PBP: UEFA CL | Matchday 6 | FC Barcelona v S.L Benfica | 5 Dec 2012 [R]

Discussion in 'Barcelona' started by Viscaelbarca, Dec 4, 2012.

  1. Viscaelbarca

    Viscaelbarca Moderator
    Staff Member

    Barcelona
    Spain
    Aug 31, 2007
    MELT01
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    [​IMG]
    Wednesday, the 5th of December 2012
    | BARCELONA (CEST), 20:45 | LOS ANGELES (PDT), 11:45 | MONTREAL( EDT), 14:45 | LONDON (BST), 19:45 |MELBOURNE (EST), 6:45 (NEXT DAY)

    CAMP NOU

    Barcelona
    [​IMG]
    Capacity: 99,354
    Stadium Info | Google Street
    *****************************​
    UEFA Champions League statistics
    • Xavi Hernández has completed 663 passes, over 300 more than any other player in the group stage. Barcelona's pass completion of 3834/4427 is also a competition high.​
    • Lionel Messi's double on matchday five took his total to 56 UEFA Champions League goals, level with Ruud van Nistelrooy and behind only Raúl González (71).​
    • Messi has been UEFA Champions League top scorer for an unprecedented four successive campaigns. He has five goals this season and is the joint leading marksman along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan and Burak Yılmaz.​
    • Víctor Valdés, Javier Mascherano and Messi have played every minute of Barça's group campaign.​
    Alex Song, Mascherano and Pedro Rodríguez's next bookings will incur a suspension.​
    *****************************​
    Match background
    • Benfica have won none of their last 13 encounters with Spanish clubs, losing the last three both overall and away, and not since the 1982/83 UEFA Cup first round have they beaten opponents from Spain. The club's assistant coach Minervino Pietra was in the side that recorded 2-1 home and away wins against Real Betis Balompié – the only time they have prevailed in Spain, where their record reads W1 D1 L7.​
    • Furthermore, Barcelona have won their last ten home meetings with Portuguese opponents. The only time they failed to win was on the very first occasion they hosted a rival hailing from across Spain's western borders, losing 1-0 to FC Porto in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup first round.​
    • Barcelona are unbeaten in 18 European home outings, winning 15, since a 2-1 reverse against FC Rubin Kazan on 20 October 2009.​
    • Victorious against Barcelona in the 1961 European Cup final, Benfica retained the trophy in 1962 with a 5-3 final triumph over Real Madrid CF.​
    *****************************​
    Past meetings
    [​IMG]
    Whenever these two clubs have met the winners have gone on to lift the European Cup, starting with Bela Guttmann's Benfica in the 1961 final in Berne. Although Sándor Kocsis (21) put the Blaugrana ahead, Benfica hit back through José Águas (31), an Antoni Ramallets own goal (32) and Mário Coluna (55) proving enough despite Zoltán Czibor's strike (75).​
    • Barcelona secured their place in the 1992 final with a 2-1 win against Sven-Göran Eriksson's Benfica in the concluding round of matches in the fledgling group stage on 14 April 1992. Hristo Stoichkov (12) and José María Bakero (23) scored for Johan Cruyff's side, with Brito (27) replying. The clubs had drawn 0-0 in Lisbon on 11 December 1991. Benfica finished third in the group while Barcelona went on to win their first European Cup at UC Sampdoria's expense.​
    • Barcelona's second European Cup triumph followed a quarter-final defeat of a Benfica team coached by Ronald Koeman in 2005/06. Again the sides drew 0-0 in Lisbon, before Ronaldinho (19) and Samuel Eto'o (89) earned Frank Rijkaard's men a semi-final berth.​
    Previous Match​
    .
    .
    .
    Visca el Barça
     
  2. os_mutante

    os_mutante Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 8, 2003
    City of Bad Carls
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I love that Messi came out and said Barca would try to help out Celtic. Has a Barca player ever said anything like that before a european match before?

    On a personal note, I was at this match referenced in VEB's post so tomorrow marks an anniversary for me of sorts. It was the first time I'd ever seen Barcelona and the first time seeing them in the Camp Nou. What a magical experience. And the crowd was on needles and pins because even though Ronaldinho scored in the 19' an equalizer from Benfica would have put Barca out. They almost got the equalizer, too, on a brilliant counter in the 2nd half. But with 10 minutes to go Giuly found Eto'o in space and he calmly finished it and the place went mad.​

    Here's just a few blurry pics I took of the evening:​
    DSC00581.JPG
    Can anyone guess the lineup? (no cheating!)​
    DSC00588.JPG
    Scoreboard after first goal.​
    DSC00564.JPG
    Visitor's section. Just in case you feel bad about Benfica and what Messi might do to them, yes that flag is what you think it is.​
     
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  3. unclesox

    unclesox BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 8, 2003
    209, California
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Whoa! Well, most of it looks quite familiar.
    Standing back row: Ronaldinho, Oleguer, Larsson, Van Bommel, Eto'o, Valdes
    Kneeling front row: Gio Van Bronckhorst, Iniesta (he's so white! lol), no idea, Marquez?, Puyol
     
  4. Rana catesbeiana

    Mar 11, 2008
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    What's the whole deal with "helping Celtic"? I thought it was appreciating the competition, and a way of saying that they won't joke around on-pitch even though the group's in the bag. I mean sure we have great relationship with Celtic, but it's not like we are supposed to "take Celtic's side, and not Benfica's". No?
     
  5. Gilmango

    Gilmango Member+

    Jul 20, 2006
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think backline is right, kneeling row the "no idea" looks like Belletti and "Marquez?" I think is Deco, so something like: VV; Belletti, Ole, Puyol, GioVB; Deco, MVB, Ini; Eto'o, Larrson, R10.
     
  6. Gilmango

    Gilmango Member+

    Jul 20, 2006
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well Leo was quoted in the just closed season thread as praising Celtic's followers and saying that they deserved to go to the elimination rounds for being such classy fans, esp. after the late defeat in Barca. Which I interpreted as code for "put me in coach, I want to score a couple goals and put this Muller thing to bed and also help out Celtic's fans in the process." Nothing really anti-Benfica at all but to be honest Spartak has nothing to play for but pride and they are visiting Celtic so Celtic may not really need Leo and Barca's help.

    Here's the squad list from my earlier post before this thread went up:
    the coach has decided to rest Iniesta, Xavi, Mascherano, Pedro, Jordi Alba, and Cesc.
    Leo Messi makes the squad, as he is only one goal away from Müller’s record of goals in a calendar year. The squad list of 18 players also includes B team footballers Tello, Deulofeu, Planas, Rafinha, Sergi Gómez, and Sergi Roberto.
    Squad list: Valdés, Pinto, Piqué, Puyol, Villa, Messi, Thiago, Dos Santos, Sergio, Montoya, Adriano, Song, Sergi Gómez, Sergi Roberto, Deulofeu, Planas, Rafinha, and Tello.

    Here's where the Leo quotes came from (thanks to Dr. Know): http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barcelona-star-lionel-messi-i-want-1470244

    Quick prediction, unlike Copa del Rey no limit to B squad players playing.
    VV
    Montoya-Puyol-Song (or Planas)-Adriano
    Thiago-GDS (or Song)-S.Roberto
    Tell0-Messi-Deulofeu
     
  7. unclesox

    unclesox BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 8, 2003
    209, California
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    With all due respect, I must admit that I question the validity of seeing such quotes on a website yet cannot find the same story in either SPORT or MD.
    The Daily Record article is dated Dec 3 and begins with "Lionel Messi last night vowed...", so if Messi indeed said something praising Celtic's supporters it would have been uttered on Sunday, which was a rest day for the players. The Daily Record doesn't give a source for the quote and I highly doubt they obtained an exclusive with Messi. As great a guy Leo appears to be I can't envision him walking about on an off day granting an interview on a whim to SPORT, MD or Ole Clarín, let alone some Scottish tabloid rag. Not when he has a new son to spend time with.
    I'm not saying that Messi won't try to help out Celtic, but I do think that if Messi performs well it will be because he wants Barcelona to win. And if that result happens to benefit Celtic, then good for them. For their part, Celtic's supporters should concentrate on their club beating Spartak Moscow because failure to do so could spell disaster.
     
  8. Rana catesbeiana

    Mar 11, 2008
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Not this match, but Barca should sometimes do the thing that amateur clubs do at the last match of the season: just completely switch the positions. Messi and Pedro as CBs, Puyol-Valdes-Busquets frontline.

    Maybe it's more of a Tito vs. Pep futsal thing hm. But I'd stream to watch it.
     
  9. .Azulgrana.

    .Azulgrana. Red Card

    Aug 2, 2012
    I didn't understand why Pedro and especially Mascherano were dropped at first, but seeing that they're both a booking away from a suspension, it's a good idea to leave them out. Alba, Iniesta, and Xavi getting deserved rest although maybe Cesc should have played this one from the start at least. Fine though I guess, he's been brilliant lately and he's played a lot.

    Would love to see this lineup tomorrow;

    Pinto​
    Montoya Puyol Pique Adriano​
    Thiago Song S. Roberto​
    Tello Messi Villa​
    I guess Deulofeu, Jonathan, and one of S. Gomez/Planas/Rafinha could come on and get some more experience.​
     
  10. os_mutante

    os_mutante Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 8, 2003
    City of Bad Carls
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It wasn't Marquez in that lineup picture, IIRC he was injured in the round before against Chelsea. I think Gilmango got the lineup correct. (Also, I originally posted that it was Giuly who assisted Eto'o on the 2nd goal when it was really Belletti.)

    As for Messi: when I first read the quote I took it with a grain of salt just like I take most any quote, but him being in the actual squad list now makes that quote's authenticity a moot point. I'm guessing he's fired up from being denied in the last CL tie and Tito's not going to stop him from unleashing.
     
  11. .Azulgrana.

    .Azulgrana. Red Card

    Aug 2, 2012
    Only other person I could think of is it's Deco.
     
  12. Gilmango

    Gilmango Member+

    Jul 20, 2006
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  13. Viscaelbarca

    Viscaelbarca Moderator
    Staff Member

    Barcelona
    Spain
    Aug 31, 2007
    MELT01
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Ludovic Giuly.
     
  14. Leon12

    Leon12 Member+

    Jan 5, 2006
    Man of the world
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
  15. Rattlehead

    Rattlehead Member+

    Barcelona, Inter Milan
    Argentina
    Jun 21, 2010
    Jakarta
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Still maximum 6 matches to play if he want to, so minus injury the record is set to be broken. Amazingly Messi never tries to shoot from distance over and over unlike that player, he still making great passes for his teammate despite chasing the record at the same time.
     
  16. Leon12

    Leon12 Member+

    Jan 5, 2006
    Man of the world
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    The goals tally in itself is staggering, but when you put in the amount of assists he also makes then it becomes even more remarkable. In effect Messi combines the goal scoring prowess of a Muller combined with the passing and midfield ability of a Platini.
     
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  17. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    You can't say you are going to help Benfica right before a match against Benfica. This is just another way of Barca saying they are going to try to win the today's game.
     
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  18. Diego Maradona

    Diego Maradona Member+

    Apr 8, 2007
    London, England
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    If Celtic go through, can we play them in the 2nd round as if so I hope we can and beat them at their ground
     
  19. Gilmango

    Gilmango Member+

    Jul 20, 2006
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We cannot play any team from La Liga or from our group in the first elimination round (the round of 16 that is next). After that the 8 surviving teams are re-drawn with no seeding and no prohibitions on meeting a team from your domestic league or group and also with the bracket fully formed (i.e., the path to the finals is set for all teams, you know who you could play in the semis if you win and who you could not play till the final). So the earliest we could play Celtic again would be in the quarterfinals and it is very unlikely they make it that far.
     
  20. Gilmango

    Gilmango Member+

    Jul 20, 2006
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  21. evil_allan

    evil_allan Member+

    May 3, 2004
    Turtle Island

    is that muniesa training? (far left)

    and welcome home pep!
     
  22. os_mutante

    os_mutante Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 8, 2003
    City of Bad Carls
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sport saying Messi won't start.
     
  23. Gilmango

    Gilmango Member+

    Jul 20, 2006
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, sure looks like Muniesa, and that (given Muniesa's injury), combined with the URL saying 2011-12 season, I'm starting to think this might be photos from a year ago. That said they do say 5-12-2012 which is today. Confusing. Sorry if I started an unsubstantiated rumor - saw a link to those photos on a totalbarca comment today. It certainly would not surprise if Pep came home for the holidays from NYC, or if he wanted to be there when Messi broke the record. At the same time he might want to keep it on the down low out of respect for Tito and the team.
     
  24. Gilmango

    Gilmango Member+

    Jul 20, 2006
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Barcelona line-up (official): Pinto - Montoya Puyol Adriano Planas - Thiago Song SergiRoberto - Tello Rafinha Villa

    Nice move by Leo (and Tito), plenty of time to get the record. Can always come on as a super sub. Villa and Rafinha and Tello can do plenty up front. Happy to see more CB experimentation with Adriano or Planas next to Puyol (both can play fullback, Adriano still learning CB). Song needs time so glad he is starting just feel bad for JDS.
     
  25. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    Celtic will not be happy when they see that lineup. Barca look beatable but it is the right decision. Team goals outweigh individual records, especially individual records which were only invented a month ago.
     

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