Post Match Reaction - Round 2

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing
Napoli (442N)

[Steve@Chelsea]

PSV 2 - 3 Real Madrid

It's quite odd, but I ended up playing against PSV somewhat unexpectedly when I had in my mind I was playing FC Porto. Some old habbits, old associations came to mind, as I still connect PSV and Porto due to the very close snuggled up in bed together past connections involving Ed and Sam. Initially, I believed Kirby had managed Porto at some point, but I recently realized that he only temporarily took charge, while Tim Davey is currently leading the team. Meanwhile, Kirby is now in charge at the new PSV. Now that everything is clear, let's move on to the game against the team I hadn't prepared for.

It was a closely contested match, and we deserved the victory considering the difference in quality between the two teams. However, PSV put up a strong fight, managing to keep the score at 2-2 well into the second half. Nevertheless, Guimares, an acquisition from the auction, stepped up and scored the winning goal for us. To further aid our cause, PSV had a player sent off late in the game.

We now advance to the quarterfinals, and the upcoming draw promises to be interesting.

[Marshy@Atletico]

Bayern Munich 1 Atletico Madrid 2

gg JB

The tie of the round and live TV game saw two of the better EFL sides fight it out for a place in the quarter finals. The statistics showed what a close game we were expecting with Bayern edging the shot count 15-13. Bayern managed only 4/15 on target though and this gave the advantage to Atletico. An early goal from Sancho put them ahead and it looked like being a enough with Bayern wasting their opportunities. However Osimhen levelled on 81 minutes. marsh tinkered throwing bodies forward and Paqueta continued his fine start to his career with the winning goal.

marsh commented “we got what we expected , a tough battle and on the night we were the fortunate ones that had better finishing. Replay the game and we lose 5/10”

the club now awaits the quarter finals draw with no easy tie available. Perhaps 7 clubs will be hoping for Sevilla at home.

- Real Madrid
- Roma
- Barcelona
- juventus
- sporting lisbon
- Bayer Leverkusen
- sevilla
- Atletico madrid

[Derek]

Roma 3 1 Porto

With Porto flying high and an experienced title-winning manager at the helm. We didn't expect an easy ride here. A last-minute goal makes the match look more comfortable than it was.

As an OAP Tadic has a target on his back so he is enjoying his football while he can with a MotM performance.

We never do well in cups so I'm sure everyone will be hoping for Roma in the quarters.

We'd happily take Leverkusen.

gg Tim

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Outrageous

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Leverkusen 2-2 Lyon

A win on pens is never how you want to win it, nerve wracking until the end.

Two sides who played good football and created an exciting game for the fans, Leverkusen dominated though and deserved to go through with our attacking flair, but we lacked any crucial final finish.

In truth, a late goal saved us but it shouldn’t have been so. Unlucky Jason, horrible to lose on pens.

Final 8 look extremely strong, will happily take Roma

[Ian]

Villarreal 3-3 Juventus (Juventus win penalty shootout)

Marathon game between two teams of very differing abilities. Juve played very much on on the front foot which we expected so had to box carefully. After going two goals down within ten minutes I feared the worst but we got back into it and despite Juve having slightly the better of the game it really was nip and tuck right until the end. With extra time still unable to separate the two teams it came down to penalties and even that was a marathon affair as it took 15 spot kicks before the away side could snatch the win.

Game Andy

[Sanchez@Cardiff]

Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Valencia

Valencia were narrowly defeated by EFL side Sporting Lisbon in a closely contested match at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. The Portuguese side took the lead in the eighth minute through Maya Yoshida, and although Serge Gnabry equalised for Valencia in the 62nd minute, Philippe Coutinho scored the winner for Sporting in the 79th minute.

Valencia had the better of the chances in the second half, but they were unable to find a second goal. The home side were lucky not to be down to ten men on the 51^st minute after a headbutt on Serge Gnabry by David Alaba, an action which ultimately could have changed the outcome of the game.

Despite the defeat, Valencia can take some positives from the performance having played a clearly superior team. They created a number of good chances, and they will be hoping to build on this performance in their next match.

Man of the match: Maya Yoshida (Sporting Lisbon)

Key stats:

• Shots: 11 | 10
• Shots on target: 5 | 8
• Possession: 41% | 59%
• Corners: 1 | 3
• Fouls: 5 | 12
• Yellow cards: 1 | 1

What's next for Valencia?

Valencia will next play away to Ajax in the Conference League on Sunday. Sporting Lisbon will take on Red Bull Leipzig at home in their EFL clash.

[Tim@Leeds]

Roma 3 1 Porto

With Porto flying high and an experienced title-winning manager at the helm. We didn't expect an easy ride here. A last-minute goal makes the match look more comfortable than it was.

As an OAP Tadic has a target on his back so he is enjoying his football while he can with a MotM performance.

We never do well in cups so I'm sure everyone will be hoping for Roma in the quarters.

We'd happily take Leverkusen.

gg Tim

Played Del Boy.

good game that, I thought we put in a good shift. Could have gone and tried to make it difficult with a D or something but realistically we ain’t winning this comp at this stage so I was pretty happy to go with trying to get a few extra abs. Definitely a better showing than I expected but Roma deserved their win and we have no complaints.

gg

[Neil@Fiorentina]

PSV 2-3 Madrid

Well, we gave it a go, Countered the usual A from Madrid, given the strength difference in the sides, there wasn't a lot else we could have done, and but for the difference in finishing ability it could have been a surprise win, as we had 12 on target to their 9.
It did feel like catch up for most of the match though as they went into an early lead before we hit back, and led again before we came back at them. It was a shame we had the red card which no doubt helped them with the winner, nws, GG dude

[Livi@Liverpool]

Monaco 1 Barcelona 2

We always struggle going back to my old stomping ground and it wouldn't have surprised me in the slightest if we'd gone crashing out.

There was very little in the game - Monaco having quickly equalised our early goal - but lo and behold lady luck smiled on us on the hour mark when a Monaco player stuck the ball into his own net to gift us the win. Tough one to take for Johnboy I'm sure but a big relief to us and we're delighted to squeeze through.

Lot of quality sides in the last 8 but we're more than capable of beating - and losing to - every one of them!

[AB@Juventus]

Villarreal 3 - 3 Juventus

Bloody hell, we made hard work of this.
When I saw the draw, my eyes lit up as I remembered the 12-0 win last season, with all of those lovely abs. I knew this season would be different as they had a manager in place who would actually show up this time.

Considering the two squads, all out attack was the best option to me and so that's what happened, against Villarreal's obvious C tactic.
We were stung on penalties 2 seasons ago by a Werder Bremen team who played D the whole game so, with this in mind, A all the way.

We raced into a 2 goal lead with efforts from our strikers within the first 9 minutes and I felt we might go on to score 12 once again, but this is where things all fell apart for us.

2 goals in 3 minutes for the hosts brought them level and we were stunned!

We retook the lead before the break and looked to push on and restore the 2 or more goal advantage, however the Yellow Submarines refused to implode and within 10 minutes of the restart, were level again.

We couldn't find a way through in the remaining 35+ minutes of normal time, nor the further 30 minutes that followed and the game went to penalties.

The shootout swung back and forth until we eventually were victorious as we head into the last 8 along with another 7 top top teams at the top of the game.

Statistically it was a fairly even game, very disappointed in how we've performed here considering the gulf in class between the two teams....Despite an extra 30 minutes, the lads will be in early for training tomorrow ahead of the game against AS Roma.

Good game Ian, your lads probably deserved it more.