***Madrid v Treble Winners Official Match Thread***

[Indianablue]

Like Rudiger has Haaland's card, so does Bernie with Madrid. How many are there now? 4 goals in 4 games?

Does he ever not show up in a big game?

No, but Alvarez has

[Indianablue]

Like Rudiger has Haaland's card, so does Bernie with Madrid. How many are there now? 4 goals in 4 games?

Does he ever not show up in a big game?

No, but Alvarez has

[blues2win]

It won’t be easy against Luton ( but harder against Real Madrid!) but Stones has played two games in quick succession and is injury prone. A big risk to play him on Saturday in my opinion. There will be a strong bench in case.

[Indianablue]

Fingering rudriger didn't help us get a point it was like playing with ten. Alvarez up front and pressing would have been miles more helpful.

Rudriger has haalands card - and he will play next week.

The match is over now and any rants during the match can be forgotten as we all know we all overreact on team news and match threads...me more than most..... now its post match and I will still stick with my scathing comments on Haaland - he was fuckign useless and couldn't control most balls given to him.

Anyone that really thinks Haaland played well or contributed enough in this game is well and truly fucking deluded

In the cold light of day, Haaland was ineffective, marshalled easily by experienced defenders ( not even the best defenders), made few runs to offer his availabilty, had few touches. His contribution was insignificant to the team's effort. He tracked back once and made a tackle on the touchline. Last night he was wank. I really feel it's like 10 men plus Haaland every time he plays. Alvarez should have started against those last night. Far more mobile, better ball control better all round footballer, better TEAM member

Said once the team was announced that I was surprised it was Haaland over Alvarez for the points made above. There is no doubt that Haaland is a scoring machine and he has the stats to prove it. There can also be no doubt that his overall effort for the team when he is not receiving service is minimal to non- existent. I've given him a pass for pinning the defence back and letting our midfield come furrher forward, but I don't see that in him at present. Teams fear him but we had 10 men on the pitch lasr night and fucking fair play to them for putting that shift in. Expecting him to start on Saturday but I think he is playing for his place in the 2nd leg

Agree with that. He is lost without a feeder. He needs to make things happen rather than wait for it. Life without Mahrez, Gundo, KDB he needs to get used to it

[MIAMCFC]

I’m happy with our situation. With Erling out for a stroll I expect they have more to think about for next Wed.

[salford city]

I’m happy with our situation. With Erling out for a stroll I expect they have more to think about for next Wed.

They've got more to worry about than us. Only slight concern for me is now Saturday and who plays? Stones has to sit out for Rico. Id play Kev and Haaland rest bernie and Phil. Put big Ed back in to get him back in the groove

[PeterParker]

I am still in awe. What a fucking goal was from Phil. What a strike.

[KinkyKinkladze]

Anybody know what the Spanish papers are saying this morning?

[Mase]

Anybody know what the Spanish papers are saying this morning?

Something about the roof not being closed properly. If it was they’d have won

[Harry Dowd scored]

Anybody know what the Spanish papers are saying this morning?

Marca sports page -:

Q Real Madrid and Manchester City play out Champions League thriller
https://www.marca.com/en/football/champ ... b4580.html

[MIAMCFC]

Anybody know what the Spanish papers are saying this morning?

Bollockso !!!

[blues2win]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... -time.html

Rodri clear he needs to be given a rest from to time. I don’t think he’ll play on Saturday.

[charvet_wonderland]

I am still in awe. What a fucking goal was from Phil. What a strike.

And the touch to set himself. He is the best in the business at that half-turn control.

[salford city]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13292159/Man-City-Rodri-rest-treble-winners-play-time.html

Rodri clear he needs to be given a rest from to time. I don’t think he’ll play on Saturday.

Hope not and it will be interesting to see whether he starts Kev Kova and Nunes. We don't need a DM Saturday. Rodders, Stones Bernie and Phil to sit out Luton give Walker a half to get up to speed if he's fit

[Mase]

Kovacic is far too slow to do Rodri’s role. Fuck me the guy looks like he’s running with bricks on his feet

[carl_feedthegoat]

Kovacic is far too slow to do Rodri’s role. Fuck me the guy looks like he’s running with bricks on his feet

Opposing players run at him as they know hes fuckign slow and they have a 75% chance of taking the ball off him and then they counter.
He needs to be told to release the ball as soon as possible as hes just not fast enough or good enough to hold possession against the top teams.

[Mase]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13292159/Man-City-Rodri-rest-treble-winners-play-time.html

Rodri clear he needs to be given a rest from to time. I don’t think he’ll play on Saturday.

BBC leading with this story Sad twats

[zuricity]

Tough tonight , psg barca , madrid dortmund , or swansea stoke?

[Nick]

Rest vs luton: bern, foden, stones, rodri - but who plays as creative? Without one or usually two from bern kev and foden we create fuck all.

Rico, bobb, alvarez, doku should all start and I'm happy with them.

Kova I'm indifferent.

Nunes and gomez are just absolutely wank but I imagine nunes needs to play or he's in the kalvin boat.

I'm glad kalvin isn't an option to play sat.

[branny]

Like Rudiger has Haaland's card, so does Bernie with Madrid. How many are there now? 4 goals in 4 games?

Does he ever not show up in a big game?

No, but Alvarez has

Haaland affects how Madrid defend. He occupies both centre halves creating space for others and we've benefited from that in the last two games at the Bernabeu. De Bruyne and Foden don't get the space they did on the edge of the box to score if Haaland isn't on the pitch. Rudiger can obsess about Haaland and pocket him all he wants but when you're still conceding three goals at home it's not exactly a defensive masterclass. Where Haaland does need to improve is his hold up play and not have the ball just pinging off him. This is where we need Ederson and not Ortega for the long ball accuracy.