Champions League 24/25, Knockout phase play-offs

[Lorric]

At least he won an away game. He was at 0 points and 1:8 goals in the three CL away games before (the Schalke game against Shakthar excluded). So for him it's a revolutionary result

Next round it's Atletico or .... Leverkusen! And we are two days away from the Bundesliga clash between them.

I didn't see the game, but I'd happily take the win if I was you. This broke a 33 game home undefeated streak in all competitions for Celtic, Celtic's home advantage is well known, but they've been very strong compared to their norm in Europe this year, as well as flying domestically.

I read on Bayern Reddit this is only the second time this season their opposition have had a better XG than them.

Yeah I'm glad and I take it of course. Fantastic week so far for the Bundesliga. Heidenheim might lose in Copenhagen, but lets see. Bayern and BVB probably in R16 which should have been the case before - until they decided to mess it up on MD7 against doable opponents. However, normally it should not be a question if Bayern can win at Celtic. And if we are honest Celtic's home games in the CL were 'only' against Slovan, Bern, Brügge and the worst Leipzig in a decade. They lost 1-7 in Dortmund. I think Bayern should be able to show a better game there, but again, as long as you win away it's okay. If they really want to be in their home final they have to improve of course.

They changed things after the beating from Dortmund, so I wouldn't read too much into that. Bayern have been battering teams this season so may well do it to Celtic in the second leg. Bayern should be favourites to and did beat Celtic away, but it's not an easy thing to do, it's something to be pleased with rather than expect. I suppose it's up to you to judge whether you think Celtic were a difficult opponent or Bayern had a bad day. Maybe it's both. I don't remember what it was exactly, something like 0.7 or 0.8 something XG for Bayern, so that must please you with all the times you post about German teams underperforming XG. I think Celtic was something like 1.2 or 1.3 something, so they just got the 1 they're "supposed" to.

[rpo.castro]

It reduces the likelihood of the final being between two clubs from the same association.

I don't like clubs from same country meeting each other in European cup, because it doesn'tfeel like an european match. That should be avoided as long as possible and its what UEFA did in past.

It's nearly impossible to avoid clashes between teams from the same association. The question is: do you prefer if these matches happen in the early stages or in the latter stages?

This question doesn't make sense now because its all in the past.

But as I said I agree with previous rule: avoid as much same association clashes.
Do I prefer Real-Atletico in the final or in the L16? In the final. A final is always a final. A real madrid Atletico in L16 or QF is just a La Liga match

[mavano]

I don't like clubs from same country meeting each other in European cup, because it doesn'tfeel like an european match. That should be avoided as long as possible and its what UEFA did in past.

It's nearly impossible to avoid clashes between teams from the same association. The question is: do you prefer if these matches happen in the early stages or in the latter stages?

This question doesn't make sense now because its all in the past.

But as I said I agree with previous rule: avoid as much same association clashes.
Do I prefer Real-Atletico in the final or in the L16? In the final. A final is always a final. A real madrid Atletico in L16 or QF is just a La Liga match

If it's in the R16 I can choose to ignore it and watch 1 of the other 3 games being played...

[Ricardo]

It's nearly impossible to avoid clashes between teams from the same association. The question is: do you prefer if these matches happen in the early stages or in the latter stages?

This question doesn't make sense now because its all in the past.

But as I said I agree with previous rule: avoid as much same association clashes.
Do I prefer Real-Atletico in the final or in the L16? In the final. A final is always a final. A real madrid Atletico in L16 or QF is just a La Liga match

If it's in the R16 I can choose to ignore it and watch 1 of the other 3 games being played...

The worst thing to happen is a one-country-final. That should most of all be avoided. Next are lower round country-clashes.
For the teams involved it’s bad, for others, neutrals, it’s something not nice, but can be ignored or so.
Best way to avoid it is less teams of one 1 country in the tournament.

[rpo.castro]

This question doesn't make sense now because its all in the past.

But as I said I agree with previous rule: avoid as much same association clashes.
Do I prefer Real-Atletico in the final or in the L16? In the final. A final is always a final. A real madrid Atletico in L16 or QF is just a La Liga match

If it's in the R16 I can choose to ignore it and watch 1 of the other 3 games being played...

The worst thing to happen is a one-country-final. That should most of all be avoided. Next are lower round country-clashes.
For the teams involved it’s bad, for others, neutrals, it’s something not nice, but can be ignored or so.
Best way to avoid it is less teams of one 1 country in the tournament.

Man. City-Chelsea or Real Atlético finals aren't worse than Brugge-Atalanta. And Atalanta isn't a small country club.

[Ricardo]

To me they are

[ralfinho]

I suppose it's up to you to judge whether you think Celtic were a difficult opponent or Bayern had a bad day.

Bayern definitely hadn't a bad day. In contrary, their performance for the first 80 minutes was very composed - remember the Feyenoord match and (to a lower extent) the Villa match. We all know about the strength of Celtic at home.
Before the match I'd have taken a 2-1 win immediately. During parts of the second half Bayern was closer to a third goal than Celtic to their first. In the end Bayern had to be glad not to concede a second goal. This is the concern - again and again and again - the loss of control after conceding. Happened in the Bundesliga, too.

[BurningStorm]

I didn't see the game, but I'd happily take the win if I was you. This broke a 33 game home undefeated streak in all competitions for Celtic, Celtic's home advantage is well known, but they've been very strong compared to their norm in Europe this year, as well as flying domestically.

I read on Bayern Reddit this is only the second time this season their opposition have had a better XG than them.

Yeah I'm glad and I take it of course. Fantastic week so far for the Bundesliga. Heidenheim might lose in Copenhagen, but lets see. Bayern and BVB probably in R16 which should have been the case before - until they decided to mess it up on MD7 against doable opponents. However, normally it should not be a question if Bayern can win at Celtic. And if we are honest Celtic's home games in the CL were 'only' against Slovan, Bern, Brügge and the worst Leipzig in a decade. They lost 1-7 in Dortmund. I think Bayern should be able to show a better game there, but again, as long as you win away it's okay. If they really want to be in their home final they have to improve of course.

They changed things after the beating from Dortmund, so I wouldn't read too much into that. Bayern have been battering teams this season so may well do it to Celtic in the second leg. Bayern should be favourites to and did beat Celtic away, but it's not an easy thing to do, it's something to be pleased with rather than expect. I suppose it's up to you to judge whether you think Celtic were a difficult opponent or Bayern had a bad day. Maybe it's both. I don't remember what it was exactly, something like 0.7 or 0.8 something XG for Bayern, so that must please you with all the times you post about German teams underperforming XG. I think Celtic was something like 1.2 or 1.3 something, so they just got the 1 they're "supposed" to.

At HT it looked like this:



So Bayern relaxed a bit too much because of the lead and Celtic had no other choice but to attack. With a 0-0 at HT I doubt that Celtic's xG would have been higher. I think this is not how Bayern should act, with Nagelsmann and Flick they were looking for a 3rd and 4th goal, even away. On the other hand it's good that the other main problem under Kompany - the high defense line - was not a problem this time. So like I said, I'm quite okay with the win (I even got the full 3 points for this in Lyonnais' game) but they have to improve if they really want to have a chance for the final in their stadium.

[Lorric]

Yeah I'm glad and I take it of course. Fantastic week so far for the Bundesliga. Heidenheim might lose in Copenhagen, but lets see. Bayern and BVB probably in R16 which should have been the case before - until they decided to mess it up on MD7 against doable opponents. However, normally it should not be a question if Bayern can win at Celtic. And if we are honest Celtic's home games in the CL were 'only' against Slovan, Bern, Brügge and the worst Leipzig in a decade. They lost 1-7 in Dortmund. I think Bayern should be able to show a better game there, but again, as long as you win away it's okay. If they really want to be in their home final they have to improve of course.

They changed things after the beating from Dortmund, so I wouldn't read too much into that. Bayern have been battering teams this season so may well do it to Celtic in the second leg. Bayern should be favourites to and did beat Celtic away, but it's not an easy thing to do, it's something to be pleased with rather than expect. I suppose it's up to you to judge whether you think Celtic were a difficult opponent or Bayern had a bad day. Maybe it's both. I don't remember what it was exactly, something like 0.7 or 0.8 something XG for Bayern, so that must please you with all the times you post about German teams underperforming XG. I think Celtic was something like 1.2 or 1.3 something, so they just got the 1 they're "supposed" to.

At HT it looked like this:



So Bayern relaxed a bit too much because of the lead and Celtic had no other choice but to attack. With a 0-0 at HT I doubt that Celtic's xG would have been higher. I think this is not how Bayern should act, with Nagelsmann and Flick they were looking for a 3rd and 4th goal, even away. On the other hand it's good that the other main problem under Kompany - the high defense line - was not a problem this time. So like I said, I'm quite okay with the win (I even got the full 3 points for this in Lyonnais' game) but they have to improve if they really want to have a chance for the final in their stadium.

If it was anyone else, it would seem like unwarranted criticism with the amount of teams Bayern have put to the sword this season, but Bayern have for many years been THE team for ruthlessly and relentlessly beating on teams and I've seen this criticism come up plenty on the Bayern Reddit too. Perhaps the added fixtures mean even Bayern have to take their foot off the gas sometimes. Leverkusen away in this example is an obvious incentive for Bayern to have wanted to take their foot off the gas here.

[Dragonite]

Joao Felix, already playing for his 5th club in the Champions League, had only 5 goals in his previous 5 UCL seasons, so nobody would be too surprised that he did not score even though he looked the most active with a few shots on target.

He's worthless, but to be fair, he scored 10 goals, not 5...

3 for Atlético in 2019/2020
3 for Atlético in 2020/2021
1 for Atlético in 2021/2022
3 for Barcelona in 2023/2024

[amenina]

Joao Felix, already playing for his 5th club in the Champions League, had only 5 goals in his previous 5 UCL seasons, so nobody would be too surprised that he did not score even though he looked the most active with a few shots on target.

He's worthless, but to be fair, he scored 10 goals, not 5...

3 for Atlético in 2019/2020
3 for Atlético in 2020/2021
1 for Atlético in 2021/2022
3 for Barcelona in 2023/2024

Thanks for the correction.

[amenina]

[Greyn]

Feyenoord (who look like Panathinaikos today) parked the bus. Milan trying from positional attack.

[Ricardo]

After 30 seconds it was already 1-0 and all square.
Milan attacking not yet really big chances
Feyenoord not having dangerous counters
Waiting for the 2-0 rather than the 1-1.
HT sofar Feyenoord has managed….

[Dniprovec]

Unironically bravo, referee! Want to see more yellows like that, please.