The Champions League final kicks off at 3 PM EST. I’m opening the chat an hour early in case anyone wants some pre-game discussion. I’ll be here right around kick off. My official already-published-elsewhere prediction: PSG 3, Bayern Munich 2. See you all soon!
That's 20 straight wins for Bayern Munich. Holy shit. Deserved champions, and they really have been the best team in the world since the turn of the year. The high line worked, and if anything they turned up the pressure in the second half, rather than dialing it back. I wonder if Sule made a bit of a hidden difference. PSG were just too reliant on Neymar and Mbappe. Muller and Lewandowski weren't necessarily great for Bayern, but Kimmich and Thiago and Coman picked them up. Some stats:
xG: PSG 1.06, Bayern 1.63
Shots (on target): PSG 10 (3), Bayern 12 (2)
Final-third passes: PSG 36, Bayern 108
Penalty-area passes: PSG 11, Bayern 9
Thanks for the great conversation over the past couple weeks, all. We'll make this a regular thing next season. That's it from me today. Off to write you all a newsletter ...
Think those numbers tell the story of the half pretty nicely, actually. Chances were relatively even, Bayern dominated attacking possession, but PSG had the more dangerous sequences of play. Given that Bayern's major chance came on a set piece from a deflected header, I think PSG are in a slightly better position if things continue like this.
I can't believe I'm typing this at this exact moment of all times, but well, here we are: How many of you all have watched the show that Shea thinks is better than The Wire, Ted Lasso?
In the Bundesliga, Coman has scored one headed goal in five seasons with Bayern. What a time to get one. Bayern are starting to put some pressure on now. The fact that Kimmich, their right back, picked that ball up in the half space is a sign of how far back PSG were pushed in.
Did you guys know that in Qatar, in family law matters, a woman's testimony is worth half a man's and in come cases a female witness is not always equal to that of a
Upon Hearing that foofy is a lawyer It convinced me to apply to law school I am taking the lsat in November....I think people should be aware of The dangers of irresponsible
To be fair he was also double teamed basically the entire second half as the entire midfield and defense and any supporting help was a million miles away defending against the Bayern pressure
That's 20 straight wins for Bayern Munich. Holy shit. Deserved champions, and they really have been the best team in the world since the turn of the year. The high line worked, and if anything they turned up the pressure in the second half, rather than dialing it back. I wonder if Sule made a bit of a hidden difference. PSG were just too reliant on Neymar and Mbappe. Muller and Lewandowski weren't necessarily great for Bayern, but Kimmich and Thiago and Coman picked them up. Some stats:
xG: PSG 1.06, Bayern 1.63
Shots (on target): PSG 10 (3), Bayern 12 (2)
Final-third passes: PSG 36, Bayern 108
Penalty-area passes: PSG 11, Bayern 9
Thanks for the great conversation over the past couple weeks, all. We'll make this a regular thing next season. That's it from me today. Off to write you all a newsletter ...
A hidden difference... like being so slow that di Maria's cut back through ball to himself clipped the back of Sule's heel?
Think we're seeing a bit of why the "Alphonso Davies is the best left back in the world" hype train got a little ahead of itself.
Possible that he is both one of the five best left backs in the world and also not even the best left back on his own team.
(though I, biased, would take Robbo over anyone)
Got beat badly on the yellow card play but I’d say he’s been pretty decent so far. Some really nice contributions to Bayern’s buildup play.
That ball from Paredes ... wow.
Another one to KM
I don't understand VAR. Never will.
Expect nothing, every good decision is a bonus
Humans still decide when to use it and how’s So it doesn’t make any sense. Never will
Hearing the announcer say, "It was good work by Mbappe in his own half of the field," is not what PSG fans would be hoping for.
Neymar will never score in the Champions League again.
I appreciate how quickly some of you are willing to pull the "that's a dive" trigger. Kimmich kicked Mbappe's foot!
To be fair to the 'that's a dive' crowd, contact or not, neither Mbappe or Neymar seems all that interested in trying to keep their feet
This is where Ryan points to the xG value of a penalty and how it’s probably a good tactical strategy to draw one.
It’s the proximity to Neymar
Thiago v Verratti is what we dream about every night, people.
Nice to see Paredes honoring Verratti by getting a needless yellow card after the play.
Big Draymond energy
Would've been fitting had Verratti been disqualified for the next match because of accumulating too many yellows
He already did that. He was out vs. Dortmund
Wow. Hell of an end to the half. Your HT update:
xG: PSG 0.61, Bayern 0.69
Shots (on target): PSG 6 (2), Bayern 5 (1)
Final-third passes: PSG 22, Bayern 48
Penalty-area passes: PSG 9, Bayern 1
Think those numbers tell the story of the half pretty nicely, actually. Chances were relatively even, Bayern dominated attacking possession, but PSG had the more dangerous sequences of play. Given that Bayern's major chance came on a set piece from a deflected header, I think PSG are in a slightly better position if things continue like this.
Based on the speed PSG has, I’m sure they’re completely fine with these possession numbers—their ability to counterattack has been pretty threatening.
Mbappe is the new Neymar.
Harsh but fair.
So what’s Neymar?
The old Neymar
Somewhat telling stat from the first 38 minutes: PSG have completed seven passes into the penalty area. Bayern have completed zero.
if you had predicted nil nil, we would have had so many goals in this match. alas
I'll work my magic for the second half.
That is a telling stat.
Are passes leading to shots (like Lewa’s header) not counted as complete?
Kimpembe headed it before it got to Lewandowski.
Oh right
Sorry to belabor the point, but imagine if PSG had an elite goal-scorer on the end of that chance instead of Choupo-Moting.
what disrespect for match winner and Stoke legend
And take two
Igahlo
Wow. This is really testing my "managers have to sub way earlier than they usually do" line of militant thinking.
It seems someone listens to the pod.
Is he taunting Tuchel? why coman and gnabry of all people?
The best young French winger on the field tonight is not the guy I thought it would be.
The german defender I thought would get wrecked is not the one getting circles run around him
The German sitting on a cooler is not the one I ... oh—no, yes he is
Hi. I’m just here to talk about Ted Lasso, which is great.
<3
Great move, Great show
"Mbappe crossing to Choupo-Moting" isn't quite the Plan B I was expecting from PSG.
Tbf Draxler was uncovered
I think this answers your earlier question about how the Mbappe/diMaria switch would affect play
Elite 1v1 defending from Thiago Silva.
These clubs will miss their Thiagos.
I can't believe I'm typing this at this exact moment of all times, but well, here we are: How many of you all have watched the show that Shea thinks is better than The Wire, Ted Lasso?
I love Shea and I'll ride with him till death but come on Shea, it's The Wire
Jimmy taught me that
I just started it this morning, really stoked about it
shea is of course right, unless the wire is a show about all the transfers that failed due to broken fax machines.
I recced it about a week back. Quality. No comment on The Wire
My like on Shea's comment was strictly based on his presence in the chat, and I don't actually know what Ted lasso is
How much would you have won on a 10-dollar "1-0 Bayern, Kingsley Coman header" bet?
a gift card for an aa meeting.
Choupo-Moting on ahead of Icardi. Hrm.......
Yeah, that checks out
In the Bundesliga, Coman has scored one headed goal in five seasons with Bayern. What a time to get one. Bayern are starting to put some pressure on now. The fact that Kimmich, their right back, picked that ball up in the half space is a sign of how far back PSG were pushed in.
Mbappe scores in front of the goal. What a night to forget how to do that. At least, he didn’t slip yet...
Will be interesting to see if Mbappe and Di Maria swapping sides has any effect on how the next few minutes play out.
Coutinho is going to score the insurance goal and become Bayern’s Origi, completing some karmic cycle we can only vaguely understand
Is this the moment??
Yoooo I miss Navas on Madrid. I know we have courtois but still...Navas is fucking solid
Always felt he was underrated
better than courtois imo
Live by the Choupo-Moting, die by the Choupo-Moting?
Seems like a 12-month season might be particularly rough on the body of a 30-something center back in a high-pressing system.
If no one scores the match should be decided by an XFL style sprint to the ball between Davies and Mbappe
Coman has to be involved somehow or it just feels like a wasted opportunity.
Thanks for hosting, Ryan! A fun way to watch the UCL Final!
Yeah this was great! Do it again next season!
Finals are much better when refs don’t gift a PK in the first minute
Definitely better when the best player on the field doesn't get suplexed in the first 20 minutes, too.
Never Give Up
Amen. 😭😭😭
Ball still said "Istanbul"
A moment of silence for all the perisic shots we are being deprived of
Niko kovac must really suck at coaching
Penalties should count for half a goal and let there be more of them. Basically, they should break ties
Mbappe washed!
Pink boots...I knew iit!!
You wouldn’t expect the pressure to get to him but I think that’s just what happened
One-sixth of the game gone, and just three total shots. This is not what I promised you guys on Friday!
Everyone is a little cagey so far! It’ll open up... but when?
Seems like a pretty big deal that Keylor Navas is starting.
What are you guys thinking? Who wins? Who plays well? Who gets sent off in the 20th minute?
4-3 Bayern I just pray for goals and a relatively even match
PSG wins an entertaining game. I find it hard to imagine that their front three will be as wasteful as Depay and Toko-Ekambi were.
Bayern 5-1 PSG
Going to be a wild second half
Great game. Tough loss for PSG, but Bayern took their chance and Mbappé didn’t. Probably the two best teams in Europe.
Miles off side and still kicks it right at Neuer.
All of you Chelsea fans should be happy, Thiago Silva is the best 35 year old cb on the market
It’s like I said after we recorded, I would love to see it
There are so many players on PSG that I’m like, “Oh, THAT’S where they’ve been!”
Both clubs are pretty deep in that regard. But yeah, I miss Draxler.
How soon before Draxler starts the West Brom phase of his career?
Is he still good enough for Germany’s midfield?
1-0! I have been waiting for so long.
Did you guys know that in Qatar, in family law matters, a woman's testimony is worth half a man's and in come cases a female witness is not always equal to that of a
If PSG win the UCL, does Tuchel ever sit on anything that’s not a cooler ever again?
is it just me or does serge gnabry look like brad pitt with the stache lmao
Big billy D williams energy for me.
Not no
Perfect description
Given how Neuer has bounced back I'm still hopeful for De Gea
Neuer’s downturn was more injury related. De Gea is just in a funk.
Upon Hearing that foofy is a lawyer It convinced me to apply to law school I am taking the lsat in November....I think people should be aware of The dangers of irresponsible
Podcasting
lmao
I hope Barca have that amount ready to give to Liverpool now that Coutinho is a CL winner. Lol what a mess 😂
Get the lawyers on the fine print there.
Congrats to Bayern. Found myself cheering for PSG despite all the Bayern exposure I had.
I love Neymar but just didn’t have it today.
Tough way to go out for Neymar, he looked like he ran out of gas
To be fair he was also double teamed basically the entire second half as the entire midfield and defense and any supporting help was a million miles away defending against the Bayern pressure
Neymar’s gotta hate losing against Neuer in the opposing goal
Well he wasn’t on the field for the 7-1, but yeah, no good memories.
We need a Space Interpreter movie instead of a Space Jam remake