2023-24 UEFA Champions League Discussion Thread

[magik9113]

• Porto vs. Arsenal
• Napoli vs. Barcelona
• PSG vs. Real Sociedad
• Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
• PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund
• Lazio vs. Bayern Munich
• FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
• RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid

[El Turco]

too many one sided matchups

[MetalFingaz]

too many one sided matchups

Only 3 feel especially one-sided, counting Leipzig (who aren't a bad team).

[El Turco]

too many one sided matchups

Only 3 feel especially one-sided, counting Leipzig (who aren't a bad team).

outside of Atletico-Inter and maybe Napoli-Barca they dont seem close to me

[magik9113]

too many one sided matchups

Only 3 feel especially one-sided, counting Leipzig (who aren't a bad team).

outside of Atletico-Inter and maybe Napoli-Barca they dont seem close to me

agreed

[MetalFingaz]

Sociedad isn't that much better than PSG.

[-Luke-]

too many one sided matchups

Only 3 feel especially one-sided, counting Leipzig (who aren't a bad team).

outside of Atletico-Inter and maybe Napoli-Barca they dont seem close to me

I could definitely see PSV beating Dortmund. Dortmund is a bit meh this season. They aren't a huge favorite in this matchup to me.

[magik9113]

Dortmund did well to finish on top of the toughest group this season.

I've got:
Porto vs. Arsenal
Napoli vs. Barcelona
PSG vs. Real Sociedad
Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund
Lazio vs. Bayern Munich
FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid

[SgtPepper]

I think Inter will lose and Napoli could beat Barcelona but agree with the rest. Real's starting centerbacks are both out for the season with ACL ruptures, so unless they buy a new high quality centerback to fix the rotation in the winter window I could see Leipzig beat them too.

R16's in general are filled with pretenders, and that's why I generally only consistently watch the r8's to semis in the CL. Even the final often includes a pretender who made it through luck of the draw 2 phases ago.

[Hellcrooner]

• Porto40% vs. Arsenal60%
• Napoli 40%vs. Barcelona60%
• PSG75% vs. Real Sociedad25%
• Inter Milan 40%vs. Atletico Madrid60%
• PSV 30% vs. Borussia Dortmund 70%
• Lazio 10%vs. Bayern Munich90%
• FC Copenhagen1% vs. Manchester City99%
• RB Leipzig0,0000000001 vs. Real Madrid +refs +var+ceferin`+florentino+ franco 99.9999999999999999

-

[MetalFingaz]

Porto vs. Arsenal
Napoli vs. Barcelona
PSG vs. Real Sociedad
Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund
Lazio vs. Bayern Munich
FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid

Let's goooo.

[MaliBrah]

UCL back this week anyone feel different about their predictions?

Porto vs. Arsenal
Napoli vs. Barcelona
PSG vs. Real Sociedad
Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund
Lazio vs. Bayern Munich
FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid

[MetalFingaz]

Leipzig had chances.

[SgtPepper]

^^I think Barca and Atleti are underdogs to their Italian opponents.

[magik9113]

My money is on Inter advancing. I think they have to be in the running for best team in Europe. They are the most complete team along with Real and City, although of course they lack the superstardom of those two squads.
Still, anything can happen in the champions league against a tough opponent (as Lazio demonstrated last week -- although I'm sure Bayern handles business in Germany)

Napoli, on the other hand, have been poor ... 9th place in Serie A and reportedly they are going to have their 3rd coach of the season take over for the game vs Barcelona. They will need Osimhen to return to last season's form if they are to have a chance.

[SgtPepper]

Lazio demonstrated Bayern are a mess, and nothing more. Napoli isn't great but Barca has been playing down below that level since the break.They just shipped 3 goals to draw against 19th place Granada. I wouldn't be surprised if they drop out of the CL spots in la liga. If Xavi gifts them an outfield with both Roberto and Felix I think Napoli are comfortable favorites.

Atleti are just a bit worse than usual, and got beat by Sevilla 2 games ago and also lost the 1st leg of the CdR to Athletic.

[MetalFingaz]

Atleti are a decent team (I've actually enjoyed watching them this year, there's talent in that squad), but Inter are very good. I don't see why Inter can't get back to the final. Somewhat disappointing that Morata is hurt, but I don't think that will make a difference. Inter's midfield should dominate.

I'd like to see Napoli advance, but I don't think they will. If we lived in a just world, both Napoli and Barca would be knocked out by now.

[SgtPepper]

True, Atleti are decent. That's a big decline from making 2 UCL finals, winning la liga 3 seasons ago, or smashing city in the ko's 3 seasons ago.

It's not about a just world; the UCL is structured to reward uncompetitive teams till the ko stages. That's why i don't watch any of it till the qf's. Most of the matches are more like City-Copenhagen than Inter-Atleti.

[magik9113]

Inter played a good game yesterday despite solid defense from Atletico. Barella and Lautaro were great as usual.

Looks like Dortmund got unlucky with a PK decision against them

[SgtPepper]

Yeah but Inter should have killed the game off. Atleti are looking the thinnest now since I became a football fan; they are feeling the consequences of paying 120M on Felix now. Was fun to see a guy I totally forgot wasn't retired, Alexis, troll Simeone. With guys like Carrasco in KSA the only trickery Simeone could pull was to move their wingback to wide forward. Atleti will be home next game and it's the smallest advantage. I haven't seen Atleti turn over a deficit in a while so I think Inter will advance but honestly Inter's frontline underwhelmed me given how much they dominated in defense and midfield.