Topic: Champions League fixtures 18th/19th September

[Vinay]

They lose to Barca at home and Inter wins at PSV, Spurs are done. They won’t overcome after having 0 points when Barca and Inter has 6 each.

Can spurs get a result (any points) against Barca?
What we are looking at, in most likelihood, is for Spurs to compete against Inter for 2nd spot. Which means it is not too bad yet - they could win by 2 at home in the return game against Inter.

[elsewhere]

Schalke were absolutely robbed tonight. Porto scored from a penalty that was awarded courtesy of some of the most disgusting bit of diving you're likely to see. No idea what the ref was thinking there.

http://hoofoot.com/?match=Schalke_04_1_-_1_Porto_2018_09_18

it was ridiculous, they are robbed. They should still be able to top that weak group though.

[IanZG]

They lose to Barca at home and Inter wins at PSV, Spurs are done. They won’t overcome after having 0 points when Barca and Inter has 6 each.

They probably won't if that happens, but they'll definitely have to try and will give their all in the last few matches. I don't really care whether they go through or not, just hope they drop as many points as possible in the league due to focusing on the CL group stage.

[FiSh77]

They lose to Barca at home and Inter wins at PSV, Spurs are done. They won’t overcome after having 0 points when Barca and Inter has 6 each.

Not really, they'll be banking on Barcelona beating Inter twice like but if that happens and they beat PSV twice and Inter by 2 goals then they'll qualify no matter what happens in the final round of games, 9 points will be enough even if Inter win their last game as Spurs will do them on head to head

Luckily for Spurs Barcelona's games against Inter are rounds 3 & 4 so not much chance of them taking their foot off the gas but if Inter manage to get at least a draw in one of the games then Spurs will more than likely be fucked

[Zimagic]

Not really, they'll be banking on Barcelona beating Inter twice like but if that happens and they beat PSV twice and Inter by 2 goals then they'll qualify no matter what happens in the final round of games, 9 points will be enough even if Inter win their last game as Spurs will do them on head to head

Luckily for Spurs Barcelona's games against Inter are rounds 3 & 4 so not much chance of them taking their foot off the gas but if Inter manage to get at least a draw in one of the games then Spurs will more than likely be fucked

And, while it's nice to be in Europe, if that happens and they finish 3rd and go into the Europa League, I think they will have serious issues managing both the EL & trying to stay in the top 4.

[Gerry Attrick]

And, while it's nice to be in Europe, if that happens and they finish 3rd and go into the Europa League, I think they will have serious issues managing both the EL & trying to stay in the top 4.

Think it'd be the opposite. You won't see Alli, Kane or Eriksen play a Europa League game until they're within touching distance of the final in my opinion. Pochettino didn't play a good team in it against Dortmund a few years ago.

[FiSh77]

And, while it's nice to be in Europe, if that happens and they finish 3rd and go into the Europa League, I think they will have serious issues managing both the EL & trying to stay in the top 4.

Don't think it matters either way to be honest, hard to say at the moment but going off what I've seen of them I think they'll struggle if they don't strengthen in January which is easier said than done, especially if they seem to be desperate which could be the case, they can put Europe to bed for a couple of months once the group stage is done but if they fail to bring players in in January then it'll be a struggle no matter what competition they're in once European footie starts back up, think the UEFA Cup has an extra round of games though during the dragged out CL round of 16?

[No666]

Think it'd be the opposite. You won't see Alli, Kane or Eriksen play a Europa League game until they're within touching distance of the final in my opinion. Pochettino didn't play a good team in it against Dortmund a few years ago.

But was that before the prize of a CL place for the winners was dangled? It's a lot harder for a manager to dismiss the Europa League since then.

[Dim Glas]

it was ridiculous, they are robbed. They should still be able to top that weak group though.

I don't think they will qualify.

Anyway, on to today/tonights games. Love when LFC play (and get a good result!) on a Tuesday, makes the Wednesday games that little bit more enjoyable 

[Gerry Attrick]

But was that before the prize of a CL place for the winners was dangled? It's a lot harder for a manager to dismiss the Europa League since then.

No, it was the year we got done by Sevilla in the final. They were putting the pressure on Leicester but I still can’t see him going strong this time around.

[elsewhere]

I don't think they will qualify.

Anyway, on to today/tonights games. Love when LFC play (and get a good result!) on a Tuesday, makes the Wednesday games that little bit more enjoyable 

Lokomotiv and Galatasaray are both wank imo. They should be able to get 8 points min from them in 4 matches.

[elsewhere]

I don't think they will qualify.

Anyway, on to today/tonights games. Love when LFC play (and get a good result!) on a Tuesday, makes the Wednesday games that little bit more enjoyable 

Same here. And we know for a fact United may very well struggle at Switzerland. It would be funny if they manage to somehow drop points and we hear a "heritage" speech from the specialist in failure.

[Dim Glas]

Same here. And we know for a fact United may very well struggle at Switzerland. It would be funny if they manage to somehow drop points and we hear a "heritage" speech from the specialist in failure.

won't be wasting my time watching them play that's for sure! Be one of those turgid games that they win comfortably as they should, but will still manage to bore the pants off everyone who decides to watch - which will surely only be fans of both clubs!

Both early games are on tv, so Shaktar vs Hoffenheim is an easy choice for those 2!

Real Madrid - Roma and the Man City games are on tv for the late games, so unless I stream a game, guess I'll be watching Real - Roma!

Lokomotiv and Galatasaray are both wank imo. They should be able to get 8 points min from them in 4 matches.

Honestly, Schalke are crap too at the moment, but of course - they may pick up form over the next weeks - they need to, they have been really bad, and their young, very unexperienced coach is suffering a bit of a 2nd season slump right now.   I have no great love for Schalke, but I do want them to qualify, but they need to get back on track soon, their season could go off the rails quickly if they don't pick up in the league.

[Statto Red]

Early matches tonight in case anyone has forgotten
Ajax v AEK Athens
Shakhtar Donetsk v 1899 Hoffenheim

[elsewhere]

Why do early matches start at 5:55 instead of 6 pm?

[FiSh77]

Why do early matches start at 5:55 instead of 6 pm?

think it's just to make sure they finish in time for the 8pm kick offs, still chance of over-running if there's a bad injury or something

[Dim Glas]

Why do early matches start at 5:55 instead of 6 pm?

at a guess, so as to make sure there is no overlap with the game that kicks off at 8.

Maybe unlikely I know, but I guess it isn't totally unheard of that you could get a lot of injury time at the end of a first half, thus pushing back the start of the 2nd half. 

Broadcasters need to have those free minutes for shit tons of adverts!

[Dim Glas]

Shakhtar vs TSG Hoffenheim:

Shakhtar XI: Pyatov, Butko, Khocholava, Rakitskiy, Ismaily, Bolbat, Stepanenko, Marlos, Taison, Patrick, Moraes.

Hoffenheim XI: Baumann, Nordtveit, Vogt, Posch, Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Bittencourt, Schulz, Joelinton, Kramaric, Szalai.

Ajax vs AEK Athens:

Ajax XI: Onana, Blind, Tagliafico, de Jong, Ziyech, Schöne, Mazraoui, Eiting, Neres, Tadić, Huntelaar.
 
AEK Athens XI: Barkas, Oikonomou, Bakakis, Hult, Ćosić, Lampropoulos, Simões, Galanopoulos, Mantalos, Ponce, Klonaridis.

[elsewhere]

Hoffenheim look good on paper, also i had no idea Huntelaar was at Ajax.

[Dim Glas]

Hoffenheim look good on paper, also i had no idea Huntelaar was at Ajax.

he went back there last summer I think.

I keep forgetting Tadic went there!

Hoffenheim had some serious injury issues early this season, so it's good to see Vogt available, and Demirbay and Akpoguma available on the bench.  Hoffenheim's big issue is quality in depth - they have little of it. They can put out a pretty good starting 11, but don't have a lot of quality beyond.  Which makes it a tough ask of them to put it together both in the league and Europe.

[Daniel Cabbaggio]

Anyone else think the new ball is nice? Had to rewatch highlights of other teams goals multiple times cos in the replays i was in a trance watching the ball spin

[Caligula?]

These first two early kick-offs today feel like Europa League games

[Dim Glas]

what a start from Hoffenheim, nice goal 

[RobbieRedman]

what a start from Hoffenheim, nice goal 

Nice finish indeed

https://streamja.com/0MMW

[scouseman]

which of the 8pm games are worth a view. Torn between city or the Roma Real games

[Dim Glas]

which of the 8pm games are worth a view. Torn between city or the Roma Real games

can't see beyond two easy home wins in those two, but those are the two games on tv here, so I may watch the Real v Roma one.

If I can be arsed streaming a game (likely not!) I'd probably go for Valencia - Juve or Benfica - Bayern.

Holy crap, almost 2-0 to the Hoff, probably should have been.

[Kop10]

Any streams please guys? thanks
Hoff game

[Dim Glas]

Olli Baumann is always an adventure of a goalie 

Any streams please guys? thanks
Hoff game

alwawys some to be had here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccerstreams

[Kop10]

Olli Baumann is always an adventure of a goalie 

alwawys some to be had here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccerstreams

Salute

[Dim Glas]

Ooooofff, good goal. Shakhtar getting a foothold in this game now.

Shakhtar players do go to ground rather easily!

[FlashGordon]

Great goal, very innovative finish after the heavy touch. Watching on a stream with no commentary is very refreshing. Good end to end game so far.

[Dim Glas]

Great goal, very innovative finish after the heavy touch. Watching on a stream with no commentary is very refreshing. Good end to end game so far.

yep, good stuff so far, open and entertaining. Shakhtar goalie made a couple decent saves too, still, they as a team are really starting to look comfortable now after looking rattled early on.

[rob1966]

which of the 8pm games are worth a view. Torn between city or the Roma Real games

Wife's turn tonight so I'm stuck with Joses' Manc shite.

I'd prob watch Roma v Real.

[Dim Glas]

dammmn, what a move and what a chance that was for Bittencourt, shoulda scored!

This game is ace, both teams are quite open!

There we go! 1-2 to the Hoffenheim.

[Gerry Attrick]

2-1 to the Hoffers.

Nagelsmann is  as fuck.

[Dim Glas]

Loving Julian Nagelsmann's stylish get-up tonight 

Good header that from Nordtveit. Hoffenhein smelling blood a bit here, but Shakhtar have shown plenty too, fun game.

[Dim Glas]

These first two early kick-offs today feel like Europa League games

Looked like that a bit!

But the quality of the Shakhtar vs Hoffenheim game is a 100 times better than the rubbish Inter and Spurs served up for most of yesterday's early kick-off 

Really good first half, hopefully the 2nd half is too, although I doubt either coach wanted it to be quite so open!

[FlashGordon]

Shakhtar are so open at the back/midfield making it very easy for Hoffenheim to move up the pitch. I agree the move that resulted in Bittencourts' header was a good one, really enjoying the game so far.

[Hazell]

These first two early kick-offs today feel like Europa League games

One of the matches at the same time yesterday felt like that too.

[RobbieRedman]

Young Boys XI: Ballmoos, Mbabu, Camara, Von Bergen, Benito, Fassnacht, Sow, Sanogo, Sulejmani, Hoarau, Assale

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Pogba, Matic, Fred, Rashford, Lukaku, Martial