UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Season

[Jegileman]

Already the match seems to be a very though one for both teams because since Real Madrid have already won the first leg they would just play to secured a draw against Manchester city. But with the recent performance of Manchester city against Newcastle united in the premier league last week I think they might likely secured a win against Real Madrid tonight, because they would going to play the game with full force to win and qualify for the next round.

The match cannot be easily decided by this few points you’ve given on this game. Both teams appear to be very confidence in tonight’s match and will all go with full force in order to secure a big victory in the match today. The first leg already favoured Real Madrid but still on this, they still have a very tough match today because the favour they got in that match is not enough for them to feel relax in today’s match, they can easily be defeated and overthrown today by Manchester City if they’re not careful. Real Madrid also have an home advantage in the match today but the Santiago Bernabeau stadium is not a guarantee for them to earn victory today without putting in their best efforts in the game today. I won’t compare this teams with what they showcase in the premier league, let Manchester City play to their maximum in order to get a victory tonight and make it to the next round of the competition.

[sokani]

I saw this on X and I decided to post it here.

If Atalanta fans lashed out at Lookman for missing yesterday's penalty against Club Brugge, I would understand. Not that I accepted it but I understood their anger and frustration. But for Gasperini to criticize his own player in the way he did is quite unprofessional and unacceptable.

And again, I liked the way Lookman addressed the situation without calling out the manager even when he did wrong by throwing him under the bus.

[Marvell1]

Dortmund vs Sporting

I don't think this match will be very competitive. We saw  dortmund's great dominance in the away match. Dortmund won the match by a big margin of 3-0. It is unlikely that Sporting will win by 4 goals today . Dortmund will probably play defensively today and try to draw the match.

Dortmund's performance this season is strange. This team's performance  in the Bundesliga is very irregular. However, the team is performing very well in the Champions league. Perhaps dortmund has given their full focus to the Champions league. Because dortmund has no  chance of being in the top 4 of the  table due to their poor performance in the Bundesliga since the beginning  of the season.

[Lafu]

I don't think this match will be very competitive. We saw  dortmund's great dominance in the away match. Dortmund won the match by a big margin of 3-0. It is unlikely that Sporting will win by 4 goals today . Dortmund will probably play defensively today and try to draw the match.

I dont know if that is the right move here in Dortmund to play defensively today , dont underestimate Sporting as they can have the players for making 3 Goals.
With the situation right now in Dortmund all is possible , fingers crossed that they keep the good playing in the Champions League and dont fall back in that playing from the German Lague.

I completely agree with you that Bayern Munich's squad is very strong. There is no doubt about that.

They was yesterday more then lucky to get into the next Round with that needed goal in the overtime.

[Hyphen(-)]

Dortmund vs Sporting

In the first leg Dortmund have successfully secured three aggregate at Estádio José Alvalade home of Sporting which was a good advantage to them for winning massively in an away match. Borussia Dortmund will be a little bit relax but I trust them when it comes to handle opponents at Westfalenstadion. Borussia Dortmund are ready to have a successful qualification to the Champions League next stage, imagine a team that destroy Manchester City have also faced humiliation by Dortmund, this is bad for Sporting, since after the coach left things went bad for them and up to now they are still struggling to get out of it. I consider Borussia Dortmund to have a smooth ride to round of 16 if the beat Sporting again without concede any goal.

Dortmund tried their best by finishing the game in the first leg; I don't think they will be relaxed in this game, so same as you, I think it will be an easy game for Dortmund even though they failed to win their last Bundesliga match against Bochum, and failing to win that game makes it a bit complex for people to believe them today, but the three-goal advantage is there.

My main targeted match today is the match that is coming up between Real Madrid and Manchester City; I can't wait to see how it will end because all the teams have hope of qualifying.

Real Madrid statistically won their last two matches against Manchester City, and the two teams are not in good shape as usual, but Madrid was able to win the first leg away from home, and some of their defenders are back from injury, which will make it easier to defend their game, while Manchester City's performance has improved in their last Premier League game. Therefore, predicting this match will be very difficult because anything can happen.

[yudi09]

Dortmund vs Sporting

In the first leg Dortmund have successfully secured three aggregate at Estádio José Alvalade home of Sporting which was a good advantage to them for winning massively in an away match. Borussia Dortmund will be a little bit relax but I trust them when it comes to handle opponents at Westfalenstadion. Borussia Dortmund are ready to have a successful qualification to the Champions League next stage, imagine a team that destroy Manchester City have also faced humiliation by Dortmund, this is bad for Sporting, since after the coach left things went bad for them and up to now they are still struggling to get out of it. I consider Borussia Dortmund to have a smooth ride to round of 16 if the beat Sporting again without concede any goal.

Dortmund can be said to have qualified for the second round of 16 after Club Brugge. 3-0 away win in the first leg, that is very advantageous for them.
In this 2nd leg I see Dortmund's line up is different from the line up when playing the 1st leg.

70% of the ball possession belongs to Dortmund and this is not suitable when compared to the situation where Sporting beat Manchester City.
We can say that this 2nd leg match will be more relaxed for Dortmund because they have pocketed an aggregate of 3 goals and to expect Dortmund to lose 3 goals without reply is also very slim chance of happening.

[Sexylizzy2813]

I saw this on X and I decided to post it here.

If Atalanta fans lashed out at Lookman for missing yesterday's penalty against Club Brugge, I would understand. Not that I accepted it but I understood their anger and frustration. But for the Gasperini to criticize his own player in the way he did is quite unprofessional and unacceptable.

And again, I liked the way Lookman addressed the situation without calling out the manager even when he did wrong by throwing him under the bus.

I never expected such from the manager and what if he had scored the penalty kick does that guarantee Atalanta to qualify into the next stage? Their opponent was just good last night so nobody should be blamed instead it should be on the whole squad. A player who haven't been in action for sometime now came on and gave the team hope with a goal in the first minute he came in and the penalty was given to him which he missed, what's the issue with the manager and the player to start with? That is the question we should ask first, when Lookman's performance was great the manager will praise the hell out from him but when he can't give his 100% he becomes a bad player, is not fair and the manager just behaved like a man that hates good things. From the picture above he never made the decision on his own to play the penalty, the penalty kick taker asked him to go ahead so why blame him? The manager need to apologize to the player because this is the same thing that causes bad relationship with some players and coaches and it will force the player to leave.

[Zlantann]

If Atalanta fans lashed out at Lookman for missing yesterday's penalty against Club Brugge, I would understand. Not that I accepted it but I understood their anger and frustration. But for the Gasperini to criticize his own player in the way he did is quite unprofessional and unacceptable.

And again, I liked the way Lookman addressed the situation without calling out the manager even when he did wrong by throwing him under the bus.

If the club had a recognised penalty taker and it was confirmed that Ademola Lookman dragged the ball to enable him to get a brace, that's wrong. He should have allowed the club's statutory penalty player to take it. But I am very disappointed at the criticism of coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the fans. How would a coach call one of his finest player the worst penalty taker?

The Nigeria striker later clarified that he was instructed to take the penalty by the club's penalty taker. The coach shouldn't forget tgat there are other well known players who have played worst penalties.  He should have known that penalty is somehow a game of luck and Lookman would have been a hero if he had scored it.

Lookman is known for his calm disposition,  he is a well behaved player. Coach Gasperini would have received a harsh response if it were some players.  

[Altryist]

I don't think this match will be very competitive. We saw  dortmund's great dominance in the away match. Dortmund won the match by a big margin of 3-0. It is unlikely that Sporting will win by 4 goals today . Dortmund will probably play defensively today and try to draw the match.

Dortmund's performance this season is strange. This team's performance  in the Bundesliga is very irregular. However, the team is performing very well in the Champions league. Perhaps dortmund has given their full focus to the Champions league. Because dortmund has no  chance of being in the top 4 of the  table due to their poor performance in the Bundesliga since the beginning  of the season.

This is normal for Dortmund, they have always focused on the Champions League, this is important for their business, because I evaluate their club as a business. They buy talented players and after the season sell them to top teams, this is how they earn money.
The Bundesliga for them is simply a way to get a place in the Champions League, then the players try harder in the Champions League because they understand that this is their opportunity to sign a good contract with a wealthier club.

[Docnaster]

I saw this on X and I decided to post it here.

If Atalanta fans lashed out at Lookman for missing yesterday's penalty against Club Brugge, I would understand. Not that I accepted it but I understood their anger and frustration. But for the Gasperini to criticize his own player in the way he did is quite unprofessional and unacceptable.

And again, I liked the way Lookman addressed the situation without calling out the manager even when he did wrong by throwing him under the bus.

Gian Piero Gasperini's statement about Ademola Lookman after Atalanta were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League was absolutely unnecessary, condescending and disrespectful to a player who's been the club's best player over the last 12 months. How do you single out and publicly bash your star player because he missed a penalty in a game he scored the Atalanta's only goal few minutes after being subbed in. He should be grateful that the Nigeria forward is a humble player who wouldn't want issues to escalate because of he makes such remarks about some of the star players we know, the player's response would've worsened the whole issue. Ademola Lookman deserves a public apology from the manager of you ask me.

[sotelorene]

Already the match seems to be a very though one for both teams because since Real Madrid have already won the first leg they would just play to secured a draw against Manchester city. But with the recent performance of Manchester city against Newcastle united in the premier league last week I think they might likely secured a win against Real Madrid tonight, because they would going to play the game with full force to win and qualify for the next round.

The match cannot be easily decided by this few points you’ve given on this game. Both teams appear to be very confidence in tonight’s match and will all go with full force in order to secure a big victory in the match today. The first leg already favoured Real Madrid but still on this, they still have a very tough match today because the favour they got in that match is not enough for them to feel relax in today’s match, they can easily be defeated and overthrown today by Manchester City if they’re not careful. Real Madrid also have an home advantage in the match today but the Santiago Bernabeau stadium is not a guarantee for them to earn victory today without putting in their best efforts in the game today. I won’t compare this teams with what they showcase in the premier league, let Manchester City play to their maximum in order to get a victory tonight and make it to the next round of the competition.

 
Real Madrid vs Manchester city is going to be the match of the night and you are right when you said one goal is not safe and home advantage may not matter this evening because it is really going to be hot even as both team will be looking for a win and judging from history Real Madrid experience in champions league is beyond what we can imagine and Manchester city also have been a great team if not world best team last season and I am having this feeling that any side that first score in the game tonight will qualify, we just have 1 hour and some minutes left to go and what could be the result tonight.

[Sexylizzy2813]

If Atalanta fans lashed out at Lookman for missing yesterday's penalty against Club Brugge, I would understand. Not that I accepted it but I understood their anger and frustration. But for the Gasperini to criticize his own player in the way he did is quite unprofessional and unacceptable.

And again, I liked the way Lookman addressed the situation without calling out the manager even when he did wrong by throwing him under the bus.

Gian Piero Gasperini's statement about Ademola Lookman after Atalanta were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League was absolutely unnecessary, condescending and disrespectful to a player who's been the club's best player over the last 12 months. How do you single out and publicly bash your star player because he missed a penalty in a game he scored the Atalanta's only goal few minutes after being subbed in. He should be grateful that the Nigeria forward is a humble player who wouldn't want issues to escalate because of he makes such remarks about some of the star players we know, the player's response would've worsened the whole issue. Ademola Lookman deserves a public apology from the manager of you ask me.

Honestly the public apology is going to be hard since is the manager who's suppose to give it but if it's the player who started this whole thing I believe it won't have been the way it is now. In Atalanta's next game I feel the coach of the side will look for a way to still pour his anger on the player by not introducing him or not including him to the squad, it can happen. The situation would have been different if Lookman was the one dragging the ball from his teammate but it wasn't like that, I feel bad that he always falls victim to all these missed penalty kick, last time at Fulham he missed the spot kick I think that would have been the equalizer but he failed to convert the chance now in the champions league with Atalanta, well he did well not to follow up the situation the waybthe manager placed it if not he would be blamed for something he never did.

[LUCKMCFLY]

Santiago Bernabeu always presents an extraordinary atmosphere that can shake the opposing team's mentality. However, lately Madrid has often lost when playing as the host, even in big matches, so I think home and away matches are no different.

And maybe in the second match of the UCL playoffs, Real Madrid must be a little careful with one of Manchester City's attackers besides Erling Halland, namely Omar Marousht. The player who was just brought in from Eintracht Frankfurt appeared quite impressive in the EPL domestic league match against Newcastle. Omar Marousht managed to score a hat trick. It seems that the Egyptian player has started to adapt and has quite good chemistry with his new colleagues at Manchester City. And so does the Man City back line which seems to be starting to be solid.

Yes, indeed, the small advantage of 1-0 is something that really is not a guarantee that they have already won everything, no, on the contrary , they have to go out and look for that game as if they were below the scoreline and in need, Manchester City have to be played like that and quickly, these City players are very good, Haaland is very good, Foden is unbalanced, it will be a tense game , very careful for Madrid, I just hope that the referees are not the main characters, because in the League they have really been very biased people and that bothers, well in my opinion that's it.

[BALIK]

Real Madrid vs Manchester city is going to be the match of the night and you are right when you said one goal is not safe and home advantage may not matter this evening because it is really going to be hot even as both team will be looking for a win and judging from history Real Madrid experience in champions league is beyond what we can imagine and Manchester city also have been a great team if not world best team last season and I am having this feeling that any side that first score in the game tonight will qualify, we just have 1 hour and some minutes left to go and what could be the result tonight.

Both City and Real Madrid are very strong teams. And both teams have very experienced coaches. In the home match, we saw Real Madrid unexpectedly win by scoring two goals in the last minute. Even though today is Madrid's home match, it would be foolish to say that Madrid has no chance of losing.

Madrid's overall condition is definitely better than Manchester City's. However, Madrid also has the chance of losing if they make any mistakes. Manchester City will fight hard to win. So Madrid's defenders will have to play well today if they want to win. I would say that Madrid should play defensively today. If Madrid plays defensively, the match is more likely to be drawn.

[Weawant]

I saw this on X and I decided to post it here.

If Atalanta fans lashed out at Lookman for missing yesterday's penalty against Club Brugge, I would understand. Not that I accepted it but I understood their anger and frustration. But for the Gasperini to criticize his own player in the way he did is quite unprofessional and unacceptable.

And again, I liked the way Lookman addressed the situation without calling out the manager even when he did wrong by throwing him under the bus.

In as much as it sounded like Gasperini did said that out of frustration that they have been kicked out of the UCL, I still don't find that as enough justification,  as a manager,  it's in your duty to manage the players and one of the times you get to express your managerial skill is in situations as this and it's really sad that he sounded like one blowing things out of proportion,  he was supposed to be the solace of the players but he became the loudest critics and that could affect the psychology of the player because literally that can happen to anyone,  even the best players in the world do loose penalties so with him it shouldn't have been taken this far but considered one of those things that happens on some unlucky days, good enough the player in question sounded even matured after all of it, hopefully they get to address it better in a later time.

[KTChampions]

i think city will win tonight's real madrid vs. city match and advance to the next round. real madrid is considered the favorite, and the general opinion is that they'll win, but i just have a feeling that city will beat them and go through.

usually, when i write something like this, the opposite happens, but i stand by my prediction. i know they won the first match, but i still think city will win this one by a one-goal margin, sending it to extra time and possibly winning through penalties or in extra time. city's absences might cause them some trouble, but i believe they can handle it.

You will stand by your prediction if you place a cash bet on it  
Bookmakers are pricing City's odds of qualifying at 5.20, a simple bet on this would give you a 420% return. I'm not saying it's impossible and as a Real Madrid fan I'm wary of that outcome, but "having a feeling" and actually believing that feeling (by betting) are two different things, aren't they?

[Renampun]

...

The match cannot be easily decided by this few points you’ve given on this game. Both teams appear to be very confidence in tonight’s match and will all go with full force in order to secure a big victory in the match today. The first leg already favoured Real Madrid but still on this, they still have a very tough match today because the favour they got in that match is not enough for them to feel relax in today’s match, they can easily be defeated and overthrown today by Manchester City if they’re not careful. Real Madrid also have an home advantage in the match today but the Santiago Bernabeau stadium is not a guarantee for them to earn victory today without putting in their best efforts in the game today. I won’t compare this teams with what they showcase in the premier league, let Manchester City play to their maximum in order to get a victory tonight and make it to the next round of the competition.

I agree with you, Manchester City is not a team that just played against Real Madrid in the UCL yesterday, each other is familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses, only luck will be the deciding factor at the end of this match, so even though Real Madrid will be the host, Manchester City's chances of winning are still quite large.

According to the majority of gambling sites, Real Madrid's chances of winning are 49% - draw 23% - Manchester City 28% (but that's only on paper, the final result cannot be determined precisely)

[jstyler]

agree with you, manc city has what it takes to cause an upset at santiago bernabeu, 28% probabiltiy on paper but you never know in football, real madrid might be fav but manc city has got the momentum

[LUCKMCFLY]

i think city will win tonight's real madrid vs. city match and advance to the next round. real madrid is considered the favorite, and the general opinion is that they'll win, but i just have a feeling that city will beat them and go through.

usually, when i write something like this, the opposite happens, but i stand by my prediction. i know they won the first match, but i still think city will win this one by a one-goal margin, sending it to extra time and possibly winning through penalties or in extra time. city's absences might cause them some trouble, but i believe they can handle it.

You will stand by your prediction if you place a cash bet on it  
Bookmakers are pricing City's odds of qualifying at 5.20, a simple bet on this would give you a 420% return. I'm not saying it's impossible and as a Real Madrid fan I'm wary of that outcome, but "having a feeling" and actually believing that feeling (by betting) are two different things, aren't they?

It's incredible how the bets and the hypotheses are moving, this is crazy, I can't deny that City is quite dangerous, Pep is a very calculating coach, he already has a lot to see that he can beat Madrid , but Madrid is at home, that player #12 is at the Bernabeu, what I don't want to happen is that the refereeing becomes a protector and whistles in favor of City , because Madrid's last few games have left a lot to be desired, with the Osasuna game when Bellingham was sacked the referee apparently is going to give him a ban with 5 years without being able to whistle, of course this is unofficial information , even Florentino Perez is considering moving Madrid to the Premier League, so it's a delicate subject with the referees.

[Frankolala]

I don't think this match will be very competitive. We saw  dortmund's great dominance in the away match. Dortmund won the match by a big margin of 3-0. It is unlikely that Sporting will win by 4 goals today . Dortmund will probably play defensively today and try to draw the match.

Dortmund's performance this season is strange. This team's performance  in the Bundesliga is very irregular. However, the team is performing very well in the Champions league. Perhaps dortmund has given their full focus to the Champions league. Because dortmund has no  chance of being in the top 4 of the  table due to their poor performance in the Bundesliga since the beginning  of the season.

This is normal for Dortmund, they have always focused on the Champions League, this is important for their business, because I evaluate their club as a business. They buy talented players and after the season sell them to top teams, this is how they earn money.
The Bundesliga for them is simply a way to get a place in the Champions League, then the players try harder in the Champions League because they understand that this is their opportunity to sign a good contract with a wealthier club.

You are right because when it comes to their performance in UCL, it's superb. Dortmund dominated the first half but couldn't break the deadlock, but I believe that they will score in the second half. Sporting CP is weak and cannot withstand Dortmund football quality. They were luck that their goalie was strong enough to save some dangerous shots from the host.