Shakhtar -v- Barça, Champions league Quarter-final 2nd leg

redout

UEFA Champions League
(1 - 5)

Donbass Arena
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
7:45pm (SSP 4HD, Setanta)

redout

Barça squad:
Valdés, Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Xavi, Villa, Messi, Mascherano, Keita, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Milito, Maxwell, Afellay, Adriano, Jeffren, Oier, Fontàs, Thiago, Jonathan.


Abi, Puyo, Bojan injured - Iniesta suspended.

The Floyd p

Fontas to start?

I'd love to see him get some minutes

redout

Pinto didnt train last night as a precaution - looking toward the Copa is my guess.

Ush1

redout

Barça lineup:
Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Busquets, Adriano; Xavi, Mascherano, Keita; Afellay, Messi, Villa

Glico Man

Pep's going for then... hope to fook there's no injuries

redout

aaronh007 wrote: »

Pep's going for then... hope to fook there's no injuries

I reckon he could be trying to start with a lot of pressure, find the away goal then make the changes.

Dont be at yourself

Shakthar going through would be one of the all-time great European comebacks.

Glico Man

redout wrote: »

I reckon he could be trying to start with a lot of pressure, find the away goal then make the changes.

I certainly hope so... get the dynamic duo off as soon as possible for Thiago and probably Pedro or Jeffren, keep Villa on and hope he can get a goal to boost his confidence. Then pray for the remainder of the match

Warper

Ya he can't afford to take any chances in Donetsk. Its too big a competition. All going well, he can change at half-time.

redout

Would be shocked if Xavi lasts the 90mins.

gimmick

Very strong line up all things considered. Fingers tightly crossed everyone comes through unscathed. It would be nice as well if Messi could grab a goal so the record will not be a monkey on his back going into the double Clasico.

redout

Barca hounding them - you wouldn't think they were 5 - 1 up!

Davaeo09

Anyone got a decent stream?

LuckyGent88

If Shakhtar had brought there shooting boots in the two legs, this tie would be a lot closer.

LuckyGent88

ah here Pique. Must be watching a bit of Drogba lately

redout

48 that is all.

Warper

He is something else and still only 23

LuckyGent88

Time to make a few changes no Pep.
Messi 1st then Xavi. Think Villa needs to score for his confidence so keep him on.

redout

Good stuff - Xavi off - he will need the rest for the 2 upcoming games.

redout

That was wild from Milito - was it intentional ?

Booked either way.

gimmick

Why take Villa off? Tie is won, and Messi needs a bloody rest. Good to see Jeffren get a run anyway.

redout

Javi Mascherano - really started to impress me over the past 3/4 weeks.

Pep's having him and Busquets interchange tonight is interesting.

JPA

I genuinely believe Pep wants Messi to break every record he can which is why he plays him close to every game and practically never substitutes him.

If I was manager I'd give him a rest every chance I get but what do I know.

redout

JPA wrote: »

I genuinely believe Pep wants Messi to break every record he can which is why he plays him close to every game and practically never substitutes him.

If I was manager I'd give him a rest every chance I get but what do I know.

48 goals now - he is just one short of the Spanish record held by the late, great, Puskas from the 1959/60 season

gimmick

Agreed re Mascherano. Said it the last few games that he has been very good. He is a big loss for this saturdays Clasico. That said, if Barca are to lose any of the 4, Saturday is the one I will be least upset about.

The interchange was fascinating actually.

redout

gimmick wrote: »

Agreed re Mascherano. Said it the last few games that he has been very good. He is a big loss for this saturdays Clasico. That said, if Barca are to lose any of the 4, Saturday is the one I will be least upset about.

The interchange was fascinating actually.

Aye, Valdes deserves a mention also - made several top saves once again.

eternal

So delighted Barca are through .The last 15 minutes of the match were the most entertaining ,I thought . Milito is one moron ,clean card sheet kept all night by Barca only to be broken by him two minutes on the pitch.
I always thought Mascherano was excellent at Liverpool and nobody agreed with me .He used to get some hammering midfield by the opposition but always got back on his feet.Hes a tough one and a fighter.
Messi was amazing as always .

JPA

eternal wrote: »

So delighted Barca are through .The last 15 minutes of the match were the most entertaining ,I thought . Milito is one moron ,clean card sheet kept all night by Barca only to be broken by him two minutes on the pitch.
I always thought Mascherano was excellent at Liverpool and nobody agreed with me .He used to get some hammering midfield by the opposition but always got back on his feet.Hes a tough one and a fighter.
Messi was amazing as always .

eh?

gimmick

Very interested to see how Pep deals with the DM position Saturday? Will he push Adriano in there, as he can do that position, or will it be Keita? No way will Milito get the CB start anyway. Adriano has been so good lately at LB it would probably be silly to move him, and Keita will always put in a shift.

Amazed I am rueing the loss of Mascherano. Whoda thunk that!

eternal

redout wrote: »

Aye, Valdes deserves a mention also - made several top saves once again.

yeah that shot from the free kick was going into the net ,only for his touch .Very tricky angle ,he ended up inside the goal himself but great save.

eternal

JPA wrote: »

eh?

I felt I was alone in this opinion. Then Im a weirdo anyway.

Davaeo09

A good performance by Barca tonight.
Glad to see ibi getting more minutes too. He's adapting very quickly


Bring on Madrid!

eternal

gimmick wrote: »

Very interested to see how Pep deals with the DM position Saturday? Will he push Adriano in there, as he can do that position, or will it be Keita? No way will Milito get the CB start anyway. Adriano has been so good lately at LB it would probably be silly to move him, and Keita will always put in a shift.

Amazed I am rueing the loss of Mascherano. Whoda thunk that![/QUOTE]
see what I mean

Warper

JPA wrote: »

I genuinely believe Pep wants Messi to break every record he can which is why he plays him close to every game and practically never substitutes him.

If I was manager I'd give him a rest every chance I get but what do I know.

Not true. Messi wants to play every minute of every game - he is that type that when he is at home he is still kicking the ball off the wall. Messi would hate to be dropped/subbed.

JPA

eternal wrote: »

I felt I was alone in this opinion. Then Im a weirdo anyway.

Nah, sure he was considered one of the best in his role in the world at Liverpool.

Warper

JPA wrote: »

Nah, sure he was considered one of the best in his role in the world at Liverpool.

Not to mention Capt. of Argentina

gimmick

^ With Diego as manager.

JPA wrote: »

Nah, sure he was considered one of the best in his role in the world at Liverpool.

By Liverpool fans to be fair.

ShamoBuc

Warper wrote: »

Not to mention Capt. of Argentina

nah.... he was useless!! and that alonso fella was worse.....
what a crap midfield we had....:rolleyes:.

Warper

Mascherano was one of the few world-class players Liverpool had the last few years. He is a world-class defensive midfielder that does exactly what it says on the tin. A great buy by Pep and what around £16m. Top player and always has been.

eternal

ShamoBuc wrote: »

nah.... he was useless!! and that alonso fella was worse.....
what a crap midfield we had....:rolleyes:.

yeah sure Aquilaini was way better aha

Turtwig

Very professional approach by barca. I love Pique as a defender, but his attitude and antics can be a little bit disgusting at times. Sad to see it so common in the game nowadays.

redout

Malty_T wrote: »

Very professional approach by barca. I love Pique as a defender, but his attitude and antics can be a little bit disgusting at times. Sad to see it so common in the game nowadays.

I would agree that he overplayed it but there was no disputing yer man did clatter him.

flahavaj

The Masch was always going to come into his own at this time of season.

eZe^

Mascherano has been superb lately, reminds me of a honey badger.

Alves with his 20th assist of the season, delighted!