Barcelona v Chelsea

*I wouldn't be suprised if Aleix started instead of Paulinho there

A huge blow in that Coutinho can't play but my prediction is we'll win 2-0.

The 11-12 season's match-up is still too fresh in my head.

We went in with decent form and on paper should have won it.

Eerily similar to that tie.

It's going to be a nervous one for me. I'll miss the first leg - away on some work.

I think Messi still hasn't scored against Chelsea? Let's hope he breaks that record.

Im sure Messi and all the team will be hungry for revenge. I cant imagine a team with Pedro beating us with all respect We will beat Chelsea, but cant underestimate them, they got speed on the counter as well as crosses with height which is both our weakness. Overall we will be really up for it though I think and should be too much for them.

0-0 away.
1-0 home (after extra time possibly).

Sorry, can't see us scoring easily past a Chelsea side managed by an Italian who plays with 3 CBs.

MD claims Gomes is likely to start

Paulinho isn't even passing, he's just getting rid of the ball

puke all over the floor with this guy. Yes, I just came up with this expression

Glad the Paulinho hype is over. Had some BS goals early on but seriously what is this guy doing in our midfield. And he comes off for Vidal?! Jesus

Can’t wait for Dembele to regain form, and hate to say it but I’d rather Gomes start ahead of Paulinho with Paulinho coming on late to try and score a BS goal. And why not give Denis more chances

Yeah, year 2018 we discuss who we rather have among Paulinho and Gomes. To think of what we done to Massia after Rosel and Barto took over.

Looks like futbol is mostly right, aside from his predictions being a bit off thus far. I pretty much agree with him and today was confirmation of that.

Got a bit fortunate with the goal but I'll take it imo. Messi breaks the duck, go into Camp Nou with the advantage, it's not a straight up win but it's looking good for the second leg from Barca's perspective.

The thing with Paulinho is his physicality and he is ok at winning the ball, passing it and has some chemistry with Messi, thats much better than any of Gomes or Denis Suarez, etc. These two are done for me, they just dont deserve any more chances. Clearly its not ideal though, so either Dembele quickly gels or we will have to make do until hopefully some chances in the summer in this.

For the game, I dont think either side were that bad, it was just very tactical and quite tense. Obviously Chelsea played much better and should have won though, so we got very lucky. We should go through better definitely need to improve if we are to keep progressing in the CL.

Valverde: "Paulinho has problems in tight spaces but he scores goals and that's why he started" thats basically what he said post game, ridiculous.... Also why Willian was still unmarked after he hit the post twice?

BarcaLearning wrote:Obviously Chelsea played much better

Lets not get carried away here. The only threat they posed were Willian's long range efforts and they were playing at home. I believe we'll be better prepared for the 2nd leg and with the advantage of home soil we will prevail.

Valverde knew they'd want to catch us on the counter so he didn't want to throw many men forward and we were bound to bore the shit out of this game. Chelsea will have to attack now and that's where we'll catch them I believe, with more space available to pass around.

Also, there's hope that Dembele will start leaving Paulinho out, so that'll be an advantage for us as well.

Myesyats wrote:Valverde: "Paulinho has problems in tight spaces but he scores goals and that's why he started" thats basically what he said post game, ridiculous.... Also why Willian was still unmarked after he hit the post twice?

lol , who is marking whom and William roaming around freely.

Apart from us not doing a good job on Willian though probably we were too focused on marking Hazard and the rest on the corners too. Just glad that we werent made to pay results wise and got that away goal. Wouldnt be able to stand being knocked out by freakin Chelsea again. 2012 we really should have won the CL....

I was asking myself loudly: "Why is he unmarked" about 3 seconds before he scored.

We are Atletico-ing our way to the final.

windkick wrote:Glad the Paulinho hype is over. Had some BS goals early on but seriously what is this guy doing in our midfield.

Valverde is playing an extra midfielder so that we are better protected which I do not completely disagree with. Its not the way Barca should be playing but we just do not have the players to play our way. What I do question though is the recruitment strategy of the last few summers. How much of an attempt was made to procure and/or develop players who would help us play the Barca way?

messixaviesta wrote:

windkick wrote:Glad the Paulinho hype is over. Had some BS goals early on but seriously what is this guy doing in our midfield.

Valverde is playing an extra midfielder so that we are better protected which I do not completely disagree with. Its not the way Barca should be playing but we just do not have the players to play our way. What I do question though is the recruitment strategy of the last few summers. How much of an attempt was made to procure and/or develop players who would help us play the Barca way?

I think players like Denis Suarez, Dembele and Coutinho now are definitely attempts to do that, its never easy to get players that are that good to play our way and in the recent years having more or less the tag to "replace" Xavi, Iniesta, Alves, legends like these, but with signings like Gomes and Denis they really messed up, I guess it happens.

The switch to 4-4-2 and signing Paulinho is understandable I think because our midfield has been overrun for quite a long while too often prior to that. I hope Dembele/Coutinho works our but they look like they need much improvement and have an overall enough influence to justify us go back to 4-3-3. Never thought at the start of the season Valverde had the balls to change this traditional formation of ours, but it clearly has worked for the better for the team and results wise anyway this season so far. Whether he will continue that or try to go back to our classic style I guess we'll have to wait and see how the team fairs in the reminder of the season. Or perhaps, over the summer we can buy a really top midfielder who would allow us to do so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6mdTjL4O4E

I love how they appreciated Busquets' composure and work on the pitch in this analysis

RAC1: Iniesta might be fit for Chelsea. He's done double training sessions and has already played with the ball. The last word will be on Valverde


We gotta risk it, especially since we don't need him in the leauge anyway. He has to start

Potential Barça XI v Chelsea: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitic; Dembélé, Messi, Suarez #fcblive [cope]

Cadena cope predicts Dembele will start

Dembele trained in a 6v6 with the usual starters yesterday. He is starting.

We're controlling the game but that midfield screams for huge changes

Dembele finally scored though, but he needs to be more lively

It's weird how he's so explosive yet so bland at the same time

Barcelona have mostly used the mistake of Chelse to punish them. Second goal was a sweet counter. Very less creativity in midfield.

Dembele got a goal , HUGE boost in his confidence.

Not happy with the performance.
Were pushed back for large periods of the second half by freaking Chelsea. No positional play whatsoever.
At times Dembele was playing parallel to Roberto.

I think at some point a decision has to be made. We cant play Messi and Suarez and our natural 4-3-3. Not unless we have a freak of nature like Alves at RB and Roberto is not that.