On January 29 2026 07:37 Bacillus wrote:
Also really silly by Real to take two reds. Unless they've changed the rules, those are likely going to carry over to the playoff phase.

Missing Asencio and Rodrygo is more of perk than a handicap though, Asencio is genuinely 2nd division quality, can't believe he starts for Real

MJG

United Kingdom1450 Posts

January 29 2026 08:12 GMT

#2162

God damn I love it when keepers score :D

Copymizer

Denmark2107 Posts

January 29 2026 15:07 GMT

#2163

For me Bodø/Glimt is the shining positive surprise in champions league especially beating Atletico Madrid, who knows how far they can take this campaign :D. What they have done is absolutely incredible and i'm not afraid to say they outplayed Man city at home. They are the best club in the north right now and have overtaken Copenhagen by a wide margin. Big props to my brothers up north for what they have done and their stadium have less than 8000 spectators even but their supporters are incredible

Harris1st

Germany7139 Posts

January 30 2026 10:49 GMT

#2164

Last year the league system of CL and EL was a novelty and got me really hooked but this year I barely care about the league games. Anyone else?

DropBear

Australia4399 Posts

January 30 2026 11:16 GMT

#2165

Disagree. League phase infinitely better than the groups.

haitike

Spain2726 Posts

January 30 2026 12:31 GMT

#2166

Yeah, groups were much more boring.

I like the new league system a lot more. The 8th week is fun, with all the teams playing at the same time. I loved the Sporting goalkeeper’s goal in the last minute that qualified them (and Real Madrid being out of the top 8 is always welcome).

aseq

Netherlands3996 Posts

January 30 2026 15:59 GMT

#2167

Hmm, even though I was a proponent of the new system, I agree with Harris1st. I haven't even really watched the first 7 rounds of the group phase. All the big teams will make it anyway. Still think it's more fair than the old system though

FlaShFTW

United States10354 Posts

January 30 2026 16:51 GMT

#2168

Groups were only ever boring when there was maybe an upset involved like ManU finishing dead last in the last iteration of groups.

The chance of 1-off upsets are so much more prevalent now, which makes it more exciting, and also even if it's only 2 extra games, that's a lot to play for in the modern era where the top teams have 55+ games a year, so there's things to play for, and the bottom teams are still in the race so they still play hard with the hopes of squeezing into the bottom of the knockout, like Benfica did.

Bacillus

Finland2034 Posts

January 31 2026 08:22 GMT

#2169

It feels like this year we didn't have that many storylines developing before the final round which then went on to deliver some great stuff with Bodo/Glimt and Benfica. Last year we had some of the top clubs struggling a bit more, which then created all kinds of interesting tension. I guess there's always something going on, but it's hard to pinpoint anything specific when it's all in one big group and the matchups are kind of a chaotic mess.

Seems to me that this new format can produce pretty muddy situations where you just wait and see for half a year before something starts escalating, but we'll see how it goes.

GTR

51574 Posts

February 01 2026 03:30 GMT

#2170

did you guys see adama traore square up to joao pedro in the chelsea-west ham game, it was comical

Harris1st

Germany7139 Posts

February 02 2026 10:21 GMT

#2171

On February 01 2026 12:30 GTR wrote:
did you guys see adama traore square up to joao pedro in the chelsea-west ham game, it was comical

I just saw he manhandled Cucurella. Was all over social media in Germany. Never forget Cucurella xD

gTank

Austria2604 Posts

February 02 2026 10:37 GMT

#2172

On February 02 2026 19:21 Harris1st wrote:

Show nested quote +

I just saw he manhandled Cucurella. Was all over social media in Germany. Never forget Cucurella xD

He simply got yeeted away :D

FlaShFTW

United States10354 Posts

February 02 2026 18:14 GMT

#2173

On February 01 2026 12:30 GTR wrote:
did you guys see adama traore square up to joao pedro in the chelsea-west ham game, it was comical

You could see the fear in Pedro's eyes as he made a business decision to duck out of the way lmao.

Harris1st

Germany7139 Posts

February 09 2026 10:00 GMT

#2174

WTF was Liverpool vs City?
Damn you Szobo. Just let him run, it's over anyway

sharkie

Austria18624 Posts

February 09 2026 13:37 GMT

#2175

Luis Diaz in the meanwhile got 2 penalties and scored 3 goals on the weekends

Harris1st

Germany7139 Posts

February 09 2026 14:03 GMT

#2176

On February 09 2026 22:37 sharkie wrote:
Luis Diaz in the meanwhile got 2 penalties and scored 3 goals on the weekends

Haha yes that one was a steal.
EDIT: 13 goals, 12 assists in the league + a bunch more in DFB Cup and CL

FlaShFTW

United States10354 Posts

February 09 2026 16:42 GMT

#2177

Szobo giveth and Szobo taketh. What a goal from him, but then also played Silva onside, then picked up a DOGSO red. Unfortunate. I don't blame him too much for the onside goal though because he's not a traditional RB and doesn't have the instinct to jump back up to push the line higher.

WombaT

Northern Ireland26505 Posts

February 10 2026 04:43 GMT

#2178

I really think Szobo is in with a shout for a player of the year nomination at the very least, he’s been bloody excellent even when shunted out to right back. Quality player

Probably helps that this season there’s few real obvious player of the year candidates, especially amongst the ‘big’ teams as it’s rarely given to someone outside of that no matter how much they’re bossing it.

Bruno Fernandes has been pretty impressive lately too, who’d have thought playing a very creative 10 who likes to take risks, as a 10 might be a good idea?

Harris1st

Germany7139 Posts

February 10 2026 08:22 GMT

#2179

On February 10 2026 13:43 WombaT wrote:
I really think Szobo is in with a shout for a player of the year nomination at the very least, he’s been bloody excellent even when shunted out to right back. Quality player

Probably helps that this season there’s few real obvious player of the year candidates, especially amongst the ‘big’ teams as it’s rarely given to someone outside of that no matter how much they’re bossing it.

Bruno Fernandes has been pretty impressive lately too, who’d have thought playing a very creative 10 who likes to take risks, as a 10 might be a good idea?

Pool -> Szobo is one for the highlight reels thats for sure.
Arsenal has everyone playing extremely well but nobody really above.
Chelsea -> Palmer?
Manu -> Bruno
City -> Haaland?
Villa -> No idea

FlaShFTW

United States10354 Posts

February 10 2026 17:13 GMT

#2180

If Wirtz or Ekitike finish the season with a massive flurry and push Liverpool back into top 4, then either of them could also get a shout for POYS. But also hard for Ekitike because he's directly competing against Haaland and it wouldn't make sense for him to win POYS but lose to Haaland for TOTS at striker.

Probably just give it to Rice if Arsenal win the season, even though I think both Szobo and Bruno have been better/more impactful.

No one on Chelsea has really given me the wow factor this season. Palmer is still their best player but you really felt they should be much higher given their transfers this season.

Probably Morgan Rogers for Villa no? He's head and shoulders above the rest of the team at the moment. Lots of great AMs this season.

TOTS at the moment would likely be:
Raya
Gabriel, Saliba, no opinion on the fullbacks. Guess it would be Timber and Calafiori? Arsenal's defense is just too immense.
Caicedo, Rice, Bruno
Mbeumo, Haaland, Semenyo