Champions League 2009/10

Babel scores a ridonkulous goal late and the Scouser back line looks like the keystone cops in giving up a 90th minute equalizer. Injuries are taking a big toll on the boys in red.

 

In other news, Inter comes back and scores 2 late goals to win in Kiev and top the group.

 

Olympic Lyonais!!! Say it with me, Olympic Lyonais!!

Geez, Babel scores a screamer and then puts his next 2 or 3 shots/crosses into row 42 directly thereafter. If Rafa had somebody helping him in the transfer market, the 'pool would've won a league title by now; his purchases and/or sells boggle the mind. As is, they're shit for a "Big 4" club when their two best players, and, arguably the two best in the entire league, are injured. They may need a clean slate this summer...can you say, Steve Nicol? Former player and great coach - I don't care if it's MLS, the guy can flat out handle professionals.

WhitesBhoy, what the hell happened to Bayern? And, Inter's comeback was impressive. Rubin Kazan continues their form and the purple warriors from Florence roll on.

I'm hoping Fulham goes through, and earn a trip to Ibrox or the Allianz Arena in the next round...or Anfield. :twisted:

 

Well Don for your first point, UEFA is super anal about sponsors and crap so they don't like sponsors who don't sponsor the tournament itself to appear anywhere (except the kits)......... I think thats the case. And as for poor little Max Bretos, he is a tool. Simple. Someone needs to teach that guy the LESSon that less is more (anybody get my brilliant pun?).

 

Talked to a guy fron Russia, and it is in fact pronounced "seska".

 

It is OLYMPIQUE, or are you pretending to be Max Bretos?

 

"The boys" were in white, not red, for their disaster this time.

 

I'M NOT FRENCH, or CANADIAN!!!!! HAHAHA!!!!! AND I TYPE IN CAPS, SO, IMAGINE SAMUEL JACKSON IS YELLING THIS!!!

And what the hell has happened to Bayern? Is it the curse of Donovan?

I think so.

 

Didn't I pick Wolfsburg???

 

Well yeah because that's how the Russians pronounce their own letters.

"Ц" is pronounced "ts" in sits
"C" is like "s" in see
"K" is "k" in kitten
"A" is, "a" in father

But if its an acronym, Russians don't pronounce each letter like we do in English.

So although Bretos is technically correct, he's quite the douche.

 

Well yeah because that's how the Russians pronounce their own letters.

"Ц" is pronounced "ts" in sits
"C" is like "s" in see
"K" is "k" in kitten
"A" is, "a" in father

But if its an acronym, Russians don't pronounce each letter like we do in English.

So although Bretos is technically correct, he's quite the douche.

 

Nothing with more truth than this has been in the past century

 

Rubin Kazan and Dinamo Kiev helped us determine....not very much.

So far,.....
1. Barca has not missed a step and are whipping Inter 2-0;
2. Stuttgart are obliging Rangers and beating their asses into oblivion, but only 1-0 for now;
3. Liverpool are depserately grasping their lifeline and a 1-0 lead against Debrecen;
4. Arsenal are apparently about to bury any chance Standard Liege had;
5. Fiorentina are taking advantage of horrid defending by Lyon and a PK opportnity 1-0;
6. AZ Alkmaar and Olympiakos are...who really cares; and
7. Sevilla are yet to open the inevitable can of whoop ass on Unirea.

Last 16 should be much clearer in about 1 hour!

 

I'll give that one a big ol' "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!"

I wonder if the Special One has some ideas in his back pocket, as Barcelona (with Messi and Ibrahimovic on the bench due to minor injuries, and Toure out with H1N1) are shredding Inter. I've been listening online and it sounds like Inter have hardly even had the ball.

 

Several teams have their Champions Leagues lives on the line these next two days:

Victories for ACF Fiorentina and Arsenal FC last time out ensured they joined the six teams already through to the UEFA Champions League first knockout round, but the other eight names in the 18 December draw will only be decided on Matchday 6. uefa.com assesses the state of play; click on the group titles for full standings and fixtures.

Group A
Already through, FC Girondins de Bordeaux secured first place with a 2-0 defeat of Juventus but second is up for grabs. It will be all to play for in Turin on Tuesday, with FC Bayern München needing an away win to progress at the expense of Juve after closing within a point of their Matchday 6 opponents following a 1-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa FC. That ended the Israeli side's ambitions of earning a UEFA Europa League round of 32 place.

Group B
Leading at half-time, VfL Wolfsburg could have secured qualification with a point at PFC CSKA Moskva but a 2-1 defeat means their advantage over the Russian side is now just a superior head-to-head record. However, to finish second CSKA still need to pick up more points at Beşiktaş JK than Wolfsburg manage at home to Manchester United FC; therefore a win would take VfL through, as would a loss for the Russian side. United were already through but still need a Matchday 6 point to guarantee first place after a 1-0 home defeat by eliminated Beşiktaş JK. The Turkish side retain hopes of a UEFA Europa League berth; should they beat CSKA by better than 2-1 on Matchday 6 and Wolfsburg gain at least a point at home to United they will secure it.

Group C
All four teams began Matchday 5 in contention and only one issue is settled: FC Zürich's 1-0 loss at Real Madrid CF consigned the Swiss side to fourth. Madrid are on top and can only be denied progress if they lose 3-0 or worse at Olympique de Marseille, and AC Milan beat Zürich. Milan, two points behind Madrid but one ahead of Marseille, know victory in Switzerland would take them through. Marseille must beat Madrid to have any chance of progress as their head-to-head record is inferior to Milan, and should the Italian side win, OM would need to prevail by 3-0 or better. If Milan win and Madrid draw, the Rossoneri would finish top on head-to-head record.

Group D
With both teams ensured of progress, Chelsea FC secured first and consigned FC Porto to second with a 1-0 in Portugal. The UEFA Europa League berth is undecided after Club Atlético de Madrid drew 1-1 at APOEL FC to remain a point ahead in third. APOEL must win at Chelsea and hope Atlético do not defeat visitors Porto on Matchday 6 to overtake the Spanish side.

Group E
Fiorentina are through and Liverpool FC out, after the Viola beat already-qualified Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 to move two points ahead of the French side at the summit. Liverpool, who cannot catch Lyon due to their head-to-head record, at least secured a UEFA Europa League place after winning 1-0 at Debreceni VSC. A Fiorentina win at Anfield on 9 December will secure top spot; otherwise Lyon can claim it by defeating Debrecen.

Group F
FC Barcelona began Matchday 5 in danger of elimination but ended it on top of the group after defeating previous incumbents FC Internazionale Milano 2-0. Inter and FC Rubin Kazan are two points behind with FC Dynamo Kyiv one further back. All four can still progress, although Barça can afford to lose by a two-goal scoreline other than 2-0 at Dynamo. The Ukrainian club must win 2-0 or by three goals to ensure progress, unless Inter and Rubin draw in which case any victory would be enough. Inter and Rubin both need a win to advance, though if Dynamo do not pick up maximum points, a 0-0 or 1-1 draw would do for Inter, and any other draw would take Rubin through.

Group G
A first home win in UEFA competition, 1-0 against already-qualified Sevilla FC, has put debutants FC Unirea Urziceni on the brink of the last 16. Two points behind Sevilla in second but the same distance ahead of VfB Stuttgart, Unirea require a draw in Germany to progress. Stuttgart must win to go through, though both they and Unirea are at least ensured a UEFA Europa League slot after Rangers FC lost 2-0 at home to VfB. Sevilla will finish first if they draw with Rangers.

Group H
A 2-0 defeat of R. Standard de Liège took Arsenal through as group winners. That loss for the Belgian side, coupled with second-placed Olympiacos FC drawing 0-0 against eliminated AZ Alkmaar, moved the Greek titleholders three clear of Standard. A home draw with Arsenal on Matchday 6 will send Olympiacos through, otherwise Standard would overtake them on head-to-head record by beating AZ. Out of UEFA Champions League contention, the Dutch outfit will earn a place in the UEFA Europa League place should they defeat Standard.


1st Up Today:
Group A, JUVE v. BAYERN.
Almost all of Group B have something on the line, if only Europa League consideration for UNITED-beaters BESIKTAS.
Group C sees a log jam between REAL, MILAN, and MARSEILLE decided.
The Blue-Poo won Group D and PORTO 2nd.

 

The ghost of Demarcus Beasley is starting for Rangers today. Gotta show him off he you want to move him...

 

I didn't see the match, but according to the Sky player ratings, ol' Beas garnered a 1.4 from fans. At least Sky was more kind and rated him a 5.

Oh, and Rangers amassed a robust 2 points in the groups. Wow.

http://www.skysports.com/football/user_ ... 14,00.html

 

My BAYERN, with an atypical ass-kicking of Juve, and your REAL, with pretty ridiculous stuff from Ronaldo, are in the knock-out stage.

I guess it is double-or-nothing now, eh Nev?

The draw will be key!

 

Christian's Chrystal Ball (all rights reserved):

Final 16 Match-Ups

1. Arsenal v. Lyon (Two French Clubs go at it.)

2. Barcelona v. Stuttgart (Because they were Champs, that's why.)

3. Man U v. Olympiakos (The "Red" Series.)

4. Chelscum v. CSKA Moscova (The "Reds" Series. The English version versus the authentic one.)

5. Bordeaux v. AC Milan (AC is going to have to earn it.)

6. Sevilla v. Porto (The most action between clubs and players you've barely heard of.)

7. Fiorentina v. BAYERN (FC Hollywood tries to find their chi.)

8. REAL v. INTER (because Platini and UEFA sometimes have a sense of humour too! The Special One doesn't think it is very funny though.)