I don't think this game would be as exciting as everyone thinks.Murinho will try to win 1-0 at home, then play for the 0-0 draw.I remember last year, the 1st leg wasn't that good of a game,its only the 2nd leg that was the best game in 2005. Madrid and arsenal game would be the most exciting in my opinion.Just because of the fact that both teams have excellent attacking players and that both teams can't defend.
I also think this way for the same reasons, Mourinho will play a tactical game at the bridge and hope to come away with a 1-0 or 2-1 win hoping to defend that in the return leg. I can see a low scoring first leg especially if we play solid defence and they do the same. Arsenal hasn`t met RM many times in the CL so this will be a battle between two teams that don`t know each other well, this is why it will turn out to be an all out attacking game.
Given our defensive sputtering lately, here is the optimal lineup vs Chelsea, as I see it: Sylvinho--Marquez--Puyol--Belleti ------------Edmilson------------- ----Deco-------------Van Bommel Ronaldinho------------------Messi -------------Eto'o---------------- Sylvinho and Belleti get the nods for speed, but Rijkaard has to make sure that they dont attack much, if at all. For all their speed, they can still be caught out from time to time. Van Bommel with his size and his veteran guile alongside Deco to anchor the midfield. Messi will get the start just like he did against Madrid.
If Barca start this lineup for both legs...and everybody is fit and in good form (I'm mostly talking about MVB, who is playing like he did at the very start of the season rather than the way he did right before he got injured), then we will advance. If MVB can't go, we could still win with Iniesta. But that back line is mandatory. Any deviation from that selection of Belletti, Puyol, Marquez, Sylvinho will lead to defeat.
Very true, it is clear now that Oleguer is a big liability so we really have to hope that he doesn`t start. Good that we play them away first and we can play accordingly but we are going to need Van Bommel to also make a swift return to his brilliant best and he only has the Valencia and Betis games to do this. I think Messi will be ready varying any injury concerns.
The first leg last year was a good game, Barca had something like 30 shots. Not to re-spark the debate but even with drogba Barcelona still had a ton of opportunities. The second leg was extremely entertaining, and heartbreaking, but the first leg had every chance of having as many if not more goals.
Come to think about it, I can't believe how easy it should have been for us to go through last year. I mean at the Bridge, all we had to do was, not lose by more than 1 goal. So, we didn't have to win, we didn't have to draw, heck we could even lose!! Of couse though, we felt the need to concede 3 goals in what, 20 minutes? ARRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!! In 2 weeks, in 2 weeks we make it right!!!
I agree with the line up given few posts ago. But Van Bommel will have to rise his form. If he is going to play like in last few matches Iniesta is by far better solution. Personaly I hope Motta will be back. I think he is even better defensivly than Van Bommel and we will need him London. I realy hope Motta plays this match and give Makelele a lesson
Yes, but he'll be struggling for form even more than MVB. We can win with Iniesta, but we cannot win with Oleguer or Gio on the field. It has to be Belletti and Sylvinho.
This is the attitude we need !!!! Barcelona will win the Champions this yr no doubt in my mind !!!!!!
they better win, i cant take another Chelsea victory, especially seeing that rat Mourinho smiling and being cocky
That's what I said last page. That has to be the lineup. That lineup can play well enough to beat Chelsea. Those have been our best players in defense all season, and I hope Rijkaard doesn't choose Oleguer because Robben would eat him alive. At least Belletti has enough speed to make it somewhat hard on a winger. MAYBE if Motta was okay, we could go with: Puyol - Edmilson - Marquez - Sylvinho But I still think our best lineup is Belletti - Puyol - Marquez - Sylvinho I am really hoping for MVB to find his form this weekend. He could really help us. But if he isn't looking good this time next week, we should just use Iniesta, because MVB has been horrible lately.
What do you guys think about the state of the Chelsea field and tuff, very poor as of now hopefully it will improve and it better not rain as such conditions don`t suit out crisp-one-touch passing game.
Reminds me, I have been wondering, but too lazy to look it up whether spanish and english fields/pitches are the same dimensions. not sure if its just the camera angle, but premiership fields seem about 1/5 the size in each direction. anyone?
I know the Arsenal field is one of the smallest in dimention in England, the chelsea field looks like is of standard measurements. At times the camera angles are a factor.
I believe as Catfish points out that Mourinho and Chelsea will go for a bunker down defense with an attack capable of only going forward when at 5 men are behind the ball. I think you'll find Mourinho, in my opinion, giving instructions to Joe Cole and Arjen Robben to terrorize Barcelona's defensive full backs as well as feeding balls to Didier Drogba who will be aggressive in the air against Carles Puyol. As I said before, in my Wandering Thread, if Makalele does break down Barcelona's offense then it will be a whole new game, but if the Catalans take it to the London outfit then they'll end up going through. The main thing for Barcelona, from my viewpoint is not to get caught on the counter, because both teams that have been coached by Mourinho Porto and Chelsea, both have been excellent counter-attacking sides. Can I remind anybody of the 03/04 Champions League final? 3-0 Porto, while Monaco had all the possession. Barcelona's defense must keep focus, and if the offense gets a chance we cannot be on the backfoot, because as soon as Eto'o or Giuly miss a chance Robben, Lampard, and Cole will be at the other end waiting to produce. I think Jose won't risk anything in the first leg if previous experiences are anything to go by (i.e. vs Barca 1st leg, i.e vs Liverpool 1st leg). I think he'll be satisfied with a 0-0 tie, because that sets him up perfectly for the second leg, and I don't think Jose minds where his team plays. He has shown cockiness but he has delivered most of the time, thus I think the first leg will be a tactical war, unless Barca jump out to an early lead, and then the 2nd leg will be an all out football masterpiece. That's how I see it, and I hope not because I am an Arsenal fan, but because I love true football that Barcelona wins. Just ask Catfish!
as nattybo and others have said, back 4 of: bel, puy, rafa, syl and just tell the fullbacks to stay within their own half. there you go, barca win. faack, cant wait for the game, tired of this pregame crap =\