Champions League

[Leo_Messi]

All im saying is that City is fragile, and lacks experience in this competition.
So yeah, i never really rated them in the knockouts, while the rest were going "man, City is the team to beat this season, big favorites" and all that.

Spurs or City? I guess you would have to give a sligth edge to City, because the same can be said for Spurs, but there really isnt much in it, either of them is a guaranteed win for Barca in the final.
League form isnt particulary relevant in this competition, btw.

I never bought into the Man City hype either. See my most recent post in the Pep thread. The point is just that you will have a hard time arguing that Spurs would be the harder opponent in a potential final. Don't see it at all to be honest with you.

League form is not paramount but when comparing the strength of a team it definitely is.

Anyway here is hoping that Ajax will make the final although I would not be overly surprised if Spurs would edge it due to their more pragmatic approach which usually works better in the CL. The fairytale of Ajax has to end at some point too. They have overperformed big time so far.

 

[utility73]

The fairytale of Ajax has to end at some point too.

As has the streak of luck for the Spurs.
The markets see the tie 50/50. From what I have seen Ajax is at least a slight favorite for me.

 

[Horatio]

What fairytale lol? Ajax is legitemately playing a strong game. Can easily advance against Tottenham.

 

[raki]

[tw]1118627804231421952[/tw]

 

[CatalinR10]

Easiest fucking 500$ of my life.

Still feel like shit cause Juventus goes through but guess I'll feel better when my new gpu arives.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Haha. Well done.

 

[Givenchy]

Ju-ventus

gratz also, MSI <3

 

[Pfmpd1]

Thoughts on the tie against Liverpool?

I'll admit, I thought we would best madrid in the final. And it just went to shit.

I'm quite confident against barcelona but again, obviously aware of the talent barcelona has.

So, I think you could flip a coin on who gets to the final.

 

[messi2140]

Congrats with the GPU catalinutz. I got the special edition of that card

 

[Kewell]

Thoughts on the tie against Liverpool?

I'll admit, I thought we would best madrid in the final. And it just went to shit.

I'm quite confident against barcelona but again, obviously aware of the talent barcelona has.

So, I think you could flip a coin on who gets to the final.

Barcelona are weak at effective counter attacks and Liverpool are very strong at that. Klopp will play for transition football and counter attacks.
It depends on how Valverde sets up at Camp Nou. If they stop Liverpool from getting away goals, they will get a result at Anfield and progress but it will be very hard.

 

[Givenchy]

Thoughts on the tie against Liverpool?

I'll admit, I thought we would best madrid in the final. And it just went to shit.

I'm quite confident against barcelona but again, obviously aware of the talent barcelona has.

So, I think you could flip a coin on who gets to the final.

our (Barca) chances rely heavily on Messi, Busi and Dembele imo, in that order

Suarez is hit and miss af this season, hes capable of missing an open goal only to score a golazo a minute later so cant really rely on him these days

anyway, Messi is obvious but Dembele will be very important if hes back in form since hes 1 of only 2 (other being Alba) in our starting 11 with alot of pace. if EV fields Coutinho in a front 3, we are pretty much fucked. Busi has been pretty poor lately and with Liverpools pressing i fear for him

50/50 tie

 

[Howlgrana]

Liverpool is the one team that I feared Barca being drawn against. Their style of 100-mph high-intensity, physically robust football always causes Barca problems. Liverpool play this fast style of football so well, I am really concerned.

Barca tend to start very slow until they get into their rhythm, sometimes it takes them the whole first half to start playing well (like against Man Utd away) which could kill them against Liverpool. If Busquets plays as bad as he did away to Man Utd where he kept giving the ball away in our own half leading to chances and counter attacks, it won't be pretty. The concern is Barca seem to mostly play poorly away from home.

So this game is where EV has to earn his worth as manager. He needs to ensure they do not start slow and without control of the ball like they often do away. Somehow, Barca need to not concede in the first leg whilst scoring at least a goal as I can't see Liverpool losing at home. So he NEEDS to modify the tactics to try and neutralise Liverpool storming forward with the ball. It's a cliche but he needs another man in the midfield alongside Busi to this end, personally I would like to see Sergi Roberto there but Vidal could work as a last resort as long as he is accurate with his passing.

If we see Barca line-up the same as they did against Man Utd it will be a terrible dereliction of duty from the manager and I know Liverpool will be victorious over the two legs. What are everyone's thoughts on the tactics for this game? Anyone disagree with me, would be good to hear your argument?

 

[Barcilliant]

Liverpool is the one team that I feared Barca being drawn against. Their style of 100-mph high-intensity, physically robust football always causes Barca problems. Liverpool play this fast style of football so well, I am really concerned.

Barca tend to start very slow until they get into their rhythm, sometimes it takes them the whole first half to start playing well (like against Man Utd away) which could kill them against Liverpool. If Busquets plays as bad as he did away to Man Utd where he kept giving the ball away in our own half leading to chances and counter attacks, it won't be pretty. The concern is Barca seem to mostly play poorly away from home.

So this game is where EV has to earn his worth as manager. He needs to ensure they do not start slow and without control of the ball like they often do away. Somehow, Barca need to not concede in the first leg whilst scoring at least a goal as I can't see Liverpool losing at home. So he NEEDS to modify the tactics to try and neutralise Liverpool storming forward with the ball. It's a cliche but he needs another man in the midfield alongside Busi to this end, personally I would like to see Sergi Roberto there but Vidal could work as a last resort as long as he is accurate with his passing.

If we see Barca line-up the same as they did against Man Utd it will be a terrible dereliction of duty from the manager and I know Liverpool will be victorious over the two legs. What are everyone's thoughts on the tactics for this game? Anyone disagree with me, would be good to hear your argument?

Agree. Honestly I would think about starting with a 442 away at Anfield. In our previous away losses the opposition hassled and hurried Busquets and he was shown to be the weak link. We saw it at Old Trafford too where Busquets was poor. I would start with a more defensive shape and may be sub someone like Dembele or Coutinho in when we settle down and take the sting out of the game.

It shouldn't be total park the bus like Roma but a solid enough wall to neutralise their attack. Also FFS play Semedo as rb in both legs. Mane would just destroy Roberto. It would be Psg all over again.

 

[Barcilliant]

I'm also hoping that fatigue starts to set in for Liverpool - both mental and physical. If they don't have the legs their level will definitely drop. Their game is based on that hard pressing and intensity levels.

People will say we need to keep the ball but if we play the slow possession game they will just wait and pounce. The ball has to be moved quickly and there needs to be a lot of movement. Not that static bullshit where we play the ball sideways and backward and there is no movement.

 

[JPM85]

Barca needs to play like last year CdR final where they crushed Sevilla with high intensity.
Best game I have seen them play in the last months, and when they do they will crush the Liverpool midfield and defense.