and launch all of the EPL scum out of the tournament.

Unfortunately, I think Madrid is going to have trouble with City.

Fun knockout round so far.

I'm looking forward to watching it.

Just don't think Chelsea has enough up front to keep up with Bayern. Don't see an Arsenal result, but it's not going to be super close. Like 5-2 or 4-1 agg.

at LB. I love Marcelo...a Madrid legend through and through who has earned the respect he is given by the club and Zidane but Madrid is a better defensive team without him in the lineup. He just can't track back anymore and Mendy gives enough on offense to warrant the spot. The battle in the midfield between Kevin Deb & Casemiro/Valverde will be super fun to watch.

If Chelsea does not get healthy I just can't see them challenging but Bayern worries me in the middle of the defense. Would love to see Thiago continue with his recent form so that he locks his status on the Spanish national team.

With Kimmich at DM, I have no worries.

Willian is welcome to challenge Alphonso Davies.

And you’re spot on about Marcelo. He done.

what a rocket

That kid is going to go for 100M+ now. That second goal was an absolute screamer. By the time Keylor moved the ball was making a dent in the back of the net. What a rocket! I am surprised it did not go through the net.

I hate hyperbole too, but he really seems like the missing piece as a pure striker to round out our young talent, and perhaps more reasonable than Mbappe (national team hero starring in his hometown and with an owner who makes us look poor, although the Zizou angle could help) and more pragmatic than Pogba (we missed Kante, but Fede the Engine has been outstanding). Odegaard & Hakimi both look like the increased playing time has paid off elsewhere and are ready to be brought home, and if we can keep this ridiculous Brasilian pipepline going, I think I like this blend of proven + young far better than the Galacticos. Wasn't sure if you followed them, but Managing Madrid has had some great articles lately both about how Zidane calmly restored order after last year's mess and how we can gracefully transition from the eventual aging of club legends like Ramos and Modric

I agree with everything you say. We are goal starved and a guy like Haaland sure would be nice. I have read Managing Madrid for a few years. They always have good stuff; especially the tactical breakdowns after games.

Limping into City...not a good sign.

I’ve seen some of the recent goals...holt shit is right

How close was ManU to getting him? How much is it going to cost one of the bigger clubs to sign him?

Scored 8 goals in CL group stage.

As wcintz said, he has a 60m release clause effective summer 2021. Read ManU didnt want to agree to that, along with Raiola as his agent left bad taste to United.

Or maybe he felt like United wasn’t ready for him - Dortmund is all but guaranteed CL play next season. United, not so much.

But he does have a release clause, apparently.

but maybe I'm not digging enough. His old man and Roy Keane didn't have a very good relationship. I do wonder if that had an impact on turning United down.

I also tend to think Ed Woodward fucked it up as well because that's just what Ed does.

Roy holds all the grudges.

Wouldn't surprise me if Woodward did fuck it up, but it also wouldn't surprise me if the kid just felt like Dortmund was a better fit for the next 1-2 years. He will play a ton, their style will give him plenty of chances and it isn't a huge culture shock.

but reality was Raiola getting a payoff yet again from United and then the release clause. Woodward wouldn't play ball with that, Dortmund did.

...allowed him to turn away from the defender already accelerating. He looks like he’ll be a big help for the US in the near future.

Smother the match with a pillow.

Klopp knew what he was up against, there was no surprise here.

1-0 after the away leg isn't the worst, but 0-0 would've been better.

Atletico isn’t going to leak like Barcelona did last year in the comeback. Simeone will shithouse that match from the opening whistle.

But hopefully the ref in the 2nd leg won't be as accommodating of the shithousery as the ref was today.

It is far from a given the Liverpool will progress, but I'm not overly worried, depending on the injury situation.

I know Klopp was complaining about Mane being targeted (trying to draw a second yellow) after the match, but overall it was balanced.

Could be offsides there...