Claudius Yeah, but which came first, the cigars or the managerial success? It's a bit like Ancelotti's chilled his way out to the top. Never really saw what he was like before he managed in England ...

      Villa versus PSG, that's a huge deal for a certain former Arsenal manager. Emery is full of vengeful game-raising efforts ...

      Burnwinter Yeah, but which came first, the cigars or the managerial success? It's a bit like Ancelotti's chilled his way out to the top. Never really saw what he was like before he managed in England ...

      Eh I'm sure you've lived through his past iterations?
      There was a time when he did give a fuck.

        That penalty decision is just unfathomable. Can't be seen on the replay, in fact there looks like daylight between the left foot and the ball. How does VAR take half an hour to decide everything else but makes that call in 5 seconds? Maybe I'm too cynical but do we really think that decision would have happened the other way? In the unlikely event our tie is close they'll find some way to fuck us.

          If you think it would have been given the other way too then fair play.

          Anyway, looking forward to it. They are at least a club we've knocked out in living memory instead of having to play Bayern again like every other time we get this far. We were possibly even bigger underdogs that time too, although when you had Henry there was always a chance. They were also the opposition for my first (and only) game at Highbury - Lee Dixon's testimonial in 1999. Have we ever played them in a real game in other time?

          I hate Madrid as much as the next man with a brain and heart but that clearly has to be chalked off? He was going for the left corner, ball ended up in the roof of the net - no way that can happen without him shooting himself in the foot.

          It's a good thing we play them anyway, we've historically been atrocious in Europe and the only way we can overcome that is by getting a big scalp. Not ideal we face them with no strikers, in awful form but having a haramball aficionado coach might actually work out in our favour for once

            Qwiss don't think we have to worry about that.

            Need Saka to come back at 100% for this to be respectable.

                jones going into march / April with no league or FA cup to play for, it will be great to have the marquee tie of the champions league so far. I’m hyped for this.

                Plus I believe we are a better match for Real Madrid. They have so many defensive injuries and issues, and they are protagonists, so we won’t be stuck facing ten men packed in the penalty box

                  I feel like it should have been a retake similar to how it is if the keeper saves and is off the line rather than it being a goal awarded instead. Probably a call we'll never see again like some of the red cards we've had this season.

                    jones I think it's highly unlikely Saka will be anywhere near his top level it will take a while to get back for that if at all this season.

                      invisibleman18 happened a couple times in the Bundesliga in recent years and was chalked off each time, it's really not a new rule.

                        invisibleman18 I feel like it should have been a retake similar to how it is if the keeper saves and is off the line rather than it being a goal awarded instead. Probably a call we'll never see again like some of the red cards we've had this season.

                        It is an infringement under Rule 14 if a player taking a penalty strikes the ball twice before another player touches it. In normal time, this results in an indirect free kick. Alvarez can suck on my chocolate salty balls

                            Burnwinter

                            You can't have the tech and keep everyone in the dark. But then again, I think football revels in controversy. They could easily adopt better technology and refereeing standards if they wanted but even the fucking clubs themselves don't seem all that bothered until it affects them. Semi-automated tech was supposed to come in last season in the PL and we're still waiting and these shitty clubs now want a vote to remove VAR.

                            More controversy and emotions = more engagement.

                              Claudius It's not a referee problem, but it is a rule problem. If the keeper steps off the line and saves he gets to try again. If there's something wrong with a scored penalty it should be retaken imo.