Champions League match day 6: Milan - RB Salzburg November 2 2022 21:00

[Bennacer]

Of course Real is fantastic, but if i have to choose between City, Real, and PSG, i would choose Real.

[Bennacer]

And it was a pure miracle that Real won the CL last year. Totally outplayed by City, and two goals in overtime, PSG should absolutely have won over two matches, the Chelsea match was a miracle, and even in the final Liverpool were the best team. This wont happen again.

[Codazzi]

Can teams from the same country face each other in the Champions League last 16?
No side can face another team from the same national association. Clubs cannot face opponents they met during the group stage, either.

So there are 6 possibilities. Let's divide them into 2 groups.

Bad options: City, Real, Bayern

Good options: Porto, Tottenham, Benfica

50% chance is not that bad.

[nefremo]

I agree with that separation of the "good" and "bad" options.
With that being said, playing Benfica now would be a bad option. BUT, we don't have to play now. We'll play at the end of February...and A LOT of things can change by than. City, Bayern and Real have super quality in their squads, so although form is important, their quality can take them through a 2 leg tie even in bad form. Benfica on the other hand, relies highly on good form currently. Yes, of course, they have some quality players. But it's nothing more than what we have.

[Sampinjon]

OK it makes sense. Benfica got 6 today.  

I wonder where we can find the complete tiebreaking list. It is hilarious that away goals were invoked. Honestly, I don't even remember this ever happening in the past. In World Cup, I know that they would resort to a coin toss ('90 WC comes to mind, Ireland & the Netherlands, IIRC).

There are bunch of tiebreakers, 10 or so, red cards, yellow cards... don't know them all, but I know for sure that final one before the coin is UEFA club coefficient.

[honsano]

I think this break is a real shame as we are just starting to find form in CL. I find it interesting you guys think there are good and bad teams. All teams in the 16 have quality players so it is really how well the coaches prepare. The billion dollar PSG and Man City teams are prime examples as they haven’t won CL yet. If Pioli gets his tactics right like he did in the second half of Zagreb and Salzburg, anything can happen. If his tactics are off and we just rely on individual quality, expect Torino all over again.

[reza]

Experience will start to count more, DNA too. For example I can guess that no matter the form a player like CDK will get lost in his first one off game (of course it is 2 legs but I am fairly certain this fells like one 180 minute game to many players). CDK does have CL experience with Brugge but not knockout.

It will be a huge bonus if we make it another round or two, I have no expectations.

[Kastriot]

At this moment all of them are more equiped to beat us. Porto and Benfica are the easy choice. However, even if we win them we go through to one od the other teams and we lose. However, if we get PSG and somehow win them, we are instantly becoming contenders.

Thats what happened with Real last year, they gained in confidence by winning the first tie and went all the way

[sylrus]

the hardest opponent we can get, thats what i want, be it real, psg, bayern, anyone, bring them in, we will try to beat them and show the world if we are meant business or not

[Aficio]

At this point, our youngsters need top experience, as winning CL is very unlikely.

So bringing Real or Man City here!!! I don't like meeting PSG or Bayern for learning because they are the best of the trivial bunches.

Last year with Pool taught our players a lot.