CL: Barca - Man City 1-0 (3-1 agg.)

[pacp_96]

This is the first Barca game I'll be going to as I live all the way in Toronto Canada. Seats right behind the player benches near the front. Stoked!

Awesome. Have fun!!!

 

[Neymessi]

Start our strongest 11 and lets reach the quarters.

 

[pacp_96]

Start our strongest 11 and lets reach the quarters.

Agreed

 

[raskolnikov]

Most important week of the season thusfar started well with a win against Eibar. Lets get trough to the quarters and beat Real to lead with 4 points towards reclaiming la liga.
Hopefully it will go down like this, drea would be to have it happen with some dazzling football.

 

[Mido]

I wanna keep Xavi for El Classico. Iniesta shouldn't play 90 minutes also. I really hope that we wil start fast and score at least a goal in the first half.

----------------------------------------------Ter Stegen---------------------------------------------
---------------------------Piqué-------------------------------------Mathieu-------------------------
----------------------------------------------Mascherano--------------------------------------------
------------Alves--------------------------------------------------------------------Alba------------
---------------------------Rakitic----------------------------------Iniesta---------------------------
-------------------Messi-----------------------Suarez-----------------------------Neymar----------

This is Mascherano's last chance to prove that he can play against Real as a defensive midfieder.

65 min : Xavi in for Iniesta
72 min : Pedro in for Suarez
82 min : Rafinha in for Rakitic ----> IF we lead comfortably

 

[Bucky]

Really not confident with Mathieu v RM, and against City... not sure but probably will happen; if there's a mistake it will be him.

Is he really faster than Bartra that some are claiming? Bartra is blatantly more passionate about playing in the blaugrana.

Think we're all a bit nervous about City getting back into it but I'm sure come match day we'll be fine.

Love how the media is all over Bale's brace saying RM are BACK, winning ways, scoring etc etc love British media

 

[pacp_96]

The Xavi and Iniesta pairing would be suicide in these two games. Would just be a repeat of the last Clasico where they were embarrassed. Rakitic - Masch - Iniesta is a MUST for both games IMO.

 

[Kohe321]

Considering how absolutely awesome Rakitic was at the right in the previous encounter, I can't see Lucho starting Xavi over him in this one. Rakitic and Messi combined their way through the defense on the right side of the pitch seemingly at will in Manchester...

A reminder:

[VINE]https://vine.co/v/OQYbJ3tDEzm[/VINE]

 

[Barcaman]

I'd rather play Xavi than Iniesta. Former has had a better season which is quite shocking considering he's 35.

[formation=name.of.the.shirt]
Stegen
Dani-0-Pique-0-Mathieu-0-Alba
0-0-0-0-0-0-f1
0-0-0-Mascherano,y-0-0-0
0-Raketa>Rafinha-0-0-0-Xavi>Iniesta,c-0
0-f8-0-0-0-0-0
Leo,g-0-0-Dracula-0-0-Neyboy>Pedro
0-f7-0-0-0-0-0
[/formation]


Bertus' code works!

 

[Alik]

I'd rather play Xavi than Iniesta. Former has had a better season which is quite shocking considering he's 35.

I wouldn't mind Xavi starting against City and Iniesta starting against Madrid.

 

[Mido]

Rakitic is a must against City. My only concern is that he woudn't keep up wit Real Madrid's midfield considering their high technicity this season.

If Mascherano doesn't put on a great performance against City, I would play with the following Midfield against Real :

------------------------------Rakitic---------------------------------------
--------------Xavi------------------------------Iniesta--------------------

Alves and Alba's positioning will be crucial if we play with this midfield against Real. The Xavi---Iniesta pair is not what it was in 2012 for instance, BUT with the right adjustments they can deliver extraordinar performances. Let's not forget that Rayo Vallecano put on a huge pressure against us and Xavi--Iniesta did great.

Of course Rayo is not Real but do you really believe that if they put us under pressure Xavi--Iniesta would have big issues ? I don't think so. Xavi, Iniesta and Messi are the best players in the world when it comes to foiling adverse pressure.

My only concern against Real would be their counter attacks. That's why we should have a totally balanced and symetrical attacking system. Imagine Xavi has the ball 40 meters from Real Madrid's goal, that's how I could well figure out how we can avoid their counter-attacks :

--------------------------------------------------Alba--------------
------------Alves-----------------Rakitic--------------------------
--------------------------------------------Iniesta------------------
---------Xavi(b)-------------------------------Neymar------------
-----Messi---------Suarez------------------------------------------

No way will Real have great counter opportunities if we widen their midfield. This is all about keeping the ball and methodically breaking them down. Against teams such as Real and Bayern, having at least 65% of ball possession is a must in my humble opinion.

Anyway this is off-topic at the moment. Let's see what Enrique has in his mind.

 

[pacp_96]

If we play Xavi - Raki - Iniesta in the clasico we will be slaughtered. End of. No fancy/crazy tactics can save us if we play that midfield combo IMO. It would be suicide to just drop everything we have done post-sociedad just to shoe horn Xavi into the line up when he has obvious flaws that will be exploited against better teams.

 

[Flavia]

[FORMATION=barca, 10]
MAtS
0-0-Pique-0-Mathieu-0-0
Alves-0-0-0-0-0-Alba
0-0-0-Masch-0-0-0
0-Rakitic-0-0-0-Iniesta-0
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Messi-0-0-Suarez-0-0-Neymar
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
[/FORMATION]

This is great. Thanks, Bertus

Was Matthieu a recrute asked for by Lucho himself ?

Yes, he was.

 

[Icarium]

I would like this formation,

[formation=barca,8]
Mats
Alves-0-Pique-0-Mathieu-0-Alba
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
0-0-0-Masch-0-0-0
0-Raki>Xavi-0-0-0-Iniesta>Rafinha,c-0
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Messi-0-0-Suarez-0-0-Neymar>Pedro
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
[/formation]

 

[kollegah]

i would not get too complacent for this game.
If we concede first, our bones will shake like a girl after meeting lexington steel.
So to score the first goal will be the most omportant thing imo.
After that city will come at us, msn will do the rest.