Barca draws Man City

Ghostmaster

Danger Ahead
LOL-0-0!!! Forget it. Both teams like to attack and feel more comfortable that way. Look for a goal fest in both matches. I think City will edge us but I hope I am wrong. City 3-1 in the first leg and Barca 3-2 in the second leg.

I am predicting 1-1, it would be very good result for us, I am guessing that both teams would be very cautious as neither Barca nor City wants to go out in first round of playoffs.
 

impeh

Hi, its me..
Official: 23 players called up for the game against Man City on Tuesday, only Dos Santos (injured) and Cuenca not included
 

ThwiX

Best midfielder around
I think it's all about whether Mascherano plays or not. He won't be able to handle Navas' crosses to Negredo. That's Pellegrini's plan. Exploit the height in our defence.
 

Gohan

Super Saiyan
Tata's Barcelona is not Tito's Barcelona. I repeat Tata's Barcelona is NOT Tito's Barcelona.
Tata is capable of applying different tactics, Tata has brought the best out of all our forwards this season and actually made our defense perform better than that of Real and almost equal to Atletico. This Barcelona would never get 7-0 from Bayern so constantly mentioning that makes no sense.

Our away record in the CL is not the best, we have to realize this. City will be no walk in the park, but winning 6-0 gives a good boost to our morale. Winning will be very hard, drawing in the Etihad gives us the edge. But the return will probably be even harder, Aguëro will return and their midfield engine Fernandinho will be playing too. On the other hand we probably will have a 100% Neymar by then. Personally I think Tata will have to think outside the book to win this one. Perhaps Cesc on the left wing? Maybe Alexis on 9? Playing with two defensive midfielders? Who knows with what line-up Tata will come. But I trust him, he knows what he does.
 

Dinho

New member
Man City really struggle against technical sides who play with lots of bodies in midfield. They basically play a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 and leaves them vulnerable in midfield due to Yaya's defensive frailties. Fernandinho and Yaya were played off the park against Bayern Munich and their triangles. If Barceloan do the same, you'll tire him out. Iniesta should keep looking to get into the hole, in behind Yaya and Fernandinho where he can really do damage.

I expect City to score a few goal but both teams have average defences, so I except Barcelona to outscore them by two goals overall. Kompany, as good as he is, doesn't come up a player like Messi very often. He had to foul Hazard a lot yesterday, and Messi is even better.

Messi, Ineista, Busquets and Alves are the key to winning. If they play well, you'll stop City and do damage where it counts. Left back is weakness for them defensively (good attacking), which Alves can exploit.
 

KhaledBarca

New member
Not brave enough.Cesc,Iniesta and Xavi will start.

Tata was brave enough to start Ney and Messi on bench when they weren't 100% fit!
There's difference between being stupid an brave, in this case the smart thing is to dominate possession and we have the tolls to do so!
Xavi is the key, and I think Tata will play Cesc, Iniesta and Xavi with Messi and Pedro upfront.
Same lineup he played against Real Sociedad.

City without the ball will suffer!
 

big_man

New member
LOL-0-0!!! Forget it. Both teams like to attack and feel more comfortable that way. Look for a goal fest in both matches. I think City will edge us but I hope I am wrong. City 3-1 in the first leg and Barca 3-2 in the second leg.
I agree with him actually. I think it'll be a very conservative match IF city try to play defensive and counter, like the Madrid game in CL semi's at the Bernebau in 10/11. If they leave spaces behind, of course we'll attempt to exploit it, but I don't think we will go aggressive in attack. Basically, I think it mostly depends on how City try to play it out.
To this end, I think we will field all of Cesc, Xavi and Iniesta. I'm a bit conflicted as I want a third forward instead of Cesc. But it's a nice problem to have I guess having so many players that merit a start. Personally, I'd rather Xavi not start with Cesc taking his place. But if Xavi can raise his game to even 80% of his previous level then i'm all for it.
 
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voodoomaster

Guest
A traditional line up Will be Alves, masch, pique, alba, xavi, bus, iniesta, neymar, messi, sanchez. The main problems are xavi, sanchez, and neymar. The first Will probably play, but that also mean that fab starts, because Its quite simply impossible to bench him now - he is too good. Neymar is a obvious problem, but if iniesta is starting at the wing, why should pedro start on the right, sanchez has been better.
 
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Gascav

Guest
A traditional line up Will be Alves, masch, pique, alba, xavi, bus, iniesta, neymar, messi, sanchez. The main problems are xavi, sanchez, and neymar. The first Will probably play, but that also mean that fab starts, because Its quite simply impossible to bench him now - he is too good. Neymar is a obvious problem, but if iniesta is starting at the wing, why should pedro start on the right, sanchez has been better.
We will play with four midfielders, xavi,cesc,iniesta and busi to keep possession and tire them out then bring on sanchez and neymar to terrorize their tired legs
 

serghei

Senior Member
We will play with four midfielders, xavi,cesc,iniesta and busi to keep possession and tire them out then bring on sanchez and neymar to terrorize their tired legs

It could happen. Like in the clasico. City is a little similar to Real Madrid.
 
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chopchop

Guest
It could happen. Like in the clasico. City is a little similar to Real Madrid.

In what way are they similar ?

Do Real Madrid have a David Silva or Yaya Toure ? I don't think so.

Real Madrid heavily rely on their wingers, whilst Man City rely on their number 10's and central midfielders.

Man City can be likened to Barcelona. You got to remember that Pellegrini nearly signed for Barcelona. And Guardiola borrowed some concepts from Pellegrini too.

I expect the following line up:



935752_Champions_League_Team.jpg
 
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voodoomaster

Guest
Is it only me or is citys players somewhat appealing to Barca fans? I mean, they have silva - who dosent love him? Yaya, brilliant, navas, spaniard, aguero, Argentinian National team with messi, zabaleta, demi....? There are many reasons to actually like the opponent, not the "institution" - city and the money, but the players.
 
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voodoomaster

Guest
I dont think Its fair to city to be compared with real in any way. Real are just cold, distant, "star-cultured", a big nothing. To support real is the same thing as supporting coca cola. I respect the opponents, but not real. Well, sidetracked there...
 

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