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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

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 ...

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James's avatar

A hidden difference... like being so slow that di Maria's cut back through ball to himself clipped the back of Sule's heel?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

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.

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Thomas's avatar

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)

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Jesse Ziter's avatar

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.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

That ball from Paredes ... wow.

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Stephen W's avatar

Another one to KM

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I don't understand VAR. Never will.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

Expect nothing, every good decision is a bonus

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Thomas Van Grinsven's avatar

Humans still decide when to use it and how’s So it doesn’t make any sense. Never will

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

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.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Neymar will never score in the Champions League again.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I appreciate how quickly some of you are willing to pull the "that's a dive" trigger. Kimmich kicked Mbappe's foot!

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David Meyers's avatar

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

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Dan's avatar

This is where Ryan points to the xG value of a penalty and how it’s probably a good tactical strategy to draw one.

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Patrick O's avatar

It’s the proximity to Neymar

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Thiago v Verratti is what we dream about every night, people.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Nice to see Paredes honoring Verratti by getting a needless yellow card after the play.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

Big Draymond energy

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

Would've been fitting had Verratti been disqualified for the next match because of accumulating too many yellows

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Jonathan's avatar

He already did that. He was out vs. Dortmund

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

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.

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Patrick O's avatar

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.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Mbappe is the new Neymar.

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Halbridious's avatar

Harsh but fair.

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El Pibe's avatar

So what’s Neymar?

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Philip Johnston's avatar

The old Neymar

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Somewhat telling stat from the first 38 minutes: PSG have completed seven passes into the penalty area. Bayern have completed zero.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

if you had predicted nil nil, we would have had so many goals in this match. alas

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I'll work my magic for the second half.

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Rick B.'s avatar

That is a telling stat.

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Marc's avatar

Are passes leading to shots (like Lewa’s header) not counted as complete?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Kimpembe headed it before it got to Lewandowski.

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Marc's avatar

Oh right

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Sorry to belabor the point, but imagine if PSG had an elite goal-scorer on the end of that chance instead of Choupo-Moting.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

what disrespect for match winner and Stoke legend

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Stephen W's avatar

And take two

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Danby's avatar

Igahlo

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Wow. This is really testing my "managers have to sub way earlier than they usually do" line of militant thinking.

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Patrick O's avatar

It seems someone listens to the pod.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

Is he taunting Tuchel? why coman and gnabry of all people?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

The best young French winger on the field tonight is not the guy I thought it would be.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

The german defender I thought would get wrecked is not the one getting circles run around him

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Philip Johnston's avatar

The German sitting on a cooler is not the one I ... oh—no, yes he is

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Shea Serrano's avatar

Hi. I’m just here to talk about Ted Lasso, which is great.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

<3

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

Great move, Great show

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

"Mbappe crossing to Choupo-Moting" isn't quite the Plan B I was expecting from PSG.

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Sam Martin's avatar

Tbf Draxler was uncovered

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Philip Johnston's avatar

I think this answers your earlier question about how the Mbappe/diMaria switch would affect play

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Elite 1v1 defending from Thiago Silva.

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Stephen W's avatar

These clubs will miss their Thiagos.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

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?

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

I love Shea and I'll ride with him till death but come on Shea, it's The Wire

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Jimmy taught me that

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Jack Dawson's avatar

I just started it this morning, really stoked about it

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Fabian's avatar

shea is of course right, unless the wire is a show about all the transfers that failed due to broken fax machines.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

I recced it about a week back. Quality. No comment on The Wire

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Mike's avatar

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

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

How much would you have won on a 10-dollar "1-0 Bayern, Kingsley Coman header" bet?

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Fabian's avatar

a gift card for an aa meeting.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Choupo-Moting on ahead of Icardi. Hrm.......

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Jack Dawson's avatar

Yeah, that checks out

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

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.

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Nassim Kezoui's avatar

Mbappe scores in front of the goal. What a night to forget how to do that. At least, he didn’t slip yet...

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Will be interesting to see if Mbappe and Di Maria swapping sides has any effect on how the next few minutes play out.

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Patrick S's avatar

Coutinho is going to score the insurance goal and become Bayern’s Origi, completing some karmic cycle we can only vaguely understand

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Patrick O's avatar

Is this the moment??

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El Pibe's avatar

Yoooo I miss Navas on Madrid. I know we have courtois but still...Navas is fucking solid

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Jack Dawson's avatar

Always felt he was underrated

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Matt Gaydos's avatar

better than courtois imo

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Live by the Choupo-Moting, die by the Choupo-Moting?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Seems like a 12-month season might be particularly rough on the body of a 30-something center back in a high-pressing system.

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Mike's avatar

If no one scores the match should be decided by an XFL style sprint to the ball between Davies and Mbappe

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Halbridious's avatar

Coman has to be involved somehow or it just feels like a wasted opportunity.

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Patrick O's avatar

Thanks for hosting, Ryan! A fun way to watch the UCL Final!

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Yeah this was great! Do it again next season!

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Hector's avatar

Finals are much better when refs don’t gift a PK in the first minute

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Definitely better when the best player on the field doesn't get suplexed in the first 20 minutes, too.

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JohnMark Fisher's avatar

Never Give Up

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Patrick O's avatar

Amen. 😭😭😭

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JohnMark Fisher's avatar

Ball still said "Istanbul"

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Jack Dawson's avatar

A moment of silence for all the perisic shots we are being deprived of

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Thomas Van Grinsven's avatar

Niko kovac must really suck at coaching

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Marc's avatar

Penalties should count for half a goal and let there be more of them. Basically, they should break ties

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Patrick S's avatar

Mbappe washed!

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Miguel's avatar

Pink boots...I knew iit!!

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Philip Johnston's avatar

You wouldn’t expect the pressure to get to him but I think that’s just what happened

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

One-sixth of the game gone, and just three total shots. This is not what I promised you guys on Friday!

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Everyone is a little cagey so far! It’ll open up... but when?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Seems like a pretty big deal that Keylor Navas is starting.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

What are you guys thinking? Who wins? Who plays well? Who gets sent off in the 20th minute?

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Max Willis's avatar

4-3 Bayern I just pray for goals and a relatively even match

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Sam's avatar

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.

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Patrick S's avatar

Bayern 5-1 PSG

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Patrick S's avatar

Going to be a wild second half

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Sam Martin's avatar

Great game. Tough loss for PSG, but Bayern took their chance and Mbappé didn’t. Probably the two best teams in Europe.

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Stephen W's avatar

Miles off side and still kicks it right at Neuer.

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Thomas Van Grinsven's avatar

All of you Chelsea fans should be happy, Thiago Silva is the best 35 year old cb on the market

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Jack Dawson's avatar

It’s like I said after we recorded, I would love to see it

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Patrick O's avatar

There are so many players on PSG that I’m like, “Oh, THAT’S where they’ve been!”

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Stephen W's avatar

Both clubs are pretty deep in that regard. But yeah, I miss Draxler.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

How soon before Draxler starts the West Brom phase of his career?

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Stephen W's avatar

Is he still good enough for Germany’s midfield?

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

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

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Patrick O's avatar

If PSG win the UCL, does Tuchel ever sit on anything that’s not a cooler ever again?

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Matt Gaydos's avatar

is it just me or does serge gnabry look like brad pitt with the stache lmao

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Halbridious's avatar

Big billy D williams energy for me.

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Mike's avatar

Not no

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

Perfect description

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

Given how Neuer has bounced back I'm still hopeful for De Gea

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Stephen W's avatar

Neuer’s downturn was more injury related. De Gea is just in a funk.

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Danby's avatar

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

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

lmao

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

I hope Barca have that amount ready to give to Liverpool now that Coutinho is a CL winner. Lol what a mess 😂

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Stephen W's avatar

Get the lawyers on the fine print there.

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Hector's avatar

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.

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Sam Martin's avatar

Tough way to go out for Neymar, he looked like he ran out of gas

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

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

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Neymar’s gotta hate losing against Neuer in the opposing goal

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Stephen W's avatar

Well he wasn’t on the field for the 7-1, but yeah, no good memories.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

We need a Space Interpreter movie instead of a Space Jam remake

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