UCL Ro16 2021/22 | PSG vs Real Madrid

I agree completely with Thimmy’s last post.

Such knee jerk reactions here.

1. PSG did not dominate game, they had possession advantage by a large margin.

2. Messi and rest of dream team, bar Mbappe was average, no where close to outstanding as they have so often have been predicted here nor as viewed in the alternative world of Harmonica.

3. Difference was clearly Mbappe in his outstanding performance and even then, it took an absolute dazzling play in extra time to get that one goal difference.

4. Calling Madrid’s play and Ancelotti embarrassing is ridiculous. It has been stated many times here as well as other places that this Madrid team is not capable of going further in this CL. It also has been overly stated that Madrid does not have scoring capabilities. Ancelotti knew all of this and played the only strategy that could possibility work and he played his best possibly lineup. And it almost worked! A important point that isn’t mention at all!

5. It is not an automatic assumption that this tie is over with just a one goal difference and game at Bernabeu.

6. Madrid has gone into this season trying for best they can with current lineup and it sure looks like they are solid favorites to win liga and are still in CL. That’s as well as one could have been expected. Meanwhile Flo has put together a financial war chest as well as freeing up a large portion of current salary load to improve the lineup for next season. Mbappe is confirmed, and the money is there for Haaland, plus there are more funds for other needs. So to put this perspective, imagine yesterday’s game with Mbappe on opposite team! and yeah I know Harmonica’s alternative view won’t be able to visualize that.

Mbappe was nowhere close to as great as some are making it out to be here yes, he will always look lively because of his energy and speed which makes him PSG's best outlet and arguably best player since Messi has declined, but if that goal doesn't go in, i swear no one is saying he was great in that match

i agree with @Mamad, PSG are quite beatable and if Carlo gets his tactics right in the return leg they could pull off the win.

Messi against Refdrid
- Carried the ball over 400m, 100m more than anyone else
- Completed 5 dribbles, more than anyone else
- Made 45 passes in the final third, more than anyone else
- Created 0.61xG through key passes, 3x more than any other player
- Created 4 chances, 2x the whole Madrid team

futbol_bill wrote:4. Calling Madrid’s play and Ancelotti embarrasing...

....is accurate. 0 shots on target, 2 off target and could barely even get out of their own half to form any kind of counter. You're lucky to have lost only by one goal margin

Harmonica wrote:Messi against Refdrid
- Carried the ball over 400m, 100m more than anyone else
- Completed 5 dribbles, more than anyone else
- Made 45 passes in the final third, more than anyone else
- Created 0.61xG through key passes, 3x more than any other player
- Created 4 chances, 2x the whole Madrid team

Messi is completely finished and was absolute dogshit against Madrid, then missed the penalty too. He doesn't seem to be actually physically able to run anymore. He's a like a spanner in the works of his team. And the move to PSG seems to have obliterated his spirit too.

It's a sad sight to see, however it's hilarious to see how you're trying to tie Messi to the coattails of Mbappé and Verratti, who were the ones running the show

I barely noticed Missi. I can't wait till the more snobby savants of such sights will criticise me on that but fact is beyond his flashes of brilliance he is producing a grand sum of fuck all in Paris. Neymar, Mbappe, Verratti etc are the ones running the show.

He isnt actively bad as he does contribute decently to the play but the context is always based on what you expect from his caliber even if he is washed up, tubby and 35.

Hapless_Hans wrote:

Harmonica wrote:Messi against Refdrid
- Carried the ball over 400m, 100m more than anyone else
- Completed 5 dribbles, more than anyone else
- Made 45 passes in the final third, more than anyone else
- Created 0.61xG through key passes, 3x more than any other player
- Created 4 chances, 2x the whole Madrid team

Messi is completely finished and was absolute dogshit against Madrid, then missed the penalty too. He doesn't seem to be actually physically able to run anymore. He's a like a spanner in the works of his team. And the move to PSG seems to have obliterated his spirit too.

It's a sad sight to see, however it's hilarious to see how you're trying to tie Messi to the coattails of Mbappé and Verratti, who were the ones running the show

Try reading it again.

GL football is basically just a bunch of hyperbolic arguments that side either way on Messi these days

El Gunner wrote:GL football is basically just a bunch of hyperbolic arguments that side either way on Messi these days

Schrodinger's Messi.

Either dead or sublime, based on the eyes of the observer.

El Gunner wrote:GL football is basically just a bunch of hyperbolic arguments that side either way on Messi these days

Apologies that noone gives a fuck about Arsenal as long as Arteta is allowed to be "the solution"

i get to choose your next avatar if he gets us top 4

El Gunner wrote:i get to choose your next avatar if he gets us top 4

Bet taken

and vice versa

I think Ancelotti's work at Madrid this season has been very very bad. he has mistaken Real Madrid for Everton. seriously. and his player management? pathetic.

we have 3 veterans in midfield and attack who have a combined age of 102 years old. Kroos, Modric and Benzema.

so what carlo does to manage them? plays Kroos in 27 games of the last 27 games ( one as sub ), plays 36 year old Modric in 80% of all possible minutes, and plays Benzema in 92% of possible minutes.

that aside, his lack of confidence in the bench players is also a huge question mark. against Bilbao in copa del rey, our brazillian players ( Vini and Rodrygo ) arrived from brazil just few hours before the game. they literally played a football match 24 hours before. so what carlo does? starts them against Bilbao .

We losing that game and playing like sh*t aside, what do you think goes through bench players minds? what do you think Hazard is going to do when he sees there is absolutely zero confidence from the coach?

not only tactics, Carlo's player management also has cost us big. he is just another Mourinho. glory in the past, pathetic in present.

If it wasn't for Thibu, we could have lost 3-0 or 4-0 against a one man team in PSG who i genuinely think are not elite level. yet some people come here and praise our defensive performance. how much we have sunk.

You're unintentionally trying to find excuses for the loss, Mamad.

It really doesn't matter whether the loss was due to Carlo being tactically outclassed or our players not being good enough. A loss is a loss. We played 11 against 11 and PSG came on top, and deservedly so.

I don't think anybody here thinks PSG are unbeatable or devastatingly good. In fact, based on their recent performances including the one against Madrid, any elite team should be able to smoke them.

But that's something for PSG fans to worry about. I worry about Madrid not being even good enough to beat a fairly beatable opponent and playing for the draw when they should have gone for the kill.

The good news is, we are still not out of the tie as 1-goal leads mean jack shit. So let's wait and see. If we win, great. If we lose, it's okay.

The most important thing is to not wrap up the season without any major trophies. I will excuse the team for not winning the CL, especially with the squad we have, but I will never forgive them if they lose the leaguge. That one is inexcusable, especially with the current dreadful state La Liga is in right now. In fact, they should've won the last two already.

So Casemiro is out and according to news Kroos is injured and out too. lets see if it actually helps us or not.

Casemiro should be a big miss. Now seeing Mbappe injured by Gueye in training, not sure if he will make it? No Mbappe would be a big worry...

Casemiro missing is bad bad news unless Im out of date to the latest RM to which I admit I am.

But Carlo coming off a 1-0 deficit is not good news as games like these is truly where you need the CR7 X-factor and only so much can proven goalscorers like Benzema do in such games.


Hoping they go through and will be smiling if they do make it.

Fat chance though.

Messi, Neymar, and Verratti combining is amazing.

Such an unlikeable club but its hard to not to enjoy watching them.

Saved by the flag. Madrid is non-existent in this match.

Too easy a game for PSG. Just hit on the counter with Mbappe's uncontainable pace.

Glad no away rules this game, otherwise it would already have been game, set and match.

Madrid really is a team of pensioners

Even then, they would have been able to do more if they had someone better than Asensio.

Militão is a dirty player. Thoroughly enjoy it every time he gets owned.

That goal was hilarious but shouldn't that be a foul on Donnarumma?

Even if it is, where/who the heck is he shooting it to