Champions League/Europa League 2021/22

[Sanguine]

This competition never ceases to amaze. I'll criticise no-one who saw the tie as done - and City were I think inarguably the better side over 180 minutes. And then they went to sleep. I don't think Real had tested Ederson all game, and it was only a smart save on the angle that stopped them scoring a third in normal time.

As mentioned though, I'll lose no sleep that the two biggest budgets in football, City and PSG, are still to buy a Champions League. What Klopp has done at Liverpool (win or lose, a third final in five years) is outstanding.

Klopp talks of his side being 'mentality monsters' - but as I mentioned yesterday, Real have that 'something' in the CL too. They've lost just one of nine finals dating back 60 years.

Beginning to think Carvajal* has a bit of the Ramos about him. I expect him to 'leave a bit' on Salah early doors.

*Delicious cross for Rodrygo's second.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I think Madrid's first two shots on target in the whole game were the two goals that were going to take it to extra time before they missed the chance even later on with Ederson's save from a tight angle.

City had a couple of chances to kill the tie before then anyway, Grealish twice. Fernandinho was stretching in extra time as well at the back post.

It was a great game to watch from the 90th minute onwards.

[NathStPaul]

I was in Spain for the last Liverpool v Madrid final and will be again this time around. Think there will be a different outcome this time though, Liverpool will over power Madrid.

[Silver Fox]

I think Madrid's first two shots on target in the whole game were the two goals that were going to take it to extra time before they missed the chance even later on with Ederson's save from a tight angle.

City had a couple of chances to kill the tie before then anyway, Grealish twice. Fernandinho was stretching in extra time as well at the back post.

It was a great game to watch from the 90th minute onwards.

Pretty weak sauce up until that point mind you!

it doesn't matter but I'm fairly sure Fernandinho would have been offside if he'd managed to convert Foden's header, they showed multiple replays in the ET HT break but never the right one.

I h8 to harp on about BT Sport btw (I really don't) but congrats on squeezing an extra ad for a UFC event or something in so you came back after ET had started!

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I think Madrid's first two shots on target in the whole game were the two goals that were going to take it to extra time before they missed the chance even later on with Ederson's save from a tight angle.

City had a couple of chances to kill the tie before then anyway, Grealish twice. Fernandinho was stretching in extra time as well at the back post.

It was a great game to watch from the 90th minute onwards.

Pretty weak sauce up until that point mind you!

it doesn't matter but I'm fairly sure Fernandinho would have been offside if he'd managed to convert Foden's header, they showed multiple replays in the ET HT break but never the right one.

I h8 to harp on about BT Sport btw (I really don't) but congrats on squeezing an extra ad for a UFC event or something in so you came back after ET had started!

I know I noticed that in ET HT that something like 20 seconds of the half had gone before they actually showed the game because of adverts, that was ridiculous!

[Sanguine]

Thought I was imagining it, but yeah, clock was on 90:20 when they returned to a close up shot of the referee and players obviously running around behind him.

[South Coast Royal]

You have to laugh, Darren Fletcher and Steve McManaman were harping on about how City vs Liverpool would be the "deserving and proper final" in the 90th minute and then Real did that

Then Fletcher kept going on about how anyone who said the tie was over at 90 minutes was foolish. He really does bring Tyldedsley levels of banality.

*to McManaman's credit at least he admitted that was exactly what he'd thought

Fletcher kept on and on and on about Kyle Walker being a brave little soldier as if he were playing with a broken leg-he couldn't get it when Walker went off, only to come back on again.

[South Coast Royal]

Not sure whether I posted in this topic or elsewhere but I feel that City aren't as strong as Liverpool away from home.
The same goes for Real Madrid and hopefully that applies for the final in Paris.

Although Gundogan did ok I was a bit surprised (and assumed an injury) when arguably the best midfielder in the world, De Bruyne, was substituted.
Also interesting that for most of the big games Pep starts Mahrez and Silva ahead of Sterling and Grealish and once again Mahrez did what he does, score an important goal.

There is something of a soft centre about this City team for all their brilliance whereas Liverpool have VVD ,Mane and Henderson who all battle in different areas of the pitch.

Putting aside nationalistic interests, especially as there are so few Brits in the top sides, last night was something that sports lovers will see as why they love sport and with Real Madrid being outplayed in their last 3 ties it looks as though it could be written in the stars that they win it this year.

[genome]

I'm fully behind Real in the final. They took out each of the oil clubs en route to the final. Lovely stuff.

[LUX]

I enjoyed it last night. I attended Real v Shaktar Donetsk in the Group stages and Madrid were very lucky to win that one (2-1 iirc).

They had the full team out too and Vincius jnr was terrible. Ditto Modric.

Mind you, Benzema scored their two goals and was the only one who seemed bothered.

[Silver Fox]

He seems to be the big threat for the final, hopefully he'll be as ineffective as he was last night

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Benzema just seems to be getting better with age at the moment, Ancelotti definitely knows how to get the best out of him that's for sure. He's having an unbelievable season. Bit early to be talking about it yet but, if he can continue this kind of form for the rest of the calendar year, he should win the Balon D'Or.

[NathStPaul]

Benzema just seems to be getting better with age at the moment, Ancelotti definitely knows how to get the best out of him that's for sure. He's having an unbelievable season. Bit early to be talking about it yet but, if he can continue this kind of form for the rest of the calendar year, he should win the Balon D'Or.

Think he is a shoo-in already. I know FIFA will be desperate to give it to Messi for the sake of the sponsors but lets be real, by Messi's standards he has been really poor. He clearly doesn't want to be at PSG and he is pining for a move back to Barca.

Benzema has been incredible at times. He doesn't do a lot in terms of all around play but he is lethal in front of goal and when you consider he is an aging player on top of his goals he more than deserves the honour imo.

[genome]

He seems to be the big threat for the final, hopefully he'll be as ineffective as he was last night

Earning and scoring the winning penalty?

[Silver Fox]

He seems to be the big threat for the final, hopefully he'll be as ineffective as he was last night

Earning and scoring the winning penalty?

Sorry you're right, he did one thing in the game, or is that 2?

[genome]

He seems to be the big threat for the final, hopefully he'll be as ineffective as he was last night

Earning and scoring the winning penalty?

Sorry you're right, he did one thing in the game, or is that 2?

If being ineffective means scoring a winning penalty then I don't think Liverpool would subscribe my gr8 m8

[NathStPaul]

I mean he literally did the job he is paid to do, not sure what more anyone could want from him?

[genome]

Oh and he also assisted the first goal...

[Hendo]

I mean he literally did the job he is paid to do, not sure what more anyone could want from him?

+1, even if his only touch of the ball in the whole 120 mins was sticking the winning goal in the net.

[Whore Jackie]

TBF, given how superlative he'd been in all the big pressure knock-out games, last night was by far his worse performance. Perhaps you have to give City some credit there, but Madrid wouldn't be in the final without him.