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The Champion's League, one of football's best tournaments, ends with this final on May 27th. It's still a little way off, but I thought I should get the ball rolling now...

Simple enough question. This is just a sort of one-match predictor topic. Please post your scoreline, first scorer, and anything else you want to predict. See the link below for more information about the tournament.

UEFA Website

Also, if you've been following it, what are your thoughts on the tournament as a whole?
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I'm going for a 2-1 win for Man U.

Barca will go into half-time with either a 1-0 lead or a tie, but they will score first and in the first 45 minutes. I'll say Xavi is the scorer; probably from a free-kick or a wondergoal. I don't think Messi will get away from the Man U defense. It's nails.

Man U will take the game back in the second half. Let's remember that coach Sir Alex is the guy who cut David Beckham's face by kicking a boot at him. That's a real team-talk.

This post has been edited by sweetdude on 15th May 2009 15:33

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

Meh, all of the teams I like lost ;_;

Anyway, I hope that Barcelona will win.

In a perfect world, anyone but Man U - big frowns for Liverpool's lack of defense against Chelsea in both legs.

In reality, though, Berbatov scores first in a 3-1 manhandling.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN? Or perhaps buying a really good looking shirt?

I have to reiterate my general displeasure at Man United in general, but for me the Champions League final increasingly is becoming a competition that sees two teams I hate playing and I merely need to decide which one I hate less.

Possibly because both Scottish teams that get into the tournament usually ALSO happen to be teams I dislike thanks to the fact Celtic are Celtic and I've just never liked them much, and Rangers are increasingly the masters of throwing it all away and keep wasting a slot that teams like Hearts or Aberdeen could really be fighting to hold onto.

However, I fear this final is a Manchester one again. Barcelona are the lesser of two evils, so it would be nice just to see Man United get beaten. I think 2-1 Man U as well, with it being less of a contest than scoreline implies.

Still, thank goodness it wasn't bloody Chelsea!

This post has been edited by Del S on 16th May 2009 06:53

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"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

Arsenal are out so I'm not too fussed.

I predict 1 - 1 at half time. Then it'll go all the way to penalties which Man U will win with the fourth spot kick.

Well I got that one horribly wrong. By half-time I thought things were going as predicted, but then that second half was a let-down.

I really was wanting Man U to win this. If only to avoid having to read the sickening Spanish headlines, which I have done now, and, yes, they're horrific.

That game, if anything, goes to show how well Chelsea played against Barcelona. They bunkered down in Spain, didn't concede a goal, then looked like winning at Stamford Bridge. I've got a Chelsea friend who is convinced that the referees were in league to stop another all-English final. At first it seems a bit far-fetched, but, in hindsight, why didn't the guy award at least one of those penalties?

Quote (Del S @ 16th May 2009 06:52)

Possibly because both Scottish teams that get into the tournament usually ALSO happen to be teams I dislike thanks to the fact Celtic are Celtic and I've just never liked them much, and Rangers are increasingly the masters of throwing it all away and keep wasting a slot that teams like Hearts or Aberdeen could really be fighting to hold onto.

Aberdeen do fairly well in Europe if I remember correctly. That would be interesting to see them in the CL. Or maybe it would be too hard to watch, I don't know. Celtic made it to the last 16 under Gordon Strachen. That's really nothing to be ashamed of. They might be able to do it again if the new manager pays off. I'm not going to say anything about Rangers or I'll be stabbed in a pub on my next visit up.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

Ha ha, I forgot this thread existed. While I would have rooted for a black hole to swallow Rome, I'll accept that Man U didn't come away with it (despite it making my prediction ridiculous).

United definitely did not show up for that match at all. Was it that they thought they had it in hand? Was it just an off day? In any event, I certainly don't mind seeing it happen and I now can look forward to what I hope is a transfer window in which Liverpool bolster their back four enough to take advantage next year - and maybe pick up David Villa just for the fun of making Pool even more a Spanish side.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN? Or perhaps buying a really good looking shirt?

Seeing Barcelona take the victory was not exactly how I imagined this tournament ending, but nonetheless, anything beats out Manchester United boasting another trophy.

The game itself was rough and poorly played, I don't think either side brought their best game to the pitch. There were some reasonably violent challenges, not to mention Valdes bizarre style of playing keeper.

All in all, at least it wasn't Man U.

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Okay, but there was a goat!

Quote (Rangers51 @ 28th May 2009 17:25)

United definitely did not show up for that match at all. Was it that they thought they had it in hand? Was it just an off day?

They were alright to begin with. United really should've scored with one of those first attempts. I think it was a mix of three things:

1 - The goal reminded Barcelona that they're brilliant when it comes to playing football (and probably any other ball sport). Barcelona settled into a smooth pace straight afterwards.

2 - C. Ronaldo didn't have the maturity and humility to concede that he wasn't the best player on the pitch, and therefore disappeared for the rest of the game in a somewhat fearful state. Man U's attacking became lacklustre from then on.

3 - After Chelsea, Barca knew how to play against a rock-hard defence. They brought Messi back a little into midfield which opened a lot more chances and lured United out a bit more than Chelsea, who denied them ANY shots except the one goal. I think they really should've anticipated this.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

I was going to shift this topic to the FA Cup final, but it seems awkward to do so now that Everton scored in the first thirty seconds (which is about the best thing ever).

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN? Or perhaps buying a really good looking shirt?

What a start. I haven't found a goal funny for ages. Shame I've already made plans to go out soon.

1-1... mighty shame.

This post has been edited by sweetdude on 30th May 2009 14:22

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

I missed Chelsea's goal, as I'm trying desperately to clean my office up at home. I thought you were kidding about 1-1 until I actually turned to the TV.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN? Or perhaps buying a really good looking shirt?

I came back to watch the end. I managed to watch all the goals live!

Chelsea were a better team etc etc etc. At least they were attacking right up until the end. It wasn't too bad to watch.

Also, I'm gutted Rangers won the Scottish Cup, but I suppose they deserve some more recognition of a well-played season. More than Celtic anyway. Falkirk could've broken some hearts today.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

Chelsea were never going to lose under Guus though were they. He's been pretty consistent considering he knew he'd only be doing the job for a few months up until the end of the season.

And yeah Man U lost. Too bad.

Barcelona! *clap clap clapclapclap*

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