⚽ [POLL] FOOTBALL: UEFA Champions League 2023/24

[JollyGood]

This is the first semi-final (first leg) taking place today:

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

You would have to go with the notion that if Real Madrid win this evening without conceding a goal, they will qualify for another Champions League final no matter what happens in the return leg in Manchester. I would expect Real Madrid to score in Manchester therefore they could qualify via the away goals rule. As for Manchester City, well done for them to get this far again but they still have not been crowned Champions of Europe.

If Manchester City lose to Real Madrid and then lose the FA Cup final to Manchester United, they will only win the Premier league this season when they were on the verge of a treble.

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[JollyGood]

The second semi-final 1st leg is being played this evening:

AC Milan vs Inter Milan

This will guarantee an Italian team will be in the final and this could be the time Italian football starts becoming a European force again.

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The result from the game yesterday was: Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City

This one is almost finely balanced but Manchester City have the away goal advantage.

If the return leg ends 0-0 then Manchester City are through to another Champions League final. If the game ends 1-1 it will be decided in extra-time or on penalties. If the game ends in a 2-2 draw Real Madrid will play another final because of the away goals rule.

Kevin De Bruyne scored the all-important equaliser in some style with a brilliant powerful shot after Vinicius Junior scored a stunning goal himself to put Real Madrid in the lead.

[tokeweed]

Here we go guys...  Match starts in around 5 minutes.  The real final match of the UCL.  Lol.  I think we will witness something hilariously funny.    My money is on the draw no bet for Real Madrid at 4.05.  I'm not really sure why the books and the sharps are discounting Ancelotti and his boys here.  I'm betting we're seeing a master class for the Spanish club.

Then again, I could look like a dumb idiot.  

Edit:  I'm a dumb idiot.  Congrats to City.

[JollyGood]

It would have been almost impossible to have gone with a 4-0 win for Manchester City before the game started but yes congratulations to them. They are in the final again but are going up against Inter Milan who beat AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate.

I would not be surprised if Inter Milan win the final against Manchester City even they would be deemed to be underdogs by most bookmakers.

Edit:  I'm a dumb idiot.  Congrats to City.

[Juggy777]

It would have been almost impossible to have gone with a 4-0 win for Manchester City before the game started but yes congratulations to them. They are in the final again but are going up against Inter Milan who beat AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate.

I would not be surprised if Inter Milan win the final against Manchester City even they would be deemed to be underdogs by most bookmakers.

@JollyGood I’m disappointed because Real Madrid surrendered the match too easily and I hope that they focus on rebuilding their squad if they want to win the champions league next season. Also while City will definitely be the favourites but I would yet support Inter because I’m a Manchester United fan and I don’t want to see City win the treble .

[tokeweed]

It would have been almost impossible to have gone with a 4-0 win for Manchester City before the game started but yes congratulations to them. They are in the final again but are going up against Inter Milan who beat AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate.

I would not be surprised if Inter Milan win the final against Manchester City even they would be deemed to be underdogs by most bookmakers.

Edit:  I'm a dumb idiot.  Congrats to City.

Yup it seemed like it was gonna be a close match just basing it on the first leg and to some extent on paper.  But I don't follow the La Liga and I have no idea on what trajectory Real's momentum was before the match.  They prolly had a couple of tough matches before travelling to Manchester?  They all looked slow, fatigued, tired out there and never really had anything, any threat against Guardiola's squad.  

[ILuckyGuyI]

Guardiola found a way out against Ancelotti's classical simple strategies and this resulted in a huge win for Manchester City. Courtois really tried to keep them away by a couple of solid saves but he couldn't hold the door against Manchester City any longer after that. Manchester City played a dominant game just as they did in the most part of the first leg but the main difference was the effectiveness at finishing this time.

The interesting thing is that Haaland couldn't contribute with either goals or assists. However it was still not a hindrance for Manchester City to get that comfortable win. This is a really important point because it shows that they aren't fully dependent on him all the time.

By the way, it was unlucky for Haaland at the same time. After he was replaced with Alvarez the guy just scored a goal in only two minutes.  

[JollyGood]

@JollyGood I’m disappointed because Real Madrid surrendered the match too easily and I hope that they focus on rebuilding their squad if they want to win the champions league next season. Also while City will definitely be the favourites but I would yet support Inter because I’m a Manchester United fan and I don’t want to see City win the treble .

I would have put Real Madrid as favourites to win the tournament again this season but well done to Manchester City for making it to the final. Regarding the treble, Manchester United play Manchester City in the first ever All Manchester FA Cup final therefore they do not have to rely on Inter Milan if they are trying to stop Manchester City winning the treble 

Yup it seemed like it was gonna be a close match just basing it on the first leg and to some extent on paper.  But I don't follow the La Liga and I have no idea on what trajectory Real's momentum was before the match.  They prolly had a couple of tough matches before travelling to Manchester?  They all looked slow, fatigued, tired out there and never really had anything, any threat against Guardiola's squad.  

Real Madrid have suffered 3 losses in their previous 5 La Liga games and have allowed Barcelona to race to the title but that cannot be an excuse to the miserable display and loss. There is a mix of youth and experience in that team but they will need to buy more players if they intend to make an impact on the domestic and European scene next season.

Guardiola found a way out against Ancelotti's classical simple strategies and this resulted in a huge win for Manchester City. Courtois really tried to keep them away by a couple of solid saves but he couldn't hold the door against Manchester City any longer after that. Manchester City played a dominant game just as they did in the most part of the first leg but the main difference was the effectiveness at finishing this time.

The interesting thing is that Haaland couldn't contribute with either goals or assists. However it was still not a hindrance for Manchester City to get that comfortable win. This is a really important point because it shows that they aren't fully dependent on him all the time.

By the way, it was unlucky for Haaland at the same time. After he was replaced with Alvarez the guy just scored a goal in only two minutes.  

Haaland has been phenomenal in his first season at Manchester City. I have never seen a player managed by Guardiola that sees very little of the ball throughout 90 minutes yet consistently manages to score and assist goals.

[JollyGood]

Inter Milan take on Manchester City in the Champions League final in a game that will define Guardiola as a manager. I am quite confident Inter Milan will win the game because as usual he will make peculiar substitutes and put out a non-regular starting team. His tactics will backfire on him again as Inter Milan will probably allow Manchester City to possess the ball but will not let them press and will also catch them on the counter-attack.

What are the latest odds for Manchester City winning the treble this season?

[JollyGood]

A poll has been to the thread. Which team will win the Champions League final will it be Manchester City or Inter Milan. I will be confident enough Inter Milan will be champions of Europe when the two teams meet in Istanbul on 10th June 2023.

Manchester City have already won the domestic double and on course for a treble but I think Inter Milan will win the game and that would leave Manchester City manager Guardiola still with Champions League trophies way back in 2009 and 2011 when on both occasions they beat Manchester United in the finals.

With the amount of money Manchester City have at their disposal being backed up by the Abu Dhabi state, they should have won several Champions League titles by now but they have zero.

[Igebotz]

A poll has been to the thread. Which team will win the Champions League final will it be Manchester City or Inter Milan. I will be confident enough Inter Milan will be champions of Europe when the two teams meet in Istanbul on 10th June 2023.

Manchester City have already won the domestic double and on course for a treble but I think Inter Milan will win the game and that would leave Manchester City manager Guardiola still with Champions League trophies way back in 2009 and 2011 when on both occasions they beat Manchester United in the finals.

With the amount of money Manchester City have at their disposal being backed up by the Abu Dhabi state, they should have won several Champions League titles by now but they have zero.

It appears that we both voted for Inter Milan. I'm also confident that Inter will win the CL this season; I believe Man City has had enough success this season and may become overconfident when they face Inter later this month; I watched them play against Manchester United yesterday and was not impressed; the players appear to be tired already, and Inter will be under less pressure as underdogs.  Mourinho has just lost a European final for the first time, and anything can happen in Istanbul.   

[JollyGood]

Regarding the FA Cup final between the Manchester clubs yesterday, I also thought it was more a case of Manchester United not playing good football rather than Manchester City playing excellent therefore was not anything impressive about them. The two goals they scored were not exactly great either and I have no idea how De Gea did not manage to save either of them.

Inter Milan will be out to create their own history in the Champions League final and I am confident they will win the game leading to another European Champions League night of misery for Guardiola and his Manchester City team.

It appears that we both voted for Inter Milan. I'm also confident that Inter will win the CL this season; I believe Man City has had enough success this season and may become overconfident when they face Inter later this month; I watched them play against Manchester United yesterday and was not impressed; the players appear to be tired already, and Inter will be under less pressure as underdogs.  Mourinho has just lost a European final for the first time, and anything can happen in Istanbul.   

[tokeweed]

Inter Milan take on Manchester City in the Champions League final in a game that will define Guardiola as a manager. I am quite confident Inter Milan will win the game because as usual he will make peculiar substitutes and put out a non-regular starting team. His tactics will backfire on him again as Inter Milan will probably allow Manchester City to possess the ball but will not let them press and will also catch them on the counter-attack.

What are the latest odds for Manchester City winning the treble this season?

How confident?  I got the match ending in 2 - 1, 3 - 1 for Man City.  I don't think Guardiola will tweak his squad like he did before as there's no need to do it anymore.  It's just one fixture more and then it's over.  Those tweaks Guardiola liked to do earlier in the tourney was prolly mind games in preparation to the second leg or the reverse fixture or due to a key player have some sort of injury.

Afaik City has no injuries except for Kyle Walker who's just doubtful to play at best.  All in all the squad and the bench are in good shape. 

[JollyGood]

Manchester City vs Inter Milan

After a long road from the beginning of the European footballing season we have arrived at the final game of the season and it is the Champions League final which is being played this evening at 8pm in Ataturk Olimpiya, Istanbul:

How confident?

I am very confident Inter Milan will be crowned Champions League winners this evening after they beat Manchester City 

[decodx]

I am very confident Inter Milan will be crowned Champions League winners this evening after they beat Manchester City 

Well, well, Jolly, you certainly have your bets placed on Inter Milan, huh? I must say, you're quite bold with your prediction. Manchester City is a formidable opponent, and they won't go down without a fight. It's going to be an exciting match, that's for sure. May the best team claim the title!

Let's grab our snacks, find a comfy spot, and get ready for some edge-of-your-seat action. And don't forget the popcorn refill button, just in case...

[tokeweed]

Around 25 mins in.  From the way it looks rn I think Inter gonna get one in first.

[decodx]

Around 25 mins in.  From the way it looks rn I think Inter gonna get one in first.

Yeah! Inter is showing some great attacking intent with those chances. However, as the saying goes, "what goes around, comes around." Let's hope Inter's missed chances won't come back to haunt them later in the game.

[boltz]

Around 25 mins in.  From the way it looks rn I think Inter gonna get one in first.

Yeap , I have the same feeling. More than that , with DeBruyne having a slight injury , Pep lost one of his most important players on the pitch and he is forced to substitute.

I went with X on this game because as I football fan and as neutral fan on this game , I would like to see penalties  

[tokeweed]

Damn...  Sad to see KDB go.  

Edit:  HT and I feel like it's gonna be one hilarious night after this match ends.  City's CL curse is real.

[CLS63]

The first half was just a mess for Manchester City. They couldn't play their usual game against Inter. Because there was a really solid defending by Inter players and they were doing really good at keeping their opponent under pressure as well. Inter are normally playing with a 3-5-2 formation in this match. But this changes very quickly when Manchester City are on attack. Inter turn to a 5-3-2 formation quickly with the help of Dumfries and Dimarco in defense.

The second half has started and I wonder how Guardiola will be able to break this tough defense. If he can't then we are very likely to watch extra time at least.