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

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Only other person I could think of is it's Deco.

Tito explains why Messi plays Benfica in a meaningless game in this piece, well sort of explains it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/04/lionel-messi-gerd-muller-record?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

I think we could work that our for ourselves.

A hatrick for Messi would be nice, then it would not mater about Marca trying to take a goal away from Messi.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Umm, guess who is at Camp Nou today, perhaps to watch Leo tie or even break Muller's record. Here's the link from today's pre-game training session: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football.../season/2011-2012/training-session-05-12-2012

is that muniesa training? (far left)

and welcome home pep!

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.

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.

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.