CL: Milan - Barca 2-3

[dalitis8]

Have you even been watching EPL teams this season?

Past performances don't count for nothing, based on their current level I would be more worried about teams like Bayern Munich.

Maybe Chelsea are weaker than previous years. Maybe Arsenal as well.

But United and City are very strong.

If we judge by the first couple months of this season, then Barca have not been that impressive either. Does that mean that we are not as good as in previous years? No, it just means that we are saving our best for when the iron is hot...

[Myrmecophile]

We'll have to improve to win the CL this season. Or get an easier run to the final.

All I want is an uncontroversial, simple semi-final should Barça get that far. All 3 in the Pep era have been such battles.

[Manuel Traquete]

We've had this conversation before. The San Paolo is a tough place to go but Bayern should have won and a fired up City should be too good for Napoli.

Well, it was a draw in Manchester and that was a somewhat lucky result for City, as Napoli were the better team in that game. I do agree that City are favorites, but Napoli are more than capable of an upset. Second place is far from a given for City at this point.

I disagree with you on both counts.

The EPL remains the strongest league. All of the English teams for the past few years finish top of their respective groups. And measuring a league's potency is not just about titles won. We can have other metrics. Number of quarterfinalists in the past 4 CL editions:

EPL: 13

La Liga: 6

Bundesliga: 4

Seria A: 3

Number of semifinalists:

EPL: 7

La Liga: 5

Bundesliga: 2

Seria A: 1

Number of finalists:

EPL: 4

La Liga: 2

Bundesliga: 1

Seria A: 1

There can be no doubt as to which league is the strongest with this much more comprehensive measure.

Those stats are all well and good, but they fail to factor in the obvious decline. In 2008 and 2009 there were three English teams in the semis. In 2010, there were none. In 2011, there was one (and resulting from an English QF showdown between Chelsea and United). The tendency is decline. Those stats are skewed by 2008 and 2009 where the English were indeed the dominant force, which is no longer the case.

The decline in quality of the league is apparent, as epitomized by the best team in England being destroyed vs Bayern and the fact that every English team is somewhat struggling in this group stage (none of the four teams has won more than two games in the first four) despite theoretically simple groups.

[Myrmecophile]

dalitis is right that the PL and Barca have been the strongest forces in the CL recently but the decline is apparent.

PL is not what it was between 2007 and 2009.

[dalitis8]

Well, it was a draw in Manchester and that was a somewhat lucky result for City, as Napoli were the better team in that game. I do agree that City are favorites, but Napoli are more than capable of an upset. Second place is far from a given for City at this point.



Those stats are all well and good, but they fail to factor in the obvious decline. In 2008 and 2009 there were three English teams in the semis. In 2010, there were none. In 2011, there was one (and resulting from an English QF showdown between Chelsea and United). The tendency is decline. Those stats are skewed by 2008 and 2009 where the English were indeed the dominant force, which is no longer the case.

The decline in quality of the league is apparent, as epitomized by the best team in England being destroyed vs Bayern and the fact that every English team is somewhat struggling in this group stage (none of the four teams has won more than two games in the first four) despite theoretically simple groups.

Are you sure that EPL teams are giving their all in these early stages? I am not, even though I wish that you are right.

As things stand, all 4 EPL teams are on track to top their groups. Only City are going for 2nd.

[Manuel Traquete]

Are you sure that EPL teams are giving their all in these early stages? I am not, even though I wish that you are right.

As things stand, all 4 EPL teams are on track to top their groups. Only City are going for 2nd, but they can still top it...I would not be at all surprised if City beat both Napoli and Munich and top their group in the end.

They better give that all this week, but a defeat for any of them would seriously jeopardize their qualification hopes. And apart from City, they're in very easy groups. Ok, Arsenal were supposed to be in a somewhat difficult group, but Dortmund's European performances have been beyond shocking, maybe due to their inexperience in this competition.

Beating Napoli and Bayern wouldn't be enough to win the group. They'd need to beat Bayern by 3 goals to do it (assuming that Bayern beats Villareal as expected). Not to mention that, given what happened in Munich, chances are that they will lose again as Bayern are the much superior side this season.

[Jonathan28]

The EPL is dead, its had is spotlight, time for another league to take centre stage.

[Sergio]

The team that is running away with the EPL got bossed by Napoli in their own home, so I certainly wouldn't have a problem facing any of their offerings.

[dalitis8]

They better give that all this week, but a defeat for any of them would seriously jeopardize their qualification hopes. And apart from City, they're in very easy groups. Ok, Arsenal were supposed to be in a somewhat difficult group, but Dortmund's European performances have been beyond shocking, maybe due to their inexperience in this competition.

Beating Napoli and Bayern wouldn't be enough to win the group. They'd need to beat Bayern by 3 goals to do it (assuming that Bayern beats Villareal as expected). Not to mention that, given what happened in Munich, chances are that they will lose again as Bayern are the much superior side this season.

You are right on that one. That is why I re-edited my post.

I would not over-read that 2-0 game in Munich too much. It's like saying that Milan are equal to Barca just because we drew 2-2 earlier in the CL.

Everyone seems to overestimate Munich in here. I would bet against them if they draw any English team in the KO phase (except maybe Arsenal)

I will say that the EPL is in decline, when I see continental teams that are not Barca, beat them...

[Flavius]

Medical - Official: Iniesta has some thigh problem and won't travel to Milan out of precaution

[FCBarca]

Heeeel no

[Manuel Traquete]

You are right on that one. That is why I re-edited my post.

I would not over-read that 2-0 game in Munich too much. It's like saying that Milan are equal to Barca just because we drew 2-2 earlier in the CL.

Everyone seems to overestimate Munich in here. I would bet against them if they draw any English team in the KO phase (except maybe Arsenal)

I will say that the EPL is in decline, when I see continental teams that are not Barca, beat them...

Come on, just compare Bayern's squad with Chelsea or United and then tell me who's overrating whom (not to mention their level of play during the season). Bayern didn't just beat City, they outplayed them from beginning to end, City tried to react but they could barely get past the midfield line in the second half.

Last season, Spurs were eliminated by Madrid. 2009/2010, United were eliminated by Bayern (a Bayern that was weaker than this season's), Chelsea were eliminated by Inter, Liverpool were eliminated by Fiorentina and Lyon in the group stages. As you see, it has been happening since 2009/2010, non-Barca continental teams beating PL sides, do you accept the decline now?

[FCBarca]

Wolfgang Stark will be the match referee

[Galning]

Yep Iniesta really out

[Jonathan28]

Medical - Official: Iniesta has some thigh problem and won't travel to Milan out of precaution

We got Thiago and Cesc