Topic: UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Season - page 164. (Read 59376 times)

yes that's right. football is indeed full of surprises, who would have thought that the favorite teams in the UCL league this season each lost in their second match and I am also sure that many gamblers lost their bets in the second match including me. Especially Real Madrid who have the status of defending champions actually lost to a weak team, but if you look at this match Madrid deserved to lose and Lille deserved to win. Because they got quite a lot of chances besides penalties. Especially the wingers played very well in this match which managed to put a lot of pressure on Real Madrid's defense line. Indeed Madrid started to rise in the second half in the final minutes after Arda came in (after Modric and Mbappe came in). But still couldn't penetrate Lille's defense. Especially the Lille goalkeeper in my opinion was quite good in this match.

This is the most interesting and according to the facts Bayern Munich last experienced a defeat in the UCL League group stage in 2017, at that time Bayern Munich lost 3-0 to PSG coached by Unai Emery. But after Bayern Munich's 41 matches in the group stage without ever losing, who would have thought that Bayern Munich's record was stopped by the same person, Unai Emery with Aston Villa. I don't think this is a coincidence.

Real Madrid might really have serious difficulties in retaining their title in the CL this season. Don't you think the same? 

I mean it is early I know but their game doesn't look convincing. Because in one match they look really good but in another they struggle to score a lot. Just like it happened in the Lille match. Maybe it might be Manchester City's turn after a break of 1 year. It is just an assumption but we will see.

I'm aware of another truth like Real Madrid can win a CL title in even a season they don't look fascinating. Last season was really like that. But doing this twice won't be easy at all.

Talking of Bayern they have every right to end that game right from the beginning but it seems they were over confidence in that game and they lost focus. The goals Duran scored is never Neuer's fault, we know Bayern to be playing a very high style of football just like Manchester City were everyone will be at the half and it went wrong for them even if they're good this season but a little mistake can cost a team the game. For Madrid I think they're good at playing poorly from the start of the campaign and when it matters you see them getting serious, I'm speaking from what I saw last season but this time around they're not even high spirited in any way. ATM's problem is something they always have inside which is play to draw a game they know they can't win and you see them defending like it's the finals, I think Benfica took advantage of the fact that they're always going to defend and it ended up in their (Benfica) favor.

In UEFA Champions League usually we are having too many surprises as we have in first round when Barcelona lost against Monaco now another French club give surprise as the Lille beats defending champions Real Madrid which is surely upset but still it's part of the game and here veteran Carlos Ancelotti done mistake as he brings teenager Endrick at the start which is surely not good decision, and they face consequences as well for this because here they needed an experienced player who can give them good start.

Aston Villa doing impressive job and having dream start of their new season in Premier League and Champions League as well with breaking unbeaten streak of Bayern Munich is huge success for them.

Real Madrid is now surely having some mess-up which is bringing problems for them even experienced Ancelotti not able to handle team which is surely going to have problem for them bringing Endrick in starting lineup was wrong, and they fail to score any goal in presence of most lethal attack of UEFA Champions League is surely wired but now hopefully they will learn from these mistakes and having better strategy in coming matches because they needed to be at his best for having better results.

Arsenal were so impressive on the Champions League night, I was so impressed by how well they controlled the game and defended with calm heads. The duo Saliba and Gabriel they have formed a partnership that is so solid and hard to break through. Kai Harvertz has done so well to prove critics wrong with good performances and consistency which I believe has been so important and a key figure in his improvement. Saka has also grown over the years and is so confident to face any team at all in the world. All thanks to the genius of Mikel Arteta

I was very confident that, at the end of the day, Madrid would win against LOSC Lille. When they even let in a goal in the first half, I still thought Madrid would come back now and hush their rivals with a big score because, usually, they do exactly this. They have extraordinary star players.

But until the match ended, as it emerged, Lille had played with a lot of confidence even under pressure. Not only did they defend, but they also developed their game starting it back in their line. What's most surprising is, after having key players returning in the second half, Madrid still couldn't capitalize on their chances. It was disappointing to see them not manage to turn the results in a game, actually, of all games in this one Madrid usually leads at the end. A poor result, and unanticipated.

Real Madrid made 19 shots, 10 shots on target, it's not too bad but Lille's goalkeeper did his job excellently. Mbappe was sent in but you can not expect him to do too much when he was not too ready for this match. Real Madrid and Ancelotti hoped that Mbappe can help them if he has an opportunity, he can score a goal with his skills and experience, but life does not always work rosy as expected.

Lille made a big shock and this win also helps them increasing own chance in group phase with good ending after this phase. From a draw with Atletico Madrid in La Liga to this defeat with Lille in Champions League, Mbappe absence actually affected Real Madrid attacking power.

You have just said it all and there is no additional word or phrase I can construct to the matches that were played yesterday. I never expected Atletico Madrid to lose to Benfica after what they made Real Madrid to go through and for Real Madrid toose to Lille as a result of foul the referee awarded as penalty. Two Madrid that were tough to each other loss match they could have use to move faster on the table are now stuck, I'm a bit satisfied about Benfica but not Lille.

Bayern just made me opened my Jaw, they wasted my ticket because I gave them either team to win half and they couldn't win any of the half. I never saw it coming they are going to lose that match to Aston Villa. Same Aston that was struggling against IPswitch town made Bayern to crawl on their legs begging for a goal but they never make a single goal yesterday. My long multiple bet has been shattered by their incompetency.

Well, anyway, luckily for PSG now, after the defeat against Arsenal, the "hot heads" seem to have cooled down. Dembele has publicly admitted his mistake and coach Luis Enrique has also publicly admitted it.
There has long been talk of coach Luis Enrique's coldness, even cruelty, in dealing with his team's stars, including tense confrontations with Kylian Mbappe last season. By not allowing Dembele to accompany the team to London this time, coach Luis Enrique seems to want to affirm that showing off and even imposing power at PSG is natural. But Dembele's absence will likely leave a significant void in the PSG squad. Since Mbappe's move to Real Madrid in the summer, Dembele has taken on a more important role in Enrique's side. Coach Luis Enrique should not be too consistent. Dembele's talent and experience are the difference in Enrique's system full of young players. Coach Luis Enrique should learn to be soft on the stars.

Lille's goalkeeper last night performed very well by making many saves. Real Madrid players were frustrated because they were unable to score goals. In addition, I thought the entry of Mbappe who already has experience in Ligue 1 would change Real Madrid's game and change the scoreboard, but in reality it was not so and the narrow score of 1-0 was maintained well by Lille.

On the other hand, I was surprised by Atletico's performance, they were helpless in front of Benfica, as if showing a very large difference in strength. Benfica really dominated the game. 4-0 is a bad result for a club like ATM.
And the funny thing is, Atletico were unable to create a single shot on target.

My prediction is
17+ points to be in the top 8 and avoid the playoff
11 to 16 points to be in the playoff, from 9th to 24th position

Under 11 points no playoff, and ofcourse no Europa League like the past years.

Milan is in a critical position right now with 0 points in 2 games.

Lille was actually very lucky in that match because they were able to get 1 goal through a penalty which they got after one of the Real Madrid players got a hand ball in the penalty box. Real Madrid fought well in that match. It's just that Real Madrid became quite bad at completing their attacks. Vini Jr even shot very weakly. And yes, the results were beyond everyone's expectations.
 
But Atletico Madrid actually suffered a much embarrassing defeat because they lost by a big score of 4-0. Benfica really destroyed Atletico Madrid in that match. I almost couldn't believe that it was actually Atletico Madrid who played in that match.

LOL we are in the same boat, I don't know, I'm quite fed up because 2 big teams were defeated with a narrow score beyond prediction because I also bet on Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to win. After what happened, I assume that the new format of the Champions League will have a big impact on other big teams, not only Bayern and Madrid. Atletico Madrid was also made helpless by Benfica tight game, not only that because Benfica 2 goals came from Gallagher mistakes. Benfica players played very openly, many attacks were carried out almost without tight guard.

Oh I didn't know. It is good news then. Dembele is really crucial for PSG as you know. His goal contribution until this moment has been at high level.  

I see then. Luis Enrique must really be the main reason behind this benching decisions. He must be really adamant with his rules which is why he left Mbappe out of squad also.

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It was a night with many surprises surely.    Emery has really become the nightmare of Bayern Munich. First he defeated them with Villarreal and repeated the same with Aston Villa now. I believe he is an underrated manager.

I also didn't understand the Endrick choice in Real Madrid starting eleven. I understand there is a busy calendar but it is still the Champions League. You shouldn't underestimate your competitor.

Football is full of surprises and last night games were full of surprises and a lot of gamblers lost their bet because no one will ever believe that Lille will win Real Madrid the defending champion and Benefica will humiliate Atletico Madrid to that extent.

Bayern who has never been beaten since Kompany took over a manager was defeated yesterday by an average English Club Aston Villa. It was a memorable day for Aston Villa as they were able to win Bayern who they have not being able to win in the past 46 years ago. I think the new Champions League format is kicking some clubs off their feet until they get adapted to it.

Madrid was indeed more favored in the match, but Lille played very well. Madrid did not press Lille's game completely. and that resulted in Lille's game also being able to develop. even Lille was quite confident in playing the ball in their own defense when getting pressure from Madrid players.

It was surprising that Madrid could not chase the 1 goal after trying to play Mbappe, Modric, and also Arda Guler. I thought at least they would play with both of them to score. but that didn't happen. a pretty bad result for Madrid.

Brazil has lost only one match, so at least we can't say that Real Madrid is a weak team or their defense is weak with the performance in this one match. 

Real Madrid is always the best in defense midfield and attacking line, maybe some matches don't perform as planned and some mistakes are made by the players like that mistake happened in the last match of Champions League. But I'm surprised not to see Mbappe or Rodrygo in the starting XI. Mbappe, Vinicius Junior Jr. and Rodrygo if these three players were in the starting eleven, then you think how strong the attacking line-up of Real Madrid would be. Why the Real Madrid manager did not keep Mbappe and Rodrygo in the starting eleven is a big question. Don't rely on Endrick too much right now, he should be developed well as this player looks like he might be playing for a local club, so this player must be smart.

I can agree with this part because the same layers that were playing when Klopp was managing Liverpool are probably the same player who is actively performing so well this season and bringing the team to this height. I don't want to completely give credit to Arne Slot on the team performance yesterday. The level of confidence Klopp built in the player before he left is what Arne Slot is enjoying freely today. I want to see something else; I want Liverpool to win the league then I can give credit to Arne Slot that it was his expertise that made them win. Without so I still respect what Klopp did to Liverpool and won't forget that.

You can't say Bologna didn't defend properly and Liverpool did not strike well. I watched the game and i saw how hard Bologna made it for Liverpool to score.

Benfica and Aston Villa are two teams that surprised us all in yesterday's match. Benfica beating a strong team like Atletico Madrid with a big score of 4-0 is something we rarely see in the UCL. Because usually Atletico Madrid always manages to make their opponents difficult. But I don't know what is going on there. Atletico Madrid really didn't play like they usually do. Meanwhile, Benfica seems to want to go far like in the 2023 season. Because the last time Benfica went far in the UCL was in the 2023 season.

But no one would have guessed that Bayern would lose to Aston Villa. And what is unique about Aston Villa and Benfica is that they both won two matches in a row in the UCL this time.

To be honest Real Madrid were a mess from the line-up to playing Endrick as a starting player, their target of stealing 3 point failed miserably. Communication between players and passing was very unclear. Conceding at the end of the first half made things even more chaotic. The usually solid Carvajal didn't stand out, Bellingham and Vini under performed and even Camavinga who had just recovered from injury, played a long game. I thought Lille home side looked disciplined, the goalkeeper saved them from conceding many times. Ancelotti must evaluate his game immediately because with the new format all the bad possibilities can come early.

Angel Di Maria and company showed no mercy to Simeone men. They slaughtered them with a fantastic score. I wonder why Atletico Madrid couldn't do anything about it, as they are usually much more aggressive and able to make comebacks under pressure.