UEFA Champions League 2012-13

That goal was...(insert expletive). I think it was the Guardian that had a headline pic of Parkhurst in Adriano's face.

 

Celtic through to the knockouts. Somewhere in Florida, there is an inebriated man, wearing only a Hoops scarf running through the streets and singing at the top of his lungs. Well done to him (and them).

Man City and Chelsea crashing out - simply lovely. Final table:

2012 First Phase - Group A Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Paris Saint-Germain 6 5 0 1 14 3 3 0 0 10 2 2 0 1 4 1 11 15
2 FC Porto 6 4 1 1 10 4 3 0 0 7 2 1 1 1 3 2 6 13
3 Dynamo Kiev 6 1 2 3 6 10 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 2 4 8 -4 5
4 Dinamo Zagreb 6 0 1 5 1 14 0 1 2 1 5 0 0 3 0 9 -13 1
December 5, 20122012 First Phase - Group B Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Schalke 04 6 3 3 0 10 6 1 2 0 5 4 2 1 0 5 2 4 12
2 Arsenal 6 3 1 2 10 8 2 0 1 5 3 1 1 1 5 5 2 10
3 Olympiakos 6 3 0 3 9 9 2 0 1 6 4 1 0 2 3 5 0 9
4 Montpellier 6 0 2 4 6 12 0 1 2 3 5 0 1 2 3 7 -6 2
December 5, 20122012 First Phase - Group C Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Malaga 6 3 3 0 12 5 2 1 0 6 2 1 2 0 6 3 7 12
2 AC Milan 6 2 2 2 7 6 0 2 1 1 2 2 0 1 6 4 1 8
3 Zenit St Petersburg 6 2 1 3 6 9 1 1 1 5 5 1 0 2 1 4 -3 7
4 Anderlecht 6 1 2 3 4 9 1 0 2 2 6 0 2 1 2 3 -5 5
December 5, 20122012 First Phase - Group D Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Borussia Dortmund 6 4 2 0 11 5 3 0 0 4 1 1 2 0 7 4 6 14
2 Real Madrid 6 3 2 1 15 9 2 1 0 9 5 1 1 1 6 4 6 11
3 Ajax Amsterdam 6 1 1 4 8 16 1 0 2 5 9 0 1 2 3 7 -8 4
4 Manchester City 6 0 3 3 7 11 0 3 0 4 4 0 0 3 3 7 -4 3
December 5, 20122012 First Phase - Group E Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Juventus 6 3 3 0 12 4 2 1 0 8 1 1 2 0 4 3 8 12
2 Chelsea 6 3 1 2 16 10 2 1 0 11 5 1 0 2 5 5 6 10
3 Shakhtar Donetsk 6 3 1 2 12 8 2 0 1 4 2 1 1 1 8 6 4 10
4 FC Nordsjaelland 6 0 1 5 4 22 0 1 2 3 10 0 0 3 1 12 -18 1
December 5, 20122012 First Phase - Group F Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Bayern Munich 6 4 1 1 15 7 3 0 0 12 3 1 1 1 3 4 8 13
2 Valencia 6 4 1 1 12 5 2 1 0 7 3 2 0 1 5 2 7 13
3 BATE Borisov 6 2 0 4 9 15 1 0 2 3 6 1 0 2 6 9 -6 6
4 Lille 6 1 0 5 4 13 0 0 3 1 5 1 0 2 3 8 -9 3
December 5, 20122012 First Phase - Group G Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Barcelona 6 4 1 1 11 5 2 1 0 5 3 2 0 1 6 2 6 13
2 Celtic 6 3 1 2 9 8 2 1 0 4 2 1 0 2 5 6 1 10
3 Benfica 6 2 2 2 5 5 2 0 1 4 3 0 2 1 1 2 0 8
4 Spartak Moscow 6 1 0 5 7 14 1 0 2 4 7 0 0 3 3 7 -7 3
December 5, 20122012 First Phase - Group H Table
Overall Home Away
POS TEAM P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Manchester United 6 4 0 2 9 6 2 0 1 4 3 2 0 1 5 3 3 12
2 CFR Cluj-Napoca 6 3 1 2 9 7 1 0 2 5 6 2 1 0 4 1 2 10
3 Galatasaray 6 3 1 2 7 6 1 1 1 2 3 2 0 1 5 3 1 10
4 Braga 6 1 0 5 7 13 0 0 3 2 7 1 0 2 5 6 -6 3

 

Great to see the Hoops go through! Would love to see them advance, but I can't see too many of the #1 teams that look all that vulnerable......maybe Schalke, I guess. (Though I never would've imagined the Bhoys would knock off Barca....)

Arsenal slip up (again) and finish second in the group (again). Up next - elimination at the Camp Nou...

Since ManU already had the worst group, will UEFA change the rules to allow them the worst of the #2 teams? (Cluj) I'd be shocked if they don't wind up with Celtic or Valencia (seemingly some of the weaker options).
If you're listening, God - (Kevin Keegan voice) "I'd love it" if they got Jose and Real next round.......


One last thought:
I'm no Juve fan (though I do have a serious man-crush on Pirlo), but how scary-good would they be had they gotten Van Persie? The only thing they lack is a finisher. The world better hope they don't buy Falcao or Cavani.

 

Who do we like this week, kids?
I gotta go for the hoops. That win over Barca in Glasgow was magical. I mean, Rod Stewart in tears, for crissakes!

 

Celtic Park will be electric as the Serie A leaders Juve comes to town. You would think that the clock has struck 12 and the carriage is turning back into a pumpkin, but having the first leg at home gives the Hoops a chance. Good luck to your Bhoys Christian.

Real Madrid v ManU from the Bernabeu tomorrow. Ronaldo against his old mates, Van Persie and Rooney clicking on all cylinders, Sir Alex against the Special One. Can it live up to the hype?

 

Not sure what the thought process was to start Ambrose 48 hours after the African Cup of Nations final, but it was obviously the wrong one. Gifted a goal in the first 3 minutes, and another one in the 83rd and sandwiched that between missing a free header from five yards away earlier in the second half that would have tied it. Juve was resolute on defense even in the first half when Celtic was putting them under constant pressure. Scoreline unfair to how well Celtic played for much of the match, but Juve is class and look to be very formidable.

 

United v. Madrid should be the "real" deal.

 

Set the dvr for the replay of the ManU-Real match, but probably won't get to it for a few days. Curious to hear thoughts on how Gus Johnson did as the play by play man. He can run from fantastic to over the top in other sports (especially March Madness).

 

Well, the highlights were pretty good. Didn't get to see much of it due to work (it's a ratings period, after all).

 

Anyone else pick up on when a set of supporters were singing take me home?

 

An interview with HD's 'favorite' german import

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcuni ... 67?cc=5901


Still can't get over the Schalke v Arsenal match at the Emorates were his role was clearly defined and he was easily the best player on the pitch.

 

I'd heard Fox is looking to make Gus Johnson the "voice of soccer in America". For the most part, I've liked him. I like that enthusiasm he brings and he does it through inflection instead of stupid catch phrases like Madden or Vitale. I loved him doing March Madness for CBS. Thought he went a bit over the top doing coll fball for Fox. But I think he brought the right balance of excitement and restraint for the CL match. It was a big time match and his call only enhanced that feel. I don't believe he'd done a major soccer event before so, if so, that was a strong showing for a first effort imo. I even liked Barton with him on color ok and I'm usually lukewarm on him. McGod may be a better pairing b/c he communicates that former player insight better and I almost always learn something listening to a match he does color on. With Johnson's (assumed) lack of strategy/tactics knowledge, it might bring better balance.

Watching Tottenham/Lyon right now, I'm tempted to suggest McBride is a better color man than anyone I've heard in England. But I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to strategy, tactics and the nuance of the game, so your mileage may vary.

While Celtic have to play the 2nd leg on the road, they're in better shape goalwise than we were facing Juve. Not like we've never seen the old lady wilt before. Unlikely, but here's hoping.

I'm really interested in the Real/Utd 2nd leg at Old Trafford. The first match lived up to the hype even if it was a little lighter on goals than I'd expected. Saw the Special One on Goals on Sunday last w/e and I miss that guy. I love that wierd, sorta monotone voice and all the "to the point" arrogance you get from him. I'd love to see him back in the Prem. If not, MLS needs to get that guy, and in a major market like NY, but I think he'd play well in Phi or Bos as well. I think he'd only help to grow interest in the league.

 

Good comment, Ag. Right now, after 40 min., the Gunners are down 2-0 to Bayern. Woe is Wenger.

 

Bayern looked quite formidable. The fact that they can sub Ribbery out for Robben speaks to how deep the squad is. They looked organized, athletic, and composed while smacking around the Gooners.

Wenger is getting a ton of heat and perhaps it's time for a fresh voice, but one thing is for certain and that's the talent level is no where near that of the top teams. Good enough to challenge for fourth, but that's about it. The American owner doesn't have (or isn't willing to lose) the hundreds of millions that it takes to climb back up the ladder.

 

AC Milan with the blueprint on how to beat Barca. 2-0 victory where Barca had the ball a ton, but only one decent shot on goal the entire match. Milan created the better chances on the counter and got away with a handball on the first goal, but the second was a thing of beauty.

Barca was wearing something reminiscent of a push up stick you'd get from the ice cream man back in the day. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Padres from the 70's and 80's now have a team rivaling them for the worst uni of all time.

Schalke with a huge away goal from none other than Jermaine Jones to earn them a 1-1 draw with Galatasaray. Jones did pick up a yellow and will miss the second leg.

Some English bookie had the biggest sigh of relief when Milan scored because some bettor (think he bet a pound) had correctly predicted every single match result of the 6 knockout stage matches coming into today, had the Schalke-Gal draw, and the correct 2-0 scoreline of the final match, but he had Barca as the team winning. The payout would have been a million pounds.

 

Jones joins Beasley as the only USMNT players to score a goal in a Champions League knockout stage match.

 

I did it for Mo's sake.

 

Thank you kind sir.

Seeing Barcelona get schooled by AC Milan totally made my day :banana-linedance: