How is Madrid losing the league to this edition of Barcelona?!

Barça somehow not taking their time in Napoli's shored midfield and defence but an opening surely will be found yet Gattuso's plan clearly is well-drilled exactly for what is occurring on the pitch, at the moment.

Barca' s strategy so far has been to put Napoli to sleep by boring the fuck out of them by making thousand horizontal passes.

Setien's Barça remind me of Enrique's Roma.

Aimless passes and possession but not much purpose or penetration behind it.

Manolas leading their defence very well. Always turns it up for the big games.

Lucifer wrote:Barca' s strategy so far has been to put Napoli to sleep by boring the fuck out of them by making thousand horizontal passes.

The said strategy nearly backfired as Ter Stegen was caught dozing off.

What a poor barca team though.

Barca has gone against these kind of tactics hundred of times. But in the past they actually had difference makers all over the pitch.

Now it's just Messi.

Griezman leading the attack with usual efficiency and less touches than a ball boy.

Really do not think this is the message Napoli should be giving out to Barça at all unless you are in Camp Nou. Napoli are more than good enough to take on Barça individually and did to Liverpool and came through better several times at home.

That being said Messi and maybe Rakatic aside basically no one is performing for the Catalans in any remote sense.

Barca will still win it

Tonight? Very likely.

I dont want to switch from the Bayern Chelsea game to watch this one with the mentality that Barca will lose, because everytime I do Barca score and win. I'm a huge jinx and I'm not risking it

good lord

Barca wouldn't even win the Europa League if they were in it this season

Barca need to renew La Decision this summer

Mertens injured. Huge loss for Napoli.

Milik coming on but he just came back from injury and they need mobility up front whereas Milik anchors the attack to which will not suit this plan built around Insigne and Mertens.

1-1.

Napoli with a moment of panic as if they didn't spend their seconds looking for offside they might have contained Griezmann but wonderful pass from Busi to open the defence

Barça got their away goal, tie is over.

How Callejón did not slot that past ter Stegen is beyond me.

Always was a nervy finisher.

Vidal sent off with two yellows one for the foul and the other for the reaction.

Typical of Vidal.

Return to Camp Nou is basically an automatic win for Barça if you've a lead but a 1-1 tie with the all too tentative way Gattuso has Napoli play will be a blowout and won't work in the city.

But Vidal, Busquets, possibly Griezmann and possibly Pique out for the second leg can be a huge advantage for Napoli.

We have no wingers and no striker. It only makes sense that we're toothless in attack

Suarez and Dembele would make a night and day difference if they were present.

Marcos Alonso was sent off in the Chelsea vs Bayern game, as well. He never stops after putting his foot on the pedal, does he?

1-1 FT.

A game of two different halves and you must give it to Gattuso for the tie as if Callejon did not miss an open chance it would have been a vastly different game for the Neapolitans but the all too defensive approach simply was not necessary for reasons mentioned above even if it worked well.


Yes Mertens injured early second half nullified their own attack given it was built around the mobility of the front three but Napoli better attempt to take on Barça in Nou Camp or have a result that too many teams with this approach have until it fails.

Gattuso will know better given that comeback against Milan in 2012 in Nou Camp that haunts us to this day. (to this day)

Barca will be so gassed for El Clasico - that's Great!


Napoli should have done better.


No Vidal and Busquets!! Get in !

AlphaBeast wrote:No Vidal and Busquets!! Get in !

No busquets is a good thing for Barca, actually

AlphaBeast wrote:Barca will be so gassed for El Clasico - that's Great!


Napoli should have done better.


No Vidal and Busquets!! Get in !

El Clásico isn't until Sunday, 3rd of march. They have plenty of time to rest. A day more than us, even.