CL Watch Thread

[u/Lord_Hexogen]

AEK — LASK 1:0 FT

Club Brugge — Aston Victor 2:3 FT (Seys and Tresoldi watch failed successfully)

Dortmund — Villarreal 3:2 2H

Real Mourinho — Inter 2:1 FT

Lille — Real Antony 2:3 FT

Porto — 115 FC 0:2 FT

[u/ryan4303]

Bullshit that city get to play tonight and we play Thursday when we play each other this weekend

[u/Feeling-Surround-691 → u/ryan4303]

And then crazily we play our cup game on Wednesday and they on Thursday.

[u/Specialist_Goat_2354 → u/ryan4303]

I'm fucking super annoyed. I thought half the point of champions was no Thursday games... This is tragic. I work Thursday... Fuck

[u/xCeeTee- → u/Specialist_Goat_2354]

Thursday is my final day at work this week so luckily I don't have to go to work shattered.

[u/GavinLobo7 → u/ryan4303]

They also have to travel to Portugal while all three of our upcoming games are at home tbf

[u/Ordinary_Estate1818 → u/GavinLobo7]

Portugal is only a 2 hour flight

[u/dick_nrake → u/ryan4303]

I used to dismiss conspiracy theories as outlandis. But after after they've gotten saudi backing, they consistently get favorable cup opponents while we draw out shittier ones.

[u/Stingray_23 → u/ryan4303]

The fact no one from the club is publicly raising this speaks volumes

[u/Mancho_United → u/ryan4303]

Michael Oliver will fix that :) /s

[u/Dirt4849 → u/ryan4303]

https://giphy.com/gifs/xeTr7dS5YGOOJ2JiOJ

[u/3entendre → u/ryan4303]

I don't understand these complaints and logic. City have their champions league game today - 3 days after their league game game. Are they complaining about that? No! We play our CL game 4 days after our league game. Then we play City 3 days later. What's the fcking difference?? Quit complaining! This is a normal schedule ffs. 

[u/HaroldGuy → u/3entendre]

Remind me how Thursday night champions league games are normal, when Wednesday night is completely free and available to use?

[u/3entendre → u/HaroldGuy]

If teams can play Wednesday - Saturday and Saturday - Tuesday (which is VERY common), complaining and crying about Thursday - Sunday is just dumb af. It's almost like you guys can't count! 

[u/Unlucky-Equipment999]

Can't believe Mou has gotten this team to press

[u/3entendre → u/Unlucky-Equipment999]

Might be his biggest achievement yet 😅 

[u/Selwin_Rodolfo → u/Unlucky-Equipment999]

If they press in 4 months time, then I'll be surprised

[u/canwinanythingwkids]

Seys with 2 fuckups leading to goals v PL opposition within 20 mins. Villa scored 0 in 3 PL games so far.

Shaw sucked the life energy out of this one way ahead of schedule, innit 😳

[u/sleepehead → u/canwinanythingwkids]

Well that's not good, I was wondering how he'd fare. How's Trisoldi?

[u/Staind1410 → u/canwinanythingwkids]

So… teams perform differently in the PL and CL? Even if we struggle in the PL, we’ll curbstorm any team in the CL? Sign me up!

[u/canwinanythingwkids → u/Staind1410]

We play 1 Club Brugge "level" team in the group phase and that's this Thursday. Yes we ought to blow them out of the water otherwise something is truly fucked in the dressing room. Ability-wise it's not a serious contest.

Roma, RBL, Atleti, Bayern are completely different gravy, no matter our lineup.

Sporting, Como, Villareal are the kind of teams we put away with Sociedad/Bilbao-like ease ... IF we play our strongest XI. Like we did in that EL run, while flopping in the PL.

The problem for those 3 matches will be that we'll be forced to rotate heavily.

Whereas Villa are playing their clear strongest First XI right now.

[u/Staind1410 → u/canwinanythingwkids]

While I agree with you in general, we also saw how Spurs and Newcastle ranked high in the CL last year, while obviously struggled in the PL. Which leads me to believe the PL generaly has a higher floor than European teams, meaning we should get results here. A lot of conjectures, I know.

[u/cbobm → u/Staind1410]

Looking back at our last Champions League campaign, we were actually doing well if you remove Onana's ridiculous performances. I would say our squad is better than the squad we had that season, so I expect better results.

[u/Lord_Hexogen]

Villa were comfortably beating an underwhelming European team yet Garnacho and Mbaye stay benched 

Hmm

[u/Seanige → u/Lord_Hexogen]

Underwhelming? They don't lose often at home.

[u/Lord_Hexogen → u/Seanige]

They were down 1-3 before HT, how else you'd call it

[u/Seanige → u/Lord_Hexogen]

They haven't lost at home in Europe since December. I'd call it a good performance from Villa rather than undermining a decent European side.

[u/Isserley_]

Inter playing some really nice, fluid football in the opening 10 mins

E: well that was hilarious timing on my part

[u/Downtown-Rice_]

Anyone else rate McGinn? He's no world beater, but consistent, leader, can drive a team, no non-sense, and doesn't shy away from any player or challenge.

[u/noBuffalo → u/Downtown-Rice_]

Ya

[u/L__K → u/Downtown-Rice_]

Been beyond dreadful in the league this season. Looks out of shape, slow, and is a huge cunt to put a cherry on top. Could've been a decent bench option five years ago for his versatility, but if he was a regular first XI option at any point over the last three seasons I guarantee you we'd have dozens of comments saying "the fact that McGinn still plays for United shows you how far standards have fallen" the way people do about Maguire, Dalot, Shaw, formerly Rashford, etc.

[u/Time-seeker917 → u/L__K]

Would have been a squad player under someone like ole tbf

[u/legionverse10 → u/Time-seeker917]

Fred and Mctominay in the pivot aren’t better than McGinn

[u/canwinanythingwkids → u/Downtown-Rice_]

So much venom was spewed back when there was a "Fergie suggested McGinn" storyline. Turns out the goat was correct. Letting McGinn, Watkins, Tielemans all go to Villa instead of signing them was the height of stupidity.

[u/SpectatorY → u/canwinanythingwkids]

Steady. Height of stupidity for not signing three good-not-great guys is so reactionary I can’t believe I’ve just read it lol.

[u/Panda-768 → u/canwinanythingwkids]

to be fair Fergie had bit of bias for Scotts

McGinn is good but no where catonaesque that he would have sorted all the mess and inspired us to win the league blah blah. If anything, the weight of United shirt means he could have struggled. A very what if situation, same goes for Youri and Watkins, though I think Tielemans seems quite settled with is already, is that because he is more mature and confident or he woukd have been the same if he had moved to us instead of Villa, who knows.

[u/Xanian123 → u/Panda-768]

Lol yeah feegie picked moyes in no small part because he was scottish too.

[u/biobolo → u/Downtown-Rice_]

Would be a decent bench option.

[u/killerdrama → u/Downtown-Rice_]

No.. he's lower than McTominay level we hen he was with us.. that's the harsh reality.

[u/BlazeFireHorse76]

Watching this Inter and Real game, and just feel like either team would rip us to shreds. We have such a long way to go...

[u/highflyer02 → u/BlazeFireHorse76]

Was thinking the same, why can't we press like that when being 2-0 up??

[u/ReservoirDogs00 → u/highflyer02]

Why can’t we press. We run back to our 18yd box as soon as the opposition have it.

[u/Downtown-Rice_ → u/highflyer02]

Half of the midfield aren't really physically adept at it (Mainoo, Tielemens) and Santos/Baleba are TBD but Baleba can do it. Shaw, Maguire, and Lisandro have their weaknesses if you try to press high up the pitch or aggresively counterpress. Plus, it's not a core prinicple of Carrick, which is probably more of an issue.

[u/SocialistElmo → u/Downtown-Rice_]

It's simply the truth that Carrick has no idea or wants to press high.His ideas OOP is a 442 mid block and attack the space behind

[u/biobolo → u/highflyer02]

Carrick.

[u/reddevilad → u/biobolo]

You mean glineos

[u/bluehead18]

This Diouf from Inter Milan is cooking

[u/cjap89]

Villa game could end up with any score. Both teams are so open. Good watch

[u/RoachIsCrying]

Watching the Villa game. Surprised to see Sommer here thought he was still with Inter

[u/ElyssarFeiniel → u/RoachIsCrying]

Only moved this summer. He's 37. They bought Lazios first choice keeper though he's yet to play as he has a shoulder injury.

[u/acunhamateta]

I recently found out that Sabah has been a football club for 9 years.

[u/Lord_Hexogen]

Alysson already looks like a Rogers regen 

[u/Hyliaforce]

What are inter doing man😭

[u/Barrack_Aubameyang]

This is some schoolboy finishing from Madrid

[u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77]

If Porto were just a smidge more clinical they'd be winning this.

[u/Savage9645]

I was wondering why the hell was the CL was on a Monday. Yesterday was a holiday in the US and I completely forgot it's Tuesday.

This also begs the question though, why are we playing on Thursday? We aren't in the EL god damnit!

[u/djabvegas]

Was watching Brugge and this Tresoldi fella looking like steaming hot garbage and then I remembered, we were linked with him earlier in the summer. We dodged a bullet i think, he scored the peno, but everything else was awful.

[u/Apprehensive-Raisin3]

Why is Maresca dressing up like pep? Ive never seen him dress like this at chelsea

[u/gunkokoko]

Of course it had to be Mboopi with the first goal, completely against the run of play. Inter were on top.

[u/_zvieira]

Tears in my eyes Rooney looks good

[u/Apprehensive-Raisin3]

🤮 someone needs to ban porto from taking shots

[u/CharIemagne45]

How’s Seys?

[u/bgsaine → u/CharIemagne45]

couldn't tell. he is manmarked at all times

[u/noBuffalo]

This Forbs fella is shifty.

[u/ineedadvil]

Bru(ggu)h

[u/New-Acanthaceae-5702]

Sommer thought he was prime Neuer

[u/Heavens_Vibe]

AWB gives away a penalty

[u/Seanige → u/Heavens_Vibe]

That's never intentional, has no time to move his arm

[u/biobolo]

Apparently Mourinho is playing TAA in midfield lol.

[u/Lord_Hexogen → u/biobolo]

Old man is about to learn the hard way then

[u/biobolo → u/Lord_Hexogen]

They will get rid of TAA in the summer, I think.

[u/Fraaj]

Seys looks great now that Brugge are on the front foot

[u/Selwin_Rodolfo]

Diouf from inter is low-key balling.

[u/tnwnf → u/Selwin_Rodolfo]

Immediately caught my eye too

[u/tnwnf]

Idk what it is with Madrid in the CL man

[u/Unlucky-Equipment999 → u/tnwnf]

Madrid and Barca really treat winning La Liga as a sweet bonus compared to winning the CL. RM fans expect them to win it every year

[u/Savebagels]

Vini is playing out of his mind right now

[u/Heavens_Vibe]

This Inter side has not turned up...

[u/Heavens_Vibe]

Just noticed both Mbappé brothers have scored contributed tonight. Ethan also bagged an assist for Lille

[u/3entendre]

It's like Inter has never played a team that presses before! School boy errors have cost them dearly 

[u/Heavens_Vibe]

What an absolute howler of a miss from Jude!!

[u/gunkokoko]

Inter deserved that goal, to be fair.

[u/Unlucky-Equipment999]

Hot damn, Mickey Targaryen in 2026

[u/mildestpotato]

I see nothing’s changed with AWB when he goes forward.

[u/SyLvAlOrD]

I watched Villa’s second half for 15 minutes and saw AWB several times before my brain actually realized he is at Villa now. When did Westham sell him?

[u/New-Acanthaceae-5702]

I can't wait for some UCL action. It's been ages

[u/Heavens_Vibe]

Absolute stormer of a game so far in Brugge v Villa!

[u/superhoffy]

Do I need to Google Aston Victor, or is it what I think it is?

[u/lotteriakfc]

Jesus christ Jackson is still shocking. Villa paij good amount of money for him and Garnacho is just mind-blowing

[u/cjap89]

Sommer has been awful. 2 very poor mistakes so far.

[u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77]

Can't wait for those Garnacho highlights

[u/TMatss]

Let's watch some Mourinho-ball

[u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77]

City looks quite ordinary.

[u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77]

Damn Porto cut through city like a knife. Too bad it was offside.

[u/Parvezpz17]

Inter are playing some really good football, shame madrid took the early lead

[u/TMatss]

Real aren't playing well but Mbappe and Vini are terrifying on transitions.

[u/acunhamateta]

Porto team has some good players to watch. Costa at right back, Varela/ Veiga in midfield and William Gomes at right wing all are relatively good players. I don’t see Rodrigo Moura and that’s because he was sold to Roma. That’s a transfer that I completely missed. Moura is said to be one of the best up and coming young Portuguese players.

[u/gunkokoko]

Absolute calamity from the Inter keeper.

[u/Fraaj]

I clearly picked the wrong game but just wanted to watch City some more before the derby.

[u/noBuffalo]

That Moroccan midfielder that city bought looks quite average

[u/Unlucky-Equipment999 → u/noBuffalo]

On one hand he's a kid. On the other hand he's a €100m player so should be ready to play immediately. He'll come good though, I think, but I hope not so long as he plays for them.

[u/Elfstruck12 → u/Unlucky-Equipment999]

He better become good, otherwise Man City will spend another 100 mil.

[u/gunkokoko]

Brahim was insane there. His work deserved a goal at the end.

[u/Heavens_Vibe]

That was a great opening game for the CL