At this point, I'd prefer them winning this over Real winning it for a third consecutive time.
Champions League Quarter Finals (3rd - 11th April)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
I wouldn't rule out Liverpool/Roma. The big sides are nowhere near where they were even a few short years ago. Madrid were appalling tonight, poor in both games vs PSG, they've been beaten by Betis, Girona, Villarreal, Leganes, Espanyol and Spurs this season and currently sit 4th in La Liga.
it was not a clear penalty and when you are basically deciding who goes to the semis at the 93rd you better be sure, then if you are such a moron that cannot read the situation and send out the captain in those circumstances you do not deserve to referee at that level. By the way it is not me that says it was not a clear penalty but both the former referees that commented it for Italian TV and Spanish Radio. The one on Cuadrado last week which was less controversial was not given.
I bet you cheered than penalty tonight.
In the next few days we will hear the usual comment from Mourinho " Real Madrid won because of my legacy"
The fact that they say it isn't a clear penalty means that the decision can go either way so you can't blame the ref for making the wrong (or right) decision. Also, Buffon was clearly displaying unsportsmanlike behavior with hands on the ref and likely warned to step away which he clearly ignored. I can't say whether the ref was right or wrong in giving the penalty but Buffon got himself sent off by getting in the ref's face like that despite knowing all too well that the ref wouldn't reverse his decision. The fact that he is the captain is irrelevant. If anything, as the captain he should have kept a cool-head given the circumstances and prepared for the penalty. How you call the ref a moron is harsh and unfair. I get that you are upset especially at the nature and timing of these key decisions, however.
Last edited:
There was no way UEFA allow both Real and Barca to get eliminated in the same week.
The refs had to do something about it. The pen wasn't at all surprising, people being surprised about it is what's surprising.
The refs had to do something about it. The pen wasn't at all surprising, people being surprised about it is what's surprising.
I thought the referee was awful throughout, giving fouls for Madrid every time they hit the deck, however it was a penalty and a stupid challenge to give the referee the option to give it, considering how the rest of the match went.
As for the Buffon red card, Juventus were lucky it was just him sent off, quite a few others could have been carded for harassing the ref.
As for the Buffon red card, Juventus were lucky it was just him sent off, quite a few others could have been carded for harassing the ref.
I don't like complaining too much about referee decisions and I would be fine with this incident being a penalty in most cases, but look at this context Juventus-Real history. All "50-50"-decisions happen to go in Real's way:
1998: Mijatovic decides the CL final half a meter offside.
2013: Straight red card to Chiellini in an important group stage game for nothing after Ronaldo fakes getting hit by an elbow.
2017: Straight red card to Cuadrado in the final for unclear reasons after Sergio Ramos throws himself to the ground.
2018: Cuadrado tripped by Carvajal in the box the last minutes of the first leg (0:34).
Yes, Juventus was penalized for the old sporting director Moggi's shameful and dodgy attempts to pick and put pressure on Serie A referees in 2006 and the club paid a heavy price for it. Inter fans are still bringing up one dodgy decision in 1998 (never linked to Calciopoli) as an example of Juventus "stealing Inter's trophy". I wonder what Barca's (just look at the first game vs Roma) and Real's CL advantages can be called in comparison.
1998: Mijatovic decides the CL final half a meter offside.
2013: Straight red card to Chiellini in an important group stage game for nothing after Ronaldo fakes getting hit by an elbow.
2017: Straight red card to Cuadrado in the final for unclear reasons after Sergio Ramos throws himself to the ground.
2018: Cuadrado tripped by Carvajal in the box the last minutes of the first leg (0:34).
Yes, Juventus was penalized for the old sporting director Moggi's shameful and dodgy attempts to pick and put pressure on Serie A referees in 2006 and the club paid a heavy price for it. Inter fans are still bringing up one dodgy decision in 1998 (never linked to Calciopoli) as an example of Juventus "stealing Inter's trophy". I wonder what Barca's (just look at the first game vs Roma) and Real's CL advantages can be called in comparison.
You are right.
Actually, I was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday. I was expecting a similar penalty to help Messi. It didn't happen. Perhaps because Barca did not play well, perhaps because the game was in Italy, perhaps because it usually happens with Real games (tradition!).
I was not surprised with the Real penalty. But I am really surprised that there are people who believe that Oliver would give a similar penalty to Juventus to make it 0-4 at the 93 minutes in Madrid! I find this astonishing!!!
Nobody here gives a fart about Juventus. But you misunderstood the question: "I wonder what the reaction would be tonight had we been in Juve's position."
He is not asking you to feel like a Juventus fan.
He is asking you: how will you feel the next time we (Man Utd) play vs Real and the referees screw us?
Yes, it has happened in the past. And it will happen again in the future. To us.
biased fans ought not to be taken seriously as an impartial jury.
Marca tells that Ramos might be punished with a one match ban as he went on the field or in the player tunnel even if he was banned. Same happened to Xabi Alonso in the semi finals three years ago...
https://as.com/futbol/2018/04/12/champions/1523484197_761923.html
https://as.com/futbol/2018/04/12/champions/1523484197_761923.html
You're saying that the narrative and perceived romanticism surrounding the match should take precedent over the laws of the game? I disagree. People keep talking about the context of the match, but what do your personal sensibilities have to do with the referee's decision? Whether it's the 5th minute in a meaningless match between two mid-table sides, or the dying embers of a Champion's League final (or the fact that Buffon is retiring) is irrelevant. It's "poor" officiating to award a penalty and send Buffon off purely because it's Buffon, but it's A-OK to let it slide because it's Buffon? Or that it might ruin Juventus' comeback? You do realize the inherent hypocrisy in that line of thinking, right? By virtue of the referee refusing to award a penalty due to subjective sentimentality, he is in turn, favoring one side over the other. That's not acceptable.
The ref is not there to create incredible ties or create awesome stories for the papers. Everyone need not be Clattenburg and come with an agenda and a plan on how the end result should be.
If ref sees a foul in the box, he can give a penalty as per rules of the game. Juve should have known better than kicking from back (was it hard enough or not is immaterial), knowing well that Real was looking for any chance to crawl back into the match.
Mijatovic goal was not offside based on 1998 football rules. Cuadrado did not get a straight red in 2017. The other scenes you showed include no clear referee error, too.
You noticed than we were missing Ramos arguably the best CB in the world right now, right? Bayern went through with two Sevilla OG's, that's how poor they are this year, I dont see them as a threat at all even if Juup is an amazing coach.
I really don't think it's as straightforward a pen as everyone says. Buffon's sending off is the easier one to defend - he had to go.
Juve's big mistake was not pressing on following the third goal. They were knackered but have no idea why there were no subs.
Real Madrid really do have a charmed relationship with this tournament though.
Juve's big mistake was not pressing on following the third goal. They were knackered but have no idea why there were no subs.
Real Madrid really do have a charmed relationship with this tournament though.
That was a soft pen to say the least. They never showed a replay from the opposite side of the pitch so we can somewhat tell how much of a push there was on Vazquez but afterwards 100% not penalty for me.
Deserved red for Buffon. I understand that this was sheer frustration, especially given the foul that led to the penalty but such behavior has never led to something positive. Buffon should have acted like a captain and maintained some composure. He might have saved the penalty but instead Juve would have played with 10 men for 30 minutes even if Ronaldo had missed...
Deserved red for Buffon. I understand that this was sheer frustration, especially given the foul that led to the penalty but such behavior has never led to something positive. Buffon should have acted like a captain and maintained some composure. He might have saved the penalty but instead Juve would have played with 10 men for 30 minutes even if Ronaldo had missed...
I think something a lot of people have missed is that Buffon was pushed into Oliver. That’s what the red card was for, as soon as he felt that contact he was off. You can see it on buffons face, hes shocked he got a red. The whole thing would have been avoided if Oliver wasn’t constantly running away. He should have taken the captain to the side, explained his decision and sent him to his goal for the pen. If he kept going, give a yellow and warning the second yellow is on its way if doesn’t take up his position.
If he sent him off just for the shouting, then he would have had to send off the whole team.
As for the pen itself, never a pen. Not because it wasn’t, but because Oliver wouldn’t have seen it the way we all saw it because he was behind them. And the golden rule is, you can’t give what you don’t see, and considering the stakes there’s no way he could have been 100 % and therefore shouldn’t have given it. IMO.
Keylor Navas was horrible with 2 of the 3 goals. Hope they don't take another look at de Gea in the summer.
Last edited by a moderator:
Much as I liked seeing Oliver getting bullied, it was a clear pen and a fair red. Incredible respect for Cristiano for putting away that pen in those circumstances, required nerves of steel under pressure.
What is the point of shouting at the ref when the chances of him overturning his decision is practically zero? Pretty stupid by Buffon.
If Real draw Liverpool, I just hope Navas ups his performance or Salah will get a hattrick if he reproduces the dreadful keeping against Juve.
What is the point of shouting at the ref when the chances of him overturning his decision is practically zero? Pretty stupid by Buffon.
If Real draw Liverpool, I just hope Navas ups his performance or Salah will get a hattrick if he reproduces the dreadful keeping against Juve.
If penaldo had been booked for one of his dives, at least we would have been saved from him taking the opportunity to get naked again.
Wish at some point we could get Madrid's rub of the green in Europe. At crucial moments they always seem to have things going their way.
By the letter of the law, Ronaldo should have been booked for his celebration. Even without the law, he should be booked on principle for showing off. That’s the only error Oliver made. It could be a big one if it makes the difference between Ronaldo avoiding a suspension later on (hopefully at Liverpool’s expense).
Buffon’s frustrations are understandable in the heat of the moment but on reflection he owes Oliver an apology that he’s clearly to small to give.
Buffon’s frustrations are understandable in the heat of the moment but on reflection he owes Oliver an apology that he’s clearly to small to give.
He did get booked
Ah... Apart from that small issue, I made a great post!
'seem'
The yellow cards are wiped out after the QFs so that's another thing you got wrong.
I don’t understand the offside rule either.
Right, now for something completely different (different from spouting bile over those jammy Real feckers, who I hope will step on the pointiest legos every day for the rest of their miserable, trophy-filled lives, that is) - I think Ribery and Robben showed their age yesterday. Robben simply can't beat a man in a one on one situation now, he hasn't got the legs for these short sprints anymore.
Bayern will win the CL, calling it now. I feel like everyone is tired of Real + this penalty, while justified, has hurt Real's goodwill with the football gods.
So what if they do? We will just say no.
Completely agree. Not a single soul on here would say that was a penalty. Imo, it could be given but it's very soft.
Bayern are good but they haven't played a top team in the knock-out stages so far. And they didn't quite stand out vs Sevilla. Liverpool and Roma are significantly worse on paper than Real and Bayern but are incredibly enthusiastic and have nothing to lose. Anything is possible now.
The reaction would likely be fury and anger if you were in Juve's position.
It would also likely be fury and anger if you were in Real's position and the penalty wasn't given.
Which is why fan reaction should have nothing to do with decision making. We are not rational, objective observers, especially when our own team is involved.
For example, I am completely neutral in yesterday technically and yet as the match went on, I was willing Juve on to do it. I was devastated when the penalty was given.
(Though, if I'm being completely honest, there was a very minor smirk at Chiellini after his comments about knowing there would be chances, about history etc etc
)Still, even as a non Juve fan, I was gutted, at the time. Especially now, looking at it with more objectivity, it was a penalty. And the red unfortunately was also right.
Whether Oliver has in the past not sent Hart off for the same is frankly irrelevant.
Benzema's absence was probably the biggest reason why Real Madrid struggled badly last night.
The guy is a constant presence that can either drop deep to relieve the midfield pressure or holding up the ball to bring his teammates into the play in higher positions.
Never mind that Ronaldo become much more effective when the Frenchman is on.
His goalscoring form may be low, but Benzema brings much more into the table that Real Madrid benefits greatly.
If they lost tonight, Benzema's importance for the team would've definitely been highlighted.
The guy is a constant presence that can either drop deep to relieve the midfield pressure or holding up the ball to bring his teammates into the play in higher positions.
Never mind that Ronaldo become much more effective when the Frenchman is on.
His goalscoring form may be low, but Benzema brings much more into the table that Real Madrid benefits greatly.
If they lost tonight, Benzema's importance for the team would've definitely been highlighted.
Last edited:
This. Before last night, I would have said Real were favourites, but now I would say it is wide open, although Real clearly missed Ramos last night.
Bit pissed at their apparent extensions. I would be fine with it if both of them were the Scholl type and we still could sign a good replacement, but we both know that won't happen. Fingers crossed that Martial is a tad too tempting I guess.