I think Chelsea might potentially give them a decent game tonight but over two legs struggle to see anything other than Barca going through.
Champions League Round of 16 (13th Feb - 14th Mar)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Our midfield isn't that scary anymore, I don't think we're too far ahead from Spurs, and certainly not City level, everything there depends on Messi (or Iniesta 5 times a year).
Yeah, for as much as he's not going to want to go all-out attack, I do think they need to be aiming for a win tonight; don't think their defence is really reliable enough to be able to go away to the Nou Camp and try to keep it tight for a full game.
Plus I'd say a high-pressing workhorse like Kante is exactly the type of player you want in midfield when coming up against a club notorious for their ability to keep the ball.
With that lineup I can see Chelsea being completely starved of possession. Kante will need to have the game of his life given how poor Fabregas is playing deeper.
You don't need to be scary. Kante will get outnumbered today.
Rudy, Bernat and Thiago (just came back from injury) did not make the bench.
Ulreich
Kimmich - Boateng - Hummels - Alaba
Martinez - Vidal
Müller - James - Coman
Lewandowski
I like that lineup, but Rudy and Thiago not being in the squad is a bit of a bummer.
Since when playing with no strikers is equal to park the bus?
Parking the bus has kinda lost its meaning. Being defensive is now considered parking the bus.
However, not with midfield 2 and Cesc as his partner. I meant look at it like this: Barcelona ain't no ordinary team who is prone to concede possession against pressing. Pressing may stifle their flow a bit but not entirely nullify their team. They are very good at keeping possession and have players up front who can punish if they're allowed sufficient room. Chelsea couldn't press against City and Tottenham, now we're talking about Barcelona.
I am not saying Chelsea wouldn't try since I believe Pedro and Willian would stay more centrally and chip in defensive duty with their workrate. I am saying, Kante would need to play a calmer role and be disciplined to babysit Cesc than playing his preferred way. Cesc to cover the back 3 alone against the like of Messi, Suarez, Iniesta would be disaster
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Just watched goals in our CL finals against Barca, van der Sar was really poor for pretty much every goal they scored out of 5 in those two finals, especially for the last final we played.
Interesting line ups. Fabregas is a weak link defensively and Barcelona need to exploit that, Kante is a monster but there will still be space in the midfield for Messi to get the ball between the lines. On the other hand this Barcelona midfield aren't as good on the ball as they used to be and if they make mistakes Chelsea will be very dangerous on the counter. I don't remember Hazard as a false 9 ever really working and I think Morata would be perfect for a game like this but we'll see.
I think this Barcelona team can be troubled by high press so Chelsea should come out and try to force some mistakes even if it's just for the start of the game.
Prediction: 2-1 to Barcelona, Paulinho to score.
I think this Barcelona team can be troubled by high press so Chelsea should come out and try to force some mistakes even if it's just for the start of the game.
Prediction: 2-1 to Barcelona, Paulinho to score.
Dont know what people is seeing. Conte has put a pretty attacking line-up. Obiously he doesnt want his best attacking player tracking back Sergi Roberto, so he had no other option that putting Hazard as striker (without changing the system).
Morata on the bench for a CL knockout tie and against Barça on top of that.
Why did he leave Madrid again?
Why did he leave Madrid again?
I understand Thiago (just played his first game in three months) and who would you leave out for Rudy? It’s so strange having only one player injured for the KO stages.
I also expect it to be a 4-1-4-1 rather than a 4-2-3-1.
They're not great but surely worth more than 100 pound.
It's more the personnel they're going with. Three speedy wingers up top. There's no doubt that they're going to sit back, defend and try and counter attack.
No way they're going out there to play Barcelona at their own game.
Well, I'd be okay with leaving out Vidal. Better to not rely on him (i.e. him staying on over the full stretch) for the important games.
Fabregas in a midfield two against Barca. 
So then they are soaking pressure and counter attacking. It’s not parking the bus.
Hope Chelsea turn them over.
Meh. For all intents and purposes it's the same thing. You're going out there not to try and score but to try and stop the opposition from scoring.
Actually I am not impressed with this Barcelona team, far away from Guardiola or Villanova, maybe with Coutinho or Dembelé they will improve, who knows.
Chelsea look very solid in team selection and I think this will be tight
could be some magic from Hazard or Messi that decides it
could be some magic from Hazard or Messi that decides it
Always terrifying to play Barca, but I am strangely optimistic about this one. Christensen back, Hazard white hot of late, and a couple ex-La Masia grads to provide some necessary nous. I fancy a score draw.
Well they are trying to score...
I wonder if footballers have their shorts ironed.
That's a very random thought?
Is that the ref that sent Nani off? Possibly the worst ref around Chelsea will be fuming by the end of this game.
Every Spanish footballer is best friends with every other Spanish footballer.
Hazard's future depends on this game, If he plays well despite the result he will get his move from chelsea to Real. If he doesnt he will be stuck with chelsea.
Why the booing of the Champions League anthem? Have suddenly City fans turned back to supporting Chelsea again after last night?
I guess I'm rooting for Besiktas today, everyone else can lose.
Is this ref going to screw one of these teams over like he did us?
This Barça kit looks good
cnut cakir is refereeing this game? Good luck Barca, that guy is madrid through and through.
How has Cakir reffed 101 games in the CL?
That Barca kit is vile.
Besiktas coach looks like a Bond villain
Is the guy Madrid? I thought he was just incompetent and card crazy