UEFA Champions League 2012-13

holy schneikes - i thought the same thing - what the hell were they wearing? they deserved to lose simply based upon their hideous fashion statement.

 

Dortmund breezes against Shaktar, got to love that stadium and the fact that an American is a star CB for them..oh wait he doesn't play for us :angry-banghead:

However, the drama at Old Trafford with the poor red card call on Nani is the story of the day. Up 2-1 on Agg. and the rare bad call against United at OT changed the match. Can't feel too bad for the Red Devils since they generally get all the calls, but that one stings. The Special One must be close to done for Real because he was the Indifferent One. Walks off with a minute left in the first half (left early at the end also), barely celebrates the goals, and goes over to Sir Alex during the second half and talks to him, and in the post match interview says the best team lost.

 

Not sure I agree with all the controversy regarding the Nani red card. It looks to me like Nani may have pushed his foot out in a attempt to get the Real player in the ribs. That would also explain why Nani stayed on the ground as if he was injured.

I just hope the Special One doesnt return to Chelsea.

 

I thought he deserved it. You gotta know someone's close or not when you choose to play a ball in the air like that, don't you? And, as many have pointed out, intent is NOT a factor.
So, see ya' Sir Alex.
Ooh, and what about Rooney's future at OT? How do you not start him in that situation if he's fit?

A bit saddened that Celtic didn't do better, but not much. They had a big hole to climb out of, so not really expecting that miracle.

Dortmund looked good. A dark horse, maybe?

Juvy, too. A pot for Pirlo, perhaps?

Next round should be good.

 

Watched it a few more times, and still come to the conclusion that it was a terrible call. Nani was focused on the ball the entire time (never looked to see if anyone was there). Usually the away side gets hosed at OT (the non pk call on Murphy immediately springs to mind), hate to see a game of that magnitude decided by the ref. Follow up on Jump's point about Rooney. Stories are starting circulate that Sir Alex and Rooney are on the outs.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/13648 ... b-?cc=5901

 

It would seem that reports of Barca's demise were GREATLY exaggerated. Damn. They're really good.

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video/champions-league/?vid=bee13f9a-35be-4f8e-afdd-c8da23f6fc70

 

Barca put on a show, and certainly have a puncher's chance of winning it, but Milan opened them up a few times, but missed a few golden opportunities to put them away. Still amazing to watch, but their back 4 isn't as good as they were a couple years ago.

 

Barca does have defensive issues, fo sho, but they can still dissect most of the top sides around. Gunners out, Schalke out, Milan out. Who do ya'll like amongst who's left?

 

Thought that Bayern was going to take it, then I saw them almost gag at home against Arsenal. Now they have to play Juventus, I'll take the Italians.

Malaga v Dortmund. Coin flip, but Gooch rides the pine for Malaga, Subotic is a star for Dortmund...sigh.

Real Madrid v Galatasary. Turks magical ride stops here.

PSG v Barca. PSG survived barely without Ibrha (suspended), now he will have to play out of his mind to have a chance, don't think so.

 

:angry-banghead: In between appointments watched about 20 minutes of the 2nd half of the Dortmund v Malaga match, and with the match tied 1-1, but with Malaga ahead on the away goal, Dortmund created some great chances only to be denied by some spectacular saves from the Malaga GK. The Spanish side predictably hit the frustrated home team on the counter and scored in the 83rd thus ending the match right?? I thought so, and left a few minutes early only to miss one of the great miracle comebacks in CL history, as Dortmund scored twice in extra time and advancing to the semi-final... :doh:

Have to say that Dortmund might have the best atmosphere of any stadium in the world. 80K and rocking.

Real Madrid scored early to take a 4-0 agg. lead, but good to see Galatasaray give the home fans 3-2 win in a memorable CL run for them.

 

Semi FInal Draw:

Barcelona v Bayern Munich. Knockdown heavyweight battle. Barca survived and advanced on away goals w/PSG as a dinged up Messi came off the bench and inspired the home side to the goal that made progression possible. Bayern smacked around Juve 4-0, have to go with the Germans.

Real Madrid v Dortmund. Madrid seems like a dysfunctional team, and hasn't been overly impressive until they have to be. Dortmund fresh off their stoppage time miracle are akin to Wichita State in this year's Final 4, talented, tough, and will probably outplay Madrid for long stretches of play only to come up short in the end.

 

Bayern Munich 4 Barca 0, not a typo.

In a related story is Dortmund tomorrow takes on Madrid in what can only be described as weird circumstances. Star midfielder Mario Goetze is going to Bayern effective July 1st. So is he going to play? Totally bizarre that something like this is happening. The Dortmund management is blaming the player and his agent as spilling the beans.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14227 ... it?cc=5901

 

Wow, what a spanking Bayern administered to Barca. Are the Catalan's salad days over, at least for this group? Much speculation about it in the press today. Makes you wonder what really happened with Guardiola's departure. Did he see the writing on the wall? Oh well, Dortmund and Real Madrid should be fun today.

 

...and in the 70th minute today, Dortmund is slapping around Madrid 4 -1. Lewandowski with all 4 goals for BD.

 

It sure looked like the reported dysfunction at Madrid is true, they were uninspiring to say the least and the goal they did get was flukey. They still have an outside chance because of it, but Dortmund dominated that match from the get go. Lewandowski's 3rd goal was just a thing of beauty. That stadium was a beehive (in color and noise) and credit goes to them for the type of footy they play.

In the background of Dortmund's amazing run, and rearing it's ugly head is what ills European football. The CL semi isn't even over yet and already the elite teams are hovering over Dortmund and looking to pick up their best players. Mario Goetze had his release clause picked up by Bayern (it didn't effect his play yesterday, that kid is a dynamic mid), and now there are rumors that Lewandoski will be transferred to one of the continental super powers.

**Anti-Thomas Rongen Alert** Watched the match on Fox Deportes and they did a postmatch interview w/Nevin Subotic (Dortmund's star young CB), the interview was in English and Fox had a translator speak over Subotic in Spanish, but you could still hear him talk. He has a Dortmund cap w/his #4 on backwards and he doesn't speak english w/an European accent, he speaks it like an American (because he is) :angry-banghead: So it looks like an American will be starting in the Champion's League Final, but because Rongen is an @ss he plays internationally for Serbia.

 

I believe the correct word is poleaxed, Nev.

The only clear dysfunction on the pitch with Real was Pepe. Lewandowski picked him out and went after him with gusto. I love the way Klopp has Dortmund play and the beauty of it is that they play the same against everyone. They are aggressive on both sides of the ball, go at you with pace and play to unsettle you. You should love them Jump, they play alot like Pitino's Louisville team did this year.

I don't know that the salad days are over for Barca so much as teams have finally figured out how to beat that system. Granted, Bayern have one heck of a team, but they gave a master class in selectively dictating pace to Barca and focusing more on chance creation than possession. What I mean by that is that in certain areas of the pitch, they were content to sit back, relax, and watch Barca pass it around. But when Barca entered key danger areas, Bayern pressed them, turned them over and hit back on the counter with pace and numbers. Barca are also a victim of the inbalance in their league, imo. They are too used to playing slow & methodical, so when they finally play teams they don't hold such an overwhelming talent advantage over, they struggle to change gears. Case in point, while Barca have mowed through La Liga, Murinho's Real have a 3-2-1 record over them this year.

 

What an entertaining match between Real Madrid and Dortmund. Zee Germans hung on for dear life to advance 4-3 on agg. Madrid came out guns a blazin' and had 4 or 5 great chances in the first 20 minutes that were either barely missed our saved by BD's excellent keeper. With Madrid seemingly spent Dortmund dominated for long stretches, but couldn't put away any of their numerous chances. Madrid then scored twice after the 81 minute mark and it had to be pee-in-your-pants time for the Dortmund fans until the final whistle.

 

All I can say about Bayern is purpose, pace and wow.

 

Nice. I didn't see the match but Barry's comment gives me the dirty lowdown like Boz Scaggs. 7-0 on Barca is something to write home about. Chelsea must've really pissed them off last year, b/c Bayern are taking no prisoners at this point.