Posted this elsewhere too.
I must be in a minority of 1. I am loving this competition. Smacks of the first World Cups I watched in 70 and 74. Reminiscent of those 70's World cups where top teams were expected to batter the African teams etc.
Botofoga stiffed PSG 1-0 last night and PSG are now in serious danger of not getting out of the group stage. PSG like all the other teams had their full squad playing
With the exception of the injured Dembele PSG had an almost identical line up to their Champions League team. Every team here is taking this competition seriously.
It's fascinating watching teams from South America, the MLS, Arabians etc up against the European big guns.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan
Al Hilal 1-1 Real Madrid
Fluminense 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Boca Juniors 2-2 Benfica
Palmeiras 0-0 Porto (Porto 1pt 2 games being dumped by an MLS team)
Inter Miami (MLS) beat Porto 2-1 with a strike force of Messi & Luis Suarez.
Botafogo 1-0 PSG
Games causing qualification problems out of group stages to big names and we are only 1/2 way through the group games.
On the BBC, now multiple stories, trashing the competition on attendances. I liken it to politicians. You can take a topic and selectively pick facts to tell the story from which ever side you want.
These games are being played in USA Stadiums. These stadiums are 70,000 to 100,000 capacity.
4 games a day. 2 are kicking off during the work day. Chelsea v LAFC was Monday at 3pm and played in Atlanta. People in Atlanta ain't gonna take a day off work to watch a team from LA that is 2,100 miles away.
Some Attendances not being reported by the BBC
60,000 - Al Ahly v Inter Milan
81,000 - PSG v Athletico Madrid
56,000 - Boca Juniors v Benfica
62,000 Real Madrid v Al Hilal
Yes Bayern beat Auckland City 10-0 but in Oceania (NZ included) its an amateur sport. Australia opted to join the Asia Confed so your left with amateur teams in Oceania. It'd be like Bayern v Ammanford of the JD Cymru South. Auckland are here for the barbie, the party and the girls.