GWT: Champions League Matchday 4: 11/3 - 11/4

[The Examiner]

Winning the group gives you easier competition in the next round's draw, so it kind of does matter.

You make a valid point but it really doesn't.You still have to beat the best teams, no matter what. PSG isn't trying to get as far as possible for revenue. They want to win it. It doesn't make a difference if they beat Bayern in the knock-out stage or the final.

 

[YNWA14]

I didn't hear anyone saying Liverpool were clearly the better team than Chelsea after doing something similar to them 3 of the 4 games they played last year.

Meanwhile Real missing Benzema, Bale, James and Carvajal? All of whom are impact players.

This game didn't prove anything except that Real can beat PSG without playing as well as they can, and without a bunch of their very best players. I actually like watching PSG which is frustrating for obvious reasons, but they certainly didn't prove they are 'clearly better' than RM.

 

[Edo]

Did everybody see that Cavani miss?

PSG lost because that man is incapable of finishing in matches that matter. Proven that fact again.

 

[Evilo]

They did prove they were better. When a minnow beats a top level team 1-0 after spending the game in their own half (and scoring from a fluke goal), the top level team is still better.
Yesterday's game had the same feeling. You felt PSG was playing a lower level team.

 

[Edo]

They did prove they were better. When a minnow beats a top level team 1-0 after spending the game in their own half (and scoring from a fluke goal), the top level team is still better.
Yesterday's game had the same feeling. You felt PSG was playing a lower level team.

I don't think anybody doubts that PSG is a top team. PSG are the deepest team in the world IMO. Even deeper than Bayern Munich. Only real issue is that they are reliant on a 34 year old Ibrahimovic to win. They won't win the CL with Cavani leading the attack. That's pretty clear.

 

[cgf]

I don't think anybody doubts that PSG is a top team. PSG are the deepest team in the world IMO. Even deeper than Bayern Munich. Only real issue is that they are reliant on a 34 year old Ibrahimovic to win. They won't win the CL with Cavani leading the attack. That's pretty clear.

Que?

 

[maclean]

Did everybody see that Cavani miss?

Which one...

 

[Evilo]

BTW, I didn't see a word here on David Luiz's game yesterday...
Dominant yet again, even playing injured.

Savant asked me about Rabiot, I suggest he sees a replay of this game. He came on after Verratti's injury and was class, hitting the post, working hard defensively and still impressing with his passing ability.
Aurier was dominant, as usual.
Maxwell had another strong game. He gets better every year, it's incredible.

OTOH, Lucas was once again useless when he came on.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

They did prove they were better. When a minnow beats a top level team 1-0 after spending the game in their own half (and scoring from a fluke goal), the top level team is still better.
Yesterday's game had the same feeling. You felt PSG was playing a lower level team.

They proved they were better than an incomplete RMCF team and still lost, cool beans.

 

[Evilo]

They proved they were better than an incomplete RMCF team and still lost, cool beans.

Yep.
Just like when a top level team loses to a small team in cup action. Even if they lose, they're still the better team.
It was the same thing yesterday. PSG easily dominated that Real team, ball just didn't go in. Three posts for, fluke goal against, **** happens.

 

[Jussi]

They did prove they were better. When a minnow beats a top level team 1-0 after spending the game in their own half (and scoring from a fluke goal), the top level team is still better.
Yesterday's game had the same feeling. You felt PSG was playing a lower level team.

If that were really true, they would have scored more goals.

 

[Cassano]

Yep.
Just like when a top level team loses to a small team in cup action. Even if they lose, they're still the better team.
It was the same thing yesterday. PSG easily dominated that Real team, ball just didn't go in. Three posts for, fluke goal against, **** happens.

Did you think Monaco were better than Arsenal last year.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Yep.
Just like when a top level team loses to a small team in cup action. Even if they lose, they're still the better team.
It was the same thing yesterday. PSG easily dominated that Real team, ball just didn't go in. Three posts for, fluke goal against, **** happens.

It was ONE game with MANY KEY Real players missing and you think it compares to a giant losing to a small club in cup action? There's being delusional and there's that.

Madrid (without key players), a giant in its own right, has taken 4 points out of PSG. Those are the facts. Now, if you wanna claim a moral victory, go right ahead

 

[Evilo]

If that were really true, they would have scored more goals.

Erh, no? Are you saying the best team always scores more goals than the weaker opponents????

Did you think Monaco were better than Arsenal last year.

In the first leg, easily. In the second leg, the opposite.

It was ONE game with MANY KEY Real players missing and you think it compares to a giant losing to a small club in cup action? There's being delusional and there's that.

Yes, and PSG missed MANY KEY PLAYERS too. Stop with the injuy excuse. Real was outplayed plain and simple. And BADLY outplayed to boot. At HOME.
And yes, Real looked like a division 3 team, parking the bus, scoring on a fluke goal and then defending at 11.

Madrid (without key players), a giant in its own right, has taken 4 points out of PSG. Those are the facts. Now, if you wanna claim a moral victory, go right ahead

No need for moral victory. As I said, it's just a proof that PSG is now a better team than Real. Heck, even your own spanish papers used the word "miracle" to explain yesterday's result.

But hey, as a Real fan, if you're happy with your team being humiliated on the pitch for 90 minutes at Bernabeu, be my guest.

 

[YNWA14]

So because PSG played one game well where RM invited pressure and still won? Ok. Why didn't PSG beat Real at home in the other leg if they are so much better?

Real is a better team than PSG, especially when healthy, and still beats them when not. Kind of hard to call a win a humiliation, but to each their own.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Never disputed that PSG outplayed Madrid during that one game. Doesn't prove that they are a better team though, that's just plain stupid to say that they proved anything.

We got the points and virtually locked down the first spot in the group. Sure, the way we did it was far from impressive, but we did it. Let's have this conversation again in March.

 

[Jussi]

Erh, no? Are you saying the best team always scores more goals than the weaker opponents????

Unfortunately there's no stylepoints awarded in football, so history will say only that Real were one goal better than PSG.

 

[Evilo]

So because PSG played one game well where RM invited pressure and still won? Ok. Why didn't PSG beat Real at home in the other leg if they are so much better?

Real is a better team than PSG, especially when healthy, and still beats them when not. Kind of hard to call a win a humiliation, but to each their own.

Real invited pressure?
Someone is once again commenting on something he didn't watch...

 

[CRSeven]

Real invited pressure?
Someone is once again commenting on something he didn't watch...

In the second half, yes, Rafa had them sitting back and trying to hit on the counter and PSG looked far less dangerous than they did in the first half.

 

[Evilo]

No, they didn't invite pressure. Anyone saying that didn't watch the game. They tried to keep the ball, but PSG kept on getting it back quicker. PSG's midfield was just steamrolling Real's.

 

[Cassano]

Koscielny, who had Lewandowski in his backpocket, is on the bench. Wenger throwing away this game pretty much.

 

[VEGASKING]

He is injured as well as Bellerin.


Arsenal Subs: Macey, Chambers, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide

Wow that is unbelievably bad.


Hazard on the bench for Chelsea.

 

[Jussi]

Koscielny, who had Lewandowski in his backpocket, is on the bench. Wenger throwing away this game pretty much.

There's a rumor he has a hip injury. Not sure how reliable.

 

[Jussi]

Hazard on the bench for Chelsea.

I hope there's a proper warning sign.








I'll get me coat.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Great start for Roma but Leverkusen's high line was torched by one pass and Salah's pace