Discussion:
Champions League Round of 16 Draw
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Werner Pichler
2018-12-17 11:20:10 UTC
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Schalke - Manchester City
Atlético - Juventus
Manchester United - Paris Saint-Germain
Tottenham - Borussia Dortmund
Olympique Lyon - Barcelona
Roma - Porto
Ajax - Real Madrid
Liverpool - Bayern München



Ciao,
Werner
Werner Pichler
2018-12-17 11:35:24 UTC
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Post by Werner Pichler
Schalke - Manchester City
No question.
Post by Werner Pichler
Atlético - Juventus
Two teams that know how to grind each other down... Juve on penalties.
Post by Werner Pichler
Manchester United - Paris Saint-Germain
Will Mou still be manager by then? PSG
Post by Werner Pichler
Tottenham - Borussia Dortmund
Spurs
Post by Werner Pichler
Olympique Lyon - Barcelona
Barça
Post by Werner Pichler
Roma - Porto
Porto
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
I see a realistic chance for Ajax here.
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern München
Tasty! Apart from one Super Cup, the last time they met was in 1981. Did
Jesper already have to choose sides back then?



Three times England against Germany, and the fourth English team plays a
German manager.


Ciao,
Werner
Jesper Lauridsen
2018-12-17 12:18:18 UTC
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Post by Werner Pichler
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
I see a realistic chance for Ajax here.
538 has them at 56% to make the next round!
Post by Werner Pichler
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern München
At 48%-52% this is the most balanced fixture.
Post by Werner Pichler
Tasty! Apart from one Super Cup, the last time they met was in 1981. Did
Jesper already have to choose sides back then?
I wasn't into football back then.
Post by Werner Pichler
Three times England against Germany, and the fourth English team plays a
German manager.
"Two wars and a World Cup"
Futbolmetrix
2018-12-17 12:39:35 UTC
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Post by Werner Pichler
Schalke - Manchester City
Atlético - Juventus
The Champions league draw sucks. Worst possible draw, Atletico will
advance on a set piece play. (1-0 and 0-0 over the two legs)

(and Roma got Porto ?!?)
a***@hotmail.com
2018-12-17 13:23:25 UTC
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Post by Werner Pichler
Schalke - Manchester City
Yawn.
Post by Werner Pichler
Atlético - Juventus
I was tempted to say too close to call, but just saw that AM have dropped points in exactly 50% of their La Liga games, and been humiliated by Dortmund in the UCL. This isn't the juggernaut of yesteryears, and Juventus have Ronaldo. Juventus.
Post by Werner Pichler
Manchester United - Paris Saint-Germain
Mourinho should be gone by then, so hard to say what state the club will be in. Still, PSG is a much superior team. PSG.
Post by Werner Pichler
Tottenham - Borussia Dortmund
Awesome match-up. Dortmund based on more consistency and the yellow wall..
Post by Werner Pichler
Olympique Lyon - Barcelona
Yawn.
Post by Werner Pichler
Roma - Porto
Porto.
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
Ajax
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern München
Even if I was neutral I'd go with LFC here. Not just because of current form, but because the team seems to be getting better as the season is progressing.
Futbolmetrix
2018-12-17 14:08:47 UTC
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Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Schalke - Manchester City
Yawn.
Super-yawn.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Atlético - Juventus
I was tempted to say too close to call, but just saw that AM have dropped points in exactly 50% of their La Liga games, and been humiliated by Dortmund in the UCL. This isn't the juggernaut of yesteryears, and Juventus have Ronaldo. Juventus.
Juve's form has slipped dramatically in the past month. Allegri hasn't
yet found the best lineup, CR+Mandzu+Dybala isn't working well, leaves
us too exposed at the back, and not very good at creating chances
either. This is wide open.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Manchester United - Paris Saint-Germain
Mourinho should be gone by then, so hard to say what state the club will be in. Still, PSG is a much superior team. PSG.
On the other hand, Allegri is a genius for letting ManU come away with
the win at the Juventus stadium, thus extending the Mourinho agony (and
improving our chances of getting Pogba back?)

PSG, but it will be close.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Tottenham - Borussia Dortmund
Awesome match-up. Dortmund based on more consistency and the yellow wall..
Dortmund.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Olympique Lyon - Barcelona
Yawn.
Barca
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Roma - Porto
Porto.
Bleeping lucky Roma.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
Ajax
Naah. Real.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern München
Even if I was neutral I'd go with LFC here. Not just because of current form, but because the team seems to be getting better as the season is progressing.
And yet, Liverpool could be distracted by its domestic run. I say Bayern.
a***@hotmail.com
2018-12-17 14:54:08 UTC
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Post by Futbolmetrix
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Roma - Porto
Porto.
Bleeping lucky Roma.
I wouldn't take Porto lightly. They had the highest points total in the competition (the weakest group, yes) and Dragao isn't an easy place to play. 538 gives it 54-46 to Porto.
Post by Futbolmetrix
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
Ajax
Naah. Real.
Experience favors Real, but luck favors the bold. Been a while since a golden generation of the Dutch has come through, could we be seeing one develop?
Post by Futbolmetrix
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern München
Even if I was neutral I'd go with LFC here. Not just because of current form, but because the team seems to be getting better as the season is progressing.
And yet, Liverpool could be distracted by its domestic run. I say Bayern.
Entirely possible, yes.
MH
2018-12-18 01:52:26 UTC
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Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Futbolmetrix
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Roma - Porto
Porto.
Bleeping lucky Roma.
I wouldn't take Porto lightly. They had the highest points total in the competition (the weakest group, yes) and Dragao isn't an easy place to play. 538 gives it 54-46 to Porto.
Post by Futbolmetrix
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
Ajax
Naah. Real.
Experience favors Real, but luck favors the bold. Been a while since a golden generation of the Dutch has come through, could we be seeing one develop?
I doubt it, based on Ajax. There are an awful lot of key players in the
team who are not Dutch. This season, looking at the players who have
played in ten games or more (all competitions), they have only six Dutchmen:

van de Beek: at 21, definitely golden generation material
Blind: at 28, and having become peripheral at Man U, not so much
de Ligt: 19, and the great white hope in defense, so yeah, potentially
golden.
de Jong (Frenkie): also 21, and very promising
Huntelaar: 35 years old, enough said
Eiting: 20 years old, but has only started 8 games total.

Tadic, Onana, Neres, Mazraoui, Schöne, Ziyech, and Tagliafico have been
major contributors (Tadic 17 goals, Ziyech 12) and Dolberg has scored 7
in his 18 appearances.

PSV has more substantial contribution from Dutch players, with Bergwijn,
Rosario, Dumfries, Hendrix, and Malen being quite young (and all still
eligible as Fantasy Scout picks).
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Futbolmetrix
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern München
Even if I was neutral I'd go with LFC here. Not just because of current form, but because the team seems to be getting better as the season is progressing.
And yet, Liverpool could be distracted by its domestic run. I say Bayern.
Entirely possible, yes.
MH
2018-12-18 01:30:05 UTC
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Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Schalke - Manchester City
Yawn.
Post by Werner Pichler
Atlético - Juventus
I was tempted to say too close to call, but just saw that AM have dropped points in exactly 50% of their La Liga games, and been humiliated by Dortmund in the UCL. This isn't the juggernaut of yesteryears, and Juventus have Ronaldo. Juventus.
AM have lost some players (Gabi, Carrasco, Torres, among others) and
Diego Costa had been injured, while some others have been getting older.
But this match is not for a while, and I think there is time for
Simeone to whip them into shape and make them as despicable and
unlikeable as previous sides. And as effective. Toss up in my book
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Manchester United - Paris Saint-Germain
Mourinho should be gone by then, so hard to say what state the club will be in. Still, PSG is a much superior team. PSG.
Hard to see how Mourinho (or anyone else) could turn things around
enough or sign enough players, to make PSG anything other than
favourites in this one. And I don't think Zidane is the answer.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Tottenham - Borussia Dortmund
Awesome match-up. Dortmund based on more consistency and the yellow wall..
I am still expecting the wheels to fall off Dortmund, but on current
form, I would expect them to win this.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Olympique Lyon - Barcelona
Yawn.
Surely you jest ! Games involving Lyon are unlikely to be yawners. They
scored 12 and conceded 11 in 6 group games. They were also undefeated,
and took 5 points away from Man City. Barca will likely win, but they
will have to fight for this, and if the stars align correctly, I can see
Lyon squeaking through.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Roma - Porto
Porto.
Toss up.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
Ajax
Ajax also undefeated. But I can't imagine Real's poor form lasting into
February, as they still have quality players and can sign more.
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern München
Even if I was neutral I'd go with LFC here. Not just because of current form, but because the team seems to be getting better as the season is progressing.
I am less convinced they are getting better. That is two games in a row
with lots of pretty woeful finishing. Should have buried both Napoli
and United, given the chances they had. The positives are that the
defending is better (Van Dijk starting too look as though he was, if not
a bargain, at least a good deal, Robertson getting better, Gomez good -
Matip and Lovren more comfortable with a boss to tell them what to do,
and Clyne not looking too bad at all), though injuries are a bit
worrying, and that Keita and Fabinho add good depth in MF, but the front
3 are not at the level of last year.

Toss up again here.
a***@hotmail.com
2018-12-18 03:00:47 UTC
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Post by MH
Post by a***@hotmail.com
Even if I was neutral I'd go with LFC here. Not just because of current form, but because the team seems to be getting better as the season is progressing.
I am less convinced they are getting better. That is two games in a row
with lots of pretty woeful finishing. Should have buried both Napoli
and United, given the chances they had.
I hear you. But the key distinction is that Liverpool weren't even creating that many chances earlier in the season. The offensive blitz of last season was replaced by a more measured and conservative approach where the team was getting results despite not playing very "well." There was concern amongst the fanbase that the shift from the front foot to the back foot was too extreme too quickly and the team had lost its edge up front. Klopp even openly spoke about this in a press conference, i.e. he is trying to find the right balance and it's still a work in progress, and he will be willing to step things up on the offensive side in the second half should he need to. I also suspect that he also doesn't want to burn the team out too early which had been the case in his first 2.5 seasons.

As it is, we can already see the shift happening now where the dogs of war are being unleashed slowly and steadily each game. So we've gone from measured caution and not creating much to opening up and creating a lot but not finishing well. Once the finishing comes (and it has to, SMF didn't turn into bad finishers in a few months), and assuming the defensive grit remains, the team will become even harder to beat. Or so the eternal optimist in me hopes.
The Doctor
2018-12-17 15:44:24 UTC
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Post by Werner Pichler
Schalke - Manchester City
Man C in a rough ride.
Post by Werner Pichler
Atlético - Juventus
AM!
Post by Werner Pichler
Manchester United - Paris Saint-Germain
Very though. PSG in a squeaker
Post by Werner Pichler
Tottenham - Borussia Dortmund
Spurs
Post by Werner Pichler
Olympique Lyon - Barcelona
Lyon
Post by Werner Pichler
Roma - Porto
Porto
Post by Werner Pichler
Ajax - Real Madrid
Ajax
Post by Werner Pichler
Liverpool - Bayern MÃŒnchen
Liverpool is a rough ride.
Post by Werner Pichler
Ciao,
Werner
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MH
2018-12-17 17:37:51 UTC
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Post by Werner Pichler
Schalke - Manchester City
Atlético - Juventus
Manchester United - Paris Saint-Germain
Tottenham - Borussia Dortmund
Olympique Lyon - Barcelona
Roma - Porto
Ajax - Real Madrid
Liverpool - Bayern München
All three Bundesliga teams drawn against EPL teams. (have not read the
rest of this thread, but I assume someone else must have noticed)

Apart from City, the EPL teams have not had the kindest of draws, but
that's what you get when you finish second. Porto may be the softest
touch among the group winners, I suppose (though they have looked very
good so far), and only one one team could draw them.
Post by Werner Pichler
Ciao,
Werner
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