NattyBo
20 Nov 2005, 01:36 AM
Warning: This post is long and rambling :D
Obviously, Chelsea proved to be one goal better last year in the Champions League. However, both teams are back in force this season and I consider them to be the odds on favorites for winning the Champions League.
Barcelona is coming back as defending champions of La Liga, and after a rough start which saw them getting home draws and defeats away, October and November saw a turn in form which has been truly stunning. In the last 6 games, Barcelona have conceded only 1 goal and have scored a staggering 21 goals, including back to back 5-0 wins and most recently a dismantling of arch-rivals Real Madrid.
They made some key offseason aquisitions, most notably Mark Van Bommell of PSV and of course securing Argentine prodigy Lionel Messi until 2010. With these two additions and the return of Edmilson, Gabri and Henrik Laarson from season ending injuries last season, Frank Rijkaard has had an ample choice of stars to select from. At some points, Barcelona's attack has looked irresistable, with a goal-hungry Eto'o scoring 11 goals in 12 games in League play and most recently scoring a hat trick in the Champions League. Of course, Barcelona has Ronaldinho, which pretty much speaks for itself. He can change a game in a way very few players ever can.
However, Barcelona has looked suspect at the back at some points, despite conceding only one goal in the last 6 games. Valdes does not seem to have the same confidence he once possesed on crosses, but it seems like team captain Carles Puyol has been able to keep things in order in the back.
For their part, Chelsea are still riding high off their finest season in club history. Under Jose Mourinho's guidance, Chelsea set the Premiership record for points in a season with 95 points from 38 games played. Also: "most wins (29), fewest goals against (15) and most clean sheets (25) in a 38 game season."(per wikipedia).
Mourinho has Chelsea playing a brand of football that is predicated on a stingy defense and a domineering midfield, much the same as Barcelona (in terms of midfield, not defense). They can counter attack with lightening speed, as Barcelona learned during the Stamford Bridge encounter last year.
Their depth is without parrallel in Europe, with world class players like Hernan Crespo and new signing Shaun Wright-Phillips fighting for starting rolls. Summer addition Essien from Lyon has only strengthened the already formidable squad.
Chelsea posses the only real competition to Ronaldinho for European (and World) player of the year, Frank Lampard. The England international midfielder has 19 appearences and 11 goals this year so far.
So basically, based on all that, you might as well flip a coin, as far as I can tell. Either way, I hope we see a Barcelona vs Chelsea reamatch at some point in the Champions League. I think it would be even better this time around.
What do you all think? :P
Obviously, Chelsea proved to be one goal better last year in the Champions League. However, both teams are back in force this season and I consider them to be the odds on favorites for winning the Champions League.
Barcelona is coming back as defending champions of La Liga, and after a rough start which saw them getting home draws and defeats away, October and November saw a turn in form which has been truly stunning. In the last 6 games, Barcelona have conceded only 1 goal and have scored a staggering 21 goals, including back to back 5-0 wins and most recently a dismantling of arch-rivals Real Madrid.
They made some key offseason aquisitions, most notably Mark Van Bommell of PSV and of course securing Argentine prodigy Lionel Messi until 2010. With these two additions and the return of Edmilson, Gabri and Henrik Laarson from season ending injuries last season, Frank Rijkaard has had an ample choice of stars to select from. At some points, Barcelona's attack has looked irresistable, with a goal-hungry Eto'o scoring 11 goals in 12 games in League play and most recently scoring a hat trick in the Champions League. Of course, Barcelona has Ronaldinho, which pretty much speaks for itself. He can change a game in a way very few players ever can.
However, Barcelona has looked suspect at the back at some points, despite conceding only one goal in the last 6 games. Valdes does not seem to have the same confidence he once possesed on crosses, but it seems like team captain Carles Puyol has been able to keep things in order in the back.
For their part, Chelsea are still riding high off their finest season in club history. Under Jose Mourinho's guidance, Chelsea set the Premiership record for points in a season with 95 points from 38 games played. Also: "most wins (29), fewest goals against (15) and most clean sheets (25) in a 38 game season."(per wikipedia).
Mourinho has Chelsea playing a brand of football that is predicated on a stingy defense and a domineering midfield, much the same as Barcelona (in terms of midfield, not defense). They can counter attack with lightening speed, as Barcelona learned during the Stamford Bridge encounter last year.
Their depth is without parrallel in Europe, with world class players like Hernan Crespo and new signing Shaun Wright-Phillips fighting for starting rolls. Summer addition Essien from Lyon has only strengthened the already formidable squad.
Chelsea posses the only real competition to Ronaldinho for European (and World) player of the year, Frank Lampard. The England international midfielder has 19 appearences and 11 goals this year so far.
So basically, based on all that, you might as well flip a coin, as far as I can tell. Either way, I hope we see a Barcelona vs Chelsea reamatch at some point in the Champions League. I think it would be even better this time around.
What do you all think? :P