Latest / Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football / UWCL KO Stage Previews! | OH Leuven v Arsenal | Paris FC v Real Madrid | Wolfsburg v Juventus | Atletico Madrid v Manchester United

Transcript

UWCL KO Stage Previews! | OH Leuven v Arsenal | Paris FC v Real Madrid | Wolfsburg v Juventus | Atletico Madrid v Manchester United · Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football

0:04
Oh hey, welcome to Into the Channel podcast premiere about
0:09
one's football. I'm your host deemed suspicious.
0:12
And as always, I'm joined by my Co host Mr. Grant Engel.
0:16
What is up man? I'm feeling fantastic, buddy.
0:20
I might even be feeling more than fantastic.
0:23
The away for Women's Champions League is back.
0:27
Back, back all the way back. We're like less than 24 hours
0:31
away. We got some big news too.
0:34
It's been rumored that your boys might be hitting the live button
0:39
possibly this week, possibly again next week.
0:43
You're going to have to keep it locked.
0:44
We're not going to lock anybody out.
0:46
So it won't be Patreon members only for for the for whatever we
0:49
do this week. This week could be open to
0:51
everybody that might that'll that's subject to change.
0:54
But either way, it's a chanzy week.
0:56
We're we're ready. I think we're revving up.
0:58
How are you feeling? I'm feeling great about it.
1:02
I mean, look, we, we take days off well in advance, the day job
1:07
to make sure that those European nights are, you know, pretty
1:11
much just Pacific Time days. But you know what you get, you
1:15
earn the time off, you burn the time off.
1:18
So let's go. You know, we're we're going to
1:20
be available and live unencumbered from other
1:24
responsibilities to talk about these matches.
1:27
Cannot wait. All right, I wanted to hit some
1:29
quick, some quick business news. You know, I would never, I would
1:32
never go as far as to say that that we're not a great show.
1:35
I I think we do a great show, but you know, when it when it
1:39
comes to, you know, commercializing and and and
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supporting, you know, our labor of love, we're not so great at
1:45
that. So I just want a quick second to
1:47
give people a chance to guy to support us.
1:50
Help us out. If you want to support the show,
1:52
patreon.com, such to the channel, YouTube memberships,
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great way to support the show, ITC merch, superb way to support
2:00
the show. And if you're not down for any
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of those, make sure you subscribe right here wherever
2:04
you're watching, listening YouTube, Spotify up a podcast,
2:07
find us, follow us on the socials 'cause, like I said,
2:10
we're going to be going live. A lot of stuff.
2:12
It's it's like James, like knockout time, which is you
2:15
already know what time is prime time for your boys.
2:17
So this is if there's a time to kind of hop on the train.
2:21
I mean, this did no no better time than the present.
2:24
I would argue Champions League knockout stage is indeed the
2:29
most wonderful time of the year. I realize it's a controversial
2:32
statement. There's a song about the the end
2:35
of the calendar year. But I, I, I disagree.
2:39
I think once you get into this, this part and we're playing for
2:42
keeps, I think there's nothing better.
2:45
Let's go. All right, the the keeps will be
2:47
played for this week and next week, 8 teams in action.
2:51
I want to knock, I want to check in on these eight teams.
2:53
I want to talk about these 4 matchups.
2:56
You know, you know, I love to kind of spring, spring the
2:58
notion of making some predictions on you.
3:00
I want to kind of make some predictions just so we're on
3:02
record, you know, before the the ball gets kind of rolled out
3:05
tomorrow. And just kind of I'm, I'm very
3:08
curious what you're going to be looking for, kind of like the
3:12
questions that that you've got going into the four matchups.
3:15
We've got 8 super fun teams that that I think we know pretty
3:18
well, but it but a great time to kind of get reoriented.
3:22
So where do you want to get started?
3:26
Let's get started with the first match of the day on Wednesday,
3:30
probably, you guys. Oh yeah, what have we talked?
3:35
Some rest, rest. What are we talking about here?
3:38
Definitely, definitely, definitely thirst.
3:42
Let's start with a beverage and cheers to the football.
3:47
You know what? We're knocking off the rust.
3:48
We appreciate you guys. Patience with us.
3:50
Yeah, the alcohol kind of like Skims off that top layer for
3:54
sure. That's right.
3:56
That's what I've been missing. Yeah, I should have had a pre
3:58
show beverage. All right, now let us get
4:04
started. OH, Louvin in Belgium hosting
4:08
the holders. Your arsenal.
4:12
This one's going to be interesting.
4:14
These two teams obviously met during the group stage.
4:16
Arsenal took care of business. Arsenal is kind of like, I want
4:21
to start with them because I feel like they've turned a
4:22
corner a little bit. You know, you know, we do the
4:25
coming you, you mentioned that they're they're the holders.
4:28
2025 may you? Obviously Arsenal lifts the
4:30
Champions League trophy and then it's been a little bit of rocky
4:34
road coming back since then. I mean, the one that they I kind
4:37
of kind of get can't get past was the the opening kind of like
4:41
no show versus Lyon. That kind of set the tone for
4:44
oh, wow, we're we're sort of a second rate team now.
4:47
I think in the last few weeks, Arsenal, I think mentally might
4:53
be, again, like I said, turning the corner kind of feeling like
4:56
they're at the level. You know, you look at what they
4:59
did to Chelsea and it wasn't just the win at Chelsea, it was
5:02
going in there and like having the right mentality.
5:05
I think they had the right mentality at home versus City as
5:08
well. And then obviously, you know,
5:10
the the Champions Cup, I mean, I think things are, are are
5:14
definitely feeling a lot different I think than they were
5:17
at the beginning of the season for this club. 100% agree.
5:20
I joined our pals over at The Lit Stream, our pals over at
5:24
Shades of Blue, the internet's greatest Manchester City
5:27
football club podcast. You should immediately subscribe
5:31
to them, support everything they do.
5:34
And I, I, I talked about the theory with you a little bit.
5:37
I, I floated it past Leanne Sanderson and you know, I want
5:41
to give credit where it's due. There's this sports talker guy.
5:44
His name is Nick Wright. He's on Fox Sports 1.
5:47
And I, I've gleaned this idea from him a few years ago when
5:51
the Kansas City Chiefs didn't get the number one seed, but
5:53
they played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of
5:56
the playoffs. And this guy, Nick Wright, he's
5:58
a huge Kansas City Chief supporter.
6:00
And he said, you know, what better than a buy because we get
6:04
to shake off the rust. We get to beat the crap.
6:07
I, it was like the Kenny Pickett Pittsburgh Steelers at that
6:09
point or whatever. We get to beat Pittsburgh, work
6:12
on our form, get better. I'm 100% bought into this theory
6:16
for Arsenal this year. I of course, like, do you want
6:20
to play fewer games in the football and calendar?
6:23
In most cases I would say yes, but I'm I think I'm totally
6:26
bought in on the idea. You mentioned it.
6:30
They beat Chelsea 2 nil at the Bridge.
6:32
They get a gutsy win for over Corinthians in the in the
6:36
Champions Cup and then they get this dominating, smothering
6:39
defensive performance versus Manchester City.
6:43
I think they're going to probably rotate some of the
6:45
squad in this in this match versus Louvin, and I think it's
6:48
going to serve them well moving forward in this tournament.
6:50
Yeah, I I can absolutely see that.
6:53
I had mentioned it to when Leanne was on with us that I
6:58
think the confidence, you know, that I that I was talking about
7:02
going into the Chelsea match, I was like, all right, Mariona is
7:05
probably like the best, has an argument to be the best player
7:08
on the pitch, you know, and like, I can't help but think
7:10
about the ball that she plays absolute sizzler up to Olivia
7:15
Smith. I just could, I mean, you can,
7:17
you can hear the like the sizzle as the ball works its way up the
7:20
pitch. But I, I, I definitely think
7:22
that just their mindset is such that they just feel like, you
7:28
know, they can absolutely compete.
7:29
I love that they played, you know, it's like they they didn't
7:32
quite play in the front foot again City, but they played a
7:35
very aggressive style, especially defensively.
7:38
Like they were not afraid to overplay over commit, like
7:42
really just be everywhere where they needed to be and not give
7:46
city a ton and, you know, just make it really uncomfortable for
7:48
them. And I think that only comes when
7:52
mentally you sort of feel like I can do this because I know
7:55
behind me, you know, my team's got got things covered and we're
7:59
on the same page. And then there's some alignment
8:01
here with what, with what we've got going on.
8:04
Totally agree. I mean, the defensive
8:06
performance for City, I thought the announcers were all over it
8:09
too. And just, you know, as somebody
8:11
who supports Manchester City Football Club, every time Hemp
8:16
or Bunny Shaw or meet him, I had the ball in any dangerous area.
8:21
It just felt like there were three Arsenal defenders there.
8:24
Every single time it it looked like you guys were playing with
8:27
12 players on the pitch. Yeah, and, and definitely a
8:30
shout out to to Katie McCabe, who was just kind of every
8:34
everywhere in this match. You know, Sam Coffey comes in
8:37
the second-half, you know, she's got her shit tucked in.
8:39
Kate gives her. I got my shit shake.
8:41
We got my shit tucked in and we're just, we're going to see.
8:45
Yeah, Yeah, I guess I didn't think about that.
8:47
There you go. It was just an absolute stare
8:50
down coming out of halftime. But either way, I I I love
8:54
seeing the same coffee on and that sky blue, by the way, I
8:57
think I think she I'm I'm really bummed that there's no city in
9:01
the Champs. I would have loved to see that.
9:03
But either way, next year, I think we're we're all in for a
9:06
treat. But I want to get to some
9:08
predictions real quick. Arsenal, Lumen, we've seen this
9:12
Louvin side obviously three big draws in the in the group stage
9:15
at PSG, at Pre FC, Louvin essentially owns the entire city
9:20
of Paris. It's unbelievable.
9:22
A home draw versus AS Roma and a big win 2 to one over FC Tonte
9:27
to kind of get them into the into the dance.
9:30
What are we expecting from Louvin?
9:31
Because I think really good performance is really great
9:34
showing for the debutante. It doesn't feel like they're
9:40
they're, they're sitting on an empty tank.
9:41
It still feels like they they might have something else to go
9:44
to, but but what are your expectations for for this
9:47
matchup specifically? I think it's a great building
9:50
block for their program. I think they should hang there.
9:55
They should hold their heads high.
9:58
I think they're in. They might be in for an ass
10:00
kicking though. Man, I'm not going to be making
10:02
any friends in Belgium with this.
10:06
They lost three nil at home last time to Arsenal, who wasn't in
10:10
as good a form as they're in right now.
10:13
I know I did say that Arsenal might rotate some of the squad
10:16
after, after the big win versus City over the weekend, but I, I,
10:20
I think that Arsenal might be flying so high that they might
10:23
not need everybody out there to to secure what now?
10:28
Again, though, like you said, Louvin's been crazy impressive.
10:31
They have seven wins in a row in the Belgian Women's Super
10:33
League, including a win over Anderlecht that has them, you
10:36
know, five points ahead of Anderlecht on the table.
10:39
Jada Conennenberg, Conennenberg, pardon me, tied for first in the
10:44
BWSL with eight goals on the season.
10:46
She's going to need to try to find a way to get one versus the
10:49
Gunners, but if that, if that defense against City was any
10:53
indication, she's going to have a really, really tall mountain
10:57
to climb. I think so and I and I think
11:00
we've seen Louvin kind of play sit back a little bit and, you
11:03
know, buy their time and I think that could really come back to
11:07
bite them in this one. We'll see either way.
11:09
I think I think I'm with you. I think Arsenal kind of Cruz, I
11:13
totally agree that they're in a different, you know, they're
11:15
just in a different stratosphere, to be honest.
11:18
I think one thing that I wanted to call out, Renee Slager says
11:21
really, really unlock, unlock something with Kim Little and
11:25
Mariona kind of like pairing in the midfield where it's like
11:29
it's sort of pick your poison. You know, it's like if one has
11:32
it, you know, she can, they can, you know, little can go to
11:34
Mariona or vice versa, or they can just go somewhere and it's
11:37
like it really puts defenses in a bad spot.
11:40
But I think that pairing specifically has really I really
11:45
kind of helped Arsenal turn the corner.
11:46
I cannot wait to see what that what that looks like.
11:49
Jamesy especially hopefully fingers crossed if this team
11:53
progresses. But I do want to shift gears to
11:56
the next matchup. Yeah, I think Arsenal handily,
12:02
let's say over the two legs, I'll say give me 7 to 2.
12:09
I think, I think Louvin scrapes two goals, you know, maybe one
12:15
in each tie, but but Arsenal kind of is like they, I think
12:20
they kind of cruise. A home goal would be awesome for
12:24
Lubin. Maybe you've changed my opinion
12:27
on that a little bit just because I like the story.
12:32
I think it's still going to be an ass kicking, you know what I
12:35
mean? I think they, I think I'll go
12:38
with my head here. I think and my heads been known
12:42
to be wrong. By the way, you know, sometimes
12:44
I make these predictions and I'm like, oh, I'm going with my
12:46
brain, not my heart. And it's just like, oh, still
12:48
wrong. Turns out, yeah, not working.
12:55
Give me 4 nil Arsenal in this match.
12:57
I think they're going to destroy them.
13:00
Oh, OK. Yeah, I was, I was thinking on
13:01
aggregate. Yeah.
13:02
Just to clarify, I wasn't saying 7 two in this match, that would
13:04
be a. Well, yeah, yeah.
13:05
And I'd like the aggregate prediction.
13:08
I mean, you tell me, you throw me curveballs, I say what's the
13:11
prediction? And you're hit me with the
13:13
aggregate score. So yeah, I, I guess on aggregate
13:16
I'll say, you know, 6 nil. All right, I like it.
13:23
All right, let's talk about this next pairing of teams, another,
13:26
another couple teams that faced off already in the group stage.
13:29
Atletico Madrid hosting Manchester United.
13:34
A rematch, very much looking forward to it.
13:37
Look, Atleti, they dominated possession in the first match
13:41
largely on the strength of that red card that Dominique Ganson
13:47
got in the 37th minute. Atleti had a lot of the ball,
13:52
but not as many chances as United.
13:54
I was kind of looking at my notes, watching, you know, from
13:58
watching that, that match, noting my frustration.
14:01
You know, I like, I like Atletico Madrid.
14:03
I have some other differing opinions on Manchester United
14:07
and I really wanted them to pull it out.
14:10
And even looking at it now in a different light, you know,
14:14
weeks, months down the road, I was like, oof, Atleti left a lot
14:19
on the table. Fallon tell us Joyce had a great
14:22
save to to stop the equalizer. But you know, the the blood was
14:28
in the water and Atleti couldn't take advantage of it.
14:31
They're at home. They got to try to figure out a
14:33
way this time. And it's going to be tough.
14:38
Like like we've said, you know, United's beat beat the respect
14:42
out of me and, and some and some of these matches, but you know,
14:49
not great analysis. We'll save the prediction for
14:51
later, but I think this one really could go either way.
14:55
I think it's funny. That's a funny turn of phrase
14:57
because I feel like these teams might be going in different
15:00
directions, right? You know, it doesn't talk about
15:03
going either way. I'd let the, you know, obviously
15:06
hot start, solid start in this tournament to you.
15:08
And then you just look at some of the the recent score line.
15:12
So since the two 2 draw versus Bayern, 22 draw at Ibar 4 nil
15:18
loss at Lyon, the 55 draw versus Royal Sociedad and then a five
15:23
nil drubbing at Barcelona, where they I think they only managed
15:27
one shot in that one. And then this past weekend they
15:29
they they got by Levante one nil on the road.
15:35
I I feel like I don't want to say the luster is kind of off
15:38
this team, but we see this sometimes with young teams kind
15:41
of making, making the leap, taking the step up and just
15:43
like, oh, wow, this is, you know, the air is a lot thinner
15:46
up here. You know, like we just kind of
15:49
have to do more. We have to compete more.
15:51
The conditioning has to be a certain place.
15:53
The competition's stiffer. There's just more games or more
15:56
minutes, more trial like it. It just really is a different
15:59
animal. And I think that's kind of where
16:00
that institutional knowledge definitely helps teams.
16:03
Now, Manchester United also, you know, doesn't have that deep
16:07
experience in this tournament. But you look at some of the
16:09
players that kind of haven't really gelled, you know, and
16:13
they're experienced players like Elizabeth Turlin Freeland or
16:17
awful Melvin Millar is a little bit younger, Leia Schuler.
16:20
These are players that, you know, we haven't seen them.
16:24
We haven't seen them play as a unit, right?
16:26
And these are all really great players, really experienced.
16:28
These are not young debutante type players.
16:30
These are players that have played in massive games.
16:34
So I still think that there's maybe another level, maybe 2
16:37
levels for United to hit. We'll see.
16:40
And but I think I'd let the on the other side, they kind of
16:42
have to sort of stop the bleeding, sort of figure out
16:46
what the pivot is and how they kind of approach this United
16:50
matchup in a different way. I think you're spot on in terms
16:54
of spotting, stopping the bleeding.
16:56
I think the, you know, the number one thing for me is can
17:01
they score first? I think if they score first, you
17:05
know, then they can kind of go into attack mode a little bit,
17:09
use some of that possessive style that they can employ.
17:13
So United has had more than 50% of the ball in all of their WSL
17:21
matches this season except for two.
17:23
And both of those were reverse your arsenal for But I mean it
17:28
is also fair to point out they had 60% of the ball versus City
17:31
in November and they lost three nil.
17:32
So obviously, you know, I know people who who talk about like
17:37
possession, possession stats. It's like you don't get you
17:39
don't win the game for having more of the ball.
17:42
But for what it's worth, you know, United, they also had less
17:46
than 50% of the ball and two out of the six league phase matches,
17:49
one was to Lyon and the other one was to Atleti.
17:54
You know, where they lost that, that decisive possession battle.
17:57
So I, I think if, if that Letty can get out there, get on the
18:00
front foot. I don't think they need to score
18:02
in the 1st 10 minutes, but can they score in the first half
18:04
hour and like just loosen up a little bit from kind of this run
18:09
of, of weird and bad results. You mentioned that match versus
18:13
Levante, the one nil win. Let me tell you something,
18:16
buddy, Not an enjoyable match to watch, not very fun.
18:21
You know, other things you could do with two hours of your life.
18:25
But you know what? You know, I, I roll with them.
18:27
So Cena Jensen, she's tied for fifth in League F.
18:30
She has eight goals in the league season, only one goal and
18:33
about 286 minutes played in the Champions League League phase.
18:37
If she can come online and then kind of start to mesh with
18:40
Fiamma and Luani, you would like Luani to stop making some kind
18:45
of like erratic bad decisions on the field.
18:49
I, I think they, I think they could, they could get it done at
18:52
home, but it's, you know, again, it's going to be tough.
18:57
I, I'm really interested to see if United is going to be able
19:01
to, let's say that's a really interesting hypothetical.
19:04
If I'd let he's able to start fast, maybe get a goal, maybe
19:08
get a couple goals. So that's, you know, to kind of
19:10
like, you know, get out ahead because you look at United score
19:13
lines, they only have, I mean, you look, you can go back.
19:17
They only have three really three big score lines going all
19:20
the way back to September 4, nil versus Lester, 51 at London
19:25
City, 41 at Everton. Everything else is pretty much
19:29
one, one goal, two goals, a draw here, couple losses there.
19:33
You know, so I, I really kind of question, you know, if United
19:37
has to kind of claw their way back into the match.
19:40
I mean, they they do have firepower, but it's kind of not
19:42
how they've played. They've kind of slugged out
19:44
these matches a little bit, you know, almost wrestled control,
19:48
kind of turn them into a little bit of grappling fests.
19:51
So I'm going to be interested if this isn't up and down, you
19:55
know, kind of like back and forth, lot of shots, lot of lot
19:58
of opportunities. Can you not you know, like, what
20:03
is it? What is united going to look
20:05
like, you know, in that in that style of of matchup?
20:09
So I really think, you know, the styles do make fights.
20:12
I think that's what I'm going to be looking for.
20:14
In this one, like who? Who really is getting to dictate
20:16
the terms of this one in the tempo?
20:19
I think that's right, man. And you know, the the match over
20:22
the weekend versus Lester, you know, Ziggyati scores the goal.
20:26
It was kind of a soft goal. I mean, like, you know, it was
20:29
obviously played in as a cross. The keeper had to play it like
20:32
the like that it was going to happen, but it was over the the
20:35
runner's head. But then Ziggyati also had a
20:37
great just RIP off of, I can't remember who it was, but she had
20:44
a great steal and then, you know, played in it was I think
20:48
that was Turland for the goal. Turland, yeah.
20:51
So yeah, I mean, you know, like you said, they got the fire
20:54
powder firepower, they have the aggressiveness, you know, they
20:58
have the keeper. So I, you know, I think this
21:02
match probably for me #1 I'm looking most forward to and you
21:08
know, for, for our pals paying attention, we have forsaken
21:11
chronological order. We're, we're talking about a
21:13
Thursday match first. But that's because this one
21:15
should be really interesting. Yeah, you could maybe say our
21:19
Arsenal Athletic, but then then you're doing home and away.
21:22
So I think alphabetical is off the table too.
21:24
We're we're just we're rudderless right now, but we'll
21:27
try to pull it back. Predictions from my standpoint,
21:31
I think, I think United ultimately advances.
21:35
I think in this first matchup, though, you kind of got my
21:38
wheels turning. I'm I'm really interested to see
21:42
if if we can get maybe like A2 nil Atleti halftime lead and
21:47
then maybe see this one finish closer to 2-2.
21:50
Or you know, I I'd love to see this one kind of go back and
21:53
forth a little bit and see some of the offenses on display on
21:56
both sides. But ultimately, I think United
21:58
gets it done and advances I'm. Going to say I'm going to say 1
22:07
to 1 in this match. I think it's going to be a draw
22:11
and then in the second leg I'm going to call it 2 to one at
22:18
letty in in extra time. Oh, bloody, I like it.
22:28
I'm going to I, I, I think I'm on the other side.
22:30
I think, I think it's close to the first one.
22:32
And then I think United kind of romps in the second one and we
22:36
got 31, you know, separate the the wheat from the chaff kind of
22:43
situation. I can't, I can't bring myself to
22:46
pick that. I I can't blame anybody.
22:50
Let's talk about a team that close to my heart now with this
22:52
third matchup, Paria FC versus Some people call him Las
22:56
Blancas. I call him Nice Blancas.
22:59
Real Madrid Wednesday, February 11th 12:00 PM Pacific.
23:02
That one's going down. This one's a little well after
23:07
this matchup, after this Wednesday, February 11th, 12:00
23:10
PM Pacific matchup, I put this right around 2:00 PM.
23:12
There's not going to be any PK No, no shenanigans after these.
23:15
So I would say right around 2:00 PM Pacific, your boys can be
23:19
live. It's going to be where we're
23:20
when we chopping it up all of the Wednesday action.
23:23
We will be taking you from whistle to whistle, everything
23:26
in between and giving you, you know, the same mediocre, you
23:29
know, coverage that you could expect for your books.
23:33
So definitely keep it locked. Consistently mediocre though,
23:36
like it's we're always like pretty good you.
23:41
Already know what that is. All right.
23:42
Paris FC, Real Madrid. This is going to be a fun
23:44
matchup. Yeah.
23:46
What are you expecting this one? I mean, I want to see Real
23:51
Madrid do the thing. Do we?
23:53
We like your, we like your players.
23:57
We know you're good. We've seen the building of the
24:00
program. You, you got to do the thing
24:04
now. The like, like.
24:07
And now I realize, have I made a fool out of myself this entire
24:10
league face doubting Perry FC? Yes, I have.
24:13
But I think that I think that ends this time.
24:17
I think Real Madrid is a better team.
24:21
You know, I, I, I think they, they're going to come in there
24:23
with a good plan. Perry FC in that match where
24:26
they, their last league match, they just got fried by PSG,
24:30
which I think if you're a Perry's Angermann supporter,
24:33
you're probably like, well, where was that during the
24:36
Champions League League? We could have used like a
24:38
performance and a half of that. I mean, that was my first
24:42
thought watching PSG. I was like, why can't we get
24:44
this demon to 12? And like, I mean, I wouldn't
24:47
take any any of the 12 that we got, but that that team looks so
24:53
interesting. And I think the one player,
24:55
Marvel Kanjinga, who you know, you, you always notice her, you
25:00
know, her play. But now she's starting to kind
25:03
of like put it together and the runs are making more sense.
25:07
Like she's like now it's like the run in the past or kind of
25:11
meeting at the at the right point, you know, to to to add to
25:13
be additive. And she was just absolute menace
25:16
in this one. And seeing her tear up the
25:19
previously backline it I couldn't help but think, all
25:22
right, what is it going to look like when at the Neo's out
25:24
there, right, Linda Kaisto's out there and another player I want
25:28
to talk about 19 year old winger from Real Madrid, Pao Commando
25:32
Commando door, who had an awesome game.
25:35
You know, obviously, you know, you've seen, you know, power and
25:37
flashes, but against Espanol this past weekend, you know,
25:43
it's her game is like part Ellie Carpenter running up the
25:46
sideline, part Alessia Russo, all work great, all creativity,
25:51
all, you know, like head up, great vision, great, you know,
25:53
great ability to distribute. Like this player can do a lot of
25:56
different stuff. And just at 19, just terrifying.
25:59
I think she had a really big game and there was one play in
26:02
particular. So Madrid's up one nil at the
26:05
end of senior Brune to give them the lead and then come in the
26:08
door, picks off Estefania Bootero's pass, like just super
26:14
opportunistic, just jumps in the passing lane, picks it off quick
26:17
outside of the boot Anga doll who puts a strike on, you know,
26:20
and then like it gets saved and that then he has there to kind
26:22
of come in and smash it. And so all of that created from
26:25
come in the door. So I'm just not sure what Prius
26:29
he's going to do defensively on the outsides because I think
26:33
Real Madrid has the skill to stretch them out to the limit
26:38
and just basically find all the avenues like in and around and
26:41
through and just make it a nightmare of a game for for pre
26:44
FC. I think that's right and that
26:47
should be right, which is why I am imploring Real Madrid to do
26:52
the thing because how many times have we talked about they're
26:57
like, you know, like commend the door like that is great.
27:00
A young player coming up behind the other good players that they
27:03
have. They're building the depth.
27:05
We're watching the growth of the program as it happens.
27:09
But how many times have we talked about Real Madrid and
27:12
then they in a preview and then they come out and they play the
27:15
match and it's just like they're milling around out there for 90
27:20
minutes. It's just like, why are you
27:21
doing that? Like I like we know you're
27:23
better. And can I just say real quick on
27:25
the flip side, and I personally guilty of this, how many times
27:29
have I looked at Perry FC's game?
27:31
They played before and been like, well, that's they're not
27:33
that good. That's not going to work.
27:35
And then somehow their form from game to game is completely
27:38
unpredictable. I it.
27:41
It's so weird because and it's and they do it in different ways
27:45
for EFC. It's almost like Anaconda style.
27:47
It's like, no, no, we're going to squeeze all of the air out of
27:50
this game and like, you know, just turn it into what what we
27:54
want it to be. And and Madrid when they're when
27:57
they're off and running it, it just looks, you know, fantastic.
28:02
It it is making me laugh every time you're saying go out there
28:04
and do the thing because I actually put in my notes the
28:08
first goal and I kind of breezed through it.
28:10
But at the NIA, and this is against Espanola, she has some
28:14
space. And what I loved about it was
28:18
she's got space. She takes a little beat, she
28:20
looks down, takes another half a beat and just thumps a pass to
28:25
senior broom right on the money. And then what does Brune do?
28:28
The same thing gets a touch, you know, takes a beat, like takes
28:33
her time to half a breath and then lashes a shot.
28:37
You know, and it's like I'd love to see that like right, sit on
28:41
the fastball, like, you know, just do, you know, like you're
28:44
you're better. You when the opportunity comes,
28:46
you have to swing with full force.
28:48
You can't Oh, this is it or is this not it?
28:51
Or you know what we're talking about where they get kind of
28:53
like stuck in the mud and it's almost like stuck in the mud
28:56
mentally, you know, and I think against this head and then smash
28:58
with this up and you know, it's just so great to see them be
29:00
like straight instincts, see it, deliver it, get it done.
29:05
Because I think if they play like that against pre FC, I
29:07
think it's a walk. I think it's pretty easy.
29:09
I think this team's flat out better.
29:11
They're playing better. They're more talented.
29:14
I think experience wise that they're they're kind of step for
29:16
step. Madrid should should control
29:20
this tie, I think, end to end if I'm making a prediction.
29:24
I I agree yeah and and frankly, like they it would be really
29:31
good. Maybe it's a bit too sports hot
29:34
Takey if I say they need to. It would be really, really
29:39
great. If they did though, can I be
29:41
like 1 notch below? They need to.
29:43
It's like, just show us that you can do it in these two legs.
29:49
You're at the superior team. Just show us that over 180
29:54
minutes of football. Yeah, yeah.
29:57
I mean I'd love to see like A2 nil 31, just never in doubt kind
30:01
of cruise into the next round, especially for a team with with
30:06
with high expectations. But in the back of my head, man,
30:09
you know, the team that still has that giant killer, you know,
30:13
sort of like a like tag on them. You know, we we saw we saw them
30:17
give Lyon a really tough match. You know, so you just never know
30:20
what side's going to show up. You don't know if if they're
30:23
kind of pushing chips into the Champions League, you know, take
30:26
it away from the Premier League, you know, the pile and pushing
30:28
with the James league pile. So I think that's that's kind of
30:31
all what makes, you know, these next couple days super
30:34
compelling because they can app they can absolutely kind of show
30:38
up tomorrow and be Real Madrid, which is crazy because I think
30:42
like I fully expect them to not, you know, kind of like not be
30:45
competitive. But with that said, I think they
30:46
can still they can still win at home.
30:48
They can flat out win at home. Right, Yeah, no, I think, I
30:51
think a home win is on the board.
30:53
That's what makes it so crazy. And I'm glad you pointed out
30:55
that just speaks to their, the, the difficulty to like kind of
31:00
pinpoint what their form is like.
31:02
So they, they draw Lyon and then they just they that game versus
31:07
PSG, that was over at halftime. There I was why?
31:11
I was just like, there's no path back.
31:13
They're not going to, they're not even going to draw this
31:15
game. I was really watching to see
31:18
what they look like in the second-half and they just
31:22
didn't. They didn't, they didn't bring
31:24
it. I mean, I think defensively they
31:26
were overmatched, but I think offensively too, you know, and
31:30
and this is something that I'm going to be watching for against
31:32
Real Madrid outside of Claire Mateo.
31:36
What do they go to? You know, if if Madrid kind of
31:39
like, you know, closes, you know, shuts, shuts the valve
31:41
down on Mateo, it's like, all right, we're going to we're
31:43
going to make sure that you or your touches, you know, get get
31:46
limited to single digits or something crazy like that.
31:48
What else do they go to, right? Because I don't think they have
31:52
another player that's got more than two goals over the six
31:55
teams. I think they only scored six
31:57
goals. I think it's expensive.
31:58
So it's going to be an uphill batter for sure because I think
32:01
Madrid is going to be able to score.
32:02
But who knows? It could be super duper
32:05
interesting. Did you make an official
32:07
prediction? I did not.
32:11
I will. I will say though, I, I think it
32:12
sounds like you and I are relatively aligned where you
32:14
said you'd like to see a 2 nil and then a three one.
32:17
I was going to go, I think this will be two nil Real Madrid, but
32:22
it will the the result will never be in doubt.
32:26
Very cool. Sounds familiar.
32:29
Let's go to the let's go to the last matchup.
32:32
This is the one you mentioned. You mentioned athlete the United
32:36
as your number one most anticipated.
32:38
I think this is my most anticipated because I think this
32:41
guy, this got coin flip written all over it.
32:44
You know, I tried to put Leanne on spot when she gave him the
32:46
show just to get her take on it. I think, I think she was leading
32:49
Wolfsburg. I I might be headed the other
32:53
way. You know, Wolfsburg, they had a
32:57
match versus Virta Bremen this weekend postponed last weekend.
33:02
They had a tough knock down drag out at home versus Cologne, the
33:05
mid table, Cologne Biernstein, you know, get to get to get a
33:09
couple goals in that one, but they just haven't looked like
33:15
like an excellent team. I'll say this season.
33:18
I think, and it's funny, you look at the front Bundesliga
33:21
table, they're like 8 or 9 points behind Byron, but also
33:24
eight or nine points ahead of the third.
33:25
I think Hoffenheim might be there.
33:27
So it's like they're kind of like in no man's land too.
33:29
And is it like it the I don't know where, where, where the
33:32
intensity is going to be able to they're going to be able to draw
33:34
from. But I think this event aside is
33:38
going to show up absolutely ready to play.
33:41
And if Wolfsburg's sleepwalking through any portion of this in
33:44
the early part of this match, I think they could get smacked
33:47
with something early. I love it.
33:50
I, I think that's a, it's a bold take.
33:52
I like that Leanne won the Scudetto with Juventus and she,
33:57
she, you know, she didn't sit. She never sits on the fence.
33:59
I've never accused our pal of sitting on the fence.
34:02
I know she doesn't like that. She knows you would never be
34:04
caught dead sitting on the fence, but she was very that was
34:10
a head and heart situation where she was like, I don't really
34:13
want to, I don't really want to pick against Juventus, but she
34:16
was pretty obviously picking against Juventus.
34:18
And that's not I think. Is it possible that the no man's
34:26
land that you describe, you know, eight points behind
34:29
Bayern, 88 points ahead of the third place place team?
34:32
I think you're right. I think it is Hoffenheim.
34:36
Could that mean that you they can put more emotional energy
34:41
into the Champions League match at home?
34:45
You know, like they're the the lights are going to dim, The
34:48
green lights are going to flash. The Wolf howls are going to come
34:51
out. Like, can they can they, you
34:54
know, juice themselves up a little bit for this match just
34:56
kind of knowing like, OK, yeah, we're probably not going to win
34:58
the league. So let's let's, you know, thug
35:00
it out here in the words of the great Hal Hirschfeld.
35:05
I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm in, I'm usually in the other camp, you
35:10
know, I'm in the, you know, the, the arsenal.
35:12
I want to, I want to get out there and get, you know, get a
35:15
little scraped up a little bit, you know, kind of feel like I'm
35:17
in it. I don't, I mean, I think it's
35:21
tough to, to kind of draw that, that level of intensity.
35:26
You know, I, I, I, I think it's going to be difficult.
35:28
And I think if I if I do have a prediction, I feel really
35:30
positive about I feel like events is going to come out and
35:33
look like the sharper team from the jump and we're going to see
35:36
a foolsburg going to be able to catch up because I just don't
35:39
think that they've played. And, you know, even when you
35:41
think about matchups with Byron, you know, it's it's not that
35:44
kind of game. You know, it's not that kind of
35:46
like frenetic punch, you know, can I like, can I can get my
35:50
bearings and really get it, you know, like, but, you know, but
35:52
Byron plays a very straightforward, you know, I
35:55
don't, for lack of a better word, a gentleman lead to kind
35:57
of German. Yeah, it's.
35:58
German football. But I think I think events going
36:02
to be come in here and and flip some tables and kind of see, you
36:06
know, see how serious Wolfsburg is about this because, you know,
36:11
events just come in with a with with a championship, you know,
36:15
pedigree from from last season. They're sitting in 3rd in Syria
36:19
off of McNeil. So it's been a little bit of an
36:21
up and down. They did beat Roma in a, in a
36:24
scintillating Super Copa, you know, final that would that was
36:27
exciting. And then I want to give a quick
36:30
shout out to 23 year old Dutch goalkeeper Danielle Danielle,
36:34
the young who had played really, really well versus Como and has
36:38
just been rock solid since coming over from FC-20 last
36:41
summer, just established #1 firm, firm, firm.
36:47
And then the other player I want to shout out who I think has
36:49
been another excellent edition, Paulina Crumb Beagle, who
36:54
freight trains in that second goal.
36:55
You know, I mean, defensively, just an absolute like boulder
36:59
back there just just wrecking everything.
37:02
But also more than happy to mix it up, fly into the box.
37:06
You did it on this one and then kind of like got the goal to
37:08
kind of seal it. I I I just I don't know, I have
37:12
a soft spot for this team. Can you, can you tell me is this
37:15
is this a soft spot or do you also see something as with this
37:20
event aside that that maybe could be could signal something
37:23
greater? I mean, I think our friends of
37:26
this, of this fine program would, would say maybe famously,
37:31
I gravely underestimated Juventus when we when we made
37:35
our picks of who was going to advance to the knockout phase.
37:40
And you were correct then, and I would have, I was wrong.
37:44
I was way too low on Juventus. I think they have with their
37:49
veteran leadership and the toughness that they play with.
37:52
I, I think they've, they've without a doubt like earned more
37:56
respect from me. I don't know if it is like, I
38:00
don't know if it is like a mental block that I have when I
38:03
think about German teams versus Italian teams and you know,
38:07
playing a German team at home in the Champions League.
38:11
I I think it's I think it's going to be a really tough road
38:14
to hold for for Juventus. But your optimism for them is
38:20
not without a ton of merit. I, I will say that and you know,
38:27
if you think about you mentioned like their recent results, they
38:30
got the two nil win over Como. They it's three wins on the spin
38:34
in Syria Femeneal since January 26th and across those three
38:38
matches, nine goals for zero against.
38:41
So you know, they are, they are rounding into a level of form as
38:46
well. So I, I think it's going to be,
38:48
I think it's going to be super tough.
38:50
I think I still lean Wolfsburg, but not with a ton of
38:55
confidence. All right, I'm going to, I'm
39:01
going to, I'm going to put it on, put it on, on, on wax here.
39:05
Give me, I'm going to say Juventus.
39:08
Give me the Juventus sweep. One nil on the road over
39:11
Wolfsburg and then one nil again at home. 2 nil on aggregate and
39:17
Juventus. Juventus is their way into the
39:19
into the quarterfinals. It's a, it would be a disaster
39:24
for Wolfsburg and be, and not by any disrespect from Juventus,
39:28
but just for who Wolfsburg, you know, thinks they are as a
39:32
football club in this sport. I think that would be absolutely
39:37
bonkers. Now I, I before I make my
39:39
prediction, I want to make sure I get this, this stat off not
39:42
exactly the deepest stat in the world, but in the league phase,
39:45
Wolfsburg two wins, 0 draws, one loss at home.
39:49
In the league phase, they beat PSG 4 nil in October, They beat
39:52
United 5 two in November at home, but then they lost 21 to
39:57
Chelsea in December. Juventus.
40:01
On the road away in the league phase, two wins, 0 draws, one
40:06
loss. They lost 21 to Byron in
40:08
October, they beat Atleti 2 to one in November and then they
40:12
beat Saint Paul in five nil in Austria.
40:14
So as you know, they like to say something's got to give and so.
40:21
Someone's two and O and one got to go exactly so.
40:27
Give me Wolfsburg 2 to 1 and I think the goals come from one
40:37
from Biernstein, one from Bob. I like it.
40:41
Terrible prediction. You like it because now you're
40:45
going to look great when we clip it back.
40:47
Oh. Yeah, we run this thing back.
40:51
I just, you know, watching those Biernstein goals versus Cologne,
40:56
watching them back, you know, I'm, I, I'm going to be
41:01
interested to see because both of those, the defense was just
41:03
Swiss cheese. You know, it's just like Beard
41:06
sang. Yeah, yeah, I'll, I'll run here.
41:09
Nobody's going to run with being get a a relatively
41:12
straightforward finish. Now I think that not only not
41:18
only do the this thing do things get so compacted in the
41:21
Champions League, but now we're in the group stage, we're in the
41:24
knockout stage. But then it's also Juventus who
41:27
loves to play that kind of like knock around bumper cars, you
41:32
know, just we're not going to see Lynette Bernstein, former
41:36
Juventus player, kind of running in any kind of space.
41:38
I don't think. I think it's going to be a 90
41:43
plus minutes where there's just not a ton of daylight.
41:46
If Pop does score, I think it'll be something a little counter
41:51
counterintuitive from distance, you know, special kind of moment
41:55
from Bob and Bernstein, obviously super capable of of
41:58
producing something like that as well.
42:00
But that's what I'm going to be watching for.
42:03
Can they get a little when it's not straightforward, when it's
42:06
not just so boom, boom, give and go, you know, like how it is on
42:11
the on the whiteboard? Can they score under those
42:14
circumstances because that that's what they're going to
42:16
need to to get past Juventus? I think that I think that's
42:20
probably right. I I'm glad you mentioned, you
42:23
know, we've we've talked about this from the preview.
42:26
This is the the Lynette Berenstein Darby.
42:30
So I'm going to go, you know, do they do they completely cover
42:34
up? We've we've seen those matches
42:35
from her in the past where, you know, we've expected something
42:38
big. And then she it's not so much
42:40
that she knows shows, it's just that, you know, she's not nearly
42:43
as much of a factory. Like you don't hear her name
42:45
called as much as you would think you should for an elite
42:48
striker like that. I'm going to put the take chip
42:51
on. Not a gigantic revenge game, but
42:54
I think she gets a goal against her former team.
42:57
I like it. I give me for my goal.
43:02
This is interesting. Give me give me the give me the
43:04
young and give me the give me the young phenom ever Schatzer,
43:08
who I just really like watching play from the midfield, kind of
43:12
has the kind of like a little little Ziggy OT to her game.
43:16
Just always in the mix, always kind of involved in, you know,
43:19
just always in the right place in the right time and and happy
43:22
to kind of like engage. You know.
43:24
So I think give me give me shots there kind of against the run of
43:27
a run of play to kind of shock, shock this match up and maybe
43:32
put Juventus on the right track going into the second leg.
43:35
All right, man, we covered a ton of ground.
43:38
I kind of just like, you know, like a like a young kid on
43:41
Christmas Eve. I just kind of just want to go
43:42
to sleep and wake up to some Champions League football
43:45
tomorrow morning. Is there anything else you want
43:47
to hit for? Get out of here.
43:48
I think that's it buddy, right around 40 ish minutes.
43:51
I think about 10 minutes of a match somewhere in there does
43:55
that. I think that might be how it
43:56
happened. I think we did it.
43:58
That was a couple minutes at the at the top that we'll cut
44:01
together. But either way, I think we'd, I
44:03
think we, I think we did a pretty solid job.
44:05
The magic of editing. Nobody will ever know if we
44:08
didn't say anything, but that's OK.
44:10
And now everybody knows. Yeah, I, I, I think, I think
44:15
we've covered it, my good man. Awesome.
44:17
All right, man, quick episode calendar, Azmin, all you really
44:20
need to know Champions a week. Wednesday and Thursday of this
44:23
week, Tuesday, Wednesday of next week, we're going to be going
44:25
live. A lot.
44:27
After these match but I think the only day that's in question
44:30
might be this Thursday. BF CS got their media day, so I
44:33
might be on site there in San Jose, but the other three or
44:37
three or three of the other four days, we're going to be getting
44:39
busy and we'll we'll also be back probably Thursday night
44:41
recapping the Thursday matchups. Either way, like I said, prime
44:45
time for your boys. Make sure you're subscribed,
44:47
make sure you're following us on all the socials.
44:50
Never know. We're going to hit that button
44:51
and go live. All right, man, now I think we
44:53
definitely did it. There's nothing else we want to
44:55
hit for Get out Here, right? No, and I, I just want people to
44:58
know that when Dino says you never know when we're going to
45:01
go live and then he leaves the door open for us possibly going
45:05
live on Thursday, that means me too.
45:07
I don't know. Dino just tells me.
45:09
He just texts me and then I just show up.
45:11
I'm like, oh, I watched the football, let's talk about it.
45:13
And so that's how it goes. You know what?
45:16
Yes, consistently mediocre, but on the higher end of mediocrity,
45:20
no doubt. So yeah, I think that's I'm
45:25
prepared for it. I'll be ready.
45:27
I stay ready so I don't have to get ready.
45:30
Nobody is more consistent or delivering higher level
45:34
mediocrity than your boys. There's been channel.
45:37
Thank you. Thank you for watching, listen
45:39
and hanging out. If you enjoyed the show.
45:40
We do this every single week. YouTube, Spotify, podcast for
45:42
everything to watch you listen, make sure you like, subscribe,
45:45
follow, comment, leave us a review page, share in the
45:47
comments section to the channel. Great way to support the show
45:49
into channel merch. Even better way to support the
45:51
show. Follow us subscribe you already
45:53
know what to do links all of the above much much more in the
45:56
description of this episode and a big think in my coast as well.
46:00
Mr. Grant angle for just kind of always answering the call live,
46:04
not live doesn't matter. You know, PTO, you know, we're
46:08
going to see what we do about those if when it's a big two
46:11
weeks, it's just not in question.
46:13
But you know, I got the sharpie. I just I just write write the
46:17
big initials in and I think we're off and running.
46:19
I appreciate you bro. Likewise, buddy, nobody I'd
46:22
rather rather do this with. And yeah, I mean, you're talking
46:25
about players in Sharpie. We're talking about the
46:27
Champions League. Go back, watch our 200th
46:30
episode. Couldn't have got the 200
46:32
episodes without all of you nice people on the Internet.
46:35
Lily, Johannes, you know, hoping to become a future Champions
46:38
League winner. We also talked to our pal Leanne
46:40
Sanderson, an actual Champions League winner.
46:42
Who like we don't force her, we don't give her any money and she
46:47
still comes on the show a Champions League winner, a World
46:50
Cup, you know, second place or third, pardon me, third place
46:52
finisher comes on the show. You know, we're we're doing
46:56
things out here. So we appreciate you guys for
46:58
rocking with us and we will see you all next time.