Yep, KS, every team in the CL has to work out how in hell to stop Real scoring. Bayern couldn't do it last season, but they're still a team to be reckoned with.
You mean Jupp Heynckes. This and your other comments about German football lead me to believe you dont actually watch much German football and are judging Leverkusen more on a freak game against Man United last season. Leverkusen have some of the best young talent in Germany, Brandt, Calhanoglu, Son, Leno, Wendell, Jedvaj, plus a load of more experienced good players like Bender, Kiesling, Castro, Toprak, Bellarabi, Donati. They also happen to have a very good young manager in Roger Schmidt. They are far from "****e" as you suggest and while they might be up against it with a team as established and experienced as this Atletico Madrid under Simeone, it would be foolish to write them off completely, especially in the home leg. I have backed Leverkusen at 150/1 to win the tournament, ive also backed them at 9/4 tonight and while I expect Atletico to go through over 2 legs, I will be keeping the faith with Leverkusen because I think they are a team going places over the next few years.
I agree Boris I think 9/4 is a generous price. Leverkeusen are far from ****e and Atletico are not the same team that got themselves through to the CL final and La Liga win last season. Like you I think over the two legs Atletico will likely go through but they are definitely not a banker for tonight's game
Ah yes that was the fellas name, forgive me for getting his name wrong, however that shouldn't take away from the point I was making. I don't watch much actual Bundesliga football, only occasionally il watch Bayern or Dortmund if nothing else is on. You can watch as much German football as you like though, but the quality of the division cannot be judged from watching Bundesliga games. The results they get against the other top European sides are what determines how strong Bundesliga is. Bayern and Dortmund have done well in Europe so I rate both those sides, and give them respect in CL games. However when I have watched Leverkusen they have been ****e, they where ****e at Old Trafford and they where even worse in there own ground. They also got thrashed by PSG in there own ground by 4 goals and I seen that game. No good team should be taking 4 goal hidings in there own ground. The problem in Germany is it's a 1 club league. Bayerns reserves are better than most of there so called title rivals first teams. Dortmund are a rare success story among the others, thanks to there manager, though there success will run out as Bayern will just keep buying there best players. I know they are already going to have a massive task to qualify for next seasons CL. You claim Leverkusen have some of the best young players in German football, I must have missed all the young Leverkusen players playing for Germany in the World Cup 150/1 for them to win it, I wouldn't even be tempted by 1500/1, as you may aswell just be giving free money to the bookies. They have got no chance whatsoever! Il be watching the game tonight, so if they cost me money il hold my hands up, but I'm fairly confident the tie will be as good as over before the 2nd leg in Spain
There is no problem in Germany, you might know that if you watched some of it. Its the best run league in the Europe and was not not built by having money thrown at it. Yes Bayern are hard to compete with for obvious reasons, but Dortmund have over the last 5 years not only been competing with them, but for 3 years they held the edge over Bayern, the head to head in that period will tell you that. Dortmund have lost top players to Bayern and been decimated by injuries, this season is a writeoff for them and its going to be hard for them to get back to that level. Of the young players I mentioned at Leverkusen, only Leno and Brandt are German. Given the established German keepers at the minute its going to be hard for Leno, and I think Brandt had only turned 18 at the time. I happen to rate Brandt as the best young German prospect, him and Werner at Stuttgart are my top two under 19. And regards the no chance, I got told the same when I was backing Dortmund at 50/1 to win it, admittedly, I dont have the same unshakable belief in this Leverkusen team but I like them.
They did hold the edge for a couple of seasons, however Bayern have since bought 2 of there star players, and are set for there 3rd straight title. There is definately a problem in German football if the best team is buying the 2nd best teams top players. They have had lots of injuries this season, I know they've only recently got Reus back, but if they had hung onto Gotze and Lewandowski they would be doing much better. As far as your 50/1 bet on Dortmund, I tipped them up that year on General chat, and you commented saying that you had backed them aswell. So we both agreed on Dortmunds chances. But Dortmund where the German champions at the time, and that's why I fancied them aswell. Leverkusen are knowhere near good enough to topple Bayern like Dortmund were at the time
I agree Leverkusen are nowhere near the level Dortmund were at that season, but I was on to Dortmund and Klopp for at least 2 years before that season, they actually got me back into football as I had lost interest in it. Ive been a bit disappointed with Leverkusen so far this season but I think the team has good potential and I will back them again for it next season even if they get beat 8 nil on aggregate in this tie.
Feck sake.gibbs, welbeck n especially mertersaker are useless.taxi for wenger.there to long, time for a change
Just on German football .................. as I live here .................... Wolfsburg are absolutely **** hot at the moment, Bas Dost and Kevin de Bruyne have been banging the goals in since the winter break (coincidence that Schürrle is now pulling the strings??? I think not) and this is a team going places. If they can keep the team together and strengthen over the summer then watch out
Got Wolfsburg at 20/1 for the Europa League a few months ago, thought that was a tad generous. Seems the bookies got wise and now most firms have them as favs/co favs.
They showed Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid on main channel in Germany. What a dirty game between surely the two dirtiest top division sides in Europe, or damn nearly. The fouls came thick and fast (5-yellows for Bayer and 3-yellows and a red for Atletico), and, well, at least only one of these sorry sides will go through to the quarterfinals, thank goodness.
Leverkusen thoroughly deserving and comfortable winners on the night, they should maybe have tried a bit harder to get the second late on but they are well capable of picking Atleti off over there on the break and at 9/4 I wasnt too bothered!. Godin and Thiago are suspended for that.
Fair play Eddie on collecting tonight, with the way my form has been recently I should start backing the opposite to what I think will happen A little unlucky to lose 2 of there first 11 to injury in the first half, but the better side on the night won the game. The only positive I take from tonight, is that Arsenal got stuffed by Monaco. I will take great delight in watching the highlights of that game later
Not fair play on me collecting, should be "fair play I got it badly wrong and made an assumption about Leverkusen"
Sod you, KS, I will in future take a keen delight in watching ManU get stuffed. Previous to this, what they did didn't bother me one way or the other............
I didn't make an assumption, I went on previous games id watched them in Europe. They played better tonight, but things went in there favour, especially with the injurys Atletico had
You watched them in what was a freak game a year ago and ASSUMED you knew what you were up against tonight.
I'm sorry but I love seeing the other English teams fail in Europe. I would go on the Arsenal board and wind them up, but they are such a sensitive bunch that they have banned me
