Klaus wrote:

Atalanta are a goal up against Valencia. Really hope they win. One of the most entertaining teams in Europe right now.

Any of their players in particular to keep an eye on?

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:

Klaus wrote:

Atalanta are a goal up against Valencia. Really hope they win. One of the most entertaining teams in Europe right now.

Any of their players in particular to keep an eye on?

Depends what you are looking for. They have two really good forwards, but both are older than Aubameyang (Ilic and Gomez). Zapata's currently out but he's also on the older side (around 29 I think). Their left back is a great prospect (Gosens), but not sure I would want him ahead of Saka. 

A chance like that tells you so much about a striker. Werner is clearly a good player, but didn't have the killer instinct of an elite.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:

Klaus wrote:

Atalanta are a goal up against Valencia. Really hope they win. One of the most entertaining teams in Europe right now.

Any of their players in particular to keep an eye on?

Josip Ilicic has to be one of the best forwards in Europe right now. Incredibly entertaining player. Plays as a ten normally but he has stepped up a bit in the field to play more like a striker because they struggle with injuries. Duvan Zapata was the best player in Serie A last year for me but he's been missing a lot of this season. Ilicic was replaced by Alejandro Gómez who has been really good as a playmaker. Luis Muriel has had a good season up front too.

Mosty it's about the team though. They attack better than anyone in Italy with a wide range of combinations. Gasperini has to get most of the cred, because he has shown that he can get any players to play this way. He gets them to perform as a unit despite having basically no budget and being forced to sell off star performers to competing teams. There's a bit of Wenger about him.

Ta to both of you. Number 10 looks neat (Gomez?)

Goal!

Klaus wrote:

Josip Ilicic has to be one of the best forwards in Europe right now. Incredibly entertaining player.

Ilicic just scored a fantastic goal as I wrote that. 2-0.

Leipzig's corners are just turnovers. They're really not turning territory into a proper threat here.
Sanchez is defending for his life on the Spurs side.

That's the bastard's weaker foot too. Ridiculous player.

Klaus wrote:

Klaus wrote:

Josip Ilicic has to be one of the best forwards in Europe right now. Incredibly entertaining player.

Ilicic just scored a fantastic goal as I wrote that. 2-0.

Should've just watched this game. So many good players missing in this Spurs game. 

Claudius wrote:

Klaus wrote:

Ilicic just scored a fantastic goal as I wrote that. 2-0.

Should've just watched this game. So many good players missing in this Spurs game. 

Watch the second half Claude. This was a real hammer blow right before half time. Valencia have to come out and play in the second half now to get an away goal at least. Should be plenty of counter opportunities and Atalanta are clueless of how to sit back. Could be in for a few goals. They did Torino in with seven goals a couple of weeks ago - on Torino's own home ground.

Klaus wrote:

Claudius wrote:

Should've just watched this game. So many good players missing in this Spurs game. 

Watch the second half Claude. This was a real hammer blow right before half time. Valencia have to come out and play in the second half now to get an away goal at least. Should be plenty of counter opportunities and Atalanta are clueless of how to sit back. Could be in for a few goals. They did Torino in with seven goals a couple of weeks ago - on Torino's own home ground.

Oh, yeah. I love how Gasperini's entire philosophy is to lean into attack, and get the whole team committed. Get Gosens and Hateboere forward to create overloads. It's joyous football. 

Klaus wrote:

That's the bastard's weaker foot too. Ridiculous player.

I straight up don't understand how he made his first touch work that well..... :drool:

Didn't know you had a Twitter account Klaus

Gazza M wrote:

Spurs already look looked a washed jose 3rd year team

Shick seems to have found a niche at leipzog. Always thought he was an interesting player

They do don’t they. Lost that mad physical edge and heavy press

Tottenham being completely outplayed at home. I mean it's not even close.

Werner doesn't look all that to me.

Get fucked Spurs - RB score.

1-0. Werner pen.

Omigod, what a gorgeous curler from Freuler!!!! 3-0

Timo Werner is absolutely brilliant. Really hope he doesn't sign for liverpool.

Ah man what a move from RBL. Should have been 2.

Dele

It's all falling apart.

Claudius wrote:

Omigod, what a gorgeous curler from Freuler!!!! 3-0

The Swiss deeplying midfielder we should have signed.

It also helps that Valencia are playing with two jokers at the back in Diakhaby and Mangala.

Freuler's 3-0 goal:

Valencia pull one back through Cheryshev.

Bad mistake by Atalanta centerback Palomino.

mentalvortex wrote:

Valencia pull one back through Cheryshev.

Bad mistake by Atalanta centerback Palomino.

it's part of the package. They score way more than their rivals in Serie A. They also concede more  

Is this the same Nkunku we were supposed to sign from PSG?

Yes.

They're 4-1 up and they're taking off a centreback for a striker

How can anyone not love this team?

Klaus wrote:

They're 4-1 up and they're taking off a centreback for a striker

How can anyone not love this team?

Very un-Italian 

Segway wrote:

Klaus wrote:

They're 4-1 up and they're taking off a centreback for a striker

How can anyone not love this team?

Very un-Italian 

I switched right as this sub was being made, but did they go from 343 to 433 with the sub? Isn't that more defensive in the end?

This tie better be the last we see of Spuds in the Champions League.

Shady wrote:

This tie better be the last we see of Spuds in the Champions League.

Spurs and Liverpool are more or less where they are when we thought we'd seen the last of them in last year's competition. Hope Leipzig have paid their witch doctor 

Atalanta have the best sharp shooters ever. Pretty much all of their midfielders scores beauties week in week out.

Claudius wrote:

Segway wrote:

Very un-Italian 

I switched right as this sub was being made, but did they go from 343 to 433 with the sub? Isn't that more defensive in the end?

I couldn't tell for sure because both teams were all over the place, but definitely looked like two strikers up top to me. My guess is they switched to a 4-4-2 shape when Zapata came on.

Klaus wrote:

Claudius wrote:

I switched right as this sub was being made, but did they go from 343 to 433 with the sub? Isn't that more defensive in the end?

I couldn't tell for sure because both teams were all over the place, but definitely looked like two strikers up top to me. My guess is they switched to a 4-4-2 shape when Zapata came on.

As a neutral, you'd want Uefa to get stuffed, and see a team like this win the damn competition. Let them beat Dortmund in the final 

Their team cost £32 million to assemble and their wage bill is 35 million euro, Claude. Them finishing 3rd last season was one of the most remarkable achievements in Europe. Them winning Champions League this season would be as big an upset as Leicester winning Premier League. It's probably not going to happen but I'd love to see it.

Yeah. They’re living on a fistful of dollars. You also have to feel for them when you consider that they’ve had to trade away a lot of players like Cristante, Kessie and Mancini. The first two barely played but Mancini could’ve been a fixture on a team that needs defensive rigidity.