Real Football (Soccer to you Yanks) Thread

[TGLucario475]

So Liverpool v Chelsea in the final, gonna be a right old cracker if both teams hit form on the day.

 

[Zorak]

Out of the 3 teams in this years domestic cup finals, all must be quite disappointed with their league performances.

 

[Springsteen]

Cardiff won't mind too much if they manage to stay in, and win, the play offs. Chelsea will be because I think they expected to be challenging for the Title, and that hasn't happened. And Liverpool are closer to the relegation zone than the top of the league, I don't think they expected to be challenging for the Title by any stretch, but certainly top 4.

Fa Cup final kick off time has been confirmed for 5.15pm on Saturday 5th May.

It's also good news for the team who finishes sixth in the Premier League, because that is now a Europa League place.

 

[TGLucario475]

I actually joked, to myself, at how if Liverpool dropped 6-9 points then we could end up finishing near the bottom half of the league. Plus I'd find it funny if we did end up there, we'd be doing a Southampton of sorts when they reached the F.A. Cup Final and then get relegated a season or two later.

 

[Springsteen]

Enjoyable contest between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League. Ended 2-1 to Bayern, deserved result overall. Ribery gave them the lead in the first half before Ozil scored for Real. It looked poised to end level but Mario Gomez scored a last minute winner to give Bayern the advantage. Real would be favourites to qualify but Bayern can score at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.

And Reading win promotion to the Premier League, so congratulations to them.

 

[TGLucario475]

Looks like Real's dream of reaching the final could be over but I can sense a real battle next Wednesday.

 

[Zorak]

That away goal will count for a lot.

 

[skyblue]

well we're all but relegated,5 points adrift of bristol city with 2 games left...its not impossible but highly unlikely,we have a better goal difference but unless bristol lose that'll count for nothing...bournmouth,yeovil and carlisle here we come

desperate times ahead

 

[Springsteen]

That away goal will count for a lot.

Yeah this. 2-1 isn't a bad result for Real, I'd expect them to get through overall.

Chelsea vs Barcelona tonight, should be a good game, I think Barca will win narrowly, or a score draw. They'll certainly have more possession and they just have the better players all over the pitch.

 

[TGLucario475]

If Chelsea can turn up the heat, like they did on Sunday, then it'll be a right old ding-dong.

 

[Springsteen]

Fuck that result, totally undeserved win for Chelsea, Drogba spent 89 minutes cheating, on the ground. And in the one minute he isn't he scores. Barcelona dominated possession (80%-20%) and had 5 times as many chances as Chelsea. If only that chance at the end doens't fall to Busquets. Falls to Iniesta, in. Messi, in, But not Sergio, the guy hasn't scored in two years. Barcelona will turn this round, no worries, 4-0 next Tuesday.

 

[Zorak]

Meh, better team won. Well done Chelsea.

 

[Springsteen]

Barcelona lost 1-0, they were the better team. Had more chances, more possession. Chelsea were very fortunate the game doesn't end 1-4. It'll be the same in the second leg. Chelsea with 10 behind the ball, hoofing the ball up to Drogba (like Fabregas said). The second leg is going to be some game. But I'd expect Barca to qualify overall.

 

[skyblue]

teams have tried to outplay barca in the past and been demolished,chelsea did what was needed....it wasn't pretty but it worked

 

[Zorak]

What I meant was, one team came to attack, and one came to defend. In that light, it's obvious which team fulfilled and even exceeded their objectives for the game.

 

[TGLucario475]

Chelsea will pack the bus next week and only a fool would play attacking football against Barcelona in the second-leg of a Champions League Semi-Final, especially at the Nou Camp.

 

[CaptainTurtles]

Kind of disappointed I missed the Chelsea v Barca game last night, but I have a feeling the second leg will be the better of the two and I'm sure I'll be able to catch that one.

I won two tickets to see Vancouver Whitecaps v FC Dallas on the weekend. It will be my first MLS game and my fiance's first ever football game! I was downtown last night just a block or two from the stadium and they were playing, could see all the fans marching down to the stadium with banners and everyone was singing. Looking forward to it even more after seeing that! Been in two minds about going to a game as I expected it to just be.... to American... and not what I'm used to from growing up watching Swansea. But nonetheless I'm excited and can't wait to see what the MLS has to offer.

 

[Springsteen]

Just the small matter of Barcelona vs Real Madrid tonight. An estimated audience of 500 million people watching, the biggest game in the world. Barcelona need to win to keep the pressure on, it'll be down to a point of they do. A draw would mean 4 points the gap and a Real win would effectively wrap up La Liga, 7 point gap. To be honest a draw would probably be enough for them too. I'll predict a 2-0 Barcelona win. As well as Pepe's usual antics.

 

[skyblue]

i predict that if barca are 2 up with 20 minutes to go their players will be diving all over the place

 

[Springsteen]

Real are far worse for divers, and cheats, such as Pepe and Ramos.

Expect these line ups.

FCB : Valdes, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano, Busquets, Keita, Xavi, Fabregas, Dani Alves, Messi, Pedro
RM : Casillas, Marcelona, Albiol, Pepe, Ramos, Alonso, Diarra, Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain

Season stats : Barcelona have scored 167 goals, conceding 41. Avergae ball possession is 72%
Real Madrid have scored 158 goals, conceding 49. Average ball possession is 60%

They've met five times this season. Barcelona won the second leg of the Supercup 3-2 in August at the Nou Camp, the League Clasico 3-1 at the Bernabeu and 2-1 in the Copa Del Rey at the Bernabeu. The two others have been draws. 2-2 in the first leg of the Supercup at the Bernabeu and 2-2 in the Copa Del Rey at the Nou Camp.