Soccer OT: UCL draw!
Leicester v Atletico Madrid - Everyone keeps writing off LCFC given their lame year at home, but they face a counterattacking team not having the best of all seasons at home -- basically, they face a more skilled version of themselves. If you like the underdog winning, well, it would be a huge upset but it's not out of the question. Atletico ain't Real or Bayern this year.
Dortmund v Monaco - This is by far the most ENTERTAINING draw -- going to be super-high octane, both sides with loads of young talent that love to attack, attack, attack. Plus hopefully USA's future (even present) uberstar Pulisic gets a role.
Barcelona v Juventus - The Italian superteam against the (fading? rejuvenated?) stars of Barca. Once again Barca faces a team with enough quality to expose their defensive and midfiend frailties; but Juve hasn't faced any heavyweights in Europe yet this year.
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich - two super-heavyweights, both leading their leagues, very familiar with each other, loaded with superstars.
Hoping Dortmund or Monaco make the finals, those two teams aren't the best overall squads but are loads of fun to watch.
March 17th, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
BVB will almost assuredly give Pulisic a role in the Champions League games. Pulisic has been on a scoring/assist streak, and also playing decently when the other side is on attack.
Like the OP, I'm pulling for Dortmund to make the finals. Their brand of football is fun, their players charismatic, and would rather outscore the competition than outdefend them.
Also pulling hard for Juve - my favorite Italian team. I haven't seen the formal draw, but if it lines up for a BVB v. Juve Final? That would be fantastic!
March 17th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^
March 17th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
March 17th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^
March 17th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
The kid is the age of our football teams' incoming high school grads, yet he is already one of the most elite talents in the world, standing out amongst a pitch full of world class players when Monaco defeated City.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:01 AM ^
I'm new to soccer, just really started paying close attention the past two years, but man is Dortmund fun to watch, and the added interest with Pulisic being on the team. I heard somewhere that T. Tuchel's ideal formation would be a 3-1-2-4, to go along with EM's comment, he just wants to outscore everyone and doesn't mind a 4-2 match.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^
As a long-suffering Arsenal fan and follower of the English Premier League, it pains me to say this:
Going to back to 2010, out of the 64 possible spots in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, there have been only ten participants from the English Premier League. Just as in 2016 when the EPL’s Manchester City reached the quarterfinal round, only one team from the EPL (Leicester City) made this year’s UCL quarterfinals, after no EPL teams were in the UCL quarterfinals in 2015. Chelsea and Manchester United reached the UCL quarterfinals in 2014. No EPL teams reached the quarters in 2013; Chelsea made it in 2012; Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all made it in 2011; Arsenal and Manchester United got there in 2010. (I laughed when an MGoBlogger said after the recent debacle against Bayern Munich that Arsenal "10-2 go out in the round of 16.")
Four of the eight teams in this year’s UCL quarterfinals are repeaters from 2016, the three Spanish teams and Bayern Munich. Six of the eight teams in this year’s UCL quarterfinals are repeaters from 2015, the three Spanish teams, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Monaco.
Of this year’s UCL quarterfinalists, Barcelona and Bayern Munich made the quarterfinals in 2010; Barcelona and Real Madrid made it in 2011; Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid made it in 2012 and 2013; Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid made it in 2014.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^
As a Leicester City fan, I'm pleased that they avoided Real, Barca, and Bayern. I'm also glad that they made it to the quarters after all the haters complained that they would hurt England's coefficient. Granted they didn't have the toughest path, but they're the only English team in the quarters, so good for them. Now that the mutiny is over and they're actually trying again, who knows what could happen?
March 17th, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^
First of all, fuck you for insulting my club. Especially since you probably just picked a big club to support so you could be a frontrunner. Good for you. Leicester City is not a very successful club in the big picture, but they have been in the top flight more often than not. I've been a fan for over ten years, before they were even relegated to league one. It's been quite a ride, and worth all of the disappointment. I'm also a Cubs fan, so last year was pretty awesome. But I guess they're just a shit team, too. Whatever.
if Leicester knocked out all four Spanish clubs en route to winning the Cup.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
I actually like the completely randomized draws. Some fun matchups and more crazy coming for the next round.
I think that Barca and Juve are the best teams in the UCL.
Juventus is a good team. They're much more complete than they were when they faced Barca in the finals last time.