CL R16 game 1: Newcastle - Barca

[serghei]

Its about time some Spanish sides kick some EPL ass. I expect both Barca and Atletico to beat these average EPL sides and make the fight in CL as it should be. Atletico, Barca, and Madrid vs City, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Best in each league vs best in the other league.

Losing vs likes of Newcastle and Tottenham would be quite shite for La Liga's image.

 

[JamDav1982]

Both Spanish teams should win these ties.

Spurs in particular are fucking awful this season and fighting relegation.

 

[serghei]

Don't even know if it matters much though since EPL sides are managed by Spanish managers. It's like Spanish football vs Spanish football with more money relocated in UK.

 

[JamDav1982]

Worlds Superleague.

Its why Perez and Laporta pushed for European one.

But Barca managed by a German anyway and Atletico by and Argie so it is what it is.

 

[FC B]

Its about time some Spanish sides kick some EPL ass. I expect both Barca and Atletico to beat these average EPL sides and make the fight in CL as it should be. Atletico, Barca, and Madrid vs City, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Best in each league vs best in the other league.

Losing vs likes of Newcastle and Tottenham would be quite shite for La Liga's image.

Atletico got spanked hard by two EPL sides this season losing both matches comfortably with an aggregate score of 2 scored and 7 conceded vs. LFC and Arsenal, this while they were able to manita Madrid 5-0 and also beat Barca 4-0.

That alone says it all about the gap between top EPL sides and top La Liga sides of today...

Newcastle who also drew Q$G not long ago isnt' that easy of an enamy for Barca as we already saw at St. James Park when the two met.

 

[te amo barca]

Atletico got spanked hard by two EPL sides this season losing both matches comfortably with an aggregate score of 2 scored and 7 conceded vs. LFC and Arsenal, this while they were able to manita Madrid 5-0 and also beat Barca 4-0.

That alone says it all about the gap between top EPL sides and top La Liga sides of today...

Newcastle who also drew Q$G not long ago isnt' that easy of an enamy for Barca as we already saw at St. James Park when the two met.

Atletico played both EPL fixtures away (3-2 vs Liverpool was close with van Dijk only getting the winner in stoppage time, 4-0 vs Arsenal was all corners/set pieces if I remember correctly) and the ones they spanked RM (5-2, not 5-0) and Barca were at home. Lost both away fixtures to Barca shipping in 6 goals. They are a notoriously shit side away and strong at home, it's been like that since Calderon Simeone. It's not as black-and-white as you present.

Stop buying into the EPL narrative.

 

[JamDav1982]

Full team.

Rotate heavily v Sevilla at home.

Full team next week.

Livramento not being fit is a big boost for Barca.

Raphinha should be able to run legs off of Trippier if he starts and Hall on other side not the quickest to deal with Yamal but very good on ball.

 

[MonteCuler]

Super excited for this one

Could define our season tonight. Pretty scary

 

[RedxMAK]

Super excited for this one

Could define our season tonight. Pretty scary

Yeah same, it is the first step in our road to Budapest. Hopefully the road ends in Puskas Arena come May the 30th with Ronald Araujo lifting La Sexta. But I’m going too far now hehe, big game today hopefully the team can play their best game like the game against Atleti. Just less mistakes and less panic.

 

[wisconsincule]

Pumped for this one. Hopefully Raphinha steps up.

Ferran too,

 

[Messigician]

Trying to destabilise the team before a knockout tie and put pressure on refs?

🚨 Alvaro Arbeloa: "When Laporta joined Barcelona, he found that Barca were paying Negreira, and he then MULTIPLIED THOSE PAYMENTS BY FOUR.

Not much else to say."

 

[FC B]

Atletico played both EPL fixtures away (3-2 vs Liverpool was close with van Dijk only getting the winner in stoppage time, 4-0 vs Arsenal was all corners/set pieces if I remember correctly) and the ones they spanked RM (5-2, not 5-0) and Barca were at home. Lost both away fixtures to Barca shipping in 6 goals. They are a notoriously shit side away and strong at home, it's been like that since Calderon Simeone. It's not as black-and-white as you present.

Stop buying into the EPL narrative.

Not buying a damn thing, this is the hard cold truth atm.

 

[Birdy]

Atletico played both EPL fixtures away (3-2 vs Liverpool was close with van Dijk only getting the winner in stoppage time, 4-0 vs Arsenal was all corners/set pieces if I remember correctly) and the ones they spanked RM (5-2, not 5-0) and Barca were at home. Lost both away fixtures to Barca shipping in 6 goals. They are a notoriously shit side away and strong at home, it's been like that since Calderon Simeone. It's not as black-and-white as you present.

Stop buying into the EPL narrative.

True they are a 'home team', not only in Europe but in all competitions

Still, they haven't had a significant result against a top EPL side since I don't know how many years

 

[Birdy]

10/11 are all set to start:
Joan Garcia
Eric, Cubarsi, Cancelo, Martin
Pedri, Bernal, Fermin
Lamine, Rapha

From what I understand there are 2 question-marks remaining:
1) Whether Lewa Ferran or Rashford will start for the last spot

2) whether Cancelo will play LB or RB with Martin and Eric shifting accodringly

 

[FCBarca]

Few surprises for this one in terms of lineups/matchups although a couple of key ones - the FBs were Gerard & Jules the last time, this time it'll be Cancelo & Eric who will face a lot of pressure to play it out of pressure

Lamine obviously didn't play and neither did Lewis Hall who is a promising LB that was still recovering from an injury. Gordon & Barnes were good I thought and with no Bruno or Schär, they will try to out Atletico us. Woltemade a late sub like last time I expect. Gordon remarked post-match that he hadn't encountered a level like Barça in midfield (Pedri, Frenkie & Fermin) - we'll see how Bernal, Pedri & Fermin do this time around

Rashford an obvious weapon to deploy but will he simply be a 2nd half sub with Flick opting for a makeshift gala XI

Lewy
Raphinha - Lamine
Pedri-Fermin-Bernal/Casado
Cancelo-Gerard-Pau-Eric​