Champions League 2018

[Nice One Cyril]

LOL at all the Juve fans moaning about the nailed on penalty, they spent the whole night fouling at every opportunity and finally came unstuck.

[Wayne Kerr]

LOL at all the Juve fans moaning about the nailed on penalty, they spent the whole night fouling at every opportunity and finally came unstuck.

Oh Juventus crying over a penalty...

Serie A leaders Juventus needed two penalties, the second a hugely controversial one awarded for an alleged trip on Gonzalo Higuain, to win 4-2 at bottom-of-the-table Benevento after the hosts twice came from behind to equalise on Saturday.

[Bomber]

Didn't see the game, only the pen incident. I thought it was soft.

[Mr Red]

Didn't see the game, only the pen incident. I thought it was soft.

Exactly what Little Red said but he did say he thought it was a penalty though.

[Bomber]

Didn't see the game, only the pen incident. I thought it was soft.

Exactly what Little Red said but he did say he thought it was a penalty though.

The way the Real player flung himself forward, I'm not surprised.

[Nice One Cyril]

Didn't see the game, only the pen incident. I thought it was soft.

Exactly what Little Red said but he did say he thought it was a penalty though.

The way the Real player flung himself forward, I'm not surprised.

If some geezer jumped on your back at speed I reckon you'd be on the deck quick smart.

[Getting Rusty]

I haven't seen it but I am more likely to cringe at the word 'pen'.

[predrag]

Chiellini got the ball,then striker-no penalty.

[predrag]

Medhi Benatia that was.

[Nice One Cyril]

Chiellini got the ball,then striker-no penalty.

There speaks a whingeing Italian

[Getting Rusty]

Getting the ball doesn't necessarily mean it is not a foul.

[thebeautifulgame]

Massive call- wouldn't normally defend an Englishman but I think he was as brave as shit to give it. Mind you as it was at Real's place maybe some will suggest he crapped himself and had to give it. A few years ago it would have been waved away without hesitation but the game has changed. Technically a penalty though I can understand how many see it otherwise. The beauty of it all is we have the privilege and comfort of watching it from home and viewing it from different angles and I bet it is about 50/50. What chance the man in the middle getting it right/wrong in a split second? To me it is better to go with the Referee (human error or not) as the VAR has hardly bathed itself in glory. Let the game flow with the only exception being goal line technology. That said such decisions by officials should be documented by UEFA in a transparent manner and we as the public should be educated/advised by them accordingly. A penalty or not? without beating about the bush.

[Nice One Cyril]

That said such decisions by officials should be documented by UEFA in a transparent manner and we as the public should be educated/advised by them accordingly. A penalty or not? without beating about the bush.

The problem with all the systems like VAR is that it's still a matter of opinion, just someone else's other than the ref.

I have no skin in the game and IMO it was a stonewall penalty, 99% of tackles from behind result in contact to the player that could or should be given as a foul in the modern game.

Once the penalty is given (and it isn't going to be ungiven), what is Juve's best chance? Buffon, their best keeper, saving it, but hey, let's act like a dick who's retiring and thinks he can say what he wants and get yourself sent off. Understandable in the heat of the moment, but not very professional.

[Mr Red]

Semi final draw today?

yes 9pm tonight

[Bomber]

If some geezer jumped on your back at speed I reckon you'd be on the deck quick smart.

If only that actually happened!

[Nugget]

Semi final draw today?

yes 9pm tonight

8.30pm Adelaide time

[God is an Englishman]

rome and Liverpool would both be happy with that draw.

[Con M]

Brilliant semi between Real Madrid against Bayern Munich this morn. Couldn’t take my eyes off it.

Real just held on 2-2 and Bayern unlucky to not be in the Final.

Quality of the play and passing was of the highest order and it’s a pity the European Champions League does not have more profile in Australia.

[Jellyfish Haircut]

Bring back the European Cup.

[ozzie owl]

Bring back the European Cup.

I would the love the Champions League be what it says a competition for Champions only. The only sides that should compete should be the sides that finish top of the various European Leagues plus the previous years winner. it is a joke that teams can finish 4th in the EPL year in year out can still qualify. Sadly it wont happen as the big clubs rule UEFA and the ever present threat of a break away league keeps it that way.

[The Kop]

And the champions league has become this commercial and entertain behemoth because of it.

Careful what you wish for. I mean I can't imagine anyone getting up at 4am for Cluj vs Sparta Prague in the knockout stages.

[Bomber]

They should at least call it something else. And all it does is widen the gap between the haves and the have nots (rich clubs getting richer etc).

[God is an Englishman]

Bring back the European Cup.

I would the love the Champions League be what it says a competition for Champions only. The only sides that should compete should be the sides that finish top of the various European Leagues plus the previous years winner. it is a joke that teams can finish 4th in the EPL year in year out can still qualify. Sadly it wont happen as the big clubs rule UEFA and the ever present threat of a break away league keeps it that way.

Technically (but very unlikely) England could have 6 teams in the Champions League next year.

Bring back the European Cup.

[Jellyfish Haircut]

And the champions league has become this commercial and entertain behemoth because of it.

Careful what you wish for. I mean I can't imagine anyone getting up at 4am for Cluj vs Sparta Prague in the knockout stages.

I would

[Facts and Stats]

Bring back the European Cup.

I would the love the Champions League be what it says a competition for Champions only. The only sides that should compete should be the sides that finish top of the various European Leagues plus the previous years winner. it is a joke that teams can finish 4th in the EPL year in year out can still qualify. Sadly it wont happen as the big clubs rule UEFA and the ever present threat of a break away league keeps it that way.

Technically (but very unlikely) England could have 6 teams in the Champions League next year.

Bring back the European Cup.

It's limited to 5.

If Chelsea finish in the top 4, LFC win it, and Arsenal the Europa. Chelsea miss out.

[ozzie owl]

And the champions league has become this commercial and entertain behemoth because of it.

Careful what you wish for. I mean I can't imagine anyone getting up at 4am for Cluj vs Sparta Prague in the knockout stages.

I'm sure people would there is more to football than watching a small handful of clubs dominating every year.

[Nice One Cyril]

Bring back the European Cup.

I would the love the Champions League be what it says a competition for Champions only. The only sides that should compete should be the sides that finish top of the various European Leagues plus the previous years winner. it is a joke that teams can finish 4th in the EPL year in year out can still qualify. Sadly it wont happen as the big clubs rule UEFA and the ever present threat of a break away league keeps it that way.

The problem with that idea is that the majority of the leagues around Europe are not strong enough to compete, the fourth team in the EPL is a country mile better than say, Celtic.

[Nice One Cyril]

Congratulations to Liverpool, should be an entertaining final and I think Madrid are there for the taking this season.

Some poor defending this morning and some bizarre decisions, or non decisions, by the ref, at least made it good to watch.

[Con M]

They should at least call it something else. And all it does is widen the gap between the haves and the have nots (rich clubs getting richer etc).

On the other hand you’re watching the very best of the concentration of talent and quality.

And there has been a torrent of goals recently to entertain the millions of neutrals watching on TV. Witness this morning’s 7-6 aggregate win by Liverpool against Roma.

It is what it is now. Even Australia’s mainstream media might mention the Final in Kiev on Saturday 26 May now that an English side is playing against Real Madrid.

[Facts and Stats]

Congratulations to Liverpool, should be an entertaining final and I think Madrid are there for the taking this season.

Some poor defending this morning and some bizarre decisions, or non decisions, by the ref, at least made it good to watch.

I thought the ref was at least consistent, except the last decision. But over the two legs I thought we deserved it and the officials didn’t change much. Although had we started 5-1 up it may have been even more comfortable.

I would have preferred to have Phil on the bench to see us through rather than Solanke, but we did it.