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

[Xxmodded]

I think this is the COVID effect.

I see often now without people at the stadium games when a high number of goals are scored.
I remember an Aston Villa Liverpool 7-2, several 6 - 0.

It will be interesting to see if it is only my impression or it has a statitical value.

COVID could partly be the contributor. The UCL has also had some modifications where they have been playing almost every other week. O don't think players have had enough rest especially since the Summer break was so short.

Another case could be due to VAR, so many penalties and dangerous free kicks have been awarded due to even simple fouls. Such fouls could have easily been avoided in the Pre-VAR era.

Since the existence of VAR there have been a lot of penalty kicks and free kicks that certain teams have gotten, but one of the most annoying things about VAR is when the game is over but the referee still decides to look at VAR. The game of football is not as exciting as it used to be where there was a lot of controversy and drama on the pitch, but now football is really closely watched so there is no drama at all in football. This is why team play is not as aggressive as it was before VAR.

[Furious 7]

Since the existence of VAR there have been a lot of penalty kicks and free kicks that certain teams have gotten, but one of the most annoying things about VAR is when the game is over but the referee still decides to look at VAR. The game of football is not as exciting as it used to be where there was a lot of controversy and drama on the pitch, but now football is really closely watched so there is no drama at all in football. This is why team play is not as aggressive as it was before VAR.

VAR has now become an important part of football and can monitor referees who do not know what happened before blowing the whistle, but indeed controversy still occurs, some say it is beneficial, there are also those that are detrimental to the team, that is, the current rules every time there must be changes with sophisticated technology.

[kassex]

I think this is the COVID effect.

I see often now without people at the stadium games when a high number of goals are scored.
I remember an Aston Villa Liverpool 7-2, several 6 - 0.

It will be interesting to see if it is only my impression or it has a statitical value.

COVID could partly be the contributor. The UCL has also had some modifications where they have been playing almost every other week. O don't think players have had enough rest especially since the Summer break was so short.

Another case could be due to VAR, so many penalties and dangerous free kicks have been awarded due to even simple fouls. Such fouls could have easily been avoided in the Pre-VAR era.

Since the existence of VAR there have been a lot of penalty kicks and free kicks that certain teams have gotten, but one of the most annoying things about VAR is when the game is over but the referee still decides to look at VAR. The game of football is not as exciting as it used to be where there was a lot of controversy and drama on the pitch, but now football is really closely watched so there is no drama at all in football. This is why team play is not as aggressive as it was before VAR.

I completely agree with you. Var killed the intrigue in football. He killed the beauty of the game. After scoring goals, you don’t know to rejoice or wait for the referee’s decision. However, there are some positive moments. There are few controversial moments. But I think they will not be able to completely remove them.

[asus09]

I think this is the COVID effect.

I see often now without people at the stadium games when a high number of goals are scored.
I remember an Aston Villa Liverpool 7-2, several 6 - 0.

It will be interesting to see if it is only my impression or it has a statitical value.

COVID could partly be the contributor. The UCL has also had some modifications where they have been playing almost every other week. O don't think players have had enough rest especially since the Summer break was so short.

Another case could be due to VAR, so many penalties and dangerous free kicks have been awarded due to even simple fouls. Such fouls could have easily been avoided in the Pre-VAR era.

Since the existence of VAR there have been a lot of penalty kicks and free kicks that certain teams have gotten, but one of the most annoying things about VAR is when the game is over but the referee still decides to look at VAR. The game of football is not as exciting as it used to be where there was a lot of controversy and drama on the pitch, but now football is really closely watched so there is no drama at all in football. This is why team play is not as aggressive as it was before VAR.

I completely agree with you. Var killed the intrigue in football. He killed the beauty of the game. After scoring goals, you don’t know to rejoice or wait for the referee’s decision. However, there are some positive moments. There are few controversial moments. But I think they will not be able to completely remove them.

With the implementation of VAR, it has changed the pattern of playing in football, there is no artistic value and also the controversy that has been generated in every match, let alone derby matches or classic matches. Although the presence of VAR is very helpful in monitoring matches and assisting the referees but there is a beauty in football that has been lost since the existence of VAR. Many agree with the application of VAR in football but many also disagree because every match is almost 10 minutes wasted just watching a replay on VAR. The application of VAR will become permanent in football because not all teams want VAR to be removed in football.

[Karartma1]

snip

Another case could be due to VAR, so many penalties and dangerous free kicks have been awarded due to even simple fouls. Such fouls could have easily been avoided in the Pre-VAR era.

Since the existence of VAR there have been a lot of penalty kicks and free kicks that certain teams have gotten, but one of the most annoying things about VAR is when the game is over but the referee still decides to look at VAR. The game of football is not as exciting as it used to be where there was a lot of controversy and drama on the pitch, but now football is really closely watched so there is no drama at all in football. This is why team play is not as aggressive as it was before VAR.

I completely agree with you. Var killed the intrigue in football. He killed the beauty of the game. After scoring goals, you don’t know to rejoice or wait for the referee’s decision. However, there are some positive moments. There are few controversial moments. But I think they will not be able to completely remove them.

Have you guys ever watched a rugby match? In rugby, the main intervention points for a TMO [Television Match Official] are for an act of scoring or foul play. I do know that the tempo between rugby and football is completely different, with rugby aficionados having many more occasions of seeing the game interrupted (for scrums, line outs and injuries). But now that the technology has been embedded in football there's probably no going back. In rugby it works almost perfectly, football should learn a lot from it. Football referees have to become much better at integrating their judgement with VAR calls.

[Oneandpure]

snip

Another case could be due to VAR, so many penalties and dangerous free kicks have been awarded due to even simple fouls. Such fouls could have easily been avoided in the Pre-VAR era.

Since the existence of VAR there have been a lot of penalty kicks and free kicks that certain teams have gotten, but one of the most annoying things about VAR is when the game is over but the referee still decides to look at VAR. The game of football is not as exciting as it used to be where there was a lot of controversy and drama on the pitch, but now football is really closely watched so there is no drama at all in football. This is why team play is not as aggressive as it was before VAR.

I completely agree with you. Var killed the intrigue in football. He killed the beauty of the game. After scoring goals, you don’t know to rejoice or wait for the referee’s decision. However, there are some positive moments. There are few controversial moments. But I think they will not be able to completely remove them.

Have you guys ever watched a rugby match? In rugby, the main intervention points for a TMO [Television Match Official] are for an act of scoring or foul play. I do know that the tempo between rugby and football is completely different, with rugby aficionados having many more occasions of seeing the game interrupted (for scrums, line outs and injuries). But now that the technology has been embedded in football there's probably no going back. In rugby it works almost perfectly, football should learn a lot from it. Football referees have to become much better at integrating their judgement with VAR calls.

I have only heard of the game of rugby and have never watched it either live at the stadium or on televidia. Even I also do not understand how the rules in rugby play, at first glance it is very different between football and rugby it seems that referees make decisions easier in rugby than in football. In football, referees are required to move quickly in order to make the right decisions and are required to always be in a position close to the players who have control of the ball, especially when there is a counterattack many referees have to run so fast so that nothing is overlooked when making decisions.

[CryptocurencyKing]

have only heard of the game of rugby and have never watched it either live at the stadium or on televidia. Even I also do not understand how the rules in rugby play, at first glance it is very different between football and rugby it seems that referees make decisions easier in rugby than in football. In football, referees are required to move quickly in order to make the right decisions and are required to always be in a position close to the players who have control of the ball, especially when there is a counterattack many referees have to run so fast so that nothing is overlooked when making decisions.

I swear! To a football fan like myself, most other sports seem a lot more strange and it often becomes what is better heard than watched. For how do you enjoy a game when first, you know nothing of the rules... Football just over shadows all of them except for sports like race (Car, bike, marathon etc ), boxing, tennis and at times golf where you can easily speculate and follow up. Other sports kind of hangs you in the balance.

Football referee jobs are so difficult that, they continue to increase officials occasionally to ease the work of officiating. The referees go through a lot of stress compared to players as they are always on the run for almost the full 90 minutes. Plus, the task of making the right calls in no time. It's not easy for them.

[adamvp]

I think this is the COVID effect.

I see often now without people at the stadium games when a high number of goals are scored.
I remember an Aston Villa Liverpool 7-2, several 6 - 0.

It will be interesting to see if it is only my impression or it has a statitical value.

COVID could partly be the contributor. The UCL has also had some modifications where they have been playing almost every other week. O don't think players have had enough rest especially since the Summer break was so short.

Another case could be due to VAR, so many penalties and dangerous free kicks have been awarded due to even simple fouls. Such fouls could have easily been avoided in the Pre-VAR era.

Since the existence of VAR there have been a lot of penalty kicks and free kicks that certain teams have gotten, but one of the most annoying things about VAR is when the game is over but the referee still decides to look at VAR. The game of football is not as exciting as it used to be where there was a lot of controversy and drama on the pitch, but now football is really closely watched so there is no drama at all in football. This is why team play is not as aggressive as it was before VAR.

I completely agree with you. Var killed the intrigue in football. He killed the beauty of the game. After scoring goals, you don’t know to rejoice or wait for the referee’s decision. However, there are some positive moments. There are few controversial moments. But I think they will not be able to completely remove them.

Maybe sometime in the future referees will have access to technology in real-time? Some kind of augmented reality, and they will see immediately if it was offside or not?
I think it is not bad that games are becoming more fair!

[beerlover]

Every single sport was affected by covid and it is not really looking good for any of them, however football was looking like it is not as affected as other ones. Look at NBA for example, they had to give a break, they had to arrange a bubble, they didn't allowed anyone in and they are planning on doing 72 game season and basically all around moved the whole season further away, things got really bad there.

In football, we got our football back during summer, ended last season, started this year like nothing happened and everything moved on. Obviously there had to be some consequences of that, and with everyone still outside and roaming around it was always risky. Hopefully every player gets better, I do not care about the results as long as we do not get any seriously ill player in any team.

[babo]

Every single sport was affected by covid and it is not really looking good for any of them, however football was looking like it is not as affected as other ones. Look at NBA for example, they had to give a break, they had to arrange a bubble, they didn't allowed anyone in and they are planning on doing 72 game season and basically all around moved the whole season further away, things got really bad there.

In football, we got our football back during summer, ended last season, started this year like nothing happened and everything moved on. Obviously there had to be some consequences of that, and with everyone still outside and roaming around it was always risky. Hopefully every player gets better, I do not care about the results as long as we do not get any seriously ill player in any team.

every sport with contact .. football, rugby, etc..
some sport (golf, tennis, .. ) dont have contact with you adversary


the problem isnt in sport (professional or not) but in people .. if dont follow the SIMPLE anti-covid rules
someone want 10'ooo people in stadium..

[DeathAngel]

The current odds to become champion of Europe. What do you think, who will win the trophy?

[bounceback]

The current odds to become champion of Europe. What do you think, who will win the trophy?

I as a Madrid fan certainly don't agree with Madrid's position in 7th place in the race for the Champions League, I think this season Real Madrid is able to appear more consistent and be able to bring back the Champions League trophy, for Bayern Munich I don't think so because no club is that capable of defending a championship title other than Real Madrid. Although Bayern Munich's performances this season are still consistent, I think the myths in football are true, it is likely that Bayern Munich failed to defend the champions league title this season.

[NotATether]

The current odds to become champion of Europe. What do you think, who will win the trophy?

It looks like they are determining the odds from the results from the legs that have already played. That's the only reason I can find for Man City being second even though they have never won the title.

It's way too early to predict who will win the title, though Bayern and Barcelona are favorites again, I would've added Liverpool but I don't think they can make it that far without van Dijk playing.

[hilariousetc]

The current odds to become champion of Europe. What do you think, who will win the trophy?

It looks like they are determining the odds from the results from the legs that have already played. That's the only reason I can find for Man City being second even though they have never won the title.

It's way too early to predict who will win the title, though Bayern and Barcelona are favorites again, I would've added Liverpool but I don't think they can make it that far without van Dijk playing.

My money wouldn't be on Barca. Their team has been decimated this season. Got rid of half their players. They've also lost two games and drawn two out of their last five. Bayern and City should be up there. Still not sure I have faith in City and they're off to a shaky start in the PL. Bayern would be my top pick but anything can happen in the Champion's League.

Current odds from Skybet:

Bayern Munich 11/4
Manchester City 4/1
Liverpool 6/1
Barcelona 12/1
PSG 14/1
Juventus 16/1
Real Madrid 16/1

[cygan]

as long as Robert Lewandowski plays through the whole season without any injuries and stays healthy bayern munich is again the big favourite for me

[beerlover]

every sport with contact .. football, rugby, etc..
some sport (golf, tennis, .. ) dont have contact with you adversary


the problem isnt in sport (professional or not) but in people .. if dont follow the SIMPLE anti-covid rules
someone want 10'ooo people in stadium..

Well yeah contact sports obviously, when you are talking about something like golf, you do not really need that much covid prevention, it is just you and few other golfers who you can stay away from and your caddy that's it. At the end of the day most of the sports that are watched at the highest level are contact sports, not really fighting level of contact (which they do get watched as well) but more like team sports which players touch each other.

Sure maybe some boxing game could get views more than a Southampton vs Brighton game but if you look at the league we are seeing 30-40 games a week from big nations leagues every week and when you combine that it is 100x more than boxing or ufc of golf because those are less common and happens once every few months only. So, I think covid prevention and cautions for sports are direly important.

[Darkoth89]

My money wouldn't be on Barca. Their team has been decimated this season. Got rid of half their players. They've also lost two games and drawn two out of their last five. Bayern and City should be up there. Still not sure I have faith in City and they're off to a shaky start in the PL. Bayern would be my top pick but anything can happen in the Champion's League.

I don't think that Barca will play an important role in the Champions League this season either. There is just too much drama going on in this club (Messi drama, Bartomeu, salary cut etc.) and they have to get these things sorted out at first. Next season they'll probably need to completely restructure their team. Right now I see teams like Bayern, City, Liverpool, Juve, PSG and Real in a better position this season.

What I think will also play an important role when it comes to the next winner of the UCL is how the K.O. matches are being played out. Will there be an outward and return match again? Or will it be only one single match like last season? The way last season was played out is favouring smaller teams a bit since it's easier to get a surprise win than in two matches.

[AakZaki]

The current odds to become champion of Europe. What do you think, who will win the trophy?

It's very difficult to guess there is still a long way to go, but my favorite team is Madrid. But I'm not sure about their current situation. Unless they fix their problem on the next transfer by buying a new player. Meanwhile, if I look at their games in the group qualifiers and competitions in their country, of course I would prefer Bayern Munich to win again even though I'm not happy.

[LTU_btc]

My money wouldn't be on Barca. Their team has been decimated this season. Got rid of half their players. They've also lost two games and drawn two out of their last five. Bayern and City should be up there. Still not sure I have faith in City and they're off to a shaky start in the PL. Bayern would be my top pick but anything can happen in the Champion's League.

Current odds from Skybet:

Bayern Munich 11/4
Manchester City 4/1
Liverpool 6/1
Barcelona 12/1
PSG 14/1
Juventus 16/1
Real Madrid 16/1

Even as hardcore Barca fan, I wouldn't bet on my tesm to win CL this year. Probably we won't have big problems in group stage, but for me it's already too scary to think what will happen when we will face stronger team like Bayern, Liverpool or City in playoff stage. Memories of these huge loses is still alive - Juventus, Roma, Liverpool, Bayern...

[slaman29]

My money wouldn't be on Barca. Their team has been decimated this season. Got rid of half their players. They've also lost two games and drawn two out of their last five. Bayern and City should be up there. Still not sure I have faith in City and they're off to a shaky start in the PL. Bayern would be my top pick but anything can happen in the Champion's League.

I don't think that Barca will play an important role in the Champions League this season either. There is just too much drama going on in this club (Messi drama, Bartomeu, salary cut etc.) and they have to get these things sorted out at first. Next season they'll probably need to completely restructure their team. Right now I see teams like Bayern, City, Liverpool, Juve, PSG and Real in a better position this season.

What I think will also play an important role when it comes to the next winner of the UCL is how the K.O. matches are being played out. Will there be an outward and return match again? Or will it be only one single match like last season? The way last season was played out is favouring smaller teams a bit since it's easier to get a surprise win than in two matches.

As a Barca fan, have to agree here. Of course, we all have deep hopes for our own team and I said before early in the season I would think Koeman sees La Liga as a priority, but he might actually want to try and win UCL first (because of the better format this season of KO which I think is still in place) and hope that sort of eases the pressure.

Things like no Ansu Fati now for a long period also means sustaning La Liga challenge becomes even more difficult over the entire season. The drama is slowly being sorted out so let's see