Topic: Champions League last 16 draw - Monday 7 November 11:00 GMT

[kavah]

Chances of one of the Portuguese is still higher than Bayern though!

Actually no if the above table is correct

[Zlen]

Real please.

[Mister Flip Flop]

Going to be tough no matter who we draw but we seem to be playing better (dare i say raising our game) against the better sides. Would be happy playing any of them to be honest.

[Origi-nal]

Actually no if the above table is correct

2 Portuguese teams so the  probability of either is greater than Bayern

["21C or 70F?" SchizoidWeatherMan!]

Real are overrated imho.

They looked wank against Leipzig and the 3-2 scoreline flattered them. Without Benzema, they are blunt upfront.  Granted, it was a dead rubber for them, but they did play most of their first team.

Bayern is the worst draw for us. They look unbeatable in Europe.

[Samie]

[Garlicbread]

Real are overrated imho.

They looked wank against Leipzig and the 3-2 scoreline flattered them. Without Benzema, they are blunt upfront.  Granted, it was a dead rubber for them, but they did play most of their first team.

Bayern is the worst draw for us. They look unbeatable in Europe.

Felt like we said the same thing in 2021 and 2022 as well...

[Sharado]

Felt like we said the same thing in 2021 and 2022 as well...

Yep. Real have the greatest pedigree in the history of the european cup, and a team absolutely packed with winners. Anyone who underestimates them is absolutely off their head.

Though I'll say, given recent experience, better to play over 2 legs than in a final.

[Barrow Shaun]

So it's Porto, Benfica, Bayern or Real, right?

I don't care who we get. I go back to 2001 and the sheer joy of just being in the thing. Wasn't that a ridiculously tight group too, if I remember correctly?

[kavah]

2 Portuguese teams so the  probability of either is greater than Bayern

39.861 > (19.763 x 2)

A smidge in BM’s favour

[Garnier]

We've lost to Leeds and beat City, at this point it doesn't really matter to me who we end up getting.

If we somehow wanna win the European Cup then it's gonna be hard at some point, you won't find greatness at the beach.

But, seriously, Porto. Please.

[Garnier]

It'd be fantastic if PSG were paired up with any of the other abhorrent PL sides in the CL.

[Wabaloolah]

It'd be fantastic if PSG were paired up with any of the other abhorrent PL sides in the CL.

I wouldn't mind a battle of the bottlers, City V PSG

[Persephone]

I wouldn't mind a battle of the bottlers, City V PSG

The despot derby.

[JackWard33]

I'm an open minded man and a flexible thinker.. I'll accept any Portugese team

[AndyMuller]

No way do I want Real. Sick of hearing about us wanting to revenge to only turn up and get beaten.

Benfica or Porto please.

[killer-heels]

No way do I want Real. Sick of hearing about us wanting to revenge to only turn up and get beaten.

Benfica or Porto please.

Yeah wanting revenge on Madrid is an understandable but also odd take. Even at our best i wouldnt want them, they own this trophy.

[sattapaartridge]

I think its because we have beaten them at anfield a few times. Once you get them in the final though, its over. May as well play the under 18's.

I actually want benfica. I remember once with Gini, VVD or Milner, they started against their former teams and were booed to death. Out goes that affinity and love you had for your old club there. Boo Nunez, make him stronger. (feels kind of sick saying that).

[killer-heels]

I think its because we have beaten them at anfield a few times. Once you get them in the final though, its over. May as well play the under 18's.

I actually want benfica. I remember once with Gini, VVD or Milner, they started against their former teams and were booed to death. Out goes that affinity and love you had for your old club there. Boo Nunez, make him stronger. (feels kind of sick saying that).

Last time was 2008 wasnt it?

[CowboyKangaroo]

Do they draw the winners or runners up first? If its the winners first, we are most likely to play Bayern. (Even if its runners up first, that is the most likely result as well, but the odds are slightly reduced)

Edit: actually, not sure that is right as the sets of permutations should be equal in any case, and draw order won't alter that, but leaving the comment for a Friday maths problem if anyone wants to prove/disprove it.

[Elzar]

Do they draw the winners or runners up first? If its the winners first, we are most likely to play Bayern. (Even if its runners up first, that is the most likely result as well, but the odds are slightly reduced)

Edit: actually, not sure that is right as the sets of permutations should be equal in any case, and draw order won't alter that, but leaving the comment for a Friday maths problem if anyone wants to prove/disprove it.

It more comes down to when we or bayern gets pulled out.

[Fromola]

Yeah wanting revenge on Madrid is an understandable but also odd take. Even at our best i wouldnt want them, they own this trophy.

I'm sure we would have beat them in a two leg knockout last season, it was madness from City not to beat them. We just never get them at the right time which probably isn't now. If we had our best side out both legs though  we could still do them but it's a big ask with our midfield to theirs.

It remains to be seen where everyone is in February after a World Cup.

[sattapaartridge]

Last time was 2008 wasnt it?

i could have sworn we beat them more recently than that, and ive checked, youre right, we havent. probably getting mixed up with other spanish sides. old head now.

[anandg_lfc]

Real are overrated imho.

They looked wank against Leipzig and the 3-2 scoreline flattered them. Without Benzema, they are blunt upfront.  Granted, it was a dead rubber for them, but they did play most of their first team.

Bayern is the worst draw for us. They look unbeatable in Europe.

They looked poor against a lot of teams and were conceding goals for fun in last years CL as well. We did not score against them and have lost in all recent meetings. I would say it is more down to how we matchup against madrid. They are a very balanced side and it will be very difficult to get past them. I think we have a better chance of beating bayern than real especially with bagelmann at the helm. His tactics are similar to pep and klopp's is usually spot on against such teams.

[Ghost Town]

I think we have a better chance of beating bayern than real especially with bagelmann at the helm.

Yeah think his side will roll over. A bread and butter win. His tactics do seem to leave a hole in the middle.

[RedSmoke]

I know it was only v Celtic, but watching Real this week i really want us to avoid them. They just looked young, energetic, fast, full of ideas.... everything we haven't looked this season! As much as i think we're due beating the bastards i'd just be very worried playing them at the minute.

[Eeyore]

Porto would be a great draw Benfica on the other hand look like a very decent side.

[Macc77]

If we had the hypothetical crystal ball and were told we'd meet Real at some point, you'd want it early over two legs and certainly not in the SFs or a Final IMO. If we are to get them, get them L16 and see what happens as they have a certain way of getting over the line when everything is up for grabs late in the competition.

["21C or 70F?" SchizoidWeatherMan!]

They looked poor against a lot of teams and were conceding goals for fun in last years CL as well. We did not score against them and have lost in all recent meetings. I would say it is more down to how we matchup against madrid. They are a very balanced side and it will be very difficult to get past them. I think we have a better chance of beating bayern than real especially with bagelmann at the helm. His tactics are similar to pep and klopp's is usually spot on against such teams.

Bagelmann🤣

Real also like to keep the ball and use wide areas to attack.
need to play smart and not give the likes of Kroos and Modric time on the ball to pick their passes. Leipzig pressed smartly and were aggressive in closing down their CMs. Also made a lot of tackles in midfield and attacked centrally, exploiting their high line.

Kroos drops very deep to find time and space so if our forwards press like crazy, he will not be able to freely dictate play.

In theory at least we can definitely nullify their strengths and take opportunities to score on transitions.

We are due a win against them.

[Jm55]

They looked poor against a lot of teams and were conceding goals for fun in last years CL as well. We did not score against them and have lost in all recent meetings. I would say it is more down to how we matchup against madrid. They are a very balanced side and it will be very difficult to get past them. I think we have a better chance of beating bayern than real especially with bagelmann at the helm. His tactics are similar to pep and klopp's is usually spot on against such teams.

Think people forget we were absolutely all over them for about 40 minutes in Paris.

If that lanky twat of a keeper doesn’t have the performance of his life we win that match comfortably.

I don’t particularly want Madrid as they have a nack of hanging in matches and getting through which is basically how you win European Cups but I wouldn’t be worried about it from a stylistic perspective.

[meady1981]

We’re winning this btw

[The Final Third]

Live stream:

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/draws/

[So… Howard Philips]

Live stream:

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/draws/

I suppose we’ll find out who we’re playing sometime today after all the usual UEFA time wasting and justifying their pointless existence.

Fingers crossed, nevertheless.

[rob1966]

I suppose we’ll find out who we’re playing sometime today after all the usual UEFA time wasting and justifying their pointless existence.

Fingers crossed, nevertheless.

I was thinking 5pm

[Kenny's Jacket]

Be nice to see City getting PSG

[xRedmanLFCx]

Be nice to see City getting PSG

Excluding PSG, the other English clubs are likely to get a good draw. Bruges, Frankfurt (except Spurs who played them already), Leipzig, Inter, and either Milan/Dortmund are their options.

[So… Howard Philips]

I was thinking 5pm

Just in time to spoil my tea then. Bastards.

[Mister Flip Flop]

We’re winning this btw

I wouldn't put it past us at all to be honest.

[DelTrotter]

Be nice to see City getting PSG

Suppose it's the toughest draw but a team that won't do any defensive work aren't knocking City out.

[Red_Mist]

I was thinking 5pm

Just switched it on. Time to go and build a Lancaster Bomber out of matchsticks, read War & Peace, then pop back for the draw.