OT: UEFA Champions, Semi-finals (Leg 1): Liverpool vs Barcelona Open Thread
Monster monster game on the pitch coming up at 3pm eastern in just a bit on TNT. Liverpool at Barcelona in leg 1 of the semis for Champions League.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48114698
Yesterday in the first leg, on the other side of the bracket, AJax beat Tottenham 1-0.
2nd legs are next week.
a buddy of mine at work is a big liverpool fan. i took a work trip* to barcelona 4 years ago and became a de facto FCB fan (never had any other dog in the fight and dont really follow soccer). i am sitting here wearing a barcelona scarf and t-shirt. he had to go home because he couldnt handle being in the office with me.
*2-week leadership training for employees from all over the globe. they gave use a private tour of the stadium/lockers/trophy room/field, so it was more than just being in the city. plus me and 3 others went to a game during the weekend we had there.
YES
LFG! VVD always look so calm when defending.
What a pass from Alba to Suarez. I expect him to bite someone out of excitement.
Against his former club too. Very nice goal.
Doesn't matter who wins, because Ajax is taking it all anyway.
They’ve been real impressive
Really, I'm just an Ajax fan. I don't actually think they'll be able to handle either Barca or Liverpool in the final, if they even get by Spurs. Spurs definitely seemed to have found something with balls in the air. Ajax was struggling to defend set pieces for a decent portion of the second half and end of the first.
solid half so far. both teams really getting after it
I personally like TNT's coverage so much better than Fox/FS1. It's probably mainly because I didn't like their announcers on Fs1.
Thought Mane would score. Pass was similar to the one that Barca scored on.
Barca is taking it all
Go USA!
MESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
omg what a shot. he is just way too good
It's going to be a kick in the balls for Liverpool fans even more if they miss out on winning the EPL by a point.
Huge LFC fan here. Have been following them since 97. They are having one of the best seasons in premier league history and one of the best years in club history and will come away with no hardware. Its devastating.
Been following the EPL closely this season and I agree in that Devasting is how I'd describe it too. ...I bet on them at 4-1 odds before the season to win the EPL, so I'd like to see Man City stumble these next two matches but it doesn't seem likely that's going to be happening.
United fan (2009). All downhill since Sir Alex retired. Not sure if we will rise again anytime soon.
I'd be shocked if either City or Liverpool dropped points in the league. Their forms are both untouchable. It's going to finish 98-97. There's not much "if" about it.
man that coulda been 4, but def take the 3-0 in a game where liverpool outplayed them for long stretches
What about the 3rd legs....?
It’s laughable to me that people still argue that Ronaldo is better than Messi. Multi generational talent who has elevated the game to an art form with nearly every touch of the ball. It sounds absurd, but I feel blessed to live in a time and enjoy watching such a talented athlete.
First of all, Messi and Ronaldo are close enough that no opinion on who is better is "laughable." I tend to side with Messi as well, but the arguments for Ronaldo are solid. CR7 has proven himself to be a world class superstar on multiple clubs in multiple leagues AND, importantly, for Portugal. We have never seen what Messi would look like away from the Barca nest outside of his play from Argentina. Against the lofty expectations for him, Messi's international play has been a pretty big disappointment.
It's a legitimate debate.
It is not a legitimate debate. Two different levels. All your arguments are Ronaldo fan boy arguments that don’t hold up to scrutiny. I will not even entertain your points because it is a waste of time.
Ronaldo didn't quit on his national team and then come back. I love both players but what Messi did rubs me the wrong way. Imagine if every superstar quit because his team wasn't as good as he is.
I don't want to see Liverpool win the Premier League because I think it's hilarious that they never have and want it to stay that way. But I really wanted them to win UCL this season. Team is just too good to not take home some major silverware this season but it looks like that's what will happen. Sucks for them.