151 Comments
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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Hell of a game. My main takeaway: "Champions League experience" is bullshit. That's the exact kind of tetchy game that you'd expect the more experienced team to win. Also: Tyler Adams is the fuckin goat baby USA USA USA.

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Jack Dawson's avatar

Tyler Adams=gully

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Am I the only one who constantly forgets how much I don't like watching Atletico?

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Patrick S's avatar

The idea of Atletico as this morally ambivalent band of guerrilla warfare outlaws lead by a darkly charismatic firebrand is great narrative, but it's easy to conflate the enjoyment of the concept of Atleti existing with enjoyment of them actually playing

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Exactly!

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Sam's avatar

most of the times i watch them there's a gimenez header to win 1-0 that happens when i stop watching for 30 seconds somewhere between 70th - 85th min

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Sam's avatar

Remember when they beat Real Madrid 7-3 in preseason? They had us all fooled

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Timish Pryshlak's avatar

work was cancelled today and I had a brief moment of excited before seeing the match and realizing it was Atletico

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Jack Dawson's avatar

Had to stay at work late and miss yesterday, of course I got out early to watch this. Hate to see it

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Tough scene for you.

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Jonathan's avatar

It's only fun for the Simeone reactions

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Phill Boerger's avatar

I get what your saying. They have a ton of talent on the team but they can be a little boring to watch especially if it isn't your club you support.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

INSANE CURVE ON THAT SHOT BY THE MODERN-DAY ZIDANE

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

My mom just saw Morata and said, "Oh, is that the American kid?"

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John's avatar

Brutal

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Michael K's avatar

That’d solve the striker problems, that’s for sure

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James's avatar

Would it though?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Some final stats:

-xG: RBL 0.9, AM 1.11 (PK worth 0.76)

-Shots: RBL 10 (4 on goal), AM 9 (3)

-Final-third passes: RBL 137, AM 51

-Passes into penalty area: RBL 19, AM 10

I think the last one is the most important. While Atletico defend deep, they only typically allow 9-10 passes into the box. RBL nearly doubled that, and they did it without their superstar striker. Outside of the one run by Joao Felix, Atletico barely created anything. Seems like a fair result to me, a defining moment for Tyler Adams and a signature win for THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Julian Nagelsmann over the one-game-knockout king.

Thanks for chatting today; we got through that slog together. Loved it today, and we'll do it again tomorrow.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Imagine if he'd started the game ...

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

Why start your best attacking players when the other team has 0 goals at the start of the game?

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Philip Johnston's avatar

I have to say I quite like how Simeone has done this though, frustrating Leipzig and now attacking fresh and late

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Scott Shaheen's avatar

has he been out of favor? haven't followed much atleti this season or did simeone want to just go super conservative?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Has Jan Oblak ever ran before? The evidence of a few seconds ago suggests "no".

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Just looked it up. Atleti have three come-from-behind wins in La Liga this year. League average was two.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

More on this: They had the second-best xG differential in the league (per 90 minutes) when down a goal. They can turn it on when they want to, sometimes.

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Sam's avatar

did they bring on felix in the other games?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

RTing this from before, as it seems especially pertinent now: "The most non-penalty goals scored this season, in all competitions, by a player in Atletico's current lineup? Five."

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Sam's avatar

over under on when simeone brings on felix is prob like 83rd min

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Maybe the better question is how many goals by players currently on their bench? (I don’t actually know)

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Felt like a pretty quiet game from Nkunku, though he did create four of RBL's nine chances. I think that's a good sign, actually. He can affect a game without standing out.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

The most non-penalty goals scored this season, in all competitions, by a player in Atletico's current lineup? Five.

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Timish Pryshlak's avatar

this seems not good

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

You only have to score if you let the other team score.

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Timish Pryshlak's avatar

Diego Simone's mantra

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Interesting decision by Halstenberg to kick that ball out of the stadium rather than at the goal.

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Patrick S's avatar

Diego Costa is looking more and more like a less hairy Rob Delaney

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

Simeone is the highest paid manager in the world to ensure that football is as fun as going to a dentist

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Sam's avatar

just a couple of former MLS players connecting for champions league goal

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John's avatar

Wasn't familiar with him before this one but Upamecano is a stellar center back.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Thought Kimpembe was fantastic for PSG yesterday, too. So many good central defenders from France right now.

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Was just thinking the same thing

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Michael K's avatar

Upamecano is just flying around out there today, it feels like he’s everywhere at once. He feels like a future Pep CB the way he acts on the ball.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Who is your MOTM? And don't just give me a name; give me a reason, too.

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Phill Boerger's avatar

Upemacano. Was a rock in the back shutting down the final 3rd and also was distributing the ball pretty well.

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Well in a game against one of Europe’s most dogged defenses, Upamecano certainly took his opportunity to showcase his own defensive skills. He’s come up frequently in this thread and I’d say his command on the backline for Leipzig and his ability to move drive the ball into Atletico’s half had a major influence on this one

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Sam's avatar

sabitzer for first assist and pretty incredible pass to set up angelino's cross to adams

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Marc F's avatar

my motm: kampl, felt like he did a great job of being the link up from defence to attack, pushing the ball forward, keeping the RBL pressure going. vertical jorginho, keep the wheel rolling.

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David's avatar

For it's between Upamecano and Kampl. Upamecano's defense was really on point and Kampl was distributing the balls in midfield non-stop and had me convinced that he wanted to win by all means

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Sam's avatar

if i ever win a champion league bet ill buy an angelino NYCFC #69 jersey

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Thomas Van Grinsven's avatar

The American kid

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Jack Dawson's avatar

I can’t wait to record the next pod when Franco rates Joao Felix gully

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

According to the betting markets, Atletico's win probability is down 10 percent, while RBL's has remained the same. https://www.gambletron2000.com/champions-league/53312/rb-leipzig-vs-atletico-madrid

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Sam's avatar

great to hear!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Marcos Llorente, who scored twice against Liverpool in the Round of 16, had nine touches in the first half.

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David's avatar

As much as the RB project has been seen as problematic in Germany, it is kinda cool for Yussuf Poulsen to have joined them 7 years ago in 3rd division and now he's the captain of their CL quarter final squad (and he's only 26)

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Despair, Repair's avatar

Idea: Diego Simeone for Argentina manager.

Old man Messi kicks the ball, everybody else kicks the other team. It has to work!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I think I need to stop making single-game predictions, but my guess for this one is 1-0, Atletico. Just seems like a particularly bad matchup for RBL. Could very easily be one of those games where the chances go in — Atletico WILL give up chances — and RBL wins, but they’ve just never really played a team like this. What do you guys think?

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Sam's avatar

bet atletico -.5...it always works out when we are aligned

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

oh god

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Evan Jacoby's avatar

I hope Leipzig score first and force Atletico to go for it and bring on Felix/Morata... don't really know what to expect from Leipzig though.

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Patrick S's avatar

Complete this punnet square

Good to watch + Good that they exist (GwGe):

Good to watch + Bad that they exist (GwBe): PSG

Bad to watch + Good that they exist (BwGe): Atletico

Bad to watch + Bad that they exist (BwGe):

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Top: Atalanta

Bottom: Juventus

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Max Willis's avatar

Love you dragging Juve through the mud. Agnelli's belief that Juve have a divine rite to be in the champions league yet keep getting eliminated by teams from the leagues he despises is some awesome Karma

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John Muller's avatar

After watching PSG yesterday, I'm pretty sure the answer to the second one is either "Man City" or "Neymar and Neymar only."

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

ANNOUNCEMENT: If you're interested in this brand of soccer-talk enough to take part in this chat, go subscribe to John's newsletter:

https://www.spacespacespaceletter.com/

It's great; I learn something new every time I read it; the writing makes me smile.

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Spacespacespace is awesome, highly recommend

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Joaquin's avatar

A fit Mbappe makes PSG better to watch than City imo. Also, I tire of Pep

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Max Willis's avatar

Totally agree. Also when PSG plays Marquinhos, Verrati, and Gueye in the center that midfield is insane. When they beat Real Madrid 3-0 earlier this year that was some guilty pleasure watching for sure.

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Jonathan's avatar

I love when goalkeepers end up in the opposing box

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Hector's avatar

Most important goal scored by any American in any club level soccer competition Or am I forgetting one?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Clint Dempsey saved Fulham from relegation. Probably worth more than this, but it's up there.

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Sam's avatar

An American doing something worth celebrating in 2020. Love to see it

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Josh Cookson's avatar

Crazy how many good players France has. When Bundesliga was the only league going, whenever i saw a player I liked who I wasn't familiar with (Upamecano, Nkunku, Thuram, Plea) they were all French nationals

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

They won the World Cup without all of em (and Benzema), too.

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Josh Cookson's avatar

You think any of the younger ones will start to get a look? Upamecano and Thuram?

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Maxwell E's avatar

I wrote a giant comment n reply to this but then my Chrome app crashed. The long story short is that Upemacano certainly has a chance at securing the CB spot Umtiti had for France in the 2018 WC, but he'd have to get ahead of Laporte, Lenglet, and Kimpembe first - starters for three of the best teams in the world. Not to mention the most expensive defender in the world, Lucas Hernandez. France are STACKED.

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Philip Johnston's avatar

That’s what a world class youth development pipeline will get you!

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Phill Boerger's avatar

Upemacano is really showing out in this match. I knew he was good but I've been really impressed today!

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Can’t wait to see him line up with the France squad.

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Max Willis's avatar

He can slot in for Varane.....Kidding

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Phill Boerger's avatar

The depth at CB for France is crazy good.

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Evan Jacoby's avatar

I'm old enough to remember Angeliño starting for Man City at Anfield against Liverpool earlier THIS SEASON

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I'm old enough to remember Yannick Carrasco, who is 26, leaving Atletico Madrid to play in China.

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James Milner's Peloton's avatar

This would be Simeone's first loss to a non-Ronaldo side, no?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

In the knockouts, yes.

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Mohit Kumar Manhas's avatar

Can’t wait for Leipzig to get dumped out by PSG because PSG’s 3rd sub off the bench is Mbappe

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Hector's avatar

Trippier out of position. You don’t say???

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Thomas Van Grinsven's avatar

Gotta love when simeone is the one calming everyone down

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seph's avatar

re: that simulation call, Univision commentary just brought up Robben's dive against Mexico in world cup 2014. Some wounds never heal

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Joaquin's avatar

Robben's what now?

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Hector's avatar

Happy that goal fell. I so despise Atletico’s style (I know it makes me quite basic). May be this match gets fun now

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Marc F's avatar

lol who were they playing music for in this stadium. Post Malone blasting for no one

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Rick Mahan's avatar

Posty is Simeone’s walkout music

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Mike's avatar

start tyler adams, cowards

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Thomas Van Grinsven's avatar

Top notch shithousery

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Phill Boerger's avatar

Leipzig deserved the goal even with the deflection. They have been the better side.

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Thomas Van Grinsven's avatar

Calling the dubious goals panel

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Sam's avatar

upmecano just pulled the giannis headbutt

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Is everyone actually perplexed that Simeone fielded his stingiest lineup, and only rolled out attackers as he needed to? Or just annoyed that he’s Simeone?

Atletico’s best offense has always been its defense. Makes sense to me (especially in a one game quarterfinal) for Atletico to treat the first half like the first leg (don’t concede) and adapt as needed after 60’

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Philip Johnston's avatar

This aged poorly

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Max Willis's avatar

Uh oh do we all have to start rooting for Leipzig now that an American comes on?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Smfh assuming everyone in this chat is American

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Max Willis's avatar

Good point.....

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Hector's avatar

Hey look what happens when you put in your good players

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Philip Johnston's avatar

Wonderful run by Felix

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Michael K's avatar

Really appreciate that both Leipzig today and Atalanta yesterday seem to do everything as fast as they possibly can. There’s no waiting around looking for ways to break the opponents down, they figure it out as they sprint up the field.

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