Topic: UEFA Champions League Discussion Thread - page 276. (Read 129819 times)

As someone said, Simeone is playing 5-5-0 and not 5-3-2, full defence strategy, the Simeone way! Not threatening your opponent, giving him the control of the ball most of the time while resisting in your area will guarantee few goals only, is that what he was planning since the beginning? To not receive many goals as Benfica so he could have a chance to surprise City in Madrid? Some times you think it is easy to understand him but it is quite hard but he is playing against big Guardiola and for sure he has enough data about his strategies..
Tomorrow Chelsea - Real Madrid 🔥🔥

Indeed, Simeone has no other choice but to return in the second leg in order to continue the competition and pass to the next round, despite the city's victory, but it needs more giving. I think that Guardiola will surprise his opponent in the first leg by choosing an ideal squad in order to achieve the goal of guaranteeing and avoiding penalties.

The easiest winner tonight is Liverpool. I think it was the first team to pass the round.

Manchester City played very well but won the game by one goal.
That score could be a problem next week.

Simeone has always used a defensive strategy when facing a much stronger team. So I agree that the game was a bit boring, not only one goal
was created, but Atletico didn't create any chances at all. It seems that from the start Atletico were eyeing a draw, but with the quality of Man City's
players, they managed to win the game. Maybe the second leg will be much more interesting, because it's impossible for Atlético to play defensively
again, because they need a win to qualify for the next round. It could be that after Atletico managed to score a goal and 1-1 on aggregate, then Atletico
will play defensively again to try their luck in the penalty shootout. But if Atlético adopts this strategy, I think it's too risky, because the chances of
winning on penalties are 50-50.

I think Simeone is an experienced coach, he will think of a strategy to win in the second leg without the need for a penalty shootout. But because
Man City's quality is much better, I predict Man City will qualify for the next round. Moreover, Man City has won in the first leg, so in the second leg
Man City only need a draw, but if we look at Guardiola's character he is unlikely to play defensively. I predict in the second leg Man City will continue
to play attacking and will win the game.

Manchester city will host their rivalry Athletico Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. City will pull up a gritty performance today. I have already placed my bet in favour of City, I have no single doubt that they will mowed my slip. On the other side, Athletico Madrid will look for a draw, that's all they know. The would rather approach Manchester defensively because the pressure voltage city will be bringing in the game would be high for them. Pep and Simeon will make their best football tactics and strategy, after their lenthy experience in football. One side will be superior to the other. Let's hope that City will be able to deliver in the game. It would be a strenous effort City will make, also Madrid apply a strenous strength to win the game.

and today was the most Simeone style game i've watched in a long time... heh! a 0-1 scoreline against arguably the team playing the best football in the world rn, mission accomplished for Atletico

my Atletico handicap hit

shoulda gone with Liverpool -1 in another ticket, but i thought Benfica was going to put up a good fight, silly me

I don't know what Simeone thought in that match with his defensive strategy throughout the match, it looked boring and not interesting at all. There was not a single dangerous attack by the Atletico Madrid players because they were too busy defending in their area. For the second leg I believe Manchester City can dominate like the first leg and I think they will qualify for the semifinals.

Atletico's strategy is quite boring to look at but on the other hand they can't be too open in this match and actually if you look at their strategy I think they really want to achieve a draw in this match but unfortunately Bruyne's Goal made them fail in their plan.
In the second leg later I think they will work a little harder at least to equalize the current Aggregate and try their luck on penalties

There was no surprises tonight, the matches went as expected. In as much there is still a chance for Atletico Madrid, I don't think there is a chance for Benfica is there returning leg, so what I need to know is the possible fixture of Liverpool in the next round.
England teams are doing well, let us see how Chelsea will fare tomorrow against the magical Real Madrid. It will surely full of surprises.

In fact, Atletico Madrid had things in order until the 70th minute, and Man City hadn't had a chance until then. It was also a work of art how that goal was made, a player managed to eliminate 4 men and then release DE Bruijne that was an achievement in itself. You can still see the class of de Bruijne, but a 1-0 victory is at least very clear. Atletico really have a chance at home in Madrid, although City will also be the favorite there.

Agree here things are not going to change very quickly as we already read from few legendary players also mention in last few days with some good changes they need two or three years for having very good and best club it's not easy job in current situation even they have few very talented players but their attitude and their way of play is not suitable for this club, so they need to do some better changes for better future of this club.
 
I read few days back management is going to announce new manager in May which is good because this can bring some stability and after this some good and positive changes are also needed for this club with Ronaldo is also having nothing better for this club's future, so they also need to hand him transfer for his desire club.

Even if there is one goal there but this is quite good indeed because Atletico play only in their defensive area and this 1 goal can make them more confident now, but indeed they still cannot relax because in Leg 2 anything can still happen
This match is like the initial prediction because the result will definitely be like this they will win with a convincing score.
2nd leg at Anfield don't know what will happen with benfica, they are doing well so far but Liverpool is not something to pass by now

Atletico Madrid game plan was to play defensively and not to give Man City any scoring chances, that is why they didn't register any shot on goal both off and on target, zero corners throughout the duration of the match, Man City deserve to win atleast with a goal advantage meanwhile I am sure Atletico Madrid will play attacking football in the second leg, this will expose them and Man City will also play attacking football this will culminate to more goals scoring chances for both team, as expected Liverpool opponent are not too formidable thus a comfortable win for them.

That was a really hard fought victory, and i am pretty sure City will be happy irrespective of the fact that it is just a lone goal, what matters is that they have the advantage heading into the second leg; the game was very predictable before it even began, we knew City would do all the attacking and Athletico would do all the defending, and that is exactly how the game played out.

If that match had ended in a goaless draw then City would be under so much pressure in the second leg, cause all Athletico would do then is to continue defending and wait for their opportunity, but with this City lead i think the second leg will be somewhat different, if Athletico chooses to defend, City will be very patient cause they already have the advantage, so i believe Athletico Madrid are going to be forced to try a little bit of attack in the second leg, and that could leave vital spaces open, of which City would capitalize and punish them, overall City are definitely going through in my opinion.

After you reach a certain level and good enough, every team feels the same. Lisbon, Inter, ATM, they are all the same levels for you when you are Liverpool because they are THAT good. I feel like the difference between losing or winning those games is not about how good the other team is, it is about how badly did you played that day.

If City got a tie with Lisbon, that wasn't because Lisbon played well, that was because City played badly. Galatasaray is like 12th in Turkish league, and yet Barcelona who beats everyone including Real Madrid easily since Xavi came, ended up getting a draw in Nou Camp. That should tell you how obvious it is "x didn't play well, Y played badly" situation.

Manchester City - Atlético - 1:0

The match went as expected. I can assume that City are dissatisfied with the result, since the advantage is minimal, and Atlético can bounce back at home.

Benfica - Liverpool - 1:3

Everything is finished here. Liverpool won convincingly away and I think there will be an even more convincing victory at home.

City in a very awkward position ahead of the match on April 10th and Liverpool got another small advantage.

Atletico Madrid play more defensive without give chance for Manchester City able to score goal exactly on first half, I don't interested with match between Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid because less attempt or shot on goal from both team and ball possession on middle field area only. I think full defensive games play show by Atletico Madrid make Manchester City not easy for scoring goal and attempt but second half on 70th Kevin De Bruyne success score 1 goal and looks enough as capital for Manchester City against Atletico Madrid on 2nd leg.

The success of the English league team makes me sure that one of them will definitely reach the final, the first leg match had already guessed how this match would be won and Liverpool were a little safer with a score of 3-1 I don't think it was wasted at Anfield. this is definitely another win.
Atletico Mardrid will definitely try to get up in the second leg as the host, this is certainly a little more difficult even though Mancity has bagged one goal but it will look different maybe Atletico Madrid can comeback later.

Manchester City is a good winner even though it can only make 1 goal, because Atletico can't be provoked more to come out, like what I said before Atletico have a strong and solid on defense. I already predicted that Manchester City would win because gradually Guardiola would be able to break Simeone strategy, but what I was more surprised about was that Simeone really wanted to have a slight difference in goals by pressing the back line.

The match between Benfica vs Liverpool went as predicted. Liverpool were able to take a two-goal lead in the first half through goals from Konate and Mane. Actually, Benfica opened up hopes for an equalizer after at the start of the second half, precisely in the 49th minute, they could reduce the gap through Nunez. But Liverpool responded to what Benfica did by scoring again and increasing their advantage in the 87th minute. This result made it easier for Liverpool in the next match.