Barcelona - ManC, Champions League Round 16

I won't mind another game against Leverkusen with another Messi Manita

No Arsenal please!

Well that went well

City - Barça

Can someone please explain me how is it possible that only EX Real Madrid legends are chosen to draw the balls? Butragueno, Figo, Breiner, Mcmanaman...

Did you hear the guy call Madrid "the 10 times winner....oh no, sorry, 9 times up until now"

No, I didn't pay attention to that detail... at least Madrid are facing a German team. They'll win, but germans always make it hard for them.

The worst possible matchup, but it will be an early test to show if really have a chance to lifting the trophy, and if we don't we'll concentrate on the league.

We can do it, so long as Messi stays fit till then, and Neymar continues his form.
City do not have experience past the group stages it's theirs to choke up in.

very tough game very early.
Make or break game

City Striking power might hurt the Defense. Aguero-Negredo-Navas-Silva are going to be very dangerous.
I have the feeling that there gonna be lot of goals . Hope Xavi will be rested and fresh.

1st Leg 18.2 Manchester City - Barcelona, Etihad Stadium

2nd Leg 12.3 Barcelona - Manchester City, Camp Nou

One of the tougher opponents at that phase, but if the squad and Messi is fit, I don't see us losing. I actually like that it's tougher opponent early on.

toughest possible opponent.
We never played an official game against City. 6 friendlies: 3W - 1D - 2L.


Schedule:

Ugh, Pellegrini can be a massive headache for us. And they must be full of confidence right now....so hopefully they lose some steam by February.

I can't say I am overly confident about this one. Also, when was the last time we got a knock out stage game that we had the first leg at home? It's pissing me off we always get the 1st leg away. I know we should hypothetically have the advantage getting the the 2nd leg at home, but Barca has horrible away form in the UCL and we play like gods at the Nou. I'm confident if we had the first leg at home that we would seal the deal right off the bat. Instead we will probably be in full struggle mode the first leg and then play good at home the 2nd.

My prediction

1st Leg - Man City 2 Barca 2

2nd Leg - Barca 2 - Man City 1

On the one hand we have seen what a possesion-based team can do to City when they exploit the amount of space they are willing to give. On the other Bayern are better at it than us right now and we have not really seen this Barca side tested by big teams often. If Messi is fully fit by then I think we stand a good chance but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

windkick wrote:Ugh, Pellegrini can be a massive headache for us. And they must be full of confidence right now....so hopefully they lose some steam by February.

I can't say I am overly confident about this one. Also, when was the last time we got a knock out stage game that we had the first leg at home? It's pissing me off we always get the 1st leg away. I know we should hypothetically have the advantage getting the the 2nd leg at home, but Barca has horrible away form in the UCL and we play like gods at the Nou. I'm confident if we had the first leg at home that we would seal the deal right off the bat. Instead we will probably be in full struggle mode the first leg and then play good at home the 2nd.

My prediction

1st Leg - Man City 2 Barca 2

2nd Leg - Barca 2 - Man City 1

I think there will be lots of goals.
As long as we don't get destroyed at Manchester and we scrape a tie or a one goal loss, I think we'll go trhough.

Btw, statiscally there's no advantadge having the second game at home.

I have a bad feeling about this   

Yea, me too. I wouldnt be surprised if they romp us like they did Arsenal over the weekend. I don't trust our defense, pressing vs a team like City with Pellegrini in charge

Is this real?
https://twitter.com/uefacorruption

danyjr wrote:Is this real?
https://twitter.com/uefacorruption

WTF? Is this real? It is right? It is impossible to hack twitter in such way?!

danyjr wrote:Is this real?
https://twitter.com/uefacorruption

There's one just like that for the argentina WC draw

https://twitter.com/FraudeMundial14

So is it real or fake?

Free wrote:Btw, statiscally there's no advantadge having the second game at home.

Yup, in fact I think it's even a hindrance. I would rather not play the first game away against a team that has not lost a point at home this season. The seeded team should have the option to choose rather than automatically playing the 2nd game at home.

It is probably fake. Some computer program tweeting all possible draws and then deletes the incorrect ones once the draw is done.

eelir wrote:So is it real or fake?

The only way i can see this happening is having a number of twitter accounts and present all possible combinations. And when the draw happens, advertise the correct one.

Not a draw I was looking for, but it could be a positive. We will see were we stand after these two legs.

The team I wanted to face the least. Pellegrini will absolutely hammer counter-attacking into what is already a decent side at counter-attacking for this game, and they can be absolutely deadly. Shivering at the thought of Aguero, Navas, Silva, Negredo against the likes of Pique and Masch/Bartra/(Puyol?). Fernandinho applying as much pressure as possible to a tired Xavi, out of form Iniesta...

I'm not that confident. If we do well at the Etihad, I think we'll go through.

Ugh.

You won't have much of a problem controlling the middle of the pitch. Pretty sure City will sit back and try to counter because their midfield is far inferior to Barcelona's.