Champions League 2017/18

[Barcilliant]

They are nowhere near that Barcelona teams level. Sid Lowe might as well be a blind crippled hunchback if he is writing that sort of nonsense , and I am not a Barca fan

Sid Lowe is a closet madridsta and an idiot to boot. This Real side is no where near Barca 2009 - 2011. The amount of times the refs have had to save Real is embarrassing. We had luck with Chelsea 2009 but not like Real. This Real side are quite versatile and very motivated when it comes to this competition. I think Zidane is the difference. He keeps things simple, relates very well to his players and is a club legend to boot.

As far as the final goes it depends on which Real shows up. If they are off colour they can be beaten. If they're on form though they will embarrass Liverpool. Scoreline will be like last year.

 

[Barcaman]

Greatest teams are remembered for what they gave football, not for what they took (trophies)

Good quote.

 

[vlad]

Who would thought liverpool would have opportunity to surpass barcelona in CL trophies? Considering in what state was liverpool last years and players they have comparing to barca

 

[serghei]

Well, comercially, they certainly have a claim, historically they are one of the big ones too.
As for actual football, they are some way off, has been for a number of years now.

They wouldn't make my top 5 in terms of history and tradition in the game. I'd have Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Milan and Juventus ahead of them.

 

[El Flaco]

if that was true, people wouldn't remember the 74 dutch team that lost the WC more than the german team that won it. titles obviously matter but the manner in which you won them also does.

They & 1982 Brazil team are perhaps the only exceptions that proves the rule.

 

[serghei]

Best CL side ever. They haven't done enough domestically.

Most succesfull CL side ever is the right way to put it. Not best, because the best team might not win the CL because of numerous uncontrollable factors. Bayern for example was better in CL than Madrid this season.

Best is always subjective.

Pep's Barca has the most arguments:

- best individual season in 2009 winning 100% of the titles they played
- domination in La Liga winning 3/3 titles including 2 La Liga - Copa doubles
- constant humiliations of their arch rival, including historic beatings like the 6-2 and 5-0 both home and away
- great domination in CL, winning 2/3 titles in that time frame
- unique style of play that influenced future generations of players and managers
- some of the greatest players in their positions to ever play the game at the same time on the pitch
- 3/3 ballon d'Or finalists when at their peak
- only team to basically dominate almost every game they played, to the point that other great european sides look pub teams.

No team has that many claims than that Barcelona.

Madrid already lost in many of these areas. They didn't dominate La Liga, they were mostly 2nd best to Barcelona in the last 3 years, losing 5 out of 6 domestic titles. They are a great CL specialist team.

Madrid could get better results in CL than prime Pep Barcelona (if they win tonight) because they were luckier (2016 CL for Madrid is an incredible series of lucky events going in their favour) and because they basically don't fight on all fronts with the same intensity. Also because they are a great team as well.

This Madrid isn't even that much better than this Barcelona, only marginally. 2011 Barcelona would have beat them like they beat Mourinho's side.

 

[El Gato]

Greatest teams are remembered for what they gave football, not for what they took (trophies)

Anyone can keep hating the dominance these days. Giving football a top midfield trio, a top goalscorer and one of the most epic goals in the history of the competition is more than enough.

Madrid are a modern day equivalent of Boston Celtics from the 80s. Not impossible to beat, not always prettiest to watch and still “One shall never underestimate the heart of a champion”

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Most succesfull CL side ever is the right way to put it. Not best, because the best team might not win the CL because of numerous uncontrollable factors. Bayern for example was better in CL than Madrid this season.

Best is always subjective.

Pep's Barca has the most arguments:

- best individual season in 2009 winning 100% of the titles they played
- domination in La Liga winning 3/3 titles including 2 La Liga - Copa doubles
- constant humiliations of their arch rival, including historic beatings like the 6-2 and 5-0 both home and away
- great domination in CL, winning 2/3 titles in that time frame
- unique style of play that influenced future generations of players and managers
- some of the greatest players in their positions to ever play the game at the same time on the pitch
- 3/3 ballon d'Or finalists when at their peak
- only team to basically dominate almost every game they played, to the point that other great european sides look pub teams.

No team has that many claims than that Barcelona.

Madrid already lost in many of these areas. They didn't dominate La Liga, they were mostly 2nd best to Barcelona in the last 3 years, losing 5 out of 6 domestic titles. They are a great CL specialist team.

Madrid could get better results in CL than prime Pep Barcelona (if they win tonight) because they were luckier (2016 CL for Madrid is an incredible series of lucky events going in their favour) and because they basically don't fight on all fronts with the same intensity. Also because they are a great team as well.

This Madrid isn't even that much better than this Barcelona, only marginally. 2011 Barcelona would have beat them like they beat Mourinho's side.

Madrid is better in a tournament format, but in league they are shit. Our style still produces more stable results, even with worse team. (This season we had way worse roster than they had, but got good result)

 

[serghei]

Madrid is better in a tournament format, but in league they are shit. Our style still produces more stable results, even with worse team. (This season we had way worse roster than they had, but got good result)

Which is why they aren't the best team ever. They have a great team though and a mentality that makes them very hard to stop in CL. Like Wolfe said, their winning mentality is the best there is in the sport, and cup tournaments are the ones that ask for this trait more.

2011 Barcelona, 2009 Barcelona, and 2014-15 Barcelona would all beat this Madrid team.

 

[serghei]

Anyone can keep hating the dominance these days. Giving football a top midfield trio, a top goalscorer and one of the most epic goals in the history of the competition is more than enough.

Madrid are a modern day equivalent of Boston Celtics from the 80s. Not impossible to beat, not always prettiest to watch and still “One shall never underestimate the heart of a champion”

80% of the season people talked about sacking Zidane and how poor Madrid are. But once again, you guys get some lucky calls in CL and before you know it you're playing another CL final. This is mostly Madrid being Madrid. Shit season for the most part, than coming alive late and regrouping for CL while most other heavyweights are tired after fighting on all fronts.

CL final is between Spain's 3rd placed team, and England's 4th placed team. Goes again to show why winning doubles and trebles is the hardest thing in football. It takes a tremendous and consistent effort for a full season. Not just 7-8 games.

 

[TrueCule]

IMO this year's Real side is the worst in last 10 years. 76 points in La Liga is absolutely embarrassing for such club as RM. They didn't even deserve to come to the final. Bayern dominated them on both matches, creating chance after chance, controlling the match but lacked a bit of luck at the end. They also needed an extra help from the ref in order to advance past Juve in a match that should have gone to the extra time. In all honesty they don't deserve to win it this season and I think that they will lose tonight. Do you remember how we hurt them in last El clasico from the counter attacks when they pushed both fullbacks too much high up the pitch? We scored 2 goals (Suarez, Messi) against them from direct counter attack. Imagine what Mane, Salah and Firmino will do if they leave them that much space. Liverpool's game is a perfect antidote for a style of play Real is showing. My money is on Liverpool tonight. You can ban me from the forum if Real win.

 

[serghei]

2016-17 is Madrid's only true elite team I've seen in the last decade. That and maybe 2012 Madrid. Most of their CL wins are jammy as hell. In a lot of those they were actually the 3rd of 4th best team in Spain overall. But no matter how poor they are overall in a season, they always keep their champions mentality and manage to take every little chance or slice of luck to the end, fighting for it and never giving up and being there in the decisive moments in CL. I respect that tremendously and I'm jealous of it. If we had that extra edge, we would've won 4/4 CLs in 2009-12.

 

[El Gato]

80% of the season people talked about sacking Zidane and how poor Madrid are. But once again, you guys get some lucky calls in CL and before you know it you're playing another CL final. This is mostly Madrid being Madrid. Shit season for the most part, than coming alive late and regrouping for CL while most other heavyweights are tired after fighting on all fronts.

CL final is between Spain's 3rd placed team, and England's 4th placed team. Goes again to show why winning doubles and trebles is the hardest thing in football. It takes a tremendous and consistent effort for a full season. Not just 7-8 games.

Cry me a river dude. You’re such a try hard.

 

[serghei]

Cry me a river dude. You’re such a try hard.

Could have been if it weren't true.

 

[El Flaco]

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Very insightful read.

Setien and his Betis side took a win at Bernabeu & were very good at home as well despite being a bit unfortunate that game.