Champions league & Europa leagues 2023-24

[Gingerfinch]

How did Madrid win that one? Defended well but City had some good chances, which on another day would have been taken.

[Durhamfootman]

Villa go through on panalties

Liverpool and WH both lead 1-0 at half time, but still have plenty of work to do

[mikesiva]

West ham and Liverpool go out.

[Durhamfootman]

Villa flying the flag solo

I've seen speculation that this is a consequence of PSR, but I don't buy that tbh. Man C, Man U and Arsenal all have huge resources even under PSR, Newcastle don't, but spending restrictions only became evident in the window after their CL exit. Liverpool seem to have plenty of financial room for manoeuvre.

Opta stats apparently gave the PL an 82% chance of securing the extra CL place before these QF's, but that has now dropped to 6% and requires all the German sides to exit at the SF stage and for Villa to win their final.......... and 6% might be a bit of a stretch anyway

[Durhamfootman]

PSG crash out, scoring no goals in either leg and hitting the post 6 times, seemingly

given that they only got into the KO's of anything thanks to a shocking last minute VAR decision in the groups, I find it difficult to have any sympathy for them

Living proof that you can lay out obscene money buying 3 of the 4 best players on the planet and it doesn't mean a thing....... I'm very happy to say

[sussexpob]

I can only conclude that the man upstairs doesn't like them, because I have no idea how they lost both games. So many chances missed

[Gingerfinch]

I can only conclude that the man upstairs doesn't like them, because I have no idea how they lost both games. So many chances missed

A mixture of bad finishing, good defending and bad luck!

[Durhamfootman]

and maybe a hint of justice?

[Durhamfootman]

I find it a bit odd that two teams from the same group can end up in the same SF. Instinctively I would have assumed that they could only meet again in the final

[Gingerfinch]

I find it a bit odd that two teams from the same group can end up in the same SF. Instinctively I would have assumed that they could only meet again in the final

re-draw after the last 16

[Durhamfootman]

that makes sense

feels unusual for global football tournaments, though. Has it always been done this way?

[Durhamfootman]

that last time Newcastle were in the CL, they qualified from the group phase and went straight into another group phase, so they have changed things over time

[Gingerfinch]

that makes sense

feels unusual for global football tournaments, though. Has it always been done this way?

Certainly for a few years. Clubs from the same nation cannot meet in the last 16 but after that, free for all

[sussexpob]

Quelle surprise... A good game ruined by a dodgy decision.

De Ligt was onside... Why has he blown half way through a key play? Terrible refereeing. VAR overturns that as a goal, but because the plank blew as he was shooting, it can't go to var

[Durhamfootman]

The last PL survivor crashes out, whilst 2 Bundesliga clubs and 2 Serie A clubs march on towards the 3 finals