Champions League 25/26

[Messi983]

As declining as La Liga has been over the years they are currently still 2nd in this season's UEFA coefficients though just .031 points ahead of BL and this could ofc change today after EL and ECL games.

Real vs Bayern in QFs would be quite important for country coefficient and I expect Leverkusen will go out vs Arsenal (hope to be wrong but not likely). If we go through and Atleti won't bottle it (I will join the Cholo out camp if that happens against this version of Spurs) then one LL team will have a guaranteed spot in the semis.


In the Europa League Freiburg will probably eliminate Genk and could then face Celta (if they beat Lyon which won't be easy). Porto - Stutgart is a pretty even tie imo though would give a small advantage to the Portuguese team. Not an easy draw but I expect Betis to go through Panathinaikos and would then face either Ferencvaros or Braga so they have a pretty open path to the semis where they could potentially play Celta.


And in the Conference League I expect Rayo to beat Samsunspor and then they would play either AEK Athens or Celje (they are not the same team since Albert Riera left for Frankfurt). Mainz will probably go through Sigma Olomouc but would then likely face Strasbourg (or Rijeka). If both teams would go through then Rayo and Mainz would play each other in the semifinals.

So even if Bayern will go on and win the CL (they'll have to go past Real and PSG first though) which I think they are favorites for right now I believe La Liga will still be in a good position to finish 2nd and have five CL teams again next season (on a flip side this could also mean Espanyol and/or Getafe potentially playing in Europe which I wouldn't like but would accept if it would help one of them getting relegated but hopefully Sociedad and Bilbao will get their shiet together and finish top 8 besides Celta in that case).

I definitely expect a better version (can't get worse tbf) of Villarreal in CL, this year looks like they were just happy to be there and concentrated more on LL though tbf they had like 4 -5 longterm injuries which clearly affected them. Hopefully this summer they won't need to sell their best players again and will still be able to invest something in new signings.

And CL money should also help Betis (I think they'll finish 5th though Celta could sneak there as well) more than Bilbao (who obviously can't just buy anyone) this season. They have the oldest team in La Liga and should replace veterans like Bakambu, Rodriguez, Chimy and Bellerin (probably GLC too as he can't stay fit) with some fresh blood. Their priority should definitely be a good striker.

 

[malvolio]

we have a higher rated squad due to La Massia being good and players being too young, so market value is high.
we are a higher paying club due to some highly paid individuals which they don't have. we are about 2x their salaries.
also our spending in the last 6 seasons is about 1/3 of theirs.
this was an away ko leg, with 3 starters missing. And Newcastle arguably played on of their best games of the season and still only got a draw, by Barca which gave 120% against Atlético and Athletic.

We always had a higher rated squad, mate. We always had better players than them. Those higher paid individuals weren't going to move to Newcastle even if pay was equal.
Our spending in the last 6 seasons should also include money spent on salaries. We transferred Pedri and FDJ before the financial situation deteriorated. We fought Chelsea for Kounde and got him(while "broke"). We enjoy a near monopoly on Spanish players - those players would play for Madrid/Barca anytime. Sure, there are exceptions, but mostly that's the case.
Even La Masia is somehow of a cheat code as lots of players from around the world would like to play there. How many kids would choose Newcastle's academy over Madrid's/Barca's?

What I'm trying to point out is that money wasn't the issue vs Newcastle. They don't have an overall better squad and we spent(are still spending) more on our current squad.

A couple of years not spending like kings have alienated our fanbase into thinking we're a midtable team.

 

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

For the first time in my life I actually was not actively cheering for Madrid to lose. It's probably better for us if they stay in the competition, as long as they can't win it and they definitely can't win it.

I can't see them getting out of their side of the draw at all. I really want to see them match up against Bayern, where, without any exaggeration, an 8-2 loss is genuinely possible.

There is no chance Bayern don't give them a bath. However, Bayern fans are super cucks for Madrid, so you never know. Wouldn't surprise me if they made a Tifo of a Real Madrid dildo at the Allianz.

 

[jamrock]

If Madrid goes through, I see them also beating Bayern. Not because they are better obviously, but Bayern will have the mental disadvantage.

But I also feel that city can come back.