Barça - Benfica

Date: Wednesday, 12/05/2012 20:45
Competition: Champions League
Stadium: Camp Nou
City: Barcelona
Capacity: 99786
Television: C+ Liga de Campeones

Called-up players:
Valdés, Pinto, Piqué, Puyol, Villa, Messi, Thiago, Dos Santos, Sergio, Montoya, Adriano, Song, Sergi Gómez, Sergi Roberto, Deulofeu, Planas, Rafinha i Tello.

Possible lineup:

Valdés
Montoya Pique Puyol Adriano
Sergi Roberto Song Thiago
Tello Messi Villa

Bench: Pinto, Sergi Gomez, Dos Santos, Busquets, Deulofeu, Planas, Rafinha.

On top of breaking Müller's record, this is Messi's last chance to break yet another record this year. That is most goals in international games in a calendar year, currently tied with 25 goals with Vivian Woodward in 1909. So potentially breaking 40 year old record, he could also break a 103 year old record.

Tito: "We know that Messi wants to play always"

Adriano: "The objective is that Messi beats Muller and to win the game"

I'm expecting some serious pass it to Messi syndrome. When Messi wants to score the most that's usually when he plays the worst. Likewise, he scores the most when everyone is focused on playing well rather than feeding the ball to him.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Tito: "We know that Messi wants to play always"

Adriano: "The objective is that Messi beats Muller and to win the game"

I'm expecting some serious pass it to Messi syndrome. When Messi wants to score the most that's usually when he plays the worst. Likewise, he scores the most when everyone is focused on playing well rather than feeding the ball to him.

I agree but it's best to get the record breaking away from the schedule so he can play freely without the pressure against Betis and A.Madrid in the important games. I just hope Benfica doesn't go too rough on him, and that he gets no injuries because of it.

Dont like it.

The objective is to get Messi the record.....I get where the team is coming from but no...I just dont like it.

The Franchise wrote:Dont like it.

The objective is to get Messi the record.....I get where the team is coming from but no...I just dont like it.

Even in an unimportant game?

I kinda want to lose this game so that the Bus-parkers, CELTIC, get eliminated from the CL.

We dont need their kind in this beautiful competition. I dont care even if it means Messi doesnt break his "pointless" record.


--tello---------thiago--------dealofeu--

-------sergi.r----------------JDS-------------

-----------------song-------------------

-planas---gomez-----pique---montoya--

Messi can come on as a sub for "damage limitation" when we are losing 0-3!! He can then try and look for a goal to break his silly record.

CBarca wrote:

The Franchise wrote:Dont like it.

The objective is to get Messi the record.....I get where the team is coming from but no...I just dont like it.

Even in an unimportant game?

I duno, for 2 reasons.

1. Why does it matter so much? Why are these stats so important?

2. Doesnt it cheapen the record to some degree forcefeeding Messi games he shouldnt play in and passes he shouldnt receive?

I wouldn't misinterpret that Dani. I think it's only natural the players want him to get the record. I don't see them playing any different to normal because of it. I think he was just pointing out that the players want to get it for him, because it will mean something special to all of them. They all know he'll get it anyway.

Still, I wouldn't mind resting him because he'll just get the goals later anyway.

Really disappointed Bartra is injured because this would be another chance for him. Doubt Gomez has a future here. Hopefully Planas gets a run, Roberto deserves more minutes and I'd like to see Deulofeu, Rafinha and Jono at some point.

I do understand it from the players point of view. Messi is surely the most likeable superstar anyone can wish to have on their team, its normal.

I dont think they will play the exact same as usual, I really dont. We will have to see I guess.

I remember a game where I think Messi was on a hattrick and players were passing up 1 v 1's for him lol

We will see. I just dont like the whole idea around it basically.

On the other hand, as Jiopsi says, if Messi cares about the record might as well get it out of his system so he can play well in the matches that matter.

Also true. As you said, he plays worse when he goes looking for goals.

I think overall, I cant wait for this thing to end one way or another.

I agree with Dani.
I don’t like it in principle. Now it’s this record, tomorrow it’s gonna be another one.
The team should come first.
On the other hand football it’s a competitive sport and if something can provide motivation in otherwise unimportant games, it welcome I guess.
Right now we have the luxury to “spend” this game for the records favor; I just don’t want it to be the norm from now on.

billy_gr wrote:I agree with Dani.
I don’t like it in principle. Now it’s this record, tomorrow it’s gonna be another one.
The team should come first.
On the other hand football it’s a competitive sport and if something can provide motivation in otherwise unimportant games, it welcome I guess.
Right now we have the luxury to “spend” this game for the records favor; I just don’t want it to be the norm from now on.

how silly a comment can be!!!!
what are you talking about?? so you mean in this case the team is not thought of first... do we have derby or big game in the weekend, is messi half injured -- i mean then how team's value is sacrificed for the record.....and you forgot the record is near to reach because of scoring so many goals for the help of winning for the team. if he would target the record at the beginning of the calender year, but he did not. so your comment is nothing but stupid overacting on something.
don forget he is a human, no matter how many times other people say- he is not alien. he has the feelings as any other people. the record is not important to you or some other people but it really is. if messi says he does not care this record i would say he is mentally unfit.
In this situation any player in the world would want to play, any coach would be happy for his player to play and no teammates would mind to see him playing if he is not jelous-----------you don need a big brain to come to this conclusion.

Well, a few of you guys are overreacting, Messi has been rested basically this whole season I see no reason for him to be benched, other then you lads desperately wanting Gerard to start.. which Tito isn't too keen on either way.

Messi has been rested the whole season? Since when?

He has played in every game he was needed in?

I see a reason for Messi to be benched. We have a game a few days after this one and the result of this means nothing.

You get 1M € from group stage win, so that's something.

If we are to rest Messi now every game possible, he would only play like 4 games in 4 weeks to the end of 2012. As he's used to play ever game, that could potentially work against him.

LOL I will ignore the 1m comment.

As for the rest, its only for this month. So over the long haul of the season it will help, I think that makes more sense than what he does in the short term.

I will remember this though for say 3 months times when he is walking around the pitch defensively and everyone says he is tired.

Perhaps they will say, maybe he shouldnt play in games like these.

I know nearly everyone said that last season.

But whatever, if he plays he plays.

Apparently Rafinha, Thiago and Deulofeu are all starting

Messi benched

Pinto, Montoya, Puyol, Planas, Adriano, Thiago, Song, Sergi Roberto, Rafinha, Tello y Villa.

Bored to deaaaaath. Sub in deulofeu and messi!!!

So everyone happy now?

Messi got to chase his record. Yay.

so lets hope it is just a knock :S

I think everyone who did not want him to play tonight had this in mind

messi would still have wanted to play even if he wasnt chasing that record, dani! you know that as well as any of us so jump down off that high horse you've climbed up onto! tbh i was pretty impressed that tito didnt start him and kept him off til the last half hour!

also, no comment on how we nearly had a repeat of puyols injury when he landed heavily on the same elbow again?!

going to criticize the management for playing messi in a meaningless game then at least stand up and criticize for risking puyol as well who we've seen is just as important to the team!