⚽UEFA Champions League Discussion Thread -- 2021/22 winner - Real Madrid!

[buwaytress]

In a match between a mid tier team and a big team either club or Nation, it's always common that, you hope for a surprise from the mid tier team. You'll always want the mid tier team to win, if possible, humiliate the big team.
That's if you haven't placed your bet on it though, lol.

Not really. Only if you're the neutral or supporting the opposing club;) Then again come world cup, I see most neutrals supporting the big teams or the ones they think plays the most attractive football and that's generally, the bigger team.

Betting? When the gulf is too big, the betting's only worth it on the underdog;)

Anyway, can't wait for the draw. I got my Liverpool 7/1 odds bet waiting. Same as last season. I want them to go for the double this season!

[slaman29]

Atletico don’t play an expansive game of football. They defend, defend, defend! The winner of the CL is usually a progressive, attacking team. I don’t think Atleti will come even close to being champion of Europe.

Much as I agree, CL once you get to past the group stages, is really a coinflip at some stage. Especially if it does become a KO round like during coronavirus, it explains how they beat Liverpool and how Lyon (who finished 7th in league) actually got to the semifinals.

Defending is a strategy yes, but Atletico are wasting their talent playing like this. Won't deny it has its virtues though.

[bct_ail]

I am surprised that nobody has written anything about the new ball yet. After all it is the main tool. 
Adidas has presented his ball for the upcoming group stage. Of course the well-known stars should not be missing. I like the imprinting which gives it a depth.


Source: https://de.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/0261-1080103735b2-f9ab108add8e-1000--adidas-stellt-offiziellen-ball-fur-die-gruppenphase-der-uefa-ch/

[Juggy777]

Atletico don’t play an expansive game of football. They defend, defend, defend! The winner of the CL is usually a progressive, attacking team. I don’t think Atleti will come even close to being champion of Europe.

Much as I agree, CL once you get to past the group stages, is really a coinflip at some stage. Especially if it does become a KO round like during coronavirus, it explains how they beat Liverpool and how Lyon (who finished 7th in league) actually got to the semifinals.

Defending is a strategy yes, but Atletico are wasting their talent playing like this. Won't deny it has its virtues though.

@slaman29 you’re absolutely correct as Atletico has some talented player’s who should be attacking other teams constantly, but their current philosophy is to win games by defending, and that doesn’t really work well in champions league as we saw last season. Furthermore I feel that they’ll improve a lot when they let go of their current manager who I feel has nothing really more to offer to them, anyone else agrees with me that they need to cut Simeone loose?.

Sources:

https://www.sportbible.com/football/fails-klopp-blames-atletico-madrid-style-of-play-for-champions-league-defeat-20200312

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7924971/Why-gone-wrong-Atletico-Madrid-Diego-Simeone-season.html (came very close to being sacked)

[ronaldo40]

everyone will also be very enthusiastic about barcelona if I read the plans like this they want to get a lot of young players in the team but yes you have to be able to buy them somewhere and since they have thrown so much money in recent years they cannot this time just buy what they want, but if koeman gets this team to work, they are basically just the top 3 in the world

[cryptofrka]

Pot 2 is especially strong this season. It is stronger than the 1st pot again - it has been for a while which is so stupid to see.

I'm looking forward to the draw today, as a Liverpool fan there's really nothing to be worried about. I'm confident we'll go through no matter who we get.

[yazher]

I am surprised that nobody has written anything about the new ball yet. After all it is the main tool. 
Adidas has presented his ball for the upcoming group stage. Of course the well-known stars should not be missing. I like the imprinting which gives it a depth.


Source: https://de.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/0261-1080103735b2-f9ab108add8e-1000--adidas-stellt-offiziellen-ball-fur-die-gruppenphase-der-uefa-ch/

What a nice design and unique style brought to us by Adidas company. I wonder how they price this kind of new edition soccer ball in the market. How much will it cost at its new launched? or this ball is just exclusive for the UEFA Champions League? They could make it limited edition though the price is not that cheap. My guess is, this ball is only exclusive in the UEFA Champions League and no one can own it before the end of the UEFA Champions League.

[DeathAngel]

Pot 2 is especially strong this season. It is stronger than the 1st pot again - it has been for a while which is so stupid to see.

I'm looking forward to the draw today, as a Liverpool fan there's really nothing to be worried about. I'm confident we'll go through no matter who we get.

Draw starts at 17:00 CET, well the programme with all the nonsense starts at that time. They always make a big ceremony, handing out awards for last season. I’m looking forward to the actual draw though.

[bct_ail]

I wonder how they price this kind of new edition soccer ball in the market. How much will it cost at its new launched? or this ball is just exclusive for the UEFA Champions League? They could make it limited edition though the price is not that cheap. My guess is, this ball is only exclusive in the UEFA Champions League and no one can own it before the end of the UEFA Champions League.

Quick search in german gave me this: 136€. Shipping time: 1-2 days
https://www.unisportstore.de/fussballausruestung/adidas-fussball-champions-league-2020-pro-matchball-weissblausignal-coral/204427/

[tomahawk9]

source: https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1311703319686066176

I feel like Man City always gets easy groups, wtf? the one this year is europa league tier   tough group for Man Utd. Group E is laughable. Atalanta vs Liverpool will be Over 7.5 goals in each game LOL And Cristiano vs Messi again!

[cygan]

besides the champions league draw, the coach and the player of the year were honored...
congrats flying to Hansi Flick and Robert Lewandowski and the whole club bayern munich

[dre1982]

source: https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1311703319686066176

I feel like Man City always gets easy groups, wtf? the one this year is europa league tier   tough group for Man Utd. Group E is laughable. Atalanta vs Liverpool will be Over 7.5 goals in each game LOL And Cristiano vs Messi again!

Great draw for Ajax. Liverpool is always great to play against. Become number two in this pool is doable.

[TedMosby]

ahh finally!
a match that can entertain us during this pandemic situation.
Juventus and Barcelona is in the same group!
maybe this match will be the last fight between ronaldo and messi.
glad that messi still in Barcelona after all of the drama.

and this is the timeline for 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/fixtures-results/format/

[Coyster]

Manchester United would have hoped for an easier group, they look like the team that could finish third in that group behind PSG and Leipzig, two very strong teams, sorry to Manchester United fans, but I think they could end up in the Europa league at the end of the group stage.

Group G brings Messi and Ronaldo back against each other, after their battle in Spain, the media are already talking about it and fans are already looking forward to that match, the both teams (Juve and Barca) will definitely go through, but what football fans around the world will want to see is when Ronaldo and Messi come up against each other yet again.

[Bttzed03]

~ I feel like Man City always gets easy groups, wtf? the one this year is europa league tier   <....> And Cristiano vs Messi again!

And here I thought Manchester City had the toughest group. Honestly, that was my first impression when I saw the draw. The other teams are regulars in CL too.

Group G is also tricky. Dynamo can pull some upsets there.

It looks like majority will be writing off Manchester United early 

[BitcoinHunt3r]

~ I feel like Man City always gets easy groups, wtf? the one this year is europa league tier   <....> And Cristiano vs Messi again!

And here I thought Manchester City had the toughest group. Honestly, that was my first impression when I saw the draw. The other teams are regulars in CL too.

Group G is also tricky. Dynamo can pull some upsets there.

It looks like majority will be writing off Manchester United early 

In Group G we already know that Barcelona and Juventus are strong candidates to qualify
Try to compare it with group D, there are 2 teams that are underdogs but always making surprises in every season

Of all the matches, Juventus vs Barcelona is the most awaited one. Ronaldo is on a different side now with the support of great players

[DeathAngel]

source: https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1311703319686066176

I feel like Man City always gets easy groups, wtf? the one this year is europa league tier   tough group for Man Utd. Group E is laughable. Atalanta vs Liverpool will be Over 7.5 goals in each game LOL And Cristiano vs Messi again!

Messi vs Ronaldo once again in Group G, should be very interesting. Group H looks to be the group of death, a real test for Solksjaer’s managerial skills to get out of that group.

[Raflesia]

Of all the matches, Juventus vs Barcelona is the most awaited one. Ronaldo is on a different side now with the support of great players

That's what we are really looking forward to. The match will be the best debut when Messi is staying at Barcelona and Ronaldo is already under other care so I think this will be the best moment.

 Given this, Barcelona has a coach Ronald Koeman who has ambition, while Juventus is the king of the Italian team who is hard to beat.

 Are they nothing to be embarrassed about in the match?

[kassex]

Group D can also be interesting. Liverpool, Atalanta and Ajax. Super attacking teams. We are waiting for a rather spectacular Champions League. And in the Juventus-Barcelona confrontation, I think Barca will win.

[Darkoth89]

Messi vs Ronaldo once again in Group G, should be very interesting. Group H looks to be the group of death, a real test for Solksjaer’s managerial skills to get out of that group.

Yeah, group H looks the hardest this year. Pretty sure PSG should take one of the two spots, but then ... Leipzig can be tough, ask the Spurs. Not an easy task for Man United at all.

The Bayern group is gonna be interesting, too ... even though I am pretty sure, Bayern and Atletico will advance out of the group stage. Salzburg was fun to watch last season (okay, they still had Haaland back then).

Dortmund should have no problem with their group. Same goes for Man City and Chelsea.

And about Messi vs Ronaldo in group G ... I think Ronaldo will have the upper hand in the end with Juve but neither Juve nor Barca should have any problem reaching the round of sixteen.

Group D can also be interesting. Liverpool, Atalanta and Ajax. Super attacking teams. We are waiting for a rather spectacular Champions League. And in the Juventus-Barcelona confrontation, I think Barca will win.

I already feel a bit sorry for Atalanta / Ajax. Would have loved to see both of them advance to the next round but I doubt that Liverpool will fall behind both of them.