Zoltanrules

April 15th, 2018 at 6:00 PM ^

The Champions League is big tournament of all the top clubs from top Euro Leagues so that is quite an accomplishment. They play Roma starting 4/24. The other sem 4/25 is Bayern Munich and Real Madrid (who are the two best clubs in the world right now). 

The trouble with these US exhibition matches is that many of the top stars don't play much or at all and with the World Cup finishing just before this match that situation could be even worse.

 

Zoltanrules

April 15th, 2018 at 6:00 PM ^

The World cup semis are two weeks before the match at the Big House and if France (Pogba, Martial) or Brazil (Coutinho and Firmino) make it that far, there won't be enough star power to merit paying $100 + a ticket.

I'll still go but am tired of Mourinho and this boring team.

Sambojangles

April 15th, 2018 at 6:21 PM ^

Coutinho is gone to Barca. LFC's star is now Mohammed Salah, one of the hottest players in the world. Unless Egypt makes a long run in the WC (Unlikely) I bet we'll see him for at least a half.

These are preseason exhibitions, yes, and the teams treat them as such by not playing full squads. However, they also know how important it is to put out a good product in front of the US market, because they have tons of potential fans here. In 2014 no one expected Ronaldo, fresh off a WC, to play for Portugal but he went out in the second half and everyone cheered for him. It was pretty cool.

Sambojangles

April 15th, 2018 at 6:21 PM ^

Coutinho is gone to Barca. LFC's star is now Mohammed Salah, one of the hottest players in the world. Unless Egypt makes a long run in the WC (Unlikely) I bet we'll see him for at least a half.

These are preseason exhibitions, yes, and the teams treat them as such by not playing full squads. However, they also know how important it is to put out a good product in front of the US market, because they have tons of potential fans here. In 2014 no one expected Ronaldo, fresh off a WC, to play for Portugal but he went out in the second half and everyone cheered for him. It was pretty cool.

Zoltanrules

April 15th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^

Now we defintiely won't see him in A2 lol. Salah would definitely be the a big plus draw for those who follow the EPL.

I enjoyed seeing Marcelo two years ago. A star playing with emotion and energy dominating some second stringers.

15 minutes of Ronaldo in '14 was also a treat.  So was Ancelotti managing to win that game and not treat it like a scrimmage.

 

Helloheisman

April 15th, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^

Might be missing many big players. Virgil van dijk, emre can, Roberto firmino, sadio mane, and Mohamed Salah. All depending on how the World Cup goes for their respective countries.