Agreed, they appear to assume that the results will come, just because they're madrid. I for one am enjoying their struggles, and I hope LPB have to work for 90+ minutes.
The thing about them is that from what I've observed over the last few seasons, they play up or down to their opposition. They can be lazy against weaker teams but then they will step it up in the tough games.
Lots of good matches going on right now. I don't miss the old CL format at all. After beating the 2 biggest Madrid clubs, Lille now 1-0 up on Juventus! Liverpool hosting Xabi Alonso and Leverkusen. Sporting Club now 3-1 up on Man City. The latter two of these matchups would not even possible under the old CL format.
Yep ... I think UEFA may have gotten it right with this format. The caveat is that they probably still want the big teams to make the R16 and QFs for viewing sake.
Man City about to get bailed out with a cheap penalty... Edit: Haaland rattles the crossbar with his penalty shot. Justice served. Still 3-1.
Penalty for Sporting.... GOAL! 4-1! Wow! The 2 clubs that really stood out in Europe the previous 2-3 seasons are both getting slammed!
Every team playing Madrid really just needs to attack their right side until they get a Carvajal replacement in the winter transfer window. Surprised Carlo isn't putting Camavinga there.
Hint of offside on Madrid player who was the intended target there. Why is Rudiger yappng so much? He is literally the last guy in the stadium that would be able to judge if that was offside or not.
I knew it right away on the first replay. Fuk Madrid. Benefitted from barely onside calls on their CL title runs. About time they get one against them.
Going to be difficult for Madrid to finish in the top 8, that's for sure. Having them play 2 extra matches in Feb-March won't hurt.
Every last one of those LPB players gets away with whining and crying and b!tching to the refs in each and every game.