Porto (A) - CL | Pre-Match Thread

[Eccles Blue]

The Boys in Blue never give in, they fight to the end. Come on City, Come on City. :-)

 

[diamond geezer]

City need a win to secure top place

A draw is enough.

 

[aka blue jambo]

Probably not. As the groups stand, if we topped our group we could face either Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Ajax, Sevilla, Lazio, Juventus or PSG in the next round.

If we finished second, we could face either Bayern, Borussia Monchengladbach, Dortmund or Barcelona in the last 16.

Obviously things can still change, but doesn't seem to be a huge advantage to topping the group.

That was my thoughts too .. usual luck or otherwise of the draw

 

[jamesha]

Tommy Doyle the only academy player in the squad (don't count Phil as he is an established first team player).

It would have been nice to see Palmer and Delap as well but I guess if they are not likely to play then it is probably best that they not travel to reduce Covid risks.

I would guess that all three of our Portugeuse first teamers will be keen to get minutes - hopefully playing on home turf might spark a performance out of Bernado.

 

[domalino]

Probably not. As the groups stand, if we topped our group we could face either Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Ajax, Sevilla, Lazio, Juventus or PSG in the next round.

If we finished second, we could face either Bayern, Borussia Monchengladbach, Dortmund or Barcelona in the last 16.

Obviously things can still change, but doesn't seem to be a huge advantage to topping the group.

That was my thoughts too .. usual luck or otherwise of the draw

Don't forget that getting a top seed is not the only advantage of finishing first. It also means you play at home in the second leg, which gives you the ability to go out and get some away goals and then defend them in the second leg, have extra time/penalties at home.

It's a pretty big advantage - something like 75% of last 16 ties go to the team playing at home in the second leg and 2/3rds of quarter finals, before it evens out in the semi-finals.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Tommy Doyle the only academy player in the squad (don't count Phil as he is an established first team player).

It would have been nice to see Palmer and Delap as well but I guess if they are not likely to play then it is probably best that they not travel to reduce Covid risks.

I would guess that all three of our Portugeuse first teamers will be keen to get minutes - hopefully playing on home turf might spark a performance out of Bernado.

FFS @mods put an addition into the thread title re Delap.

 

[Kompany Car]

Don't forget that getting a top seed is not the only advantage of finishing first. It also means you play at home in the second leg, which gives you the ability to go out and get some away goals and then defend them in the second leg, have extra time/penalties at home.

It's a pretty big advantage - something like 75% of last 16 ties go to the team playing at home in the second leg and 2/3rds of quarter finals, before it evens out in the semi-finals.

Yep and it’s worth money, each group stage win is worth €2.7m With a draw worth €0.9m
Additionally with the way money is now divided using UEFA coefficients, each win in the group stage adds additional points raising the coefficient.

 

[Gray]

Probably not. As the groups stand, if we topped our group we could face either Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Ajax, Sevilla, Lazio, Juventus or PSG in the next round.

If we finished second, we could face either Bayern, Borussia Monchengladbach, Dortmund or Barcelona in the last 16.

Obviously things can still change, but doesn't seem to be a huge advantage to topping the group.

Apart from Atletico and Sevilla, I prefer the first group.

 

[mosssideblue]

FFS @mods put an addition into the thread title re Delap.

Or thread ban the fuckers

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Or thread ban the fuckers

It's an option but no everyone is switched on, even regular posters.

I've had people putting him in the guess the team compy so a ban could be harsh on irregular posters.