Barça -v- Arsenal, Champions league Last 16 2nd leg

redout

UEFA Champions League

(1 - 2)
vs

Estadi Camp Nou
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
7:45pm (SSP 2HD, TV3)

fillmore jive

A shame this is so early into the competition. The best football we'll see this season.

Radharc na Sleibhte

Please dear god jesus mary joseph and all the saints dont let denilson be in the starting 11.

DH2K9

Remember last year we scored the first goal in the Nou Camp with an even weaker team then what we have now, so we stand a chance. It is so important for Arsenal to score at some stage because we won't be keeping a clean sheet. I seriously can't wait

Paully D

Really looking forward to this. Hopefully Arsenal can do it!

Le King

2-1 to Arsenal, again.

Frisbee

Barca by 3/4 goals.

wandatowell

Le King wrote: »

2-1 to Arsenal, again.

Loving the positivity!


Pretty sure Barca are without their favoured centre back pairing so I'm gonna go with 1-1.

The Floyd p

Barca's team this year is better though.



No Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Puyol or Pique.

3-0 Barcelona.

cson

Le King wrote: »

2-1 to Arsenal, again.

Feck off with that voodoo reverse psychology crap again - yiz donoe enough damage in the Sunderland match thread today!

We have to score first to have a chance of going through as far as I'm concerned. If Barca score first then it'll be the same result as last year.

Headshot

12/1 on a messi hatrick

ill be all over that

redout

Barça have been between poor/average since the week before the first leg and havent really shown a great deal of improvement since.

I think too many people are over selling the first leg - if anything Barça were well short of their usual selves.

I was even confused by Pep and Villa comments afterwards to be honest - second half Barça were very subdued.

Barça dominated? Perhaps to some people but not in my eyes - at least not in their usual sense.

Barça havent shown anything in the past month that would lead me to believe they will be comfortable on tuesday night.

Blatter

redout wrote: »

Barça have been between poor/average since the week before the first leg and havent really shown a great deal of improvement since.

I think too many people are over selling the first leg - if anything Barça were well short of their usual selves.

I was even confused by Pep and Villa comments afterwards to be honest - second half Barça were very subdued.

Barça dominated? Perhaps to some people but not in my eyes - at least not in their usual sense.

Barça havent shown anything in the past month that would lead me to believe they will be comfortable on tuesday night.

Before first leg
Barcelona 3-0 Atlético Madrid
Sporting Gijon 1-1 Barcelona


After first leg
Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona
Valencia 0-1 Barcelona
Barcelona 1-0 Real Zaragoza

5 wins and a draw. Wins at Mallorca and Valencia.

Poor/average my arse:pac:

Bodhisopha

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Before first leg
Barcelona 3-0 Atlético Madrid
Sporting Gijon 1-1 Barcelona


After first leg
Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona
Valencia 0-1 Barcelona
Barcelona 1-0 Real Zaragoza

5 wins and a draw. Wins at Mallorca and Valencia.

Poor/average my arse:pac:

Relative to the standards they have set this season they have been average of late but they have had a few injuries and Pep has been tinkering with the side a bit. On a Champions League night with a red hot Camp Nou cheering them on it will probably be a different story altogether.

redout

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Before first leg
Barcelona 3-0 Atlético Madrid
Sporting Gijon 1-1 Barcelona


After first leg
Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona
Valencia 0-1 Barcelona
Barcelona 1-0 Real Zaragoza

5 wins and a draw. Wins at Mallorca and Valencia.

Poor/average my arse:pac:

You obviously havent been watching the games.

gimmick

The fact that Barca are off kilter and are grinding out wins is a positive. They cannot win pretty everytime.

Arsenal are not exactly bang in form either.

I am strangely pessimistic and will say we could see a nil all.

Blatter

redout wrote: »

You obviously havent been watching the games.

I have. I watch most of them actually. I agree they have not been at their scintillating best recently but they were by no means poor/average, even compared to when they are at their brilliant best.

I can see them destroying Arsenal on Tuesday night.

Bodhisopha

I dreamt that Barcelona won 6-0.

tony1kenobi

About 9 nil to them.

redout

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

I have. I watch most of them actually. I agree they have not been at their scintillating best recently but they were by no means poor/average, even compared to when they are at their brilliant best.

I can see them destroying Arsenal on Tuesday night.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Before first leg
Barcelona 3-0 Atlético Madrid
Sporting Gijon 1-1 Barcelona


After first leg
Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona
Valencia 0-1 Barcelona
Barcelona 1-0 Real Zaragoza

5 wins and a draw. Wins at Mallorca and Valencia.

Gijon they were poor and took a Villa piece of magic to rescue a point, Bilbao they struggled - lucky they got the 3 as a draw would have been a more fair result. Mallorca result is flattering as Mallorca were just dire rather than Barca being good - massive difference from when Mallorca got a point at Camp Nou. Valencia were the better side for large parts of that game and a win was again flattering - I believe anyone who watched that wouldnt say anything other than Barca were poor and lucky they got 3 points. As for tonight Zaragoza had 7 of their usual 11 missing and Barca still werent anything but average. Yes Barca have had injuries to deal with of late but they have been playing well below par. The Atleti game was the last time Barca actually played a good match.

redout

Arsenal are going to get more hammered than I will be on Paddy's Day

The Floyd p

Left Back Daniel Alves?

redout

The Floyd p wrote: »

Left Back Daniel Alves?

You'd know it was from the mail :pac:

CR 7

Le King wrote: »

2-1 to Arsenal, again.

cson wrote: »

Feck off with that voodoo reverse psychology crap again - yiz donoe enough damage in the Sunderland match thread today!

Yeah, you're doing it all wrong.

Can't see past 8-0 barca. Arsenal won't score at all. Not once. Not even first.

dreamers75

3-2 barca

Much fapping will be done.

redout

tony1kenobi

Park Ji Sung wrote: »

Yeah, you're doing it all wrong.

Can't see past 8-0 barca. Arsenal won't score at all. Not once. Not even first.

5 of them will be own goals.Almunia at fault for 3 of them.....from the bench.

CorkMan

No Van Persie, Walcott for Arsenal. Possibily no Fabregas. Barca should go through.

redout

CorkMan wrote: »

No Van Persie, Walcott for Arsenal. Possibily no Fabregas. Barca should go through.

Would be surprised if he didnt.

the untitled user

Barca seem to be battling complacency going into this game, whereas Arsenal are battling fatigue.

I'm thinking this tie will be decided on away goals myself.

dfx-

redout wrote: »

You obviously havent been watching the games.

I think the games have been fine, I've seen them all bar the 1-1 v Gijon. The worst of the lot in terms of Barca's performance was an extremely nervy 2-1 win against Bilbao, but once Pep stopped messing with Busquets theycontrolled the game after the equaliser.

They had players out against Mallorca and Valencia away is not a game ot dominate in. 1-0 last night was very comfortable, Zaragoza never looked like equalising bar one breakaway, no pressure even with Milito playing. Mascherano was ok once he had actual defenders behind him and afford the luxury of carrying Bojan too.

Barcelona are the better team, but they were also the better team in London. I can't help feeling the brainfart to go 2-1 down will end up costing Barcelona dear. And Arsenal will be the best team in the world again and Barcelona will be written off.

redout

dfx- wrote: »

I think the games have been fine, I've seen them all bar the 1-1 v Gijon. The worst of the lot in terms of Barca's performance was an extremely nervy 2-1 win against Bilbao, but once Pep stopped messing with Busquets theycontrolled the game after the equaliser.

They had players out against Mallorca and Valencia away is not a game ot dominate in. 1-0 last night was very comfortable, Zaragoza never looked like equalising bar one breakaway, no pressure even with Milito playing. Mascherano was ok once he had actual defenders behind him and afford the luxury of carrying Bojan too.

Barcelona are the better team, but they were also the better team in London. I can't help feeling the brainfart to go 2-1 down will end up costing Barcelona dear. And Arsenal will be the best team in the world again and Barcelona will be written off.

But that was a Zaragoza minus 7 of their regular 11 and Barca were nothing but average at best. I think the team has gradually lost itself somewhat since Puyol got injured. They miss his leadership and inspiration. Pique certainly aint his usual self. Pep has made some bizarre changes that didnt really work that well. I'll tell ya something - did you watch Atleti tonight ? Their attacking play was pure jizz - it was basically Barca up to four weeks ago. Have you noticed the odd amount of high balls into the box over this period also ? I have been scratching my head at that one though tonight at least they seemed to cut it out.

KaiserGunner

dfx- wrote: »

Barcelona are the better team, but they were also the better team in London. I can't help feeling the brainfart to go 2-1 down will end up costing Barcelona dear. And Arsenal will be the best team in the world again and Barcelona will be written off.

I think you have the teams backwards there, Arsenal have been written off since the tie was drawn and Barcelona have been declared the best team in the world and the best team ever to have played the sport.

Come on the Arsenal do us all proud!

dfx-

redout wrote: »

But that was a Zaragoza minus 7 of their regular 11 and Barca were nothing but average at best.

But it had Milito, Bojan and Mascherano in it which is a handicap for Barca too. We know Barca's strength is not in depth, but they were still very comfortable last night.

I watched Atleti alright and they were good going forward until the equaliser and I didn't see the winner coming...

emergingstar

I cansee it been nervy for both teams

Barca to win 3-1 in the end

L'prof

This game is nicely poised but neither team are in fantastic form. I expect Barca to qualify, but I'm much more confident of our chances right now.

speedboatchase

Wilshere and Song doubtful :rolleyes:

PHB

Why is Iniesta out?

Couldn't call this myself. Without Van Persie, it's going to be hard for Barca to score. But without Pique, I think their middle is weak enough to be exposed. Should be an incredibly interesting game.

redout

PHB wrote: »

Why is Iniesta out?

Come again ?

L'prof

PHB wrote: »

Why is Iniesta out?

Couldn't call this myself. Without Van Persie, it's going to be hard for Barca to score. But without Pique, I think their middle is weak enough to be exposed. Should be an incredibly interesting game.

Lolwut

Galvasean

I'd be satisfied if Arsenal just dont get humiliated. Wilshere aside our midfield was atrocius against Sunderland. I don't like the idea of Denilson and Diaby trying to chase Catalanian shadows.

Radharc na Sleibhte

Galvasean wrote: »

I'd be satisfied if Arsenal just dont get humiliated. Wilshere aside our midfield was atrocius against Sunderland. I don't like the idea of Denilson and Diaby trying to chase Catalanian shadows.

Exactly what happened last year...

Almunia

Sagna
Vermaelan
Silvestre
Clichy

Walcott
Denilson
Diaby
Nasri
Rosicky

Bendtner

This year, hopefully....

Sceszny

Sagna
Djourou
Koscielny
Clichy

Nasri
Song
Fabregas
Wilshere
Arshavin

Bendtner

Jesus if RVP was fit, I would actually be quite confident, but I fear Big Nics amazing lack of ability for a big man to hold the ball up will just see us trying to defend wave after wave after wave of attack.

Last year, only one thing was going to happen when the spine of the team was diaby denilson and silvestre.

This year you're swapping diaby denilson rosicky and silvestre for wilshere song fabregas and koscielny. Big improvement as long as koscielny keeps the head.

emergingstar

according to twitter Pyuol is out for tues

redout

emergingstar wrote: »

according to twitter Pyuol is out for tues

Fcuking disaster. Tendonitis in the knee. No Puyo, no Pique

I said yesterday that I had a sneaking feeling that was why they were possibly playing Milito. The club has known about this for the past couple of days apparently.

Galvasean

So it's now a race to see who can field eleven players?

redout

Galvasean wrote: »

So it's now a race to see who can field eleven players?

Not a fan of this but I reckon it could be

---

Milito---Busquets

Alves

---

Abidal

---

Mascherano


Mother of god I would rather see

---

Abidal---Busquets

Alves

---

Maxwell

---

Mascherano

Milito has been absolute rubbish this season but him playing yesterday really has me worried.

cson

MikeySligo wrote: »

[
Jesus if RVP was fit, I would actually be quite confident, but I fear Big Nics amazing lack of ability for a big man to hold the ball up will just see us trying to defend wave after wave after wave of attack.

Maybe he's being told to do it but Big Nick's stupid tendency to think he's Henry and hug the tough line and cut in before losing it is what its down to - he just isn't there to hold it up!

redout

That result just gave Arsenal a massive confidence boost going into the game.

Bodhisopha

redout wrote: »

That result just gave Arsenal a massive confidence boost going into the game.

The same was said ahead of their game against Sunderland.

redout

Bodhisopha wrote: »

The same was said ahead of their game against Sunderland.

Ah I say it definitely has - yesterday they were down in the doldrums after that result.

Potentially could have gone 6 behind today now they can draw level.

Looked as though they should have won also.