[EU] Europa League 2013/14 (14 Viewers)

[Joe]

Mourinho said the same about Benfica, just saying.

And I already said, we played all the games in this UEL with almost a "second team", outside against Az wasn't different, they could have scored in the first half, but in the second they were lucky in don't conceded more than 1 goal... and in that game we played with Ruben Amorim and André Gomes, not with Fesja and Enzo, we didn't played with a true defensive midfielder, that is really important in this team.

Welcome to the forums, I didn't notice you were a Benfica fan.

Benfica are a very strong team, I don't want you to misunderstand me. Benfica are definitely not the worst out of the 4 remaining teams like you said you heard in your previous post.

It should be a great match.

 

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[JuveJay]

Dave Grohl fan, 1 out of 2 isn't bad.

 

[Silva_Grohl]

By the way, if you sell us Pirlo and Pogba, I appreciate it.

 

[j0ker]

Yeah, sell Pogba to Benfica.

Okay.

RM should sell us Ronaldo and Bale, we will offer 17mln for them.

 

[Silva_Grohl]

I'm kidding of course, you have some world class players.

 

[Post Ironic]

Mourinho said the same about Benfica, just saying.

And I already said, we played all the games in this UEL with almost a "second team", outside against Az wasn't different, they could have scored in the first half, but in the second they were lucky in don't conceded more than 1 goal... and in that game we played with Ruben Amorim and André Gomes, not with Fesja and Enzo, we didn't played with a true defensive midfielder and Gomes isn't a young boy that is still looking for show some quality, that is really important in this team, when Amorim get out and Almeida was in his place, was tottaly diferent, this second one gives more in a defensive way that Amorim.

Sorry, you played a full strength squad against Tottenham, to say otherwise is misleading. Of course you'd rotate against AZ. We played mostly a reserve squad against Trabzonspor in the round of 32, and we beat them easily. 4-0 on aggregate. A similar level squad to an AZ that is 7th place in the Dutch league with 12 losses (you were just lucky to get AZ this far along in the EL). We had similar round of 16 opponents strength-wise in Fiorentina and Tottenham, but Lyon is twice the side that AZ is. So, of course we were going to have a tougher time with Lyon, than you did with AZ. We still rotated some our first XI. Isla in place of Lichtsteiner, Vucinic in place of Llorente, Marchisio in place of Pogba.

I think Benfica and Juve are the top two sides remaining, there is no way I think you are the weakest... However, if both teams performed to potential, we are the slightly better side. Now matters of form, tactical match ups and such are much more subjective and harder to analyze. Either way, I expect a close two legs. 1 goal separation max, potentially an away goal sending one side through.

Anyways. I would have preferred us both to draw a Spanish team and beat those Liga ninnies. Oh well.

Good luck. I hope we win of course, but I also hope for an entertaining two legs.

 

[swag]

Are we playing against Bayern Munich or Benfica ?

Is the final at Juventus Stadium or Estadio da Luz?

Oh, wait...

 

[Silva_Grohl]

Sorry, you played a full strength squad against Tottenham, to say otherwise is misleading. Of course you'd rotate against AZ. We played mostly a reserve squad against Trabzonspor in the round of 32, and we beat them easily. 4-0 on aggregate. A similar level squad to an AZ that is 7th place in the Dutch league with 12 losses (you were just lucky to get AZ this far along in the EL). We had similar round of 16 opponents strength-wise in Fiorentina and Tottenham, but Lyon is twice the side that AZ is. So, of course we were going to have a tougher time with Lyon, than you did with AZ. We still rotated some our first XI. Isla in place of Lichtsteiner, Vucinic in place of Llorente, Marchisio in place of Pogba.

I think Benfica and Juve are the top two sides remaining, there is no way I think you are the weakest... However, if both teams performed to potential, we are the slightly better side. Now matters of form, tactical match ups and such are much more subjective and harder to analyze. Either way, I expect a close two legs. 1 goal separation max, potentially an away goal sending one side through.

Anyways. I would have preferred us both to draw a Spanish team and beat those Liga ninnies. Oh well.

Good luck. I hope we win of course, but I also hope for an entertaining two legs.

Hope so, are two great teams, two fantastic stadiums, amazing fans, have all to be a really good match.

 

[j0ker]

I'm kidding of course, you have some world class players.

No problem, I was just testing you.

We had many deluded fans that from other teams, you seem cool.

And I wish we were competing for a place to the finale that will be held on your stadium instead.

 

[swag]

Hope so, are two great teams, two fantastic stadiums, amazing fans, have all to be a really good match.

And I've seen live matches in person where Fabrizio Miccoli scored for both clubs.

 

[Silva_Grohl]

And I've seen live matches in person where Fabrizio Miccoli scored for both clubs.

We miss Miccoli so much, had some weight problems I think but did fantastic matches and seems to be a good person, that goal against Liverpool in 2005 was the top of his career in Benfica.

 

[no_name_boys]

Sorry, you played a full strength squad against Tottenham, to say otherwise is misleading.

Hey m8, you are wrong
3 players from 1st eleven did not start that game. Enzo Perez, Gaitan and Lima.
4 players if you consider the right defender. Silvio played that game and not Maxi Pereira.
Benfica never played a game in europe league with the strongest team.
The problem with Az was clearly the lack of attitude, when the players started running a bit it was easy....

I am a Benfica fan but I think that Juve is the favourite here.
We have a chance because we have a squad with good depth and experience. It was a shame that with 10 points we finished 3rd in champions league group.

Anyways... I hope for two good matches and that Benfica plays that games already a national champion!!

 

[Post Ironic]

Hey m8, you are wrong
3 players from 1st eleven did not start that game. Enzo Perez, Gaitan and Lima.
4 players if you consider the right defender. Silvio played that game and not Maxi Pereira.
Benfica never played a game in europe league with the strongest team.
The problem with Az was clearly the lack of attitude, when the players started running a bit it was easy....

I am a Benfica fan but I think that Juve is the favourite here.
We have a chance because we have a squad with good depth and experience. It was a shame that with 10 points we finished 3rd in champions league group.

Anyways... I hope for two good matches and that Benfica plays that games already a national champion!!

Cheers, I thought you had. My mistake.

I suppose we have not yet played full-strength yet either in the Europa League.

Barzagli, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Llorente were all missing for first leg Lyon...
Barzagli, Pogba, Lichtsteiner, Llorente all missing for second leg.
Barzagli, Lichsteiner missing for second leg Fiorentina.
Barzagli, Bonucci, Tevez, Lichsteiner, Llorente all missing for first leg Fiorentina.

Against Trabz we had 6 of our starting XI out for the first leg and 7 for the second leg.


So, it will be interesting to see how good both these sides are at full-strength if that happens. As I said, I think it will be very close. I'd place it at Juve 55-45 for percentages, it's anybody's game. I'm hoping we've both clinched our leagues by the first match. That would make it so much better.

 

[jukazem]

surely Benfica is weaker without Matic??? I have no clue how they are, expect that they have had pretty good results in recent years and many exciting 'talents'.

 

[no_name_boys]

Yeah you are right Postironic.
I think its normal that the coaches give more importance to national championship.
It will be great that both teams become champions before the europa league matches

I will give 60-40 for Juve.
Almost 3 titles in a row after a bad period, Juve is a consolidated team these days with some world class players.
And I think that Juve is playing much better now that months ago in champions league group stage.

The problem with Benfica is that we have to sell the strong players almost every year... David Luiz, Ramires, Matic, Di Maria, Coentrão, Witsel, Javi Garcia, etc...
But we still play good football.

I will fly to Torino in the second leg to give my support!

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Are we playing against Bayern Munich or Benfica ?

You wouldn't be able to tell around here the way certain members are getting their panties in a knot.

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

So they are either Bayern Munchen or Chievo, can't they be Benfica?

But seriously Benfica, Sevilla or Valencia it was all the same to me, we should be able to beat any of them, but on the other hand so was the case with Copenhagen and Galata.

Probably the smartest post in this thread.

 

[jukazem]

So they are either Bayern Munchen or Chievo, can't they be Benfica?

But seriously Benfica, Sevilla or Valencia it was all the same to me, we should be able to beat any of them, but on the other hand so was the case with Copenhagen and Galata.

can't agree about the second part. They are a much much stronger team than Seville, Valencia or Galatasaray and a historically successful club in Europe also, unlike the other clubs you mentioned. They also have 2 CL triumps and 5 runners up finishes, exactly like Juve. the difference is mainly in that their finances are shit and they probably didn't work on their worldwide appeal or worse economy than Italy.

 

[Klovn]

Are we playing against Bayern Munich or Benfica ?

I was wondering the same after Copenhagen and Nordsjælland matches.

Nah, just kidding. Because i know how fucking horrible they are from the danish fucking league.

 

[Bianconero81]

Tough tough tie. If the real Juventus show up (no exhaustion, fatigue, players carrying injuries) we will edge both games 2-1 and qualify 4-2 on aggregate. However, if we adopt a nonchalant attitude and keep spraying those lovely misplaced passes, the tie will be over after the 1'st leg.