LFC fan, and I'd think MC fans might agree, it's much more romantic to think about battling Bayern or Barca or Real at this point. The domestic match-up in this round when there are only 2 PL clubs is kind of let down.
 
Last edited:
Davo15 Davo15 Falastur Falastur

ugh. Would rather this be the final or semi.

ETA: So would Txiki.


I think it's the absolute worst draw for both teams. As an LFC fan, and I'd think MC fans might agree, it's much more romantic to think about battling Bayern or Barca or Real at this point. The domestic match-up in this round when there are only 2 PL clubs is kind of let down.
I get this. The thing that made me saddest as I saw the draw, is missing out on that giddy excitement of watching your team play in one of those matchups. It's that footy dreamy fantasy shit that never gets old. The domestic match-up is a little less sexy unless it's for everything. But fuck, I would take it. And it's going to be really fascinating to watch. It's arguably one of (or "the", separate debate as there are one or two I may peg as the best) best EPL teams ever against the EPL team that I believe has the near perfect composition to win the CL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Midas Mulligan
Davo15 Davo15 Falastur Falastur

ugh. Would rather this be the final or semi.

ETA: So would Txiki.


I think it's the absolute worst draw for both teams. As an LFC fan, and I'd think MC fans might agree, it's much more romantic to think about battling Bayern or Barca or Real at this point. The domestic match-up in this round when there are only 2 PL clubs is kind of let down.
I think it's a toss up on perspective. I understand the whole drawing another PL club this early and the fact the last City LIV match was in my view the best PL match of the season, however as a City fan, hoping to win CL title, I much rather face LIV now in the quarters over Bayern, Barcelona and Real. I'm more confident with the LIV match.
 
I think it's a toss up on perspective. I understand the whole drawing another PL club this early and the fact the last City LIV match was in my view the best PL match of the season, however as a City fan, hoping to win CL title, I much rather face LIV now in the quarters over Bayern, Barcelona and Real. I'm more confident with the LIV match.
Of course, you are.

I’d say it’s level across the field except Sevilla & Roma. Juve would be toughest tie for Liverpool. I’m as confident playing City as any of the others. Just takes the shine off since we haven’t had any of the other European giants yet.
 
I'm not very confident. I'm pretty sure I said after Liverpool beat City I'd want no part of them in knock out or one off. I do think City are overall the better team but I don't like the match up. Barca is probably the only team I'd less want to have played.


Don't think we have a separate Europe thread ? So just mentioning Marseille drew Red Bull leipzig, errrr rasenballsport Leipzig my friend just had to remind me about that circumventing of rules that is so stupid it literally makes me LOL
 
Last edited:
Davo15 Davo15 Falastur Falastur

ugh. Would rather this be the final or semi.

ETA: So would Txiki.


I think it's the absolute worst draw for both teams. As an LFC fan, and I'd think MC fans might agree, it's much more romantic to think about battling Bayern or Barca or Real at this point. The domestic match-up in this round when there are only 2 PL clubs is kind of let down.

I agree, although not for romantic reasons. To me there's nothing particularly romantic about the CL, although that said if I were actually at any of the games I would be one of the fans booing the UEFA anthem every match. To me it's a shame more for the fact that now one of these teams has to proverbially pack their bags and go home without being able to say that they tested themselves against a team at the highest level.

Both sets of fans, not to mention the media (I'm not sure what it's like stateside but the British media is obsessed right now over arguing whether Liverpool has a better front three than City or not) have been going on for so long in recent weeks over whether City/Liverpool can claim to be the best team in Europe or are actually just another arrogant English pretender who can't handle true European football, and it would have been ideal for both teams to get to test their credentials against a proper heavyweight. Now, inevitably the loser is going to argue that because English football is different to continental football they could have still won the cup if they had played Barca or Bayern and the other English team had been knocked out by another Euro club, and there will be no actual evidence to genuinely knock the claims back.

As for the video of Txiki looking upset at a draw against Liverpool, I personally tend to take the opinion that, as per the above, he was simply disappointed to have been given yet another tie against an English side as I reckon he really was hoping for a match against Barca, Real or Bayern.
 
I agree, although not for romantic reasons. To me there's nothing particularly romantic about the CL, although that said if I were actually at any of the games I would be one of the fans booing the UEFA anthem every match. To me it's a shame more for the fact that now one of these teams has to proverbially pack their bags and go home without being able to say that they tested themselves against a team at the highest level.

Both sets of fans, not to mention the media (I'm not sure what it's like stateside but the British media is obsessed right now over arguing whether Liverpool has a better front three than City or not) have been going on for so long in recent weeks over whether City/Liverpool can claim to be the best team in Europe or are actually just another arrogant English pretender who can't handle true European football, and it would have been ideal for both teams to get to test their credentials against a proper heavyweight. Now, inevitably the loser is going to argue that because English football is different to continental football they could have still won the cup if they had played Barca or Bayern and the other English team had been knocked out by another Euro club, and there will be no actual evidence to genuinely knock the claims back.

As for the video of Txiki looking upset at a draw against Liverpool, I personally tend to take the opinion that, as per the above, he was simply disappointed to have been given yet another tie against an English side as I reckon he really was hoping for a match against Barca, Real or Bayern.
That’s pretty much the unabridged version of what I’m getting at.

It’s just not going to feel as big as I’d like it to because they already play regularly.

I’m sure that the 3 clubs you mentioned are all happy with these two being drawn together. It’s a clear contender to win it all guaranteed to go home probably earlier than deserved.

I think Barca would have probably been higher odds for LFC, but I actually would have been slightly more upbeat with the feeling going into it.

I guess it’s good from the LFC perspective they get the first game at Anfield. If they can take a lead to the Etihad, I’d feel decent about getting a couple on the counter. Then again, I’m not sure any scoreline in the first game would make either manager feel like the job is done. I’m thinking the aggregate could end up around 10 goals or so. If LFC get one early in the first leg, you could see that number surpassed as any pretense of balance goes out the window. And it’s not like Klopp won’t be happy to go ahead and be attack mad with him. He can’t help himself.
 
I’m sure that the 3 clubs you mentioned are all happy with these two being drawn together. It’s a clear contender to win it all guaranteed to go home probably earlier than deserved.

My friend who's a Munich fan is especially happy. He remembers from the Bundesliga that Klopp knows better than anyone how to succeed against Pep. He would love to see Liverpool knock out Man City. He fears MC more than any other team this year, which is saying a lot because he usually says "anybody but a Spanish team" when discussing the Bayern draw. He's probably not as excited by the opposite result, but I think he still believes Liverpool is in the top half of the remaining clubs.
 
My friend who's a Munich fan is especially happy. He remembers from the Bundesliga that Klopp knows better than anyone how to succeed against Pep. He would love to see Liverpool knock out Man City. He fears MC more than any other team this year, which is saying a lot because he usually says "anybody but a Spanish team" when discussing the Bayern draw. He's probably not as excited by the opposite result, but I think he still believes Liverpool is in the top half of the remaining clubs.
Interesting...I wanted Bayern most out of the big clubs left. I think Liverpool might blow them away, as Bayern don't play anyone in Germany who presses as hard or has such pace.

It's a tough call for me as to who are the best teams left. I guess I would say Barca, MCFC, Bayern, Liverpool. I can't begin to guess which Madrid shows up, so I can't say they are better or scarier than any of those 4, but I can't say they won't be. And as I said before, I prefer drawing MC to Juve.

I guess you could just say it's the last 8 of the UCL...you have to get lucky or be ManU to get an easy draw at this stage.
 
Interesting...I wanted Bayern most out of the big clubs left. I think Liverpool might blow them away, as Bayern don't play anyone in Germany who presses as hard or has such pace.

It's a tough call for me as to who are the best teams left. I guess I would say Barca, MCFC, Bayern, Liverpool. I can't begin to guess which Madrid shows up, so I can't say they are better or scarier than any of those 4, but I can't say they won't be. And as I said before, I prefer drawing MC to Juve.

I guess you could just say it's the last 8 of the UCL...you have to get lucky or be ManU to get an easy draw at this stage.
Damn, really underestimating Jupp vs. Klopp. Liverpool v. Bayern would've been a fun matchup, but I definitely don't think Liverpool would blow Bayern out. The best games between Klopp and Jupp were Bayern Dortmund in 2011-2013 were incredible games to watch, and it was Klopp's speed and press vs. Bayern. All I'm saying is on the biggest stage, Jupp and Bayern held their own, thank you Robben.
 
Damn, really underestimating Jupp vs. Klopp. Liverpool v. Bayern would've been a fun matchup, but I definitely don't think Liverpool would blow Bayern out. The best games between Klopp and Jupp were Bayern Dortmund in 2011-2013 were incredible games to watch, and it was Klopp's speed and press vs. Bayern. All I'm saying is on the biggest stage, Jupp and Bayern held their own, thank you Robben.
I said might, at least. I think this Liverpool team is quicker and has more more pace than those BVB squads. The closest current analog to LFC in the BL is Leipzig, and they aren't really close in terms of quality up and down the pitch. Nonetheless, they give Bayern fits.

It's extrapolating, so we'll never know. Unless we get it next round, which would be cool.
 
Well boys, I couldn't be more excited about tomorrow. No idea how it turns out and not even particularly brimming with confidence, but I'm going to relish the moment for what it is for the Reds, validation that the club is moving forward with a good plan and great manager. It's been too long for Liverpool.

I am absolutely certain the fans will make Anfield a cauldron. I love the spirit around the club right now. Not even a loss can dampen the spirit. It's unfortunate that we're facing what by all rights appears to be the best PL team ever, but Anfield has a way on European nights where being the best team has "nowt" to do with it.

Support the team like this after a loss:

You get nights like these:

Sonuvabitch, I wish I could be there tomorrow night. I expect nothing less than a glorious spectacle.

Thomas Tuchel
"If you expect an explanation, I probably have to disappoint you because an explanation would mean that things are logical or tactical or at least in moments you see where a game goes to the other side," he said.

"None of this happened. We had a great reaction on the first goal of Liverpool and we scored a third one.

"With the equaliser it was an atmosphere where everybody, except our supporters, believed it was meant to be."

Frank Lampard:
I know from experience the atmosphere City will face at Anfield in the first leg and how it will make Liverpool even more dangerous.

It goes up a level on European nights. When you are in the opposing team, you know it from the warm-up, the moment you step out on the pitch. I remember losing two semi-finals there with Chelsea, the first of which was in 2005. We knew what was coming and personally I felt prepared to face the noise.

But it’s the effect their fans have on the Liverpool team. They do get an extra bounce, more adrenaline. You have to match it and we didn’t do that.

Liverpool smothered us. The crowd gives them energy to get even closer in the tackle, they are tighter to you on the pitch. It’s crucial City see out the early period unlike what we did with Luis Garcia’s goal 13 years ago.

Again, I in no way expect victory. I'm just excited about the match. Nervous as hell, but fully geeked up about the whole damn thing.
 
Last edited:
Have to love this guy, no doubt.


If you aren't excited, you're JayH JayH or Ulrich Ulrich . The rest of us, red, blue or neutral, have to be amped.

Shit. I'm not going to sleep tonight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JayH
Alright. Give me a shirt. Honestly, how could you not love to suit up for Klopp (or Pep, obviously).

Klopp on the size of the task...

It's just a big job to do, that's how it is. If we wanted to go in this competition as far as possible, it was clear you will face the best teams in the world at some point. There was no easy game at that stage, they were all difficult, and now we have Man City. They are quite a special team, that's the truth. They are absolutely deserved champion of Premier League, I'm fine with that.

But in football it's not about being the best, it's about being perfectly prepared for the next game and to do your best. It's not about yesterday, it's about tomorrow. It's clear, City with the things they have, their confidence are probably on an outstanding high level.

But we are not in a bad moment, we are in a good moment as well, but would it be right to say City at Anfield have no chance? That's not true. They can win wherever they go but we can win football games as well. I like the difficult jobs because it's the most interesting - what to do in this moment, and prepare your boys as good as possible, from the mental side and physical side, let's go.

Nothing can happen, the worst thing that can happen is you lose a football game. It's a big opportunity and we try everything to make it happen, that's it.

Catch that? Nothing can happen, the worst thing that can happen is you lose a football game.

That is the kind of guy you want to play for.

Leave it to one of you City boys to post some MCFC hype.

May the best team not win.
 
Have to love this guy, no doubt.


If you aren't excited, you're JayH JayH or Ulrich Ulrich . The rest of us, red, blue or neutral, have to be amped.

Shit. I'm not going to sleep tonight.
Not true at all. I am super pumped for this one. I can admit that I enjoy watching both of these teams play. It’s a crazy intriguing matchup.
 
Not true at all. I am super pumped for this one. I can admit that I enjoy watching both of these teams play. It’s a crazy intriguing matchup.
Just busting balls.

Let the record show, self-medicating put me to sleep at 3 am.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JayH
Training meetings all day and Barcelona - Roma is the TV game so I can’t Dvr . Still somewhat excited but tempered a bit that it’ll be live score on my breaks and net highlights later.

Also someone has to mention Ronaldo’d Goal from m yesterday in this thread don’t they ?