Champions League knockout stages [R]

[Dark Savante]

The way the draw seems to have fallen with the qualifiers thus far, it looks to me like winning your group isn't going to have you a peach of a 2nd round tie, more like, a tougher game, all things considered.

We cannot play an English team, but if we win the group we're likely to face one of these:


Atletico Madrid
Bayern Munich
Inter Milan
FC Porto
Real Madrid
Sporting Lisbon

If we come second, I think it's one of these:

Barcelona
Juventus
Lyon
Panathanaikos
Roma

Now, looking at the first to the second grouping, overall wouldn't you say the winners selection is actually harder for us than the runners-up one?

[urbnzy]

I take the second game at home. I think it's a big handicap, if you go away from home for the second match.

[jeff070]

i d like us to play real madrid and let the revenge begin!

[yikchi]

I take the second game at home. I think it's a big handicap, if you go away from home for the second match.
How does this work ? Do the group winner always has the second game at home? And how do they determine who get the second match at home for the later rounds when you could have group winner vs. group winner?

Thinking back, we only dropped 2 points in group stage last season and we did have all the 2nd match at home in the KO stage.

[Bronaldo]

The team we play is not of importance. If we get our side of it right, there is no team in Europe that can stop us from winning. I want first place just for the second leg to be at home. It's a huge tactical advantage.

[urbnzy]

How does this work ? Do the group winner always has the second game at home? And how do they determine who get the second match at home for the later rounds when you could have group winner vs. group winner?
In 1/8 the group winners have the second game at home. Later that is random, it depends on a draw.

[cr7torossi]

Why would we not want to beat Aalborg today? Winning is afterall addictive.

[benni...]

I dont think Munich will win their group. But if it does end up like that. I'd rather have the 2nd leg at home. The opposition doesnt really matter for me. The only teams that I think are close to matching us are Barcelona and [Chelsea pwho we cannot draw).

[Achtung]

They'll find some way for us to draw either Real Madrid or Inter Milan anyways.

Although Barcelona, Roma, and Lyon will all be out for revenge.

[Invincible]

We should always strive to finish 1st. I also want Madrid.

[Dark Savante]

They'll find some way for us to draw either Real Madrid or Inter Milan anyways.

Although Barcelona, Roma, and Lyon will all be out for revenge.

:D

That's great, a quarter of the qualifiers will have a score to settle with us.. wow, we've done good these past few years! :D

I said in a PM convo that if it's not us, it'll be one from: Barca, Inter, Chelsea & Liverpool who'll win it this year.

I'd prefer to avoid these sides until crunch time.

I think, with the way we are, it's better to draw a bigger side than a smaller one, tbh.

The home advantage in the 2nd leg is actually quite interesting. I don't think it's a gimme, and doesn't it also mean you play the away leg second if you qualify for the qf's?

Things will look differently in Febuary when these games are played, I'm sure. Form will change and I reckon the true quality of a lot of sides will make itself apparent, or not, as the case may be.

I think then, that it's easier to look at sides in terms of their style of football and what it'll mean for us. In that case, it's better to not play Spanish oppo until the time they can't be avoided, I think.

[Charleysurf]

Always better to top the group so you get home advantage in the 2nd leg. But this time it could also mean ending up with Inter Milan or Lyon in the next round. Either of those teams could prove really tough for us.

Lyon could have knocked us out last year if Tevez had not got that late goal. And Inter Milan may finally translate their strength in Serie A to the CL with Mourinho managing them.

[mhtwins113]

The home advantage in the 2nd leg is actually quite interesting. I don't think it's a gimme, and doesn't it also mean you play the away leg second if you qualify for the qf's?

Nah, after the round of 16, it's a completely random re-draw. We aren't guaranteed to host one leg or the other.

[SirManchester]

Including English teams I'd want to avoid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Inter, and Barcelona. After that it's fair game.

I think Atletico might prove a sterner test but in reality they are very beatable as they don't quite have a defense good enough for the European knockout stages.

I want Real Madrid though.

[mhtwins113]

So do I, and seemingly most of the people on here. DS, new poll time! Who wants Real Madrid? Simple yes or no answer will do, but if you wanted to include a third answer of "It's on like Donkey Kong", far be it from me to stop you. :cool:

[TuPeT]

Well I would prefer first place, and taking Real on the next stage. Show no mercy!

[benni...]

Everyone wants to face Real... not only because they are pricks. Not only because I want something to rub in YS's face, not only because they are in some shiity form... but mostly because they have a shit load of injuries.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I take the second game at home. I think it's a big handicap, if you go away from home for the second match.

I have no idea about the relative success rates home/away but if you asked me what I would prefer then it would be home first (with your fans) then away last (with goals counting double).

[pgr17]

potential opponents:

Roma: Chelsea, Sporting, Atletico, Villarreal, Lyon, Arsenal, Real Madrid

Panathinaikos: Chelsea, Inter, Sporting, Atletico, Villarreal, Lyon, Arsenal, Real Madrid

Barcelona: Chelsea, Inter, Sporting, Lyon, Arsenal

Liverpool: Inter, Sporting, Atletico, Villarreal, Lyon, Real Madrid

Manchester United: Inter, Sporting, Atletico, Villarreal, Lyon, Real Madrid

Bayern Munich: Chelsea, Inter, Sporting, Atletico, Villarreal, Lyon, Arsenal, Real Madrid

FC Porto: Chelsea, Inter, Atletico, Villarreal, Lyon, Arsenal, Real Madrid

Juventus: Chelsea, Sporting, Atletico, Villarreal, Lyon, Arsenal, Real Madrid

or did i mess that up? can you play a team from your qualifying group in this stage?

[JayBoy]

I have no idea about the relative success rates home/away but if you asked me what I would prefer then it would be home first (with your fans) then away last (with goals counting double).

I'd prefer the other war round tbh, away goals are vital but I think the inscentive of finishing a task on your own turf is motivation enough to do a job in the away leg.