4 semi-final matches, only 2 goals

[midnightman]

What the hell is going to happen to the final match?

1-0 is very likely if not 0-0 and penalty shootout :(

[unclesox]

4-2 at halftime... 6-5 result to Barcelona. :D

[King-James]

I thought the matches were very entertaining, despite a lack of goals. There was a lot of good flowing football, rather than countless fouls and stoppages as seen in some matches (*cough* Serie A *cough*)

Neither team in this final has had much experience trailing. They both are more skilled in the attack as well. Most likely each will go for goals... and if/when a goal is scored, the losing team isn't going to act like they're the ones 1-0 up (like AC Milan did)

[kotto_bass]

I thought the matches were very entertaining, despite a lack of goals. There was a lot of good flowing football, rather than countless fouls and stoppages as seen in some matches (*cough* Serie A *cough*)

Neither team in this final has had much experience trailing. They both are more skilled in the attack as well. Most likely each will go for goals... and if/when a goal is scored, the losing team isn't going to act like they're the ones 1-0 up (like AC Milan did)
I really don't understand this notion of countless fouls and stoppages in Serie A. How Milan acted like they were up is beyond me. They scored against Barca, but the goal was disallowed! They dominated Bayern and didn't seat on their 2-1 victory against Lyon. They drew against Liverpool (scoring not one but 3 goals before Liverpool's miraculous comeback last year) and then losing on penalties. Arsenal sat on their lead the whole time against Villarreal in Spain. Villarreal was dominating by about 65% ball possession, and Arsenal hung for their dear lives until Lehmann's last minute penalty save :D . Barca had chances against Milan, but they chose to retract and play mostly on the midfield, replacing their central attacker Eto'o at the end with a midfielder. Tell me that's not protecting a lead!

[ForeverRed]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, UEFA CUP BABY!

[King-James]

I really don't understand this notion of countless fouls and stoppages in Serie A.

Serie A matches average an extraordinarily high number of fouls. More than any of the other top leagues.

They scored against Barca, but the goal was disallowed!

No. The whistle went and play stopped before the ball went in.

Arsenal sat on their lead the whole time against Villarreal in Spain. Villarreal was dominating by about 65% ball possession, and Arsenal hung for their dear lives until Lehmann's last minute penalty save :D .

Yes, but Arsenal were leading. Most will be suprised if Arsenal play that poorly in the Final.

Tell me that's not protecting a lead!

Of course it was. But they still played just as attack oriented as Milan. Playing with two forwards and Iniesta+Deco in midfield isn't all that defensive.

[BocaFan]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, UEFA CUP BABY!

The thing is, if there's a dull UEFA Cup match (and there's many of them), people don't talk about it. But if a CL match doesn't have buckets of goals, people complain about the boring boring CL.

Remember it wasn't just the M'boro v Bucharest semifinal these past two weeks. There was another semi played as well. Did anyone stay awake to see all of it? :confused:

[steveedster]

The thing is, if there's a dull UEFA Cup match (and there's many of them), people don't talk about it. But if a CL match doesn't have buckets of goals, people complain about the boring boring CL.

Remember it wasn't just the M'boro v Bucharest semifinal these past two weeks. There was another semi played as well. Did anyone stay awake to see all of it? :confused:


I think what he means is that THIS season the UEFA cup has generally been more entertaining throughout. Last round was great.

[Caesar]

I think what he means is that THIS season the UEFA cup has generally been more entertaining throughout. Last round was great. Yup.

In general I tend to prefer the UEFA Cup anyway. While the quality is obviously generally lower, there are a lot more teams capable of doing well in the UEFA Cup depending on the season than there are in the Champions League - which often tends to be the usual suspects in the latter rounds. Also the chance to see teams that you don't usually get an opportunity to watch, like Zenit and Steaua.

I find it interesting.

[kotto_bass]

Serie A matches average an extraordinarily high number of fouls. More than any of the other top leagues.

I would like to see some stats on this!


No. The whistle went and play stopped before the ball went in.


I'm sure the whistle did, eventhough a lot of people think there was no foul. But to suggest they played like the ones that were up is completely preposterous. Even Rijkaard said he knew Barca would suffer against Milan. Last year, it was Milan winning in San Siro 1-0 before Barca turned the tables 2-1 with a last minute gasp from Dinho.


Yes, but Arsenal were leading. Most will be suprised if Arsenal play that poorly in the Final.

So, were they not protecting a lead? You made it sound like only Italian teams protect leads.


Of course it was. But they still played just as attack oriented as Milan. Playing with two forwards and Iniesta+Deco in midfield isn't all that defensive.
Which 2 fowards were playing foward?

[ForeverRed]

Yup.

In general I tend to prefer the UEFA Cup anyway. While the quality is obviously generally lower, there are a lot more teams capable of doing well in the UEFA Cup depending on the season than there are in the Champions League - which often tends to be the usual suspects in the latter rounds. Also the chance to see teams that you don't usually get an opportunity to watch, like Zenit and Steaua.

I find it interesting.

Exactly my sentiment, and these are teams that don't really face each other year in and year out like many teams in the CL can, it is far more unpredictable which raises the stakes for teams that might just get one shot in a million at a European trophy, that can sometimes lead to the most entertaining football.

The HSV/Steaua tie was one of the better ones I've seen the whole season, nevermind Boro's last 3 games in the Uefa Cup.

[BocaFan]

I think what he means is that THIS season the UEFA cup has generally been more entertaining throughout. Last round was great.

Well, 'boro v Steaua was great. Not the other semi.

Anyway, I think the UEFA Cup is exciting from the round of 16 to the end. But the group stage? Common. Four games, you win one and you're pretty much through to the next round. *yawn* The CL group stage produces alot more drama IMO. Even this season.

[King-James]

I would like to see some stats on this!

I can't find the original stats I was referring to, though this site listed from Gazzetta referring to 04-05 I'm guessing...

[quote]Statistics produced by the Gazzetta dello Sport’s weekly magazine Sport Week show that on average more fouls are committed in Italy’s Serie A than in Spain’s Primera Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga and the English Premiership. The figures show that from the start of the season up to February 6, 42.4 fouls were committed in Italian matches compared to 38.8 in Germany and 35.9 in Spain. By far the lowest average was in England where 28.2 fouls were committed, making games there more-free-flowing with less interruptions.

http://www.newagebd.com/2005/feb/23/spt.html

The difference was actually larger in other links I had read in the past... where Serie A averaged almost twice as many fouls as the EPL. It's a well known difference... Mutu ranted about it earlier this season.


I'm sure the whistle did, eventhough a lot of people think there was no foul.

If it was a wrongly called foul, it still wasn't a goal, as play stopped before the goal.

So, were they not protecting a lead? You made it sound like only Italian teams protect leads.

What? I said that Milan acted like they were protecting a lead, when they were down 1-0 to an away goal. There is a big difference.

Which 2 fowards were playing foward?

Larsson + Ronaldinho

[kotto_bass]

What? I said that Milan acted like they were protecting a lead, when they were down 1-0 to an away goal. There is a big difference.

Your original statement was: "...the losing team isn't going to act like they're the ones 1-0 up (like AC Milan did)." I really don't see how Milan was acting like they were 1-0 up (implying acting like they were protecting a lead). They had chances too, but couldn't finish. Barca had the best of chances in the first opening minutes. Milan had their chances after that but couldn't finish. Milan played good attacking football like they always do, but it wasn't enough.
Larsson + Ronaldinho
Larsson and Ronnie were playing in Barca's own camp after Eto'o was sent off for long spells. They were totally contented with the 1-0 lead. Barca could have scored more goals in San Siro, but they chose to pass the ball around for the last 10 mins. To me, that's protecting a lead, making no effort to score, eventhough you can.

[divinocodino1018]

Your original statement was: "...the losing team isn't going to act like they're the ones 1-0 up (like AC Milan did)." I really don't see how Milan was acting like they were 1-0 up (implying acting like they were protecting a lead). They had chances too, but couldn't finish. Barca had the best of chances in the first opening minutes. Milan had their chances after that but couldn't finish. Milan played good attacking football like they always do, but it wasn't enough.
Larsson and Ronnie were playing in Barca's own camp after Eto'o was sent off for long spells. They were totally contented with the 1-0 lead. Barca could have scored more goals in San Siro, but they chose to pass the ball around for the last 10 mins. To me, that's protecting a lead, making no effort to score, eventhough you can.

I have to agree with this. At the Nou Camp especially, Barca played more defensive in the second half leaving Ronaldinho to roam around up top. It was all Milan trying to get the goal in the closing minutes with Barca sitting back. Thus, I think they were the ones protecting the lead.

[King-James]

They had chances too, but couldn't finish.

Just a few half chances. What good chances did they have?

[canzano55]

Just a few half chances. What good chances did they have?King James are you delibritely trying to piss Milan fans off?


First off, like I explained to you in the Milan forum and the Barca forum; Merk influenced the game in a way that opressed the Milan strikers for large stretches of the match. Now combine that with a superb defensive performance from Barca and you have a very limited number of chances, but incidentally there WERE chances.

You make it sound like Milan made no efforts to score, well thats pure garbage! No club team in the professional season has been able to put Barca under preassure in the Nou Camp like Milan was able to. Milan swarmed the defence and put balls in the box for the strikers to latch on to, it was by chance that only one striker had any luck with recieving passes in the box i.e. Sheva but couldn't do anything with it (can't blame the guy really was playing INJURED after all).

Maybe you get pleasure out of spreading your bullsh!t around? As if its some kind of personal vendetta to put down a team even after they conceded defeat in probably one of the closest contested games in the Euopean season.

I swear to God these fukin mersysiders think their 2 cents are actually worth a damn.

Va fanculo!

[dor02]

Seriously, just ignore King-James because he is an English fan who just wants to criticise Italian football. Nothing else. There isn't any points in his argument and he is only acting like this because he is a typical EPL fanboy.

The match will be on Thursday morning, AEST. I'll only get up for the second half. Despite the presence of Barca, who usually play beautiful football, Arsenal's way of organising a defence (an English team playing their style of catenaccio :eek: ) will make sure that we won't the final that we say last year or two years ago.

[Spion Kopite]

I think the final is going to be a dull and boring one. It'll be the opposite of last year's final. Last year, most people said it would be boring and defensive. Well look what happened!!! This year most people are slavering over Barcelona v Arsenal thinking it will be mouthwatering. Don't be surprised if it sends you all to sleep.LOL.

We were told the Barcelona-Chelsea games would be wonderful. Oh really? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

[unclesox]

I think the final is going to be a dull and boring one. It'll be the opposite of last year's final. Last year, most people said it would be boring and defensive. Well look what happened!!! This year most people are slavering over Barcelona v Arsenal thinking it will be mouthwatering. Don't be surprised if it sends you all to sleep.LOL.

We were told the Barcelona-Chelsea games would be wonderful. Oh really? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
I'll take Barca and you being asleep than me staying awake to watch Liverpool. :D