We have just seen how quickly things change in football. 8 days ago, Barca was on a roll like us, and everybody in the world was hailing them as the best team, and the undisputed No.1 favorite for a treble, and most of us also believed Bayern was second behind them at most. Now after 2 bad games, 1 lost to AC Milan, and 1 lost to their biggest rival in the Cup, suddenly it looks like everything is falling. Of course being La Liga Champion is not bad, but I could sense the disappointment of being eliminated in both Cups (would they not overcome the 0-2 deficit to Milan, which is very possible considering their current form). So that makes it even more important to beat Dortmund tonight. Let's do this. For the sake of the cup and for the sake of our season. P/S: 2 matches don't reflect the whole season, but judging those 2, I don't see how Barca is better than Bayern
I have to agree.. I think a loss would hurt us more this season then it would them.. I think it would ripple effect throughout the rest of the year..
I agree. I still think Madrid and Bayern will but I would have loved to see Bayern play this Barca side.
I do too, it would be fascinating to see Bayern play Barca. My conclusion was based on just the 2 recent losses of them. I'm quite disappointed with them to be honest. Their movement is much more predictable now, especially with the utilization of both Iniesta and Fabregas on the pitch. I'm not impressed with their pressing either. At least, this shows that the "This Barca's squad has so much talent that even a monkey can lead them to triumphs" is stupid. And this is where I think Pep had a great influence on this side, tactically and mentally.
This Barca transition is interesting. Unlucky not to have Tito more present but will be interesting to see how they progress and what, if anything, they will change. I feel their identity now needs a bit of an upgrade. On to the match, I really have a feeling Bayern will get 3 past Dortmund, at the very least and knock them out. I don't think Dortmund have the kind of team to be competing in three competitions still and this could actually help them focus on the other two if something positive has to come out of it.
Regarding Barca....don't forget that they are basically using their third coach in a short period of time. Of course Pep's gone. But his replacement (Tito Vilanova) is also on leave fighting cancer. Tito was an assistant...and now Tito's assistant (Jordi Roura) is in charge. Yes, this absolutely dispels the myth that a monkey could lead this team. It most certainly shows that effective coaching, and consistency in leadership are vital keys to this (and any) team playing at this level. They (elite level teams) simply don't just 'happen' because of talent....
Great point. One they made on the video on Espn Soccernet from comments after the match. A good coach is worth every penny... as we are seeing within our own club right now. The Chicago Bulls could never have won 6 titles without guru Phil Jackson to mesh all the personalities and teach them about life, not just the game.
I am very nervous about this... I really want us to get this monkey off our back once and for all.. A loss would mean far worse for us then them...
Sorry, but this makes no sense to me... Getting 3, at the very least, past Dortmund? Would love it if so, but is definitely ambitious. But, where you lose me is what you said following that....really doesn't make sense. Our knocking Dortmund out of the Pokal will help them by causing them to focus on their remaining two competitions...which I'm assuming are the Bundesliga and Champions League. The Bundesliga is, in effect, over... Yes, they are still very much alive and well in the CL, but the Buli is pretty much settled. What would this help them focus on? 2nd place? I would think quite the opposite to be true, actually. BvB are smart enough to know their predicament in the BL and now realize that the Pokal and CL are their only true, realistic aspirations now. I would think they'd be even more motivated to succeed tonight and keep one of their two remaining trophy targets in sight. Although they have virtually no chance at the BL, they are still VERY MUCH alive in their other two competitions. I just think you have them sorted out incorrectly...
Bayern vs Barca in the CL would be a classic. I think it would be one of the most hyped matches in CL history. I would love to see it, because I think we are one of the few teams in the world who could actually play positive football against them instead of bunkering.
http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/m...el-bei-bayern-muenchen-aus-29298648.bild.html bild are very sure that Hummels will miss the game tonight
I hope not. i don't want to win like this. I want him to be on the pitch when he gets beat by his former team that he spoke of disparagingly.
Barça time is over, now its very easy to understand their style and stop them, so for Madrid and so for Milan.......the same style of Pep Guardiola so he has to change something next year with us- According to Kicker: Aufstellung Neuer - Lahm, van Buyten, Dante, Alaba - Javi Martinez, Schweinsteiger - T. Müller, Kroos, Robben - Mandzukic Trainer: Heynckes Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Blaszczykowski, S. Bender, Gündogan - M. Götze, Reus - Lewandowski Trainer: Klopp
we have not Ribery cause a fake red card in Augsburg so if they will miss Hummels I'd be glad, but he'll play 4 sure......
Certainly 2nd place. It's not outside of reality that they can lose it. There's not much between them and Leverkusen and we know Dortmund will drop more points this season. I don't think they have a squad for three competitions yet and it's showing. I think it's vital for them to get 2nd place and assure they don't have to qualify for the CL next year through knockout matches but also important symbolically. They will be motivated but they've been stretched and don't have the depth you need for this stage of the season, quite arguably the most important part. Moreover, they are struggling with their identity a bit. Struggling is a loose term because on their day they are better than everyone bar Bayern, perhaps. But they are dropping unnecessary points, partly because of lack of depth and partly because of a slight tactical transition they are undergoing that has affected them. They are conceding more, playing more risky, leaving more open space and lacking concentration for 90 minutes more often than necessary. Bayern is the most focused side in Europe at the moment. Dortmund will leave scars but I don't see anything other than a Bayern win tonight.
A lot of words have been written about this German classic. When there is nothing left to write, finally the teams will go out there and play 90 of the most exciting minutes of football you will see in Germany this season. In one match, Bayern Munich can lose a whole season and in one match, Borussia Dortmund can win much more than just a quarterfinal in the German cup. The Klopp XI are the clear outsiders and under no pressure at all. http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/3781?cc=5901 I dunno, little bit nervous about this one!!!