All non FC Bayern fans should consider a punt on Leverkusen at 13/10 tomorrow evening (live on BT). FCB will probably play a 'weak' team in this away match as league already won plus Leverkusen in tight race for third/fourth place in Bundesliga. Remember third placed team goes straight to CL but fourth placed might face a challenging qualification tie. For information Moenchengladbach away to Hertha Berlin on Sunday. Don't blame me if my assumption and judgement are incorrect!!!
To be fair Kenny, I think the bookies are already well aware that Bayern will have the B team out, that's why Leverkusen are 13/10, they'd be 7/2 otherwise. I personally wouldn't touch Leverkusen at 13/10, even if they are playing Bayerns B team
Yes, I had the tissues ready, Rainer. "The Mentalist" episodes were always a good yarn. Yes, BK, it's all an opinion, goes for any sport I guess, but I think you and Rainer have got it right. What a club though, to be able to bench Dante, with all their injuries, and not play Lahm in his favoured defensive role? Wow. Latest I have (from Deutsche Telekom website) is that Bayern will field a "B" eleven against Bayer Leverkusen, and will definitely leave Thomas Müller and Jerome Boateng at home. Sensible IMO. Erm, Rainer, I don't get emotional any more, inside or outside of Loftus Road, sod it........
F..k it; I was correct!!! No new injuries and Javi Martinez played for sixty minutes and looked great; maybe Wednesday will be OK.
Getting away from Bayern for a bit, I've been surprised at the lack of consideration for Juventus. If bookies sheets are any indication, the Italian powerhouse shouldn't even get off the bus. Thankfully, others are not so keen to write them off. There can be no doubting that the Spanish side will take a lot of beating, but Athletico manager Diago Simeone who's team has played both outfits this season, thinks Juve are in this with a decent shout. And being a mile clear in their home comp, attests to just how well they are travelling at the moment. Sure they had to work to get past Monaco, but so too did Real over Athletico. It took them 178 minutes to put their countrymen to the sword. I'm not up to speed with this game, but I suppose Athletico was probably the stiffer test, that said though, Juve at home are probably going to take some tossing. They are unbeaten in their last 12 home encounters in UEFA competition and have lost just one in 17. And Real have failed to win at any of their last 7 visits to Italian soil.
Juventus aren't a bad side and have their chance but in my opinion the Italian league is very poor at the moment and has been for a few years so for Juventus to be running away with it is not much of a surprise. I actually thought pre season Napoli would be a real threat to Juventus' title but not really had the consistency to challenge and are looking at an almost certain champs league spot and a likely UEFA Cup win.... Sorry Europa League win!
Gotta say, I was happy to see Juventus get that much needed home win. Their home record stood them in good stead. Going to be a huge task in Spain, but I think they'd be happy with the way things stand at the moment.
I was expecting that one from, Cyc! Think some Spanish onion-seller must have upset him once upon a time? Should be no problem for Real in the return leg. That away goal was important. Tevez key to Juventus, of course.
Great match last night! Just over eleven hours to go; better do some washing, ironing, hoovering and dusting to pass the time!
Swanny, I think it's a throw back to the little brother syndrome we in Oz often suffer from. Being from the arse end of the planet, be tend to overlooked in a lot of things, so it breeds in us a sense wanting to cheer on the little fella. Juve against the Spanish powerhouse? No contest, same for Bayern against Barcelona, go the German guys. Geez, what happens if Juve and Bayern win???
That's no longer so, Cyc. On football, although I know it's tongue-in-cheek in what you're saying, Juventus Turin* are no 'little fellahs", they are a powerhouse Italian club with a great history. One thing that did impress me yesterday was the ability of their defence in clearing just about every centre, including corners and free kicks, that Real made. Some great headed clearances all through the game. Juventus vs Bayern final? Would have to give the nod to Bayern there. Quite honestly, would be surprised if it happened though. *("Juventus is historically the most successful club in Italian football and one of the most laureated and important globally. Overall, they have won fifty-seven official titles on the national and international stage, more than any other Italian club: a record thirty-one league titles, a record nine Italian cups, a record six national super cups, and, with eleven titles in confederation and inter-confederation competitions (two Intercontinental Cups, two European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions Leagues, one European Cup Winners' Cup, a record three UEFA Cups, one UEFA Intertoto Cup and two UEFA Super Cups) the club currently ranks fourth in Europe and eighth in the world with the most trophies won"). Source: Wikipaedia
'Little Fella' - must be the first time we (FC Bayern) have been called that! FC Bayern - Biggest fan club membership in the world! FC Bayern - Greatest club merchandise income in the world. FC Bayern - Five European Championships and many times beaten finalists. FC Bayern - One of only four (?) clubs to have won all three UEFA tournaments. FC Bayern - Eight visits to the Camp Neu/Neu Camp and seven wins. Not bad for a little fella! Mia San Mia (We are who we are)
Just a thought, but do many really want a Barsa V Real final? Probably the best 2 teams and would most likely make a fantastic end to the tournament, but I'd prefer another side make the final. Gents, when I was referring to the little fella, it was only in the context of the semis chances.
FC Barcelona against Real Madrid in the final; what would the English media make of two all Spanish finals in a row!!!! Turning to media comments about comparisons between EPL and the PD, in particular Barcelona scoring 6/7 against the bottom teams in Spain. If Barcelona played twelve games against QPR, Burnley, Sunderland, Hull City, Leicester City and Newcastle United it seems more than probable they would six goals on two or three occasions.
I don't know about Barca/Real being the best two teams in it. You seem to be seriously underestimating Bayern. I'm firmly in the Madrid camp I've liked them since I was a kid, my favourite all time players played for them (Zidane, Ronaldo - the Ronaldo not Cristiano although he ain't bad either! And Michael Owen) and I have very good friends who live in Madrid so been a few times so will always have a soft spot for Real. But as hard as it might be for me to admit the best two teams left in are Barca/Munich and if Munich get it together in their two legs then for me it'll be a Real/Bayern final. Personally I'd prefer to see El Classico in final because if Bayern get there they win it and I'd like Real to lift it again
Swan, if you direct Cyc to the U-Tube version of Al Jolson and Bing Crosby duetting The Spaniard That Blighted My Life, we might get somewhere near the truth. Barca 2-0 tonight, second leg too hard to call at present.
