Within the pursuits of journalistic integrity, Gary Striker requested me, The Qooligan, to offer the abstract of this week’s Champions League. The additional benefit of with the ability to rib Josep is merely a bonus. For me, at the very least.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Darn it… Josep was proper… each single fixture introduced some unimaginable drama immediately.
AC Milan 1 – 1 Feyenoord
Feyenoord win 2 – 1 on aggregatePrediction: Feyenoord to win 2 – 1 on mixture.
Effectively have a look at that. Josep nailed it. Rattling.
Former Feyenoord participant Santiago Gimemez scored for AC Milan within the first minute, however the Dutch guests performed a steely sport to stop any additional bloodshed. When Theo Hernández drew his second yellow early within the second half, you would really feel the momentum shift. Julián Carranza’s 73rd minute objective introduced Feyenoord degree within the sport, and by the ultimate whistle that additionally gave his group the mixture win.
Subsequent fixture: Arsenal or Inter Milan. Neither group might be simple, I inform you.
Atalanta 1 – 3 Membership Brugge
Brugge advance 5 – 2 on mixture.Prediction: Atalanta to win 3 – 2 on mixture.
Wow. Josep’s massive win from above get’s crossed out by this massive swing-and-a-miss.
Not like the final sport there was no controversy right here. In any respect. There was a 30 second sequence in direction of the top of the primary half the place Atalanta, already trailing 2-0 from a Chemsdine Talbi brace, have been urgent furiously in Brugge’s objective space. They struck the woodwork twice, with a goal-line save from keeper Simon Mignolet in between, earlier than the ball popped out broad to winger Christos Tzolis. He drove up the pitch and executed an ideal sq. cross to Ferran Jutglà, who laced in a belter proper earlier than the whistle. When Atalanta captain Rafael Tolói noticed the pink mist and charged at Maxim de Cuyper within the 87th minute (incomes a deserved pink card for violent conduct), the sport was really over for the hosts.
Subsequent fixture: Aston Villa or Lille. I’m telling you now, the Cinderella story may proceed for Brugge towards both of those groups.
Bayern Munich 1 – 1 Celtic
Munich undergo 3 – 2 on mixture.Prediction: Bayern Munich to win 5 – 2 on mixture.
The underdogs of Celtic have been poised to drive the behemoths of Bayern Munich into additional time when… a wonderful save from Kasper Schmeichel fell to his defender Auston Trusty and his ensuing clearance strikes the shin of Alphonso Davies and into the web. A traditional Scottish heartbreak and German last-minute winner. Josep did all proper right here.
Subsequent fixture: Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. We already noticed that home attracts suck the life out of this competitors, so please have them draw Atlético.
Benfica 3 – 3 AS Monaco
Benfica win 4 – 3 on aggregatePrediction: Benfica to win 2 – 0 on mixture.
I didn’t suppose both facet had three targets in ’em. Apparently Josep didn’t suppose so both. Glad to see we have been each fallacious (though I’ve to grudgingly give him factors for selecting the profitable facet).
Subsequent fixture: Barcelona or Liverpool. Whomever attracts Benfica ought to have a snug win.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Josep’s anticipated gimmes have been simply that. The 2 crackers have been that after which some!
Borussia Dortmund 0 – 0 Sporting CP
Dortmund advance 3 – 0 on aggregatePrediction: Dortmund win 5 – 1 on mixture.
80,000 folks crammed into Sign Iduna Park in Dortmund, have been handled to a singularly boring match, and didn’t give a rattling. The yellow and gold went by, which is all that issues. He acquired the winner proper; the unfold fallacious.
Subsequent fixture: Aston Villa or Lille. Punters take right here…
Paris Saint-Germain 7 – 0 Brest
PSG win 10 – 0 on mixture Prediction: PSG will win 6 – 1 on mixture.
This was the second greatest mixture win in Champions League historical past. And there was no Dembélé to be seen. Brest deserved higher, however there’s no denying that PSG have been a superior facet. I can not forgive Josep for lacking this mixture unfold. No one picked that.
Subsequent fixture: Barcelona or Liverpool. The soccer fan salivates at both one. Now that different Champions Clasíco is finished, we’ve got this juicy fixture.
PSV Eindhoven 3 – 1 Juventus
PSV advance 4 – 3 on mixture. Prediction: PSV will win in penalties after a 3 – 3 draw.
Quoth Josep: “That is the one fixture I see that may head into additional time.” Yeah, boy, let’s give a sluggish clap for ol’ Josep. Additionally in his daring predictions: “one of many 4 People on these two groups will have an effect.” Timothy Weah had an absolute screamer of a objective that gave the guests some hope. However in any other case this was all PSV.
Subsequent fixture: Arsenal or Inter Milan. Both one might be powerful.
Actual Madrid 3 – 1 Manchester Metropolis
Actual Madrid win 6 – 2 on mixture Prediction: Actual will win 5 – 4 on mixture.
Did anybody else really feel like Pep gave up after they noticed that beginning eleven?. No Haaland? Stones and Días within the middle? With Khusanov on the suitable guarding Vinicíus? Ultimately it didn’t matter. The sport was over as soon as Kylian Mbappé lofted the ball over Emerson within the 4th minutes. It was the primary objective of his hat-trick on an evening the place Actual completely dominated the defending champions.
Subsequent fixture: Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. We already noticed that home attracts suck the life out of this competitors, so please have them draw Leverkusen. Alternatively, it will be a derby rematch, and that promised loads of spice.
