I got 115 charges but a fine ain't one - The 2024-25 OTT

Whats worse is that mbappe was the one who scored.

Robert's got his work cut out for him.

 

Bologna FC wins the Coppa Italia. Great feat for them. First silverware since winning the Intertoto Cup in the late-1990s, and first domestic title since the 1970s (not counting Serie C and Serie B titles).

 

LPB escape in the 95th minute.

Looks like Barça will have to finish this on their own.

 

Lame! Don't mind clinching against Asspainlol, but w/o that lucky winner there would have been a decent chance for Madrid to finish third.

 

When the winter break started, PSV had about 10 points lead on Ajax and had an epic melt down after the break, so ....It isnot over yet...still one match to go.
The most epic ending of the season we had, was when van Gaal in the last round of the season headed with AZ to relegated Excelsior with a 2 points lead on both Ajax and PSV and only a draw needed to grab the title.
That day we had a different virtual champion about every ten minutes, such a crazy scoreline happened at all three pitches.
In the end, AZ lost their match and PSV grabbed the title with 1 goal scored more than Ajax....with the last goal scored of those three matches by Cocu for PSV.

 

Yeah let's hope the players don't start celebrating after winning in the field again like last time

 

Well, it's up to the family Steijn how the league ends on sunday.
Will Sem kill the Ajax aspirations with FC Twente or will daddy Steijn end those of PSV by beating them with his team Sparta from Rotterdam.
I can see a dramatic roller coaster in which in the end both Ajax and PSV are beaten.
Would be great entertainment for the rest of us, not being Ajax or PSV minded

 

Atleti mailing it in at Osasuna.

Betis and Rayo level.

Making the last European spots interesting.

 

Yeah, from 5-7 points behind, to 5 points ahead of Barca, and now 15 points behind. A lot happens during a season, let's remember that for next season.

Meanwhile, Athletic clinched a top 5 CL spot. Glad for them. Great fans and they were a bit screwed by the ref v Man United, which was made extra heartbreaking with the EL final being in their own stadium.

In the end, they are at least going to get part of the benefits that come with a Europa League win.

 

Oh sure.

And I was wrong to despair Barça's shyte form mid-season as well. I'll wear that, and be happy that I was wrong about them being able to recollect their form.

 

Sure. And they lost form after being VAR'ed out of one competition.

I still worry about tactical inflexibility with this coaching group, but we'll see what they come up with next.

Yeah, they got robbed on the double jeopardy. PK + red rarely happens any more, because its doubly punitive, and can decide a tie on its own.

At the same time, their defense not only gave up a PK, but also, some stoopid defender allowed Harry fvkcing Maguire cook him for a cross as well. They still should have lost that match, even without the double jeopardy.

 

Of course not. I do remember you doubting Atleti.

I was just taking the reply to admit where I was wrong, and owning it.

 

I did notice some small changes towards the end of the Espanyol match. Yamal taking the ball to the corner when it was still a 1-goal game, even though he had a chance to go for goal. Pedri and FdJ playing keep-away with the ball more than risk losing possession by sending through-balls forward.

 

Eh, I'd file those more under "individual player decisions," rather than "coaching tactical choices."

There were still piles of chances for Espanyol against Barça late, and while up a man, and most posters were exasperated at that. @celito was wondering who was up a man. And still, the coaches were using "hope" to secure a win, not an ACTUAL plan to finalize securing the victory.

(As in "I HOPE espanyol keeps missing their easy chances, and I HOPE Szczesny makes miracle saves.")

And the same thing applies for Barça v LPB. Using "hope," as in "I HOPE that young kid messes up his chance, or I HOPE Vini/Mbappe miss sitters."


Fellas, remember: "HOPE is not a plan." Here's me, HOPING Flick can come up with a tactical plan, not continue to rely on "hope."

 

Final day of the Bundesliga season today. The only interesting thing up for grabs is the 3rd and 4th CL spots. The schedule maker was a genius, because you have 4th place Freiburg hosting 3rd place Frankfurt. Meanwhile, 5th-place Dortmund, just 1 point behind, host already-relegated Holstein Kiel.
The winner of Freiburg x Frankfurt finishes 3rd. A draw also good enough for Frankfurt to come 3rd. But if Freiburg can get the win at home, Frankfurt could fall all the way the way to 5th. Dortmund would need to make up a goal diff of 3 to pass Frankfurt in that situation.

IOW, win by 2 and Dortmund are in the CL for sure.
If Frieburg don't win, then Dortmund are assured 4th place with a win.

Unfortunately, no relegation dogfight fight in Germany this season. Those can be particularly interesting in Germany when it comes down to the final day, but everything already settled on that front..

The promotion race in Bundesliga 2 OTOH is wide open.

.

 

Also, final day of Ligue 1 sesson. 6 of the 9 matches have implications for the 4th CL spot and/or relegation. 4 teams still with a chance to finish 4th and another 4 still in danger of relegation, not counting Montpellier who are toast already.

 

Probably, but still relevant. Both players and coaches need to grow/adjust through lessons learnt.

That's football. Chances are going to be given up. Especially playing with a makeshift backline against a desperate team.

There's no tactic or plan that ensures the other team won't get chances. But you can limit them, which was the case against Espanyol (they had 0 shots on target in the 2nd half, 27% possession and xG of 0.17). Granted, this is easier against Espanyol than Inter or Madrid.