PSG are a rubbish side for all the money they've spent. Very poor and uninspiring performance there. And what was it tonight with Valencia and their crossing? Even worse than those by our Valencia!
Champions League Round of 16 fixtures
- Thread starter Sojiro
- Start date
Unless Barca turn it around which I now doubt they will this title belongs to Bayern or Madrid. Juve and Dortmund are good sides but don't know if they're good enough to win it all quite yet.
I'd fancy Dortmund vs Madrid in the final, over two legs I'm not so sure. Bayern will regret it forever if Barcelona get knocked out and they don't win it this year, huge oppurtunity for them being probably the best team left in the competition.
Yeah really disappointing team, also a bit of a surprise for me they even made it this far.
Don't think they will beat any of the teams that have progressed so far.
We went to two finals without facing Barca the last 3 years and didn't win it
. I'm more afraid of Juve or Milan actually, Bayern always looks bad against italian teams. Well whatever happens, it won't hurt as much as last season, so it can't get that bad, if we don't win it.I think Real, Bayern, Juve, Dortmund and the winner of Barca/Milan all have a great chance to win it, there's not much between these teams.
The saddest part is, bar Bayern, I think United can take Juve, Dortmund, or Milan on the Final.
Valdés, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Alves, Messi, Villa y Pedro.
Vs
Abiatti, Abate, Mexes, Zapata, Constant, Ambrosini, Montolivo, Boateng, Flamini, Niang y El Shaarawy .
Puyol's injured, which is bad news for Barca, but at least Xavi's back.
Vs
Abiatti, Abate, Mexes, Zapata, Constant, Ambrosini, Montolivo, Boateng, Flamini, Niang y El Shaarawy .
Puyol's injured, which is bad news for Barca, but at least Xavi's back.
Flamini? How often does he get a game these days?
Barca will turn it around tonight and win
Alba in a back three and no Alexis? Wrong move IMO.
Don't think Barça will go through.
Don't think Barça will go through.
I think so too.
Good choice going with Niang instead of Pazzini. Need pace when playing on the counter.
I hear he's rash though, so maybe the inevitable red card will go to him.
I hear he's rash though, so maybe the inevitable red card will go to him.
Reckon Madrid would quite like to play them again right now tbh. They will be confident. Any other team, not so much!
It was quite ridiculous of Barça to keep Puyol on for 90 minutes against Depor at the week-end, that'll come back to bite them in the ass.
It doesn't look a back three.
usual 4-3-3
and this 11 is probably the best they could put out.
It looks like a Barca XI of 2 years ago, with the exception of Alba obviously.
I think they will win 3-0 or 4-1. Their slump could be over.
I think they will win 3-0 or 4-1. Their slump could be over.
Looks like that to me too. That said, wouldn't mind seeing the back 3 with Alves right wing and Villa central for a change, having a permanent forward occupying the CB's would be great with Messi dropping off and running at defenders.
Milan against Barca:
Hmm.. I think they will use the back three, like they used it for a practice run against Depor on Saturday, they used to do that under Guardiola before big games as well. Dani Alves was so high up the pitch, he was an additional playmaker (had most touches of the ball and passes in the Depor game!!). They need to play like that because they're lacking in the final third at the moment.
Offensively: Pedro has been terrible lately and Alexis would have been a better option because of his off the ball movement (both can't finish for shit right now) & Messi been deprived of space, with Villa in front of him he might get more room;
Defensively: the problem they have is that Alba leaves too much space behind him on the left, and against Niang's pace that will be exposed.
feck it!
I'm going 1-1 Catenaccio to win the day.
I'm going 1-1 Catenaccio to win the day.
They had no choice, Pazzini isn't fit. If he was, he'd be starting here. I like Niang, but still a young guy with a lot of growing to do and you just don't know what you're going to get from him.
Milan need to nick a goal tonight. If they do then I'd expect them to pull this off. They'll need a repeat of the first leg though. Don't rule out Mexes being dismantled, I'm still not sure if the back line got it right that night or Messi in particular just had an utter shit game.
Really hope Milan can pull it off. They'll have chances on the counter that's for sure.
Fancy a big win for Barcelona tonight. Maybe 4-0, either way I think they will go through.
And that exactly is their only problem IMO. No new signing has improved/changed their team other than Alba - and Abidal was still probably a better fit due to his height. Still the best team around, but they haven't changed much.
Milan against Barca:
Still not safe. An Alves thunderbolt can shatter the glass and get in!
It's an utter travesty of justice that a big useless buffoon like Adrian Chiles gets paid to be at the Nou Camp on a night like tonight.
Im pretty sure this game will be controversial, or contain some major controversial decisions.
3-1 for Barça.
Yeah I was thinking the same. Other than Lee Dixon the same can be said for the lot of em (from a pundit point of view) they are fecking terrible.
Should be an interesting game. Barca won't manage it.
The last time Barcelona were eliminated from this stage of the competition was in 2007, at the hands of Rafa. How time flies.
I think Barca are going to give them the same treatment they gave Arsenal in the Nou Camp a few years ago.
Aye, bar that one, their record since 2006 is ridiculous. 3 titles and 3 other semis where teams only knocked them out by the skin of their teeth.
TBH I think the opposite. They fecked around with their team the season after 10/11 trying out three at the back, forcing Alexis into the team and putting Iniesta further forward. There's nothing wrong with freshening things up but they just fecked around the the hell of it.
I predict c.a 80% possession for Barca tonight?
All teams have to evolve mate. People grow older (Xavi, Puyol) and others lose their hunger as they win. That is why Fergie keeps dismantling and putting together new teams.
Really nice Milan away kit that.
Some players might lose their hunger, but the greats like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi will never lose it.
That's why I didn't mention names when it came to that - I can't judge who - but it does happen.