2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Such a professional performance from Arsenal. Insanely impressive. It was obvious from 15 minutes in that they had simply too much for Leverkusen, particularly physically. Too quick, too aggressive.

They made such a song and dance about corners before both legs. Only to get knocked out by 2 open play goals and a penalty. And only scored 1 goal and that from a corner. 😅

i think it's partly because they don't have to fit a controlled 'system'. and i don't mean that as a dig at 'systems'. it's just that I don't think that is why they buy players. they buy players who they believe are excellent football players, and the 'system' will figure itself out. their main worry is having talented players who will hurt the opposition. the rest follows from there.

Second biggest tie of round after Arsenal v Sporting. Fingers crossed both arent on the same nights 😉

I'd say the Champion's League comes a lot more down to luck along with big moments and big refereeing decisions, as is often the case in any knockout tournament.

It is also much harder to win the Premier League and the Champions League than it is to win any other league along with the Champion's League. If you're competing in both, then you'll probably struggle in the Champion's League.

For all the hate Madrid get, they are usually an entertaining watch.

I dont think I have ever seen them go on to a football pitch and play for a draw. Play for a nil nil. Play to hold a lead. Its simply not in their mentality. As a result, they create chances and give up chances, and its always entertaining.

Huijsen is definitely one for the future. He has had some iffy games this season but he is young and finding his feet. I have no doubt he will be a solid player for years to come at the Bernabeu. But whether he'll ever reach the heights of Sergio Ramos (who he is often mentioned in the same sentence as) remains to be seen.

Couple of the young lads from the academy are looking like prospective top players too.

I wondered about Haalands demeanour last night. Didn't look interested. Didn't celebrate the goal and looked really p1ssed at gettinf the hook when they needed goals. Could he be at the Bernabeu soon?

Bayern Madrid is going to be a cracker. I think Bayern will start as favourites for me. They are the team to capitalise on any chances given up by Madrid. But they themselves are prone to errors at the back, so really looking forward to it.

If Madrid are to win the CL this season they will likely have had to beat Man City, Bayern, PSG, and then Arsenal/Barca. Thats a very tough run.

I honestly thought they played for a draw at Anfield this season

They absolutely weren't giving it 100% - I refuse to believe it.

I said it at the time it was like they were playing within themselves and didn't put up much of a fight and concentrated on defending well

After going 1-0 down in the 2nd half they had a single attempt on goal 15mins from time which was a blocked shot from outside the box.

Made 460 passes compared to Liverpool's 250 with over 60% possession (unusual for an away team at Anfield) but only 0.45 xG. They didn't try to create anything

I wouldn't call it entertaining

I actually searched through my posts here because I was sure I said something along the lines of "they looked like they were playing for a draw" at the time but maybe I didn't post it here

But it was one of those where Liverpool were either going to win or lose 1-0 or draw 0-0 it felt

I was at the game and thought it was different to 12 months before where the exact same fixture happened for Slot with the exact same result but on that night Madrid seemed really hungry to win

This season it wouldn't surprise me if they saw the draw and thought Liverpool away would be their hardest on paper and said sure let's go there and pass it about and if we get a lucky break and win, great, if we draw, that's a good result to take back, if we lose, it won't be by much. Because that's how they played it on the night.

It it were a knockout game like tonight I don't for a second believe they'd have played like that, especially after going 1-0 down

I know they've sacked their manager in the meantime, but if they really wanted to move up a gear I felt they could have....they just didnt

And then they have a mare a couple minutes later.

Proper rubbish defending

Shockingly bad there from Newcastle. Cant afford to be giving up cheap goals like that.

Back level. Elanaga again

Yamal. 🤣

Love to see Barca out-shitehoused and referees not falling for it

Anyone guess the last player to score twice in Barcelona for an English club?