Champions League Knockouts (12 Aug - 23rd Aug)

Is Messi such a complex player that the 10 players around him really struggle to be quite cohesive when they aren't ultra talented? This game screams of a lot of similarities to Argentina at times. It's odd to watch the battering they can get, at times it's like people are scared of playing in his shadow.... is he some kind of ruthless character behind the scenes?

Bayern though, doing the business. Messi should go there for a year.

How can anyone watch this and think, "yeah Messi is scaring Ter Stegen into being an idiot"
 
Feel sorry for Barcelona, we all know they're a bit shit this season but playing against a fresh Bayern Munich team while you've just finished a punishing season is tough. Everyone will jump to conclusions based on this too, when the reality is that competition is fecked due to the different schedules.

I expect that the Spanish media will still lynch them tomorrow, regardless.
 
He is the perfect squuad player for any team in the world. Can play on every attacking position and is just super effective. I just recommended United to get him as a squad player yesterday.
His price is the same as James's. Makes you think, ha?
 
fairly expected result, like everyone predicted. compared to Chelsea who are simply clueless and undercoached, Barca have all the experience needed for this game but simply don't have legs anymore to make use of it.
 
Shades of 2013 this. Not just Bayern but this matchup as well. How are they this good? Anyway, it's about time Lewandowski would win one. A player of his quality.
 
Thiago to Liverpool will be rather frustrating. He's so good. fecking Moyes!
 
Eh? We've seen numerous chances in this game alone set up by defenders on either side!

Defenders are footballers, expecting them to be decent on the ball isn't asking too much

Most defenders are decent on the ball, but they aren't breaking 3 lines and playing through balls from defense. Moving the ball and occasionally forward doesn't make playing out the back a necessity or end all be all like way to many people think it does. If you're scoring 65 goals a season in the league, and you need 80 to 90 goals, your defense playing the ball forward isn't going to close that gap. It's the quality of upfront players from midfield and attack and coaching. Defenders defend and you cannot win if you cannot stop leaking goals. That's exactly Chelsea's problem and what we're seeing today with Barca.
 
We've got to learn this dark art. Martial, Greenwood and Rashford are too honest.

The referee sent a clear signal to all players that he is not going to give out yellow cards easily when he didn't book Messi after a clear tactical foul. Exploiting that decision by the referee is simply gamesmanship.
 
I hope Bayern cruises this and then wins the whole thing. Don’t want any state owned PR project winning the trophy
 
Playing out from the back like this is silly especially against a superior high pressing Team like Bayern
The Manager must change something
You can’t just keep doing the same wrong thing
 
I hope Bayern cruises this and then wins the whole thing. Don’t want any state owned PR project winning the trophy

They'll have 6 CLs and 3 ahead of us. We'll start to look very, very far away from football elites in CL trophies count.
 
Playing out from the back like this is silly especially against a superior high pressing Team like Bayern
The Manager must change something
You can’t just keep doing the same wrong thing

To be fair the players on the pitch are experienced enough to realise this ain’t working. Not like Barca players follow every word of this manager.