This weeks Champions League matches.

[WickyWain]

Barcelona v Athletico Madrid could be a classic
Chelsea will probably edge a dull tie against PSG
Real will comfortably deal with Dortmund
And I think we all know what's going to happen in the other tie

 

[Maldeika]

Looking forward to the Bayern game tomorrow. Hopefully Bayern play Kroos and Schweinsteiger in the middle whether with Martinez/Lahm or just by themselves. For the first half an hour they were brilliant against Hertha.

I think PSG will be too strong for Chelsea over two legs and Barca too strong for Atletic. Madrid should beat Dortmund relatively comfortably, but will still probably watch it over the Chelsea game. So we could get a Barca, Bayern, Madrid and PSG semi0final which probably means the four strongest teams in Europe in the last 4.

If Bayern play like last Tuesday it will look like the match against City in Manchester - maybe even better as they were a lot more fluid in the forward actions against Hertha. The German zonalmarking - Spielverlagerung - called it playing with 3 false Nines (Robben, Müller, Götze) that often dropped deep into midfield and played playmakers, too. It will not be fully played like it - I expect Ribery to start - and then they certainly will not leave the flanks only to the fullbacks.

I do not know if Guardiola has the guts to start with Götze behind Müller and with Lahm at rightback - I like the partnership Müller and Götze formed in a couple of matches. It was not the formation Pep usually fields in the Bundesliga - because the teams have a very high workrate and that level of play you only can hold when you work with full concentration and energy - that's why you need to work with a striker like Mandzukic there who is physically strong and able to get through with a lot headers. And additionally with crosses.

Usually they should win comfortably - but it is knockout ties. You never know with them. The goal can be jinxed and with an error or two (and it is just humans) you can catch goals of the opponent easily.

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Else - I think Chelsea has more chances against PSG than you give them. I even think that Chelsea will make it. They are a team that is experienced in this knockout tournaments.

Barca should make it. And Real. At the tie between Real and Dortmund I am not really sure what I want. I really cannot stand CR7 - for me he just is the antifootballer. And yes - I like some of the Dortmund players - but not the officials, not some of the players and not the club at all. Let Real win and we will throw them out in the semi finals... ;)

 

[kenzie115]

Foregone conclusion the united match, couldn't care less. The Chelsea match however, well it'll be interesting to see just how good this PSG side is. Looking forward to that game.

They're not very good pidge, two boring cagey teams, wouldn't bother.

The thing with Ibrahimovic is, as well as Chelsea defend, if he roasts a 30 yard half volley into the top corner, there's not a lot they can do about it. He's capable of the kind of individual moments of brilliance that will win you games against parked buses, and they don't come much bigger than a bus parked by Mourinho when he knows he's facing a better side.

 

[aguero93:20]

Foregone conclusion the united match, couldn't care less. The Chelsea match however, well it'll be interesting to see just how good this PSG side is. Looking forward to that game.

They're not very good pidge, two boring cagey teams, wouldn't bother.

The thing with Ibrahimovic is, as well as Chelsea defend, if he roasts a 30 yard half volley into the top corner, there's not a lot they can do about it. He's capable of the kind of individual moments of brilliance that will win you games against parked buses, and they don't come much bigger than a bus parked by Mourinho when he knows he's facing a better side.

Arguably a better side, imo chelsea are the better side, although psg have slightly better individuals.
I'd rather watch the other game than Ibra trying to hit worldies against the chelsea team bus tbh.

 

[bayern blade]

Looking forward to the Bayern game tomorrow. Hopefully Bayern play Kroos and Schweinsteiger in the middle whether with Martinez/Lahm or just by themselves. For the first half an hour they were brilliant against Hertha.

Bayern probable (from Kicker) :

Neuer

Rafinha
Boateng
Martinez
Alaba

Lahm
Kroos
Ribery
Schweinsteiger
Robben

Müller (Mandzukic)

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Barcelona v Athletico Madrid could be a classic
Chelsea will probably edge a dull tie against PSG
Real will comfortably deal with Dortmund
And I think we all know what's going to happen in the other tie

Wee Davey has the plan. Pep is not gonna relish turning up at the once pretty urban district of Stretford.

 

[Deepest Blue]

Going for a United victory tonight.

As Giggsy said "we're Manchester United and we're at home. We're confident."

Good enough for me.

 

[M18CTID]

If United knock Bayern out, I'll be the first to hold my hands up and say fair play but I can't really see it happening. The bookies seem to agree as well because I can't ever recall United being as long as 6-1 to win a match, and that's for a home game too.

If Bayern perform somewhere close to the level that they did for the first hour or so at our place then this has the potential to get really messy. Those odds of 25-1 for them to rack up double figures over both legs look tempting.

 

[aguero93:20]

Looking forward to the Bayern game tomorrow. Hopefully Bayern play Kroos and Schweinsteiger in the middle whether with Martinez/Lahm or just by themselves. For the first half an hour they were brilliant against Hertha.

Bayern probable (from Kicker) :

Neuer

Rafinha
Boateng
Martinez
Alaba

Lahm
Kroos
Ribery
Schweinsteiger
Robben

Müller (Mandzukic)

I'd rather see you play Gotze as an auxiliary striker in this one, the scum aren't very good at handling them, Lahm and Schweinsteiger will dominate any 3 midfielders they can put out, especially with Martinez squeezing from defence, no need for Kroos in this game tbh, you need pacy dribblers more than lofted passes.

 

[Maldeika]

Looking forward to the Bayern game tomorrow. Hopefully Bayern play Kroos and Schweinsteiger in the middle whether with Martinez/Lahm or just by themselves. For the first half an hour they were brilliant against Hertha.

Bayern probable (from Kicker) :

Neuer

Rafinha
Boateng
Martinez
Alaba

Lahm
Kroos
Ribery
Schweinsteiger
Robben

Müller (Mandzukic)

I'd rather see you play Gotze as an auxiliary striker in this one, the scum aren't very good at handling them, Lahm and Schweinsteiger will dominate any 3 midfielders they can put out, especially with Martinez squeezing from defence, no need for Kroos in this game tbh, you need pacy dribblers more than lofted passes.

I hope for Lahm as a right back and for a Schweinsteiger-Kroos-Götze midfield. If all drop back like they did against Hertha that should not be to offensive. But Lahm in the defensive midfield is the more secure version.