On Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10:24:54 AM UTC-4, alka...@hotmail.com wrote:

> > It was pretty obvious that the match would have been decided on an isolated episode. Two sides terrified to put the foot on the accelerator until Rugani's foul. That's the direct consequence of the abolition of the Away Goal Rule. You get what you paid for.
> So the abolishment of an archaic and arbitrary rule, that would have given Juventus a random "lead" in the tie even though both teams had scored exactly the same number of goals, is to be rued because the game was unadventurous?
>
> <insert image of the world's smallest violin here>
>
> :-)

This really had nothing to do with Juve being on the short end of the rule change. I have been consistently in favor AGR, even when Juve went out to Lyon and Porto in the past two CL seasons because of AGR.

On Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 11:30:32 AM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:
> Well there have already been a ton of matches played according to the new rules in the qualifiers,
> and the percentage of ties that went to extra time has roughly doubled.

Yep. In the long run, expect about 15% of ties to go to ET.

> Is there any soul-searching among Juventinos about their SuperLeague credentials
> when they now have been eliminated by, in turn, Ajax, Lyon, Porto, and Villarreal?

Soul-searching about our credentials? Not really. How many other teams have made it to the CL last 16 in each of the past 8 years?

Soul-searching about the decision to bring back Allegri on a 5-year contract with massive wages? Plenty.
(for others: soul-searching about the decision to let Allegri go away 3 years ago...)

On 17/03/2022 09:58, Ion Saliu wrote:
>
> Somebody is playing games in this newsgroup. He/they add some 17 messages from another thread to this very thread. I post the following reply:
>
> “How da hell did these last 17 messages appear in this thread (UCL 2022/23 R16 2nd Legs [R])? Who did it and how da hell did they do it?”
>
> My reply and the 17 extra posts will disappear soon thereafter! It’s insane, pal! Or, is it the hand of UEFA because of my reference to ESL?

Clearly it's a Russian cyberattack on RSS to deny the liberty and free
speech of us all here to discuss tournaments that Russian teams can't
play in.

I think I preferred it when Donald Trump got the blame for everything
that went wrong in the world though...

Bring back the good ol' days...

#TRUMP OUT!

Axiomatics:

The quarterfinal round consists of 8 teams and 4 matches.

1) Total possibilities where the team order counts:
Arrangements (8, 4) = 8 * 7 * 6 * 5 = 1680 or
Combinations (8, 4) * Permutations (4) = 70 * 24 = 1680.

2) Total possibilities where the team order does not count (as if all 8 teams play on a neutral site):
Combinations (8, 4) * Arrangements (4, 2) = 70 * 12 = 840.

The 2020/21 UCL QF case was analyzed in this thread:

• https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.soccer/c/c7FuYQYcG4A/m/sOn95-YlBgAJ
• UCL Quarter Final draw

All 840 possibilities were generated.

I pit now England against Spain and the one-team countries against each other. The order of the drawing does not count. So –

Bayern – Benfica
ManCity – Villareal
Chelsea – Atletico
Liverpool – Real

On Friday, March 18, 2022 at 1:09:43 PM UTC+2, Ion Saliu wrote:
> Axiomatics:
>
> The quarterfinal round consists of 8 teams and 4 matches.
>
> 1) Total possibilities where the team order counts:
> Arrangements (8, 4) = 8 * 7 * 6 * 5 = 1680 or
> Combinations (8, 4) * Permutations (4) = 70 * 24 = 1680.
>
> 2) Total possibilities where the team order does not count (as if all 8 teams play on a neutral site):
> Combinations (8, 4) * Arrangements (4, 2) = 70 * 12 = 840.
>
> The 2020/21 UCL QF case was analyzed in this thread:
>
> • https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.soccer/c/c7FuYQYcG4A/m/sOn95-YlBgAJ
> • UCL Quarter Final draw
>
> All 840 possibilities were generated.
>
> I pit now England against Spain and the one-team countries against each other. The order of the drawing does not count. So –
>
> Bayern – Benfica
> ManCity – Villareal
> Chelsea – Atletico
> Liverpool – Real

How about this draw?

Chelsea - Real Madrid
Manchester City - Atletico Madrid
Villarreal - Bayern München
Benfica - Liverpool

It is the REAL one!

On Friday, March 18, 2022 at 1:23:09 PM UTC+2, Ion Saliu wrote:
> On Friday, March 18, 2022 at 1:09:43 PM UTC+2, Ion Saliu wrote:
> > Axiomatics:
> >
> > The quarterfinal round consists of 8 teams and 4 matches.
> >
> > 1) Total possibilities where the team order counts:
> > Arrangements (8, 4) = 8 * 7 * 6 * 5 = 1680 or
> > Combinations (8, 4) * Permutations (4) = 70 * 24 = 1680.
> >
> > 2) Total possibilities where the team order does not count (as if all 8 teams play on a neutral site):
> > Combinations (8, 4) * Arrangements (4, 2) = 70 * 12 = 840.
> >
> > The 2020/21 UCL QF case was analyzed in this thread:
> >
> > • https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.soccer/c/c7FuYQYcG4A/m/sOn95-YlBgAJ
> > • UCL Quarter Final draw
> >
> > All 840 possibilities were generated.
> >
> > I pit now England against Spain and the one-team countries against each other. The order of the drawing does not count. So –
> >
> > Bayern – Benfica
> > ManCity – Villareal
> > Chelsea – Atletico
> > Liverpool – Real
> How about this draw?
>
> Chelsea - Real Madrid
> Manchester City - Atletico Madrid
> Villarreal - Bayern München
> Benfica - Liverpool
>
> It is the REAL one!

Semifinals
--------------
• Semifinal #1: Manchester City / Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea / Real Madrid
• Semifinal #2: Benfica / Liverpool vs. Villarreal / Bayern München.

Very difficult to pick Semifinal #1. For a degree of certainty of 55%:
• Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
The degree of certainty to pick Semifinal #2 is 90%:
• Liverpool vs. Bayern.

Quarterfinals dates
-----------------------
1st leg: 5/6 April
2nd leg: 12/13 April

Semifinals dates
-----------------------
1st leg: 26/27 April
2nd leg: 3/4 May

Final: 28 May (Stade de France, Saint Petersburg... er, Paris)

On Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 3:53:24 PM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> On Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10:24:54 AM UTC-4, alka...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > > It was pretty obvious that the match would have been decided on an isolated episode. Two sides terrified to put the foot on the accelerator until Rugani's foul. That's the direct consequence of the abolition of the Away Goal Rule. You get what you paid for.
> > So the abolishment of an archaic and arbitrary rule, that would have given Juventus a random "lead" in the tie even though both teams had scored exactly the same number of goals, is to be rued because the game was unadventurous?
> >
> > <insert image of the world's smallest violin here>
> >
> > :-)
> This really had nothing to do with Juve being on the short end of the rule change. I have been consistently in favor AGR, even when Juve went out to Lyon and Porto in the past two CL seasons because of AGR.

I didn't say it did. You were complaining the game was unadventurous. But as MH said, it's debatable if it would be any different had the AGR been in effect. Alegri isn't exactly known for his free flowing attacking football. Was he defending a first leg "lead," Juventus would probably have been even cagier. And Villareal would have probably bode their time well into the second half before exposing themselves in search of a goal. It's a stretch to argue that the AGR would have made this game more exciting. There is no way to tell.

> >
> > Chelsea - Real Madrid
> > Manchester City - Atletico Madrid
> > Villarreal - Bayern München
> > Benfica - Liverpool
> >
> > It is the REAL one!
> Semifinals
> --------------
> • Semifinal #1: Manchester City / Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea / Real Madrid
> • Semifinal #2: Benfica / Liverpool vs. Villarreal / Bayern München.
>
> Very difficult to pick Semifinal #1. For a degree of certainty of 55%:
> • Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
> The degree of certainty to pick Semifinal #2 is 90%:
> • Liverpool vs. Bayern.
>
> Quarterfinals dates
> -----------------------
> 1st leg: 5/6 April
> 2nd leg: 12/13 April
>
> Semifinals dates
> -----------------------
> 1st leg: 26/27 April
> 2nd leg: 3/4 May
>
> Final: 28 May (Stade de France, Saint Petersburg... er, Paris)

Quarterfinals
----------------------
1st leg
-----------
5 April
• Manchester City – Atletico Madrid: 1 – 0
• Benfica – Liverpool: 1 – 3
Subpar games, total boredom.

6 April
• Chelsea – Real Madrid
• Villarreal – Bayern München

2nd leg
------------
12 April
• Bayern München – Villarreal
• Real Madrid – Chelsea

13 April
• Atletico Madrid – Manchester City
• Liverpool – Benfica

In article <43a679a2-21ca-4cf6-b8a3-1354c7e8961cn@googlegroups.com>,
Ion Saliu <ionsaliu@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> >
>> > Chelsea - Real Madrid
>> > Manchester City - Atletico Madrid
>> > Villarreal - Bayern München
>> > Benfica - Liverpool
>> >
>> > It is the REAL one!
>> Semifinals
>> --------------
>> • Semifinal #1: Manchester City / Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea / Real Madrid
>> • Semifinal #2: Benfica / Liverpool vs. Villarreal / Bayern München.
>>
>> Very difficult to pick Semifinal #1. For a degree of certainty of 55%:
>> • Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
>> The degree of certainty to pick Semifinal #2 is 90%:
>> • Liverpool vs. Bayern.
>>
>> Quarterfinals dates
>> -----------------------
>> 1st leg: 5/6 April
>> 2nd leg: 12/13 April
>>
>> Semifinals dates
>> -----------------------
>> 1st leg: 26/27 April
>> 2nd leg: 3/4 May
>>
>> Final: 28 May (Stade de France, Saint Petersburg... er, Paris)
>
>Quarterfinals
>----------------------
>1st leg
>-----------
> 5 April
>• Manchester City – Atletico Madrid: 1 – 0
>• Benfica – Liverpool: 1 – 3
>Subpar games, total boredom.
>
> 6 April
>• Chelsea – Real Madrid
>• Villarreal – Bayern München
>
>
>2nd leg
>------------
> 12 April
>• Bayern München – Villarreal
>• Real Madrid – Chelsea
>
> 13 April
>• Atletico Madrid – Manchester City
>• Liverpool – Benfica
>

No boring stuff.
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca Ici doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca
Yahweh, Queen & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism https://www.empire.kred/ROOTNK?t=94a1f39b
Only fools and phonies pay for what's free. -unknown Beware https://mindspring.com

On Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at 12:20:38 PM UTC+3, Ion Saliu wrote:
> > >
> > > Chelsea - Real Madrid
> > > Manchester City - Atletico Madrid
> > > Villarreal - Bayern München
> > > Benfica - Liverpool
> > >
> > > It is the REAL one!
> > Semifinals
> > --------------
> > • Semifinal #1: Manchester City / Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea / Real Madrid
> > • Semifinal #2: Benfica / Liverpool vs. Villarreal / Bayern München.
> >
> > Very difficult to pick Semifinal #1. For a degree of certainty of 55%:
> > • Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
> > The degree of certainty to pick Semifinal #2 is 90%:
> > • Liverpool vs. Bayern.
> >
> > Quarterfinals dates
> > -----------------------
> > 1st leg: 5/6 April
> > 2nd leg: 12/13 April
> >
> > Semifinals dates
> > -----------------------
> > 1st leg: 26/27 April
> > 2nd leg: 3/4 May
> >
> > Final: 28 May (Stade de France, Saint Petersburg... er, Paris)
> Quarterfinals
> ----------------------
> 1st leg
> -----------
> 5 April
> • Manchester City – Atletico Madrid: 1 – 0
> • Benfica – Liverpool: 1 – 3
> Subpar games, total boredom.
>

6 April
• Chelsea – Real Madrid: 1 – 3
• Villarreal – Bayern München: 1 – 0

The second act of sfartaie fared much better. The first match was quite exciting; the second match had a surprising result. Will the 2nd leg in Munich be another “7 – 1” type of blitzkrieg?
>
> 2nd leg
> ------------
> 12 April
> • Bayern München – Villarreal
> • Real Madrid – Chelsea
>
> 13 April
> • Atletico Madrid – Manchester City
> • Liverpool – Benfica

>
> 6 April
> • Chelsea – Real Madrid: 1 – 3
> • Villarreal – Bayern München: 1 – 0
>
> The second act of sfartaie fared much better. The first match was quite exciting; the second match had a surprising result. Will the 2nd leg in Munich be another “7 – 1” type of blitzkrieg?
> >

I got me a suspicion. Bayern “plays” with the results; e.g., at Salzburg, at Villareal. Methinks Bayern wants to establish better betting odds. Maybe the players don’t bet openly, but their trusted friends DO!

Bayern’s odds dropped now to 5/1, way behind ManCity and Liver. Pound for pound, however, Bayern is above the two English sides. Bayern also loves to play against English teams. Recent proofs: 7 – 2 against Tottenham on the road, 6 – 0 against Chelsea (2 legs).

12 April
• Real Madrid – Chelsea: 2 – 3 (aggregate 5 – 4; Real advances to semifinals)
• Bayern München – Villarreal: 1 – 1 (aggregate 1 – 2; Villarreal advances to semifinals).

Anthological night in UCL! Villareal succeeded in what appeared to be the impossible against the blitzkrieg! Real Madrid – Chelsea was a dramatic game, with another seemingly impossible turnaround.

Chelsea had a 3– 0 lead after that seemingly impossible to overcome 1 – 3 at home. Chelsea even had a 4 – 0 opportunity, but “Kokostirque” Courtois saved the day for the Galactics. Only after that, Real Madrid started to play... football.

Too bad, matches like the two are sooo rare in football!

In article <7de835f8-48ae-4d8e-b181-06f254b9dadan@googlegroups.com>,
Ion Saliu <ionsaliu@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>12 April
> • Real Madrid – Chelsea: 2 – 3 (aggregate 5 – 4; Real advances
>to semifinals)
> • Bayern München – Villarreal: 1 – 1 (aggregate 1 – 2;
>Villarreal advances to semifinals).
>
>Anthological night in UCL! Villareal succeeded in what appeared to be
>the impossible against the blitzkrieg! Real Madrid – Chelsea was a
>dramatic game, with another seemingly impossible turnaround.
>
>Chelsea had a 3– 0 lead after that seemingly impossible to overcome 1
>– 3 at home. Chelsea even had a 4 – 0 opportunity, but
>“Kokostirque” Courtois saved the day for the Galactics. Only after
>that, Real Madrid started to play... football.
>
>Too bad, matches like the two are sooo rare in football!

So we Know RM and villar goes to the Semis. Who do they face?
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca Ici doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca
Yahweh, Queen & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism https://www.empire.kred/ROOTNK?t=94a1f39b
Only the Spirit who inspired can reveal. -unknown Beware https://mindspring.com

On Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 9:31:45 AM UTC+3, Ion Saliu wrote:
> 12 April
> • Real Madrid – Chelsea: 2 – 3 (aggregate 5 – 4; Real advances to semifinals)
> • Bayern München – Villarreal: 1 – 1 (aggregate 1 – 2; Villarreal advances to semifinals).
>
> Anthological night in UCL! Villareal succeeded in what appeared to be the impossible against the blitzkrieg! Real Madrid – Chelsea was a dramatic game, with another seemingly impossible turnaround.
>
> Chelsea had a 3– 0 lead after that seemingly impossible to overcome 1 – 3 at home. Chelsea even had a 4 – 0 opportunity, but “Kokostirque” Courtois saved the day for the Galactics. Only after that, Real Madrid started to play... football.
>
> Too bad, matches like the two are sooo rare in football!

13 April
• Liverpool – Benfica: 3 – 3 (aggregate 6 – 4; Liverpool advances to semifinals)
• Atletico Mardid – Manchester City: 0 – 0 (aggregate 0 – 1; Manchester City advances to semifinals).

Semifinals
-------------
26 April
• Manchester City – Real Madrid

27 April
• Liverpool – Villarreal

On Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 12:12:11 PM UTC+3, Ion Saliu wrote:
> On Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 9:31:45 AM UTC+3, Ion Saliu wrote:
> > 12 April
> > • Real Madrid – Chelsea: 2 – 3 (aggregate 5 – 4; Real advances to semifinals)
> > • Bayern München – Villarreal: 1 – 1 (aggregate 1 – 2; Villarreal advances to semifinals).
> >
> > Anthological night in UCL! Villareal succeeded in what appeared to be the impossible against the blitzkrieg! Real Madrid – Chelsea was a dramatic game, with another seemingly impossible turnaround.
> >
> > Chelsea had a 3– 0 lead after that seemingly impossible to overcome 1 – 3 at home. Chelsea even had a 4 – 0 opportunity, but “Kokostirque” Courtois saved the day for the Galactics. Only after that, Real Madrid started to play... football.
> >
> > Too bad, matches like the two are sooo rare in football!
> 13 April
> • Liverpool – Benfica: 3 – 3 (aggregate 6 – 4; Liverpool advances to semifinals)
> • Atletico Mardid – Manchester City: 0 – 0 (aggregate 0 – 1; Manchester City advances to semifinals).
>
>
Semifinals – 1st leg
--------------------------
26 April
• Manchester City – Real Madrid:
>
> 27 April
> • Liverpool – Villarreal

> Semifinals – 2nd leg
--------------------------
> 3 May
> • Villarreal – Liverpool
>
> 4 May
> • Real Madrid – Manchester City

Semifinals – 1st leg
-------------------------------
26 April
• Manchester City – Real Madrid: 4 – 3
• A match for the history books!

>
> 27 April
> • Liverpool – Villarreal

> Semifinals – 2nd leg
---------------------------------
> 3 May
> • Villarreal – Liverpool
>
> 4 May
> • Real Madrid – Manchester City

On Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 11:57:14 PM UTC+3, Ion Saliu wrote:
> Semifinals – 1st leg
> -------------------------------
> 26 April
> • Manchester City – Real Madrid: 4 – 3
> • A match for the history books!
>

27 April
• Liverpool – Villarreal: 2 – 0

>
> > Semifinals – 2nd leg
> ---------------------------------
> > 3 May
> > • Villarreal – Liverpool
> >
> > 4 May
> > • Real Madrid – Manchester City

> Semifinals – 1st leg
> ---------------------------------
> 26 April
> • Manchester City – Real Madrid: 4 – 3
> • A match for the history books!
>
> 27 April
> • Liverpool – Villarreal: 2 – 0

Semifinals – 2nd leg
-------------------------------------
3 May
• Villarreal – Liverpool: 2 – 3 (aggregate: 2 – 5; Liverpool advances to the final)

>
> 4 May
> • Real Madrid – Manchester City

> Semifinals – 1st leg
> ---------------------------------
> 26 April
> • Manchester City – Real Madrid: 4 – 3
> • A match for the history books!
>
> 27 April
> • Liverpool – Villarreal: 2 – 0

Semifinals – 2nd leg
-------------------------------------
> 3 May
> • Villarreal – Liverpool: 2 – 3 (aggregate: 2 – 5; Liverpool advances to the final)

4 May
• Real Madrid – Manchester City: 3 – 1, in overtime (aggregate: 6 – 5; Real Madrid advances to the final)
• The most memorably-axiomatic event in the club-team competitions
• In the 90th minute, Man City was 1 – 0 ahead and almost qualified in the final; Real scored in the 90th and 91st minutes to send the match to overtime
• Benzema, again, transformed the penalty and did the incredible... again!

Final
---------
28 May, Stade de France, Paris
• Liverpool – Real Madrid

On Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 12:47:15 AM UTC+3, Ion Saliu wrote:
> > Semifinals – 1st leg
> > ---------------------------------
> > 26 April
> > • Manchester City – Real Madrid: 4 – 3
> > • A match for the history books!
> >
> > 27 April
> > • Liverpool – Villarreal: 2 – 0
>
>
> Semifinals – 2nd leg
> -------------------------------------
> > 3 May
> > • Villarreal – Liverpool: 2 – 3 (aggregate: 2 – 5; Liverpool advances to the final)
>
> 4 May
> • Real Madrid – Manchester City: 3 – 1, in overtime (aggregate: 6 – 5; Real Madrid advances to the final)
> • The most memorably-axiomatic event in the club-team competitions
> • In the 90th minute, Man City was 1 – 0 ahead and almost qualified in the final; Real scored in the 90th and 91st minutes to send the match to overtime
> • Benzema, again, transformed the penalty and did the incredible.... again!
>
>
> Final
> ---------
> 28 May, Stade de France, Paris
> • Liverpool – Real Madrid

Final
---------
28 May, Stade de France, Paris
• Liverpool – Real Madrid: 0 – 1

• this Final will forever be remembered as an organizational embarrassment: the kickoff was delayed by 36 minutes (the Liverpool FC fans again??)
• a new record was set by Real Madrid for most champion titles: 14
• a new record was set by coach Ancelotti for most Champions League titles won: 4

• 2022 was the Year of Kokostirque — no other player in history saved his team from elimination in such decisive manners
• Skatolchah comes in second as the ‘Most Decisive Player’ of Year of Grace 2022
https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.soccer/c/lkhtmvLfIKQ