[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Benzema ripping Chelsea apart!

Two headers: one for power, one for placement.

Madrid 2 up less than 25 mins into the tie. Wow!

The return leg seems a forgone conclusion, it will be a miracle if Chelsea can bring some semblance to the score card. I am more interested in what Bayern does against Villarreal. Tonight’s gonna be a good night

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

The return leg seems a forgone conclusion, it will be a miracle if Chelsea can bring some semblance to the score card. I am more interested in what Bayern does against Villarreal. Tonight’s gonna be a good night

Chelsea have got one back early. Madrid still favorites but if Chelsea score the next one, it'll be squeaky bum time.

Edit: squeak squeak it is!

Edit 2: What drama! Alonso disallowed, arguably harshly, but Werner finally puts them ahead. Old man Modric, what an outrageous pass to get Madrid on the board for the night. You can't teach that kind of quality.

Edit 3: ET in Madrid. Shock in Munich!

[ABHI_1512]

Karim Benzema is right now the hottest property. Chelsea fought remarkably but that extra time goal marred everything for them. Real though deserved to go through after their first leg game and for Benzema’s brilliance.

Villarreal might well face Liverpool in the semis and that’s an anti climax since I was expecting a Bayern- Liverpool !! Quite an interesting line up for the semis it will be.

[AB10]

Full disclosure, a Chelsea Fan here. Even though Real Madrid won, I still believe Chelsea deserved to win had that Marcos Alonso goal not been disallowed. The bounce back by the team after losing 1-4 and 1-3 back to back against Brentford and RM was purely class. First Soton 6-0 and now such a performance against RM. Just pure hard luck that the defending champs could not move on.

Meanwhile what an upset by Villareal of Bayen ! Arsenal fans would probably be missing Emery now Reminded me of Porto vs Juve last year.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

...I was expecting a Bayern- Liverpool !! Quite an interesting line up for the semis it will be.

Everyone was, but knockout competitions keep reminding us that in one-off ties, pedigree and form count for little. You can be an unglamorous team from a little industrial town of 50,000 people and knock out one of the favorites. You just need to outdo them over the tie, not in toto. If Liverpool can get by Benfica, Villareal could be a tough test as they play to Liverpool's weaknesses: compact defense and effective counters in behind a high line.

We could have a Madrid derby for the other semi, but I'm really keen to see how Man City's back line fares against a world class forward on top form, if they can get past Atletico.

Originally Posted by AB10

...Marcos Alonso goal not been disallowed...

From the one, single-angle replay they showed on the live match feed, it seemed harsh. Should've asked the ref to look at it on the pitch-side monitor.

...Arsenal fans would probably be missing Emery now...

Emery is a great cup manager who excels at tournament play, but not necessarily the same level in a league format. He'll probably make a great national team boss somewhere in the future, if he feels like it.

[Chetan_Rao]

West Ham put in a fantastic performance to get past Lyon, same for Frankfurt Vs. Barcelona.

In other news, Burnley have overdosed on stupid juice and sacked Sean Dyche, the only reason they're a Premier League club at all given their squad quality and limited finances. If they get relegated this year, it doesn't look likely they'll be back in a hurry.

[ABHI_1512]

^^

For once it was sad to see Barca playing in the Europa league, with no offence to the quality of football on offer.

Burnley have got this wrong with this sacking of Sean Dyche, you don’t just sack someone who has been with your club for ten years just like that !! More tragic is that, they are not out of danger yet from relegation. Let’s see what they do on Sunday, not hopeful though !!

[ABHI_1512]

FA Cup: Liverpool is almost on a cruise control mode against Man City and it’s not even half time. Won’t be surprised if Liverpool pump in more than two goals that they have already scored !

Edit : What a fantastic volley by Mane ..boom !

3-0 already, the match seems to be over for Man City going by the looks of it !!

[kavensri]

I am just loving this battle for #4 position in EPL. MUN, TOT and ARS (and some extent WHU) are all trying their best to allow other teams to grab that spot ��
Regarding MCI and LIV rivalry this season, I get the feeling that LIV are favourites to win the league now.
I also feel that UCL win will be on the top of priority list for MCI, even if it comes to a stage where they need to choose between league and UCL.

[Chetan_Rao]

20 mins in, this is going the same way as the return fixture at Old Trafford. Mo Salah, bit of a lean patch, already has an assist and a goal.

Thiago, when on song, is outrageously good!

[Axe77]

LIV - MANU

4-0!! Not sure if the score line is more humiliating or the relative ease with which it was achieved. Gonna be a tough one for the Devils fans to swallow.

Its not so much about the loss as the fact that its not even a contest anymore. They were properly schooled on this one. Mere 30% possession and 2 shots on target IIRC.

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Thiago, when on song, is outrageously good!

Originally Posted by Axe77

LIV - MANU
Mere 30% possession and 2 shots on target IIRC.

It was a wonderful win for Liverpool, but at the same time it was sad to see that this historically epic rivalry has become a mere one-sided affair. I expected a bit more steel from United – some of the players (for e.g., Elanga) were invisible for most parts.

Hoping that Brighton will work some magic today. I still expect some slip ups (by both Liverpool and City) before the closure.

[Chetan_Rao]

Villarreal gave it an almighty go in the first 45 mins, but ran themselves into the ground.

Liverpool step up in the 2nd half, and Villarreal just don't have the legs on them to keep up.

Fitness, as much as footballing ability, making the difference.

Luis Diaz is a fantastic signing, for what amounts to chump change in modern elite football.

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Luis Diaz is a fantastic signing, for what amounts to chump change in modern elite football.

I almost thought that Liverpool will sink in that yellow wave but what a difference the substitution made. Jota is good but Luis is on a different level - so relentless and always on the move.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by vb-san

I almost thought that Liverpool will sink in that yellow wave but what a difference the substitution made. Jota is good but Luis is on a different level - so relentless and always on the move.

Jota, for his short stature, is an excellent header of the ball, moving into compact spaces and acting as a focal point (great positional sense overall). He's increasingly going to be the central forward of choice in the front three, I suppose, replacing Firmino who can take up a playmaker role instead (to leverage his biggest strength, link-up play).

With Diaz's pace and ability to pull covering defenders out of position, him and Jota could form a lethal combo in the future, once they've played a full season together.