UCL Draw Thread

[Pizy 18,417]

Win our group comfortably only to draw the toughest possible opponent. Cheers, lads. 

Honestly, it's all going to depend on how fit we are when this comes around. Atleti aren't an attacking juggernaut like Bayern who will batter you with beautiful football. This isn't an impossible matchup at all.

[Tomo 21,733]

2 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Worst draw possible I think, although perhaps Real Madrid burst their bubble a little at the weekend.

At least we've shown this season that we can play a game of attrition and nullify top counter attacking teams.

It'll be hard work, but its by no means mission impossible.

If Ziyech and Pulisic are fit for this (big if I know) I think we'll beat them pretty comfortably. Despite the fact they're top of La Liga they aren't as tough to play in big games as they use to be, people will point to them getting past Liverpool last year but that second leg was blind luck not a defensive masterclass.

[killer1257 3,282]

Atletico did only concede 4 goals this season. Gimenez is injured right now.

With guys like Werner, Tammy and Giroud, who need 100 chances to score a goal, we do not have a chance. Also, Atletico only needs one chance. That is all they need

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk

[The Skipper 20,593]

25 minutes ago, Tomo said:

If Ziyech and Pulisic are fit for this (big if I know) I think we'll beat them pretty comfortably, despite the fact they're top of La Liga they aren't as tough to play in big games as they use to be, people will point to them getting past Liverpool last year but that second leg was blind luck not a defensive masterclass.

Agreed. They really aren't that good. Only Felix I'm worried about as he has the talent to do something out of nothing. 

We play a clean game with no mistakes and a fit squad, and we win this. 

[The Skipper 20,593]

8 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

Atletico did only concede 4 goals this season. Gimenez is injured right now.

With guys like Werner, Tammy and Giroud, who need 100 chances to score a goal, we do not have a chance. Also, Atletico only needs one chance. That is all they need

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk
 

They aren't that good. Watch the Madrid derby from this weekend. 

[Jase 43,479]

Maybe things will change in February but I'd fancy our chances against Atletico, especially with the first leg being in Madrid. 

[Jase 43,479]

2 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

They aren't that good. Watch the Madrid derby from this weekend. 

Atletico are a bit of a peculiar bunch. We know they can be good but they also can be underwhelming. They failed to beat to Lokomotiv Moscow over the 2 games and somehow couldn't beat a Bayern B side in the group stage. And then there was the Champions League last season, where they were so flat against Leipzig. 

[killer1257 3,282]

Currently, Simeone is trying something new. He changed his classic 4-4-2 into a 3-5-2 or sometimes 3-4-1-2.

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk

[Jase 43,479]

Looking from a pessimistic POV, it'd be less of an embarrassment if we lose to Atletico than say Porto, Gladbach or Atalanta. 

But either way, the tie will be good learning curve for this team and their development. If we can get past Atletico, it'd give the players confidence for the quarter finals etc.

[The Skipper 20,593]

3 minutes ago, Jason said:

Atletico are a bit of a peculiar bunch. We know they can be good but they also can be underwhelming. They failed to beat to Lokomotiv Moscow over the 2 games and somehow couldn't beat a Bayern B side in the group stage. And then there was the Champions League last season, where they were so flat against Leipzig. 

Honestly they are so uninspired in big games recently. We won't even have to overcommit to beat them I don't think. Safe possession game with some quality chances created in the final third should do it. 

[killer1257 3,282]

Honestly they are so uninspired in big games recently. We won't even have to overcommit to beat them I don't think. Safe possession game with some quality chances created in the final third should do it. 

And who scores those goals? Zouma? He is probably our only reliable scorer right now. Every other of our strikers needs too many chances.

 

 

 

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk

 

 

 

[The Skipper 20,593]

25 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

And who scores those goals? Zouma? Some is probably our only reliable scorer right now. Every other of our strikers needs too many chances.



Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk
 

On the flip side, by February who knows maybe guys like Werner, Pulisic, Havertz find their shooting boots? Guys like Mount, CHO, Abraham will chip in as well. Both of our fullbacks have shown they aren't adverse to goals and Zouma is a huge set piece threat. There's goals in this team. We're literally one of the highest scoring sides in Europe this season. 

This is a great game for the squad because winning this would give them a huge boost of confidence in big games in the future. 

[Jase 43,479]

33 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

And who scores those goals? Zouma? He is probably our only reliable scorer right now. Every other of our strikers needs too many chances.

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk

You're making it sound like they are very prolific. Only 4 Atletico players have scored at least 3 goals this season - the rest are either on 1 or haven't scored - and their top scorer has 8 goals, which IIRC is the same as ours. 

As @The Skipper mentioned above, our players could become more prolific by February. Who knows? Heck, maybe someone will be super clinical on the night for us like Giroud was at Sevilla recently. 

[Jase 43,479]

Look at this way, if we get KOed in the Round of 16, we can focus on the title race. 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Laylabelle 9,381]

It be lovely to get further then the last 16..definitely been a stumbling block for a years now

[Fernando 6,484]

I don't think we have a chance. 

But this is in February so a lot of things can happen between then. 

[NikkiCFC 8,048]

Oh irony, Sevilla got easier opponent..

Worst possible draw but it is all in our hands. Play like Leipzig last season and be clinical. Big test for Lamps.