Worth underlining that Sporting had five wins from five at home in the CL this year (16-3 GD), but just one win and a draw from five matches away (6-11 GD).
I’m not taking anything for granted but they probably went into tonight thinking they needed to win this match to have a chance.
Should have been booked in the first half and the fact he wasn’t meant he could just get one more foul in. One more. Just one more. In the end he got away without a yellow, making about 10 fouls at least.
Was somewhat of a threat attacking (would he have been if Timber was available?), defensively he was fine but nothing special I thought.
Clarence Seedorf should just present Prime’s coverage by himself. By far the best pundit on TV these days.
The Havertz goal changes everything about the second leg now. Sporting will need to come out at the Emirates, maybe not straight away, but at some stage and the game will open up. Brilliant away result tonight.
Are you ready for fletch and coisty to be back next week 
Yes, coat the spud with olive oil, coarse grind sea salt (just a little) on it and bake as usual 400 for an hour. Then when it’s cooled down, slice the long side top off, scrape out the flesh. Mash that up with butter (Ilike add a bit of chopped red onion, green peppers, grind some fresh black pepper and refill the shell of the potato. Then back in the oven for 30 mins. at 350, and that’s it.
I just remembered at one stage he accused Madueke of diving even though he didn’t actually go down.
I hope Saka tears him to shreds next week.
Going to try that, although not sure I’d add peppers. Thinking cheese with the onion and maybe some tuna!
I’m told that an air fryer is good for jacket spuds…
That’s a lot of potato foreplay if you ask me. Skin em, boil em, eat em.
Come on Sham, surely you want to do more with the humble potato than just boil them and eat them?
That is if either plays.
Said it before the game but a win here, even the narrow one changes the return leg a lot because Sporting play Benfica next weekend in the league which they must win, followed up by Porto in the cup.
Yeah, cheese is good - not a tuna guy myself. Enjoy!
@shamrockgooner is this you on X?
He’s Irish. BTW, as a kid, my bestie’s mum, she was from Kilkenny, never peeled her potatoes - said all the goodness was in the skin.
I fancy a baked potato now! Need more options for toppings. I like cheese and beans, but I’m a bit weird, because I only like cold baked beans!
Any other suggestions?
I used some fresh grated parmesan cheese tonight. I guess you can put just about anything on. Cold beans - you could just nosh them on the side. I mean, you don’t want to cool down the spud. Still, whatever takes your fancy.
And the rest
Referee had major main character energy like a lot of them do.
Fouled Madueke numerous times then just carried on exactly the same against Dowman.
The fact he wasn’t carded earlier meant he could carry on being very aggressive and physical.
Referee was shite. I also blame the linesmen who were right next to all the fouls all game long.