Date: 17.12.2013 (19:30 Agadir) TV Coverage / Convert Time Zone Guangzhou Evergrande have had a fantastic season and put Chinese club football back on the map after more than two decades. They are now "rewarded" with a match against European treble winners Bayern Munich. It's hard to imagine anything but a harsh return to reality for Guangzhou when facing Germany's most storied club.
How Bayern got here... UEFA Champions League Club Honours: - 23 German League Titles - 5 UEFA Champions League Titles - 2 Intercontinental Cup Titles
So, does anyone actually think Guangzhou have it in them? I'm not one to declare results in advance, but a victory against this Bayern Munich side would be one of the biggest upsets in club football history. I don't see how Guangzhou can keep Bayern scoreless, so they will have to score some goals of their own. Conca, Elkeson and Muriqui will have to play the game of their career if they want to pose any kind of threat.
Problem is Bayern have so many World Class players in every single position, but As they say anything can happen in football. This would be so so massive in China if Guangzhou can win this. It would be like China winning the World Cup
We are happy to be with this match against Bayern Munich. The match will start at 3 am, we will stay together to watch. If we don't think about to win, that is a lie. @griffindinho_au that is really nice you say that,I like Bayern Munich,like the way they kick football. I can imagine the ball possession of the match would be 70%-30% or even more balanceless , hope Guangzhou make some trouble to them.
A children's cartoon show about two laboratory mice, one stupid and one highly intelligent. In every episode the intelligent one ('Brain') plots to take over the world
THis can be a really good and interesting match. Good luck to the asians, rooting for you my yellow brothers
Is this some kind of reference to two Bayern figures, like Guardiola and Hoeness perhaps? Or am I trying to read too much into it?
You're reading too much into it. The fans are simply referencing the famous catchphrase from the show Pinky: Gee, Brain, what do you want to do next week? Brain: The same thing we do every week, Pinky - try to take over the world! That's all there is to it, just a reference to a very famous quote http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pinky_and_the_Brain
Guardiola versus Lippi: Facts and stats: http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/newsid=2245906/index.html Certainly lots of titles between these two. 45 minutes to go, the line-ups are now available on the FIFA website...
Interesting lineup for Bayern, no Dante and no Martinez. i understand the latter as he seems to be not fully fit but i'm sure that. Dante won't be too pleased considering that a lot of brazilians are watching. Van Buyten plays for him. Rafinha will be pleased to play, he still has hopes to make the WC squad and perhaps Scolari is watching.
I seriously doubt Scolari makes any decisions for the World Cup based on this match which will likely end 7-0 or worse. Presumably Dante is just being rested for the final on the weekend.
After 15 minutes Guangzhou have held up alright. Crowd could be better. I get that Morocco is La Liga country but weren't the organizers talking about a sell-out? Right now it looks like we did better in the UAE for the "European" semifinals in 2009 and 2010.
After 30 minutes Bayern are getting close now. Hit the woodwork twice - almost a "Wembley" incident for the goal-line technology Crowd now better (traffic outside?)
Quite impressed by Guangzhou. Solid tactics, and so far they don't get tired, they can block any advance by Bayern. It's a matter of time, though --they're starting to look tired.
The price to pay for the good defensive display of this first half is that the Evergrande players are going to be gassed the last 30 minutes. Then, Bayern can score at will.