UEFA Champions League 24/25 - Playoff Round - 11/02/25 and 12/02/25

[Wolfbot]

Real Madrid actually played pretty well there, far better than a lot of other times they had more 'quality'.

Agree, thought they were really good with the ball.

They gave City a fair bit of space and possession but have done this in loads of games for years now under Ancelotti, it's clearly a purposeful choice to play that way.

It's like they accept the risk because it opens so much space up ahead of them and they have belief in their slick passing and great ball control to get up the pitch quickly and always get at least a couple of goals, which they almost always do.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Universe doesn't spin on an axis.

Yes but the arc of the universe bends towards justice.

 

[Berbaclass]

 

[SER19]

It is fair to say that a front 4 made of Bellingham, Vini, Mbappe and Rodrygo is still unmatched out there.

You not seen hojlund with zirkzee tucked behind?

 

[RG77]

It is fair to say that a front 4 made of Bellingham, Vini, Mbappe and Rodrygo is still unmatched out there.

Euh the Barca trident is much better Or at least operating much better. We have been struggling so much with those 4.

 

[Acheron]

How I'm gonna miss him once he stops coaching Manchester City.

 

[DarkLord1984]

 

[Felixmarte de Hircania]

He's the main man for Real Madrid and he's 21. I can't remember an English player doing that before.

I think he gets hyped the appropriate amount. He's already a fantastic player. Of course he has bad games sometimes but so does everyone.

Totally agree.

 

[bgoodall]

Death, taxes, and Real Madrid in the CL.

 

[sidsutton]

Desmond!

the party's over!

For City

 

[giorno]

Yes but the arc of the universe bends towards Real Madrid

Fixed

 

[MrWilliams]

I don’t know how anyone could see Jude’s performances for Madrid since he arrived and think he’s not the real deal.

Madrid don’t mess around. If you’re not performing you’re gone.

I think most of the hate is envy. Opposing fans, if offered the chance to have Jude at their club would jump at it.

 

[Real Name]

I was really enjoying the game last night. Especially given City got a non existent penalty. Justice prevailed in that one and Madrid deserved it.

 

[Terrific Tangerine]

Also, there’s a fair bit of arrogance to assume Madrid fans would get an oasis reference…

They probably saw that and were like ‘…eh?’

Only Oasis gig I've ever been to was in the Real basketball arena funnily enough.

Probably 10 thousand people there so you might be surprised.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

What's happening at City this season goes beyond Rodri. It seems weird for someone who's so obsessed with control to have one "tennis match" after another. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have been one of the masters of chaos for a while. Only Liverpool (probably the most balanced team in Europe this season) and Barcelona seem able to match them in that regard.

 

[Oranges038]

I don’t know how anyone could see Jude’s performances for Madrid since he arrived and think he’s not the real deal.

Madrid don’t mess around. If you’re not performing you’re gone.

I think most of the hate is envy. Opposing fans, if offered the chance to have Jude at their club would jump at it.

It probably is just envy

Fantastic player, he's still very young, he'll drift in and out of games at times and that should be expected at his age of his career.

As long as he keeps improving and maintains a high level, he'll be a mainstay in that Madrid midfield for the next 10-15 years.

 

[Andy_Cole]

I’d like to see an opts stat of goals/min Madrid goals when Ancelotti raises the eyebrow

 

[GhastlyHun]

So that whole kind of dialogue thing of stadium speaker and audience?

 

[Mb194dc]

What's happening at City this season goes beyond Rodri. It seems weird for someone who's so obsessed with control to have one "tennis match" after another. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have been one of the masters of chaos for a while. Only Liverpool (probably the most balanced team in Europe this season) and Barcelona seem able to match them in that regard.

They've got the charges hanging over them and more likely to be playing Championship football than Champions league next season!

 

[2 man midfield]

So that whole kind of dialogue thing of stadium speaker and audience?

Saying the first name of the player over the tannoy, then letting the crowd chant his surname, then repeating it several times

 

[2 man midfield]

 

[hellhunter]

Saying the first name of the player over the tannoy, then letting the crowd chant his surname, then repeating it several times

And people are offended by that?

 

[2 man midfield]

And people are offended by that?

Are they?

 

[stefan92]

Saying the first name of the player over the tannoy, then letting the crowd chant his surname, then repeating it several times

I had no idea that this was considered to be a Bundesliga thing

 

[Oranges038]

And people are offended by that?

Stealing/mocking celebrations.

UEFA needs to follow the PL and do something about this. This can't be allowed to continue.

 

[CraftySoAndSo]

I had no idea that this was considered to be a Bundesliga thing

Doesn't that happen in most of the top leagues in Europe? I've certainly heard it in serie a and ligue 1 games as well as bundesliga. Not sure where else do it though.

 

[Carl]

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNd1J54Ew/

 

[GhastlyHun]

I had no idea that this was considered to be a Bundesliga thing

I also wasn't aware that it's not common elsewhere. I like doing that

 

[Real Name]

Laughable penalty. It was so clearly out of the box.

 

[Greyfog]

How I'm gonna miss him once he stops coaching Manchester City.

Hope you guys will have a 115 banner on display next week

 

[bb8]

Eh, the enemy of my enemy is still just my enemy's enemy, to abuse that saying a bit. I may applaud them when they bet somebody I dislike, but that doesn't mean I like em.

Who do we want to win? Other than (most of us) wanting Madrid over City.

Mostly I guess I'd take smaller clubs going far. I'd rather Villa or Dortmund win it than Arsenal or PSG.

 

[Gazautd18]

Club Brugge are no joke.
Lovely goal vs Atalanta

 

[Gazautd18]

 

[Gazautd18]

 

[USREDEVIL]

I love this version of Pep.
Pep 2.0, the blue years.

 

[DarkLord1984]

I love this version of Pep.
Pep 2.0, the blue years.

Nice to see him finally eat some humble pie after years of smugness.

 

[giorno]

I had no idea that this was considered to be a Bundesliga thing

I also wasn't aware that it's not common elsewhere. I like doing that

As with everything else of worth you germans ever did, you stole it from the italians

(Who stole it from the turkish, or brasilians, don't remember which)

 

[Chicharo]

Controversial penalty for Brugges.
Gasperini and his players are fuming.

 

[TPM]

Atalanta with one of the worst penalties ever called against. How did var not even send the ref to the monitor, jfc

 

[Harry190]

Rodrygo is Mr Champions League. Lovely midweek player.