Association Football 2020/21

[Lechasseur]

Barcelona's loss at Paris-Saint-German yesterday was just embarrassing,

PSG! PSG! PSG!

[Lechasseur]

Barcelona's loss at Paris-Saint-German yesterday was just embarrassing,

But seriously, I think the Spanish dominance of European football we've known for the last 10-20 years is well and truly over. Real and Barca don't seem to be very good anymore and I think it will be quite a while before either of them are Europe's top club again.

The question is who takes over now? I suspect if anything success between different countries' clubs will be more spread out now, but with English clubs+Bayern and PSG being the main forces.

[Lechasseur]

More important than any of these European matches, is the fact that Level 6 (Conference North/South) in England voted to end the season and declare it null and void.

Pretty obvious decision, really. I mean, my club (Hereford) had only managed to play 13 games all season and, somehow, had to fit in the remaining 29 matches before the end of April. Other teams, like Darlington, had played even less!

Clubs were calling off matches left, right and centre with little notice and it was a bit of a shambles that they were even trying to complete the season at this level in England. Especially when we went back into national lockdown in early January.

Fingers crossed that all the clubs manage to survive, though I sadly fear quite a few will end up going bust.

I'd be mildly surprised if some countries didn't lose top-flight clubs that previously had been successful (some of the La Liga/Serie A clubs seem like obvious examples to me)

Anyone in particular in mind?

[Lechasseur]

More important than any of these European matches, is the fact that Level 6 (Conference North/South) in England voted to end the season and declare it null and void.

Pretty obvious decision, really. I mean, my club (Hereford) had only managed to play 13 games all season and, somehow, had to fit in the remaining 29 matches before the end of April. Other teams, like Darlington, had played even less!

Clubs were calling off matches left, right and centre with little notice and it was a bit of a shambles that they were even trying to complete the season at this level in England. Especially when we went back into national lockdown in early January.

Fingers crossed that all the clubs manage to survive, though I sadly fear quite a few will end up going bust.

I'd be mildly surprised if some countries didn't lose top-flight clubs that previously had been successful (some of the La Liga/Serie A clubs seem like obvious examples to me)

Anyone in particular in mind?

Some of the non-Barcelona/Real Madrid/Atletico De Madrid clubs in La Liga, and some of the non- AC Milan/Inter Milan/Juventus/Roma/Lazio sides in Serie A seem like possibilities.

I get the impression that outside of the 5 clubs you mentioned and maybe Napoli, the Serie A clubs would all be pretty vunerable financially, correct?

Then in Spain, do you think some big clubs like Sevilla or Valencia could be in danger?

[Lechasseur]

Well, 2021 will probably be a historic year in the Portuguese Championship. After yesterday's draw between Porto and Sporting (0-0), it basically certain that Sporting will be the champion 19 years after their last win.

Current point score: (top 5)

1. Sporting 55
2. Porto 45
3. Braga 43
4. Benfica 39
5. Paços 38

Braga will play latter today with Nacional of Madeira and Benfica, tomorrow, with Rio Ave. If Braga wins, they will surpass Porto for 2nd place.

If I'm not wrong, isn't there some informal "alliance" between Porto and Sporting fans where they'd generally prefer the other winning to seeing Benfica winning?

[Lechasseur]

Well, 2021 will probably be a historic year in the Portuguese Championship. After yesterday's draw between Porto and Sporting (0-0), it basically certain that Sporting will be the champion 19 years after their last win.

Current point score: (top 5)

1. Sporting 55
2. Porto 45
3. Braga 43
4. Benfica 39
5. Paços 38

Braga will play latter today with Nacional of Madeira and Benfica, tomorrow, with Rio Ave. If Braga wins, they will surpass Porto for 2nd place.

If I'm not wrong, isn't there some informal "alliance" between Porto and Sporting fans where they'd generally prefer the other winning to seeing Benfica winning?

Yes, but that "alliance" only worked when the championship was between Porto and Benfica, which was the case of the last 20 years. Now, I think I can speak for Porto fans, as I am one of them, the so-called "alliance" is over, but things are much complicated for Benfica fans as their hate towards Sporting is as high as it is towards Porto.

Well if the championship was hypothetically between Sporting and Benfica, I'd assume you'd still prefer Sporting to Benfica no?

[Lechasseur]

I just looked up the SPL tables, and I see Rangers are officially champions and are leading by 20 points. I can't remember the last time a team dominated the SPL so much as Rangers this season.

Sure, Celtic won the league 9 times in a row, but I don't think they ever did by 20 points (I could be wrong though, it's not the league I follow the most).

[Lechasseur]

Sure, Celtic won the league 9 times in a row, but I don't think they ever did by 20 points (I could be wrong though, it's not the league I follow the most).

They did multiple times. It was a one-team league. They won by 30 points under Brendan Rodgers. Slightly ironic that his former player Stevie G is the one to break Celtic's run.

Yeah makes sense.

Tbf, last season was the first season since about 2013 I paid any attention to Scottish football. It just wasn't worth following without Rangers.

[Lechasseur]

Major upset today, as PSG lost 2-1 to Nantes at the Parc des Princes.

Ugh

[Lechasseur]

So happy Arsenal came back from 1-nil down to win 2-1 over the lilywhite scum of North London. #FOYS #COYG

Good result, happy to see that

[Lechasseur]

The UCL Final matchup is set: It's an all-England affair for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, as Chelsea and Manchester City will contest for the UCL crown.

Eww gross

Eh, I'll be pulling for City as the lesser evil, but I won't bother to watch this year.

Then in the Europa League I'm pulling for Villarreal, but I prefer both Europa League finalists to either Champions League finalist this year (opposite of last year).

[Lechasseur]

It's official:

https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1392790995624935428

This is pretty dumb imo. With the current context, given two English teams are on the final, it should have gone to a British stadium. I don’t understand this decision honestly.

[Lechasseur]

Very nice to see Leicester lift the FA Cup, and what a goal to win it.

Great to hear!

That being said, I thought the final was tomorrow, otherwise I would have watched lol

[Lechasseur]

PSG HAVE WON THE FRENCH CUP!

[Lechasseur]

LILLE!!!

A really nice note to end the European domestic seasons on. When you compare their resources to PSG’s and even Monaco’s, it truly is a magnificent achievement.

BOO