soccer game he had ever watched (in his young life). Perhaps Porto brings the same energy to their face-off against Chelsea.
Liverpool avoids Man City, Bayern, and PSG for another day.
I love Notre Dame Stadium and if we ever become Google Field I'll cry, but "O Dragao/The Dragon" is a pretty hard one to top!
Along with Knightly I'm the other Madrid guy here, and my bracket would have had Ronaldo carrying Juventus (I'm still reading Pirlo's thesis, linked below as many of y'all may enjoy it, but as a soccer fan I'm glad even if it's a competitor) to a likely semi/finals loss to City, whom I think will unfortunately romp.
City
Tossup!
Bayern
Liverpool - I love Mo, but have a bad feeling he's going to go off against my team
City escapes Bayern the in the real final, then beats Liverpool to win it all. Ugh!
Even allowing for how seemingly arbitrary it is, is one of my favorite things in sports.
It should cease to matter once a match goes to extra time.
Although I should mention that Juventus losing is also one of my favorite things in sports.
And I thought that even before Liverpool's loss last year. It is one of the few things I think MLS had correct in their playoffs when they had two legged ties.
Each team got a full match to get an advantage. Yeah, the home team still has their supporters but all in all, if it goes to ET in leg two, advancing should be based entirely on winning outright.
The home team in the second leg either earned the right (finished first in group for round of 16) or "won" the draw (quarters/semis) to host the second leg. I think having ET at home is a justifiable reward for earning/winning the spot to host the second leg. Yes, a draw is random, but I think winning should be rewarded. With away goals counting in ET, the "losing" team is rewarded.
I do like your concept of having to win outright in this scenario. That actually means more to me than my convoluted logic, so I'll have to remember it if this ever comes up again.
I think Bayern will roll them. If he does, then I think it will be a good tie.
Overall, I think the QF matchups are fairly balanced. City can absolutely lose to Dortmund if Haaland gets hot. He doesn't need a ton of service, just chances.
And I firmly believe that Madrid matchup can go horribly wrong for Liverpool.
Haaland score on anyone and will present a great challenge to the reformed City defense. I'm really interested to see how Pep game plans for him.
That said Sancho is out for at least the first leg (if not both legs) and Dortmund's defense is decimated with two starters and four players overall injured.
Pep seems to have found his best City team and movement this year, so hopeful can resist the odd tinkering in these quarterfinals.
To me Porto is the sleeper team- really dangerous, disciplined, and well-coached. I think they'll take a Chelsea that can't find goals.
yeah I think combined tie score will be 5-2 Bayern or something like that.
Any matchup can go horribly wrong for Liverpool at the moment.
But they aren't coming out ahead in a goal fest, though.
I think it's actually going to come down to midfield play.
I think it would be way harder for Madrid (and Ramos in particular -- though he likes being the villain).
I am comfortable with Madrid's materials in midfield. Resting Modric and Kroos in La Liga and keeping Fede Valverde/Casemiro healthy (and available) is the key.
Kabak and Phillips don't have the ability to do what Liverpool had been doing with other pairings. I think it is actually a blessing. We'll see if that continues against Arsenal. It's still higher than other teams, though. Based on current form, I can see this coming down to some huge blunder by either team. Or there will be an explosion of defensive ineptitude and 12 goals total over both legs.
They benefit from open games when teams play them. When teams play a low block then they’ll have a high line. Which is why they are susceptible against bad teams.
It’s an interesting dichotomy. They probably have as good a chance to beat Madrid as they do Burnley.
for the Ramos redemption.
and Zizou has switched the formation to a 3-5-2 to flood the middle of the park. I am not sure Carvajal will be ready for this round but I expect much tighter defense out of Madrid this next round. Sadly, Hazard is never going to play for Madrid so a lot of the pressure will fall on the kids (Vinicius, Rodrygo and Asensio). Vinicius shows flickers of being an elite player but Liverpool ain't Atalanta or Huesca. If he can step up on this stage it will be an important step in his development.
The goalie matchup here is also excellent. I know Allison has had some moments this year but he is elite. Courtois has been nothing short of fantastic this campaign.
can't see how he tinkers to a 2-7-1 lineup that ultimately costs him against Dortmund.
Oh and I better hear a shit ton about City's high line against Haaland and Sancho.
I think Pep will have the guts to play aggressive but the stable of horses Dortmund can unleash with Haaland/Hazard/Sancho and Reus still playing at a high level can get you down 2-0 quickly if you are not careful.