Well, both my favorite teams won (Man U and Barca). The Man-U game was horrible, looked like neither team cared to win and were both happy with a draw. Barca looked better even though the announcers made it seem like they sucked. Ronaldinho didn't look too happy about being subbed out (i don't know why he was cause he was doing good). Messi is just sick, and Henry should have stayed at Arsenal, he looks lost and when Eto'o comes back I would rather have him as an all out striker. Henry works better on a team where he can create his own opportunity and for others rather than relying on others to set him up.
At the end of the day it's UEFA that makes the most money. I imagine the small clubs that GET to the group stage like it, but really the endless amount of game after game just lines UEFA's pockets and the big clubs, which is why what used to be a one & done format between league champs is now a 10-month schlog.
Wow, out of all the teams so far Arsenal by far was the most impressive. 3-0, to the toughest competition in their group in Sevilla!! Cesc Fabregas as someone mentioned earlier is definitely playing the best right now as in ALL players. And he's only 19!! Mind boggling how good him and Messi are gonna be in a few years as they're already dominating at such a young age. Also for Arsenal, RVP is playing amazing as well but not getting that much credit due to being in the shadow of Fabregas. Also about Barca, that guy Giovanni dos Santos looks like a beast! I saw him for the first time yesterday and while playing only a few minutes, he was impressive especially on the moves he made which eventually got Henry the goal. How does Barca not win every game 5-0, all the talent in the world!
Champions League Round II today: 14:45 ET Lyon v Rangers Group E 14:45 ET VfB Stuttgart v Barcelona Group E (Tape delayed at 4PM on ESPN Classic) 14:45 ET Dynamo Kiev v Sporting Lisbon Group F 14:45 ET Man Utd v Roma Group F (Live on ESPN 2) 12:30 ET CSKA Moscow v Fenerbahce Group G 14:45 ET Inter Milan v PSV Eindhoven Group G 14:45 ET FC Sevilla v Slavia Prague Group H 14:45 ET Steaua Bucuresti v Arsenal Group H
Ok, I bumped this in hopes others still following the CL want to discuss... Tuesday, November 6, 2007 14:45 ET FC Porto v Marseille First Phase Group A Estadio do Dragao 14:45 ET Liverpool v Besiktas First Phase Group A Anfield (Live on ESPN 2) 14:45 ET Schalke 04 v Chelsea First Phase Group B Veltins-Arena 14:45 ET Valencia v Rosenborg First Phase Group B Estadio Mestalla 14:45 ET Lazio v Werder Bremen First Phase Group C Stadio Olimpico 14:45 ET Olympiakos v Real Madrid First Phase Group C Karaiskaki Stadium (Tape delayed at 4PM on ESPN Classic) 14:45 ET Celtic v Benfica First Phase Group D Celtic Park 14:45 ET Shakhtar Donetsk v AC Milan First Phase Group D Shakhtyor Wednesday, November 7, 2007 TIME HOME AWAY STAGE VENUE 14:45 ET Barcelona v Rangers First Phase Group E Estadio Camp Nou (Tape delayed at 4PM on ESPN Classic) 14:45 ET Lyon v VfB Stuttgart First Phase Group E Stade de Gerland 14:45 ET Man Utd v Dynamo Kiev First Phase Group F Old Trafford (Live on ESPN 2) 14:45 ET Sporting Lisbon v Roma First Phase Group F Jose Alvalade 14:45 ET Fenerbahce v PSV Eindhoven First Phase Group G Sukru Saracoglu 14:45 ET Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow First Phase Group G Stadio Giuseppe Meazza 14:45 ET Slavia Prague v Arsenal First Phase Group H Evzena Rosickeho Stadium 14:45 ET Steaua Bucuresti v FC Sevilla First Phase Group H Stadionul Ghencea
If you didn't see it, check out you tube in a bit to catch Ronaldo's free kick in extra time to clinch the group for Man United, and keep their perfect Champions League record. Pure class.
Results: Lyon 2 - 2 Barcelona Stuttgart 3-2 Rangers Dynamo Kiev 1-4 Roma Man United 2-1 Sporting CSKA Moscow 0-1 PSV Inter Milan 3-0 Fenerbache Sevilla 3-1 Arsenal Steaua Bucuresti 1-1 Slavia Prague
CL returns tomorrow and Wed... Tuesday: ESPN 2 - Liverpool vs Marseille at 1:30 PM ESPN Classic - Lazio vs Real Madrid at 4:00 P.M. Wednesday: ESPN 2 - Lyon vs Rangers at 1:30 PM ESPN Classic - Stuttgart vs Barcelona at 4:00 P.M.
It will be interesting to see how Liverpool is going to play. They have very little hope for the Premiership title.
They'll probably get knocked out tomorrow, then go full strength for the Premiership this season. The exact opposite that they've done the last two years.
The Liverpool v. Marseille match should be interesting. Don't underestimate them considering they have as many losses as the top team in the premiership. Despite losing to Reading, they held a significant edge in shots and time of possession. Both Gerrard and Torres were substituted relatively early in the game, so they should be fit for the must-win match against Marseille.
Didn't tape that game but watched Real vs Lazio and it was no contest as welll. Complete domination by Real 3-1, the score not indicative of the game.
The group stage is over, here are the teams advancing to the knockout round: Group Winners: Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, Man United, Inter, Sevilla Runners Up: Liverpool, Schalke 04, Olympiacos, Celtic, Lyon, Roma, Fenerbache, Arsenal
