Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Gingerfinch wrote:Re-draw

How the cheese did Uefa mess this up?

is Boris in charge of UEFA these days?

Sporting thrashed 5-0 by Manchester City.

I say it every year but City look good to finally win a CL. In truth should have won it last year but Pep tinkered.

Is PSG the most expensive failures in European competition? Surpassing the Galaticos of Real Madrid?

Messi and Ramos were brought in to win the champions league and I hate to think of what their wage budget is at present.

There must be something in the water in Madrid for all those golden oldies to still perform at the level they are at.....

Atletico Madrid knocked out Manchester United!

Ronaldo won't be happy

I wonder if he cried?

Well three out of four ain't bad.

Villareal knocking Juventus out was a surprise, though no shock and I'm sure one of our three will fancy them in the last 8.

Benzema 3-1 Chelsea

The decline and fall of the Roman empire?

mikesiva wrote:Benzema 3-1 Chelsea

The decline and fall of the Roman empire?

I guess the whole issue at the top of the club has got down to the players.... but then you oculd argue the situation with Lukaku's comments about leaving and Tuchel uncover issues with the manager in the squad that pre-date this.

Still think they have a fantastic squad, so given better circumstances they will be a force assuming all their players dont want to leave.

Gingerfinch wrote:Well three out of four ain't bad.

Villareal knocking Juventus out was a surprise, though no shock and I'm sure one of our three will fancy them in the last 8.

Villareal knocked out Munich!

Semi finals

Villareal vs Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Manchester City

England vs Spain

What an absorbing game last night. I've not seen a team batter City like Madrid did in that second half for a long time.

Madrid were their usual selves but City dug deep, peeved them off and thankfully went through.

City vs Liverpool final for me!

Gingerfinch wrote:What an absorbing game last night

The last 15-20 odd minutes you couldnt take your eyes of it. I know its not great for the game the way City wasted time, or how Madrid responded with thuggery, but in pure entertainment terms it was just magically enjoyable chaos. And on another day, Madrid could have scored 3-4 goals and buried city in a second half City were played off the park in.... while City could have easily been 2-0 up at half time.

I texted my friend when Felipe wiped out Foden in the first 5 minutes it would get ugly, and it certainly did. When a referee allows a challenge of that force to go unpunished, it set the tone. Felipe could have been sent off 5 times, and how Savic escaped a red card is beyond me. They targeted Foden all game, and De Bruyne got clanged a few times too. Ref had to step in early and stop it, but by the time he found his cards, a riot had broken out.

And while Madrid's players let their fans down with their behavior, I applaud the Madrid fans for the backing they give. It sounded like the roof was going to be blasted off they were so loud.

Maybe City tired later after a hard match v Liverpool on Sunday.

Felipe didn't even get booked for clattering Foden. I can understand not wanting to make big decisions early but that was a yellow at minimum. Madrid have some excellent players going forward but are wasted under Simeone.

Gingerfinch wrote:Felipe didn't even get booked for clattering Foden. I can understand not wanting to make big decisions early but that was a yellow at minimum. Madrid have some excellent players going forward but are wasted under Simeone.

In real time live, I thought it was a red because there is so much force behind it, enough to have split Foden's head open. But maybe not.... but no yellow card was madness.

I actually thought the eventual sending off, which was 50 minutes too late, was harsh. I dont think Felipe could have done anything about that.

Although screaming at the referee and not leaving the pitch will no doubt be a heavy ban. Cant do that. He had to be dragged off by his team mates, then sat at the tunnel waiting.