General Football/Soccer Talk

Bale was a goal scoring winger, he was the top scorer at Tottenham, right?

Courtois will play as both Chelsea and UEFA have indicated that there is no restriction. But still, Chelsea are the favorites imo

Sneaky bastards, they climb their way up to finals somehow and beat Bayern again

Guardiola VS Real like Phil said. I don't think the CR7 injury is that serious. Maybe Ancelotti is just resting him so that he can be at his 100% for the Bayern matchup, specially the 1st leg as that one is at home and a chance for Madrid to maybe cause an upset.

The league match Real has tonight doesn't really require CR7.

Cristiano injury can be very deceiving, as every injury is. Bale is a good footballer, but the portuguese is the best in the world right now and can transform the game dynamics.

If he's out or not 100%, Real is probably out too. First game at Bernabeu, so here's is the key: winning without suffering goals, Bayern style of play is smilar to Barcelona's, the key to beat them is overpower them on producing counterattacks, Mourinho's style on Chelsea always fit against Barca, but at the time Barca always seems to have a healthier and more powerful team.

Bayern will not change style in both legs (Guardiola is very loyal to his style of game), that's why the first game is the more important, is the chance to upset germans finnest quality, their ball movement domain.

If Real suffers a goal or two, Bayern will suffocate them at second leg as they did to Manchester. United came close when Vidic open score goal seemed to contain Munchen, but after equalizer, Bayern took control, that's very close to what we going to see in Madrid.

Courtouis is gonna play, Chelsea probably bring him back after this season. Atletico chances are very real and their passion can bring the big ear trophy back to the other side of Madrid after 40 years. Chelsea is the underdog, but don't fool yourselves, both games are very though to choose a winner.

Atletico biggest shot in the Final is against Bayern, playing Real at the Finals in Lisboa will produce a tense home classic very emotionally and intricate to an Atletico win.

Chelsea will play phisically at home, running and marking all the time, defending hard and trying to play on oponnents error, Mourinho is a master on positioning his pieces, but if he's tatically a genious, their midfield loses creativity. Atletico will ground the ball and pass, but if i were Simeone i look carefully to Madrid's game at home, cause Chelsea's biggest stranks relies at Stanford Bridge small field and pack crowded stadium.

If i got bet in a final, is Atletico vs Bayern, another 2x1 for the bavarians.

Huge loss for Barca against Granada. Terrible week for them.

I have a feeling there will be a special atmosphere at Anfield today as it's the biggest game of the season so far and also the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough.

Still 8 hours before the game. Feeling excited about it at the moment, but I'm sure my stress level will rise before kick-off.

Sweet memories... Hahahahah

You'll never walk alone... 3x0 at First Half. Zico show at Toquio!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNv4WKN5_sE

Flamengo domination remids me three other teams, The Real Madrid of 50's, Milan at early 90's and Barca's 2010's. Flamengo were undoubtly the best team in the Earth at the time, few of you know the athomosphere of a real game in South America, Hillsborough is an example of bad stuff that happened here too.

I am not saying that violence is what divide us, but we just can't afford losing the spirt of real fans, the religion apperance of our beloved fottball soccer game, Fifa injured many great stadiums here (like Maracanã), politicians make dozens of million dollars, our country can barely got organize to receive regular tourism, imagine all the World media?

We gonna handle somehow, but i still think the International World Cup of Clubs is more important then the UEFA Champions League, soccer isn't an european commodity, South Americans are still the best and strange Money business are taking away our best players sooner then ever, look at Barca punishiment!

Pathetic!

São Paulo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl6mNCQRn4E - 1992 Intercontinental Cup: Barcelona 1 x 2 São Paulo
Vasco - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zfSKVT-BLg - 1998 Intercontinental Cup: Real Madrid 2 x 1 Vasco da Gama
Palmeiras - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNlVKc76MoA - 1999 Intercontinental Cup: Palmeiras 0 x 1 Manchester United
Corinthians - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwiuoU4SQQ8 - 2012 Fifa World Cup of Clubs: Chelsea 0 x 1 Corinthians
Santos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C917b07Q9E - 1963 Intercontinental Cup: Last of three games at Rio: Santos 1 x 0 Milan
Gremio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1ddn0XfII8 - 1983 Intercontinental Cup: Grêmio 2 x 1 Hamburg
Internacional - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VosboFJw1LY - 2006 Fifa World Cup of Clubs: Internacional 1 x 0 Barcelona
Cruzeiro - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reyoUzWMRco - 1997 Intercontinental Cup: Borussia Dortmund 2 x 0 Cruzeiro
Boca Juniors - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32AyTvr9T84 - 2000 Intercontinental Cup: Boca Juniors 2 x 1 Real Madrid
Estudiantes del la Plata - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRPC97HBXBg - 2009 Fifa World Cup of Clubs: Barcelona 2 x 1 Estudiantes
Independiente - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HVoq6rvhB4 - 1984 Intercontinental Cup: Independiente 1 x 0 Lverpool
River Plate - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8at_IcdDuM - 1996 Intercontinental Cup: Juventus 1 x 0 Rive Plate
Velez Sarsfield - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-YkS4pYfO4 - 1994 Intercontinental Cup: Velez 2 x 0 Milan
Peñarol - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-YkS4pYfO4 - 1982 Intercontinental Cup: Peñarol 2 x 0 Aston Villa
Nacional - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szq7yxVP__s - 1988 Intercontinental Cup: Nacional 2 x 2 PSV Eindhoven (Nacional won at PK)

10 wins in a row, 4 to go. Holy Shit.

Congrats Phil. Livpool as Champs, that's a new one

Not quite yet. Norwich, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Newcastle left to beat still.

Suarez again failed to score against one of the top teams, but did get an assist. He should score his usual hat-trick against Norwich in the next game though.

Good to see Atletico winning as well. Now 3 points clear of Real Madrid.

Sunderland

I hope they can pull another rabbit out of the hat against Chelsea on the weekend. That would be quite handy.

If Liverpool can win 14 straight, they deserve to be the Champs now, don't they?

But if they slip once, it's all ManC again.

If we win the next 4 it will mean we will have gone unbeaten in 2014 (17 wins, 2 draws) Including beating all the top teams like Everton, Arsenal, Utd, Spurs, City and Chelsea. I'd say that's worthy of being champions.

After City drew against Sunderland we just have to avoid defeat in the Chelsea game. 3 wins and a draw against Chelsea and we win the league. Even if City win all of their games.

Liverpool - 87
Man City - 86
Chelsea - 85

Anyone could drop points though, as Sunderland proved.


In other news, Barca continue to fall apart. Neymar and Jordi Alba are out for the rest of the season with injuries and they lost to Madrid in the cup final.

I wonder what would happen if they are out of the title race on the last day when they play Atletico. Would Barca let Atletico win just to stop Real from winning the title? Last minute own goal perhaps

Phil is very happy today. Maybe donating some to Sunderland

We never do it the easy way. 11 wins in a row, 3 to go. I hope Sturridge is back for the Chelsea game.

Phil is very happy today. Maybe donating some to Sunderland

We loaned them Borini and he scored the winner against Chelsea. And we just beat one of their relegation rivals, which helps them. Win-win.

I think the atmosphere at Anfield for the Chelsea game will be the same as the City game. Can't wait.

Apparently Moyes is going to be sacked.

I watched both of the 1st legs semis of CL. Chelsea VS Athletico was most fucking boring semi in CL history. I can't remember a semi being 0-0 in CL ever.

And RMad is lucky to have won. Bayern was the better team that just couldn't properly utilize its possessions. It was frickin' hilarious to see CR7 laugh after seeing frustrated Guardiola on the screen though

As for Moyes, awesome. Go Giggsy!

I watched both of the 1st legs semis of CL. Chelsea VS Athletico was most fucking boring semi in CL history. I can't remember a semi being 0-0 in CL ever.

Typical Mourinho tactics. He got the result he wanted though.



Seems that he will bring a weaker team to Anfield on the weekend, with one eye on the CL second leg. Terry, Hazard and Cech out injured and Ramires suspended. Could be an anticlimax for the title race.


Some images of the proposed Anfield redevelopment released this week. Upgrading two stands will take the capacity up to nearly 60,000.

Mourinho says he will rest his key players against Liverpool. So, the next game might be trophy celebration day for Livpool.

Mourinho says he will rest his key players against Liverpool.

He doesn't have much choice really. Half his team are injured or suspended. The funny thing is that the team he plays will still probably cost more than Liverpool's, even if Torres doesn't play.

Most teams in the league would love to have his reserve players

So, the next game might be trophy celebration day for Livpool.

If it ends up going to the last game against Newcastle it could happen on my birthday.

So, you are rooting for a Chelsea win leading to Livpool breaking the cliffhanger against Newcastle?

I'd rather wrap it up as soon as possible. It's too stressful.

Can't wait for this Chelsea match. The crowd will be insane if we score an early goal again.

I'd rather wrap it up as soon as possible. It's too stressful.

Really hard to be a pro footballer huh.

That's how a passionate fan is supposed to feel, mr. dowgrin

And fans who don't stress and refer to themselves as being members of the team aren't passionate for their support of the club?

And fans who don't stress and refer to themselves as being members of the team aren't passionate for their support of the club?

Finally a clever statement, Grin.

Got me thinking about it...

So much for fielding a weaker team.

Mourinho trolling for City.