[Champions League] Barcelona vs Bayer Leverkusen - 3/7/12

Barcelona's Squad Vs Leverkusen: 20 players including Cuenca and 6 B-Team players [Tello, S.Roberto, Jds, Bartra, Montoya, Muniesa]

Injured players: Abidal, Alexis, Puyol, Thiago, Villa, Fontas and Afellay.


Lineups, predictions, discussion



¤ Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 14 matches in european competitions [13CL, 1 USC]: 12W, 2D | Goals: 40-9 [Club record: 17].

¤ Guardiola's Barcelona Vs German Clubs: 5 matches [3W, 2D, 0L] | Goals:13-3 [+10].

¤ Barcelona Stats in Champions League this season: 6W, 1D, 0L || Goals: 23-5 [+18]


My Lineup:
Valdes
Alves Masche Pique Adriano
Xavi Busquets Cesc
Pedro Messi Iniesta


Might see Keita starting too, especially after his performance vs Gijon.

Should see Fabregas and Inestia swap during the match though I don't think Keita will start. Thiago is out still so another start for Cesc. Hoping for a good game! Same lineup as Abli and 3-0 will be the result

Damn, I really hate seeing that 'injured players' list grow again. Hope next season will be much better in that regard.

Anyway, Barça obviously should be winning this but we have to be aware of some possible complacency acting up.

Destroy them

Albiceleste wrote:Barcelona's Squad Vs Leverkusen: 20 players including Cuenca and 6 B-Team players [Tello, S.Roberto, Jds, Bartra, Montoya, Muniesa]

Injured players: Abidal, Alexis, Puyol, Thiago, Villa, Fontas and Afellay.


Lineups, predictions, discussion



¤ Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 14 matches in european competitions [13CL, 1 USC]: 12W, 2D | Goals: 40-9 [Club record: 17].

¤ Guardiola's Barcelona Vs German Clubs: 5 matches [3W, 2D, 0L] | Goals:13-3 [+10].

¤ Barcelona Stats in Champions League this season: 6W, 1D, 0L || Goals: 23-5 [+18]


My Lineup:
Valdes
Alves Masche Pique Adriano
Xavi Busquets Cesc
Pedro Messi Iniesta


Might see Keita starting too, especially after his performance vs Gijon.

Puyol too injured
I am sick and tired of Spain mooching off of Barca's success and in return our players get injured.
All the clubs should get together and decide that the national teams will pay player salaries during international duty.
That will put an end to these stupid useless internationals.

On the other hand some players see it as an honour and not an obligation.
I’m all the way with you though.
For me personally Barca’s success >>>>>>>>>>>>

Iniesta as a winger? I might even prefer to see Cesc as a forward than that... his contribution as a midfielder is invaluable.

According to sport, that got the lineup correct though not the tactics the last match, we'll play:

VV
Alves, Machete, Pique, Adriano
Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Pedro Messi Cesc

I would go with:

VV
Alves Machete Pique Adriano
Cesc Busquets Iniesta
Pedro Messi Cuenca

I don't think Xavi is playing very well lately and he can use some rest to recover. We could even consider testing some B player, perhaps Bartra or Muniesa in defence, as we are almost sure through. Tello in the second half for Cuenca or Pedro.

Fantastic footy, this.

Brace for Messi in the first half, this tie is well and truly over.

xavi looking tired. no?

The story so far....just around the hour mark,

6 -0 Messi with a majestic set of goals! Iniesta looking like a real MAC ! Tello scores TWO in Champions league !!

Popcorn never tasted this good

5 goals, you can't describe this man. Best player of all time

Tello!!!!
What a surprise!!
If only he didn't miss that last chance...

Brilliant game for Barca and so glad Messi is scoring dozens of goals again. He is such an ispiration to watch. We absolutely flogged them and was good to see Munisea play a couple of minutes as well.

Messi should take every la liga game before a CL game off.

10-2.
An indign result for a Champions League last 16 round. We played great, but this Leverkusen people are quite a lame team and his coach a kamikaze with that high line.

Messi is just of this world, he has scored 10 goals in 3 matches! He will shut up anyone who ever doubted. Once he finishes his career, no one will doubt he was the best player in history. His third goal was simply amazing.

Tello felt like a fish in the water with Leverkusen high line. He is so fast! In his first goal, he outran every Leverkusen player as if he was going for a walk! He was a bit lucky with his second and should have passed to Pedro in his third opportunity, though. I guess it was Pedro's fault, he is always at fault for everything and plays horribly. I give Pedro a -8 today.

ME55I Good that Pep subbed off Xavi and Iniesta when the game was won. Rested Messi is epic.

free_cat wrote:He was a bit lucky with his second and should have passed to Pedro in his third opportunity, though. I guess it was Pedro's fault, he is always at fault for everything and plays horribly. I give Pedro a -8 today.

Good that he didn't pass because Pedro didn't deserve goal. Another bad game by Pedro even in a game like this he was poor. He shouldn't start. Great that Pedro with his sloppy passes and poor touch didn't score and you won't hype him :dance:

Messi is just ruthless....doesnt let up regardless of the score..just brutal, almost cruel performance.

matpol wrote:ME55I Good that Pep subbed off Xavi and Iniesta when the game was won. Rested Messi is epic.

free_cat wrote:He was a bit lucky with his second and should have passed to Pedro in his third opportunity, though. I guess it was Pedro's fault, he is always at fault for everything and plays horribly. I give Pedro a -8 today.

Good that he didn't pass because Pedro didn't deserve goal. Another bad game by Pedro even in a game like this he was poor. He shouldn't start. Great that Pedro with his sloppy passes and poor touch didn't score and you won't hype him :dance:

:lol!: If you really think that Pedro played bad tonight, you know very little of football or your judgement is clouded by your hate to Pedro. And I mean that 100%. A pity.
It's quite lame also that you wish that Tello didn't pass it to Pedro so he couldn't score. I'm not a Keita fan, and I'm happy everytime he scores, because he is from my team. Guess you just support Barça partially.

I don't like Pedro and won't hide that. He wasn't good tonight. If you think that was good performance by him it shows how bad Pedro is in this season when you hail tonight performance as good. Pedro won't make Euro 2012 roster. Hopefully Pedro will put better performance on weekend, I don't like him but don't hate him too, he should improve because Sanchez, Villa and Afellay are out so Pep has no options but start him. Improve Tenerife Boy

Good that Adriano was subbed off so he didn't get any injury. He is even more injury prone than Alexis.

Well, you should rewatch the game and see who was stretching Leverkusen highline everytime (was called a couple of non existant offsides). Look how he linked up and barely lost a ball. Looked his one-twos with Messi in Messi's 3rd or his cross that Keita couldn't tap in. He had a good match, but unlucky not to score a couple of goals and get an assist, but his performance was good and he look fast and sharp. I think he is back to almost his full level and in the next games he will show it clearly.

needs just 7 goals to be barcelona's all time top scorer

I had to admit that Fabregas was great and swapped a few times with Inestia from left forward to midfield. He played exceptional. He is improving alot and its good to see.
http://www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/0,,12385_7575098,00.html is a great interview about his season so far and how much Guardiola has 'created' a great future for him since arriving at Barcelona. He mentions that his last 4 games since 3-2 loss to Osuanna, he has improved.

The Franchise wrote:Messi is just ruthless....doesnt let up regardless of the score..just brutal, almost cruel performance.

That comment just reminded me of pederneras river plate of the 40s. Along with other greats like di stefano they would score 5 goal and then stop just to avoid really humilliating their opponent, class