La Liga (Week 24): Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona

vs.
Vicente Calderon | Sun, Feb 26 | 21:30 CET
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All players available except for the injured players: Villa, Afellay and Fontas.

Lineup, Formation and Score Predictions?

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¤ Guardiola's Barcelona record at Atletico's Stadium, Vicente Calderon [all competitions]: 2W, 0D, 2L | Goals: 8-9 [+1] || Results: >>> 1-3, 4-3, 2-1, 1-2 <<<

¤ Guardiola's Barcelona record against Atletico Madrid [all competitions]: 9 matches [7W, 0D, 2L] || Goals: 30-12 [+18].

for more Stats [check: https://twitter.com/#!/BarcaStatistics ]

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I would like to see this line-up:

---------------Valdes-----------------
Alves-----Puyol-----Pique-----Abidal
--------------Busquets-----------------
------Xavi-----------Cesc---------
--Alexis-------------------Iniesta--
-------------Messi--------------

The Question is: Will Guardiola start with Kieta? Mascherano? [since both didn't play against Valencia, 10+ days rest].

Xavi must start imo, although it's very difficult deciding who goes on the bench since Cesc and Iniesta are both in such great form.

I expect this to be a high scoring game, I'm pretty sure it will be very tight scoreline, I think we will edge it though. Prediction: 2-3

Atleti have vastly improved defensively since Simeone took the reigns, maybe predicting we'll score 3 at the Vicente Calderon is a little bit of a stretch, but if we replicate anything near our Valencia performance I think we can win.

alright.
Albic. that's more of a 342 rather than a 343. This is the lineup I'd like to see;

433
Valdes
Alves Mascherano Pique Abidal
Fabregas Busquets Iniesta
Sanchez Messi Pedro

I'd like Xavi to come in for Pedro and move Iniesta up top. Second sub is Thiagoat for anyone.

Can we break Atleti's unbeaten

as Obama would say: YES WE CAN!

18 First Team Players + Tello in today's training

http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/futbol/primer-equip/detall/noticia/el-barca-segueix-centrat-en-latletic-de-madrid

I'm not too worried about Atletico, it's first time in 43 matches this season, that Barca team has had a week rest before the match, and it should bode well.

Also Atletico is the most raped team by Messi, 17+5 @ 13 matches, 14+4 @ 9 matches under Guardiola.

Blackmore. wrote:alright.
Albic. that's more of a 342 rather than a 343. This is the lineup I'd like to see;

Alves is playing higher up the pitch as a winger and is doing less defensively in the line up I put, and Iniesta is playing into the space in the left wing that is left by Cesc playing as false 10. Similar to what we played against Real Madrid in the 1-3 in December, except instead of Sanchez playing in the middle I expect Cesc to be playing up front.



Although if we do play with 343 I don't expect to see Busquets dropping back a CB like he was doing in this game

I think right now, with Pedro not playing well, that might be our best 11. Though I would argue right now Mascherano is playing better than Puyol.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/lionel-messis-17-goals-vs-atletico-madrid-in-1-minute-2/

jiopsi wrote:I'm not too worried about Atletico, it's first time in 43 matches this season, that Barca team has had a week rest before the match, and it should bode well.

Also Atletico is the most raped team by Messi, 17+5 @ 13 matches, 14+4 @ 9 matches under Guardiola.

That bolded part is just a big WTF! We need more holidays

RealGunner wrote:http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/lionel-messis-17-goals-vs-atletico-madrid-in-1-minute-2/

thx for the video

Unfortunately for Simeone I think we're going to end his undefeated streak.

Its at Calderon, so I expect a good fight from the boys. The beauty of this game is that we dont have any pressure to win, because no one expects us to win. Pressure is on Barca to perform, and given their away form, you never know what can happen. But Barca nowadays is only a big game team, and I know they play well when they have to. I head says 3-1 to Barca, my heart says 2-1 to us. You guys should watch Koke tommorow, one of the best talents in Spain atm.

Valdés, Alves, Mascherano, Puyol, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Messi y Alexis.

Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis, Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Arda, Adrián y Falcao

Hoping for a great game, make madrid proud atleti

Pique

Very hard to give a yellow card for that slight handball. Hope they will fight it.

The sky commentator said it's interesting because of Rivals playing each other from the same country. And the example he used was Alexis and Falcao "Both Chilian internationals."

Kudos to Atletico for their excellent defending. But honestly, cant wait for this season to get over with this away form. Not that we have such a bad game.

Hahahaha second time I see Messi do this.. Not very fairplay but hey - winning goal.

shit my stream is a bit slower. Nice goal

We have finally grinded out a good result away from home. Kudos to the team

edit: I said this win was undeserved. I retract that statement

Collblanc wrote:Hahahaha second time I see Messi do this.. Not very fairplay but hey - winning goal.

Against the same team too.

That is perfectly legal, the ref has to tell you to wait for the whistle...or you can ask him if you can take it quickly.

Masterful thinking to pull us out of the fire.

yes, very masterful thinking