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Champions League
Topic Started: Aug 1 2008, 07:30 AM (4,229 Views)
El Profe
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From a neutral's standpoint I will be hoping for a Manchester United-Barcelona final. That is the type of game which would attract worldwide attention.

Manchester United were handling Porto in midfield but I do agree that it was made easier for them by Lucho Gonzalez' injury. And I also wonder what Bruno Alves must be thinking?
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Hector
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Time for the semifinals, on Tuesday it will be Barcelona home to Chelsea and on Wednesday Arsenal playing Manchester United.

So what is the view here on Barcelona-Chelsea and Arsenal-Manchester United?

I go along with the sentiment discussed in the Spain La Liga thread that Chelsea will look to get physical with Barcelona and try and take them out of their passing game. Valencia did that with some success this past weekend. I also think to some extent Manchester United will attempt and do the same versus Arsenal and try and disrupt their passing. I get the feeling that unlike the quarterfinal first legs which were surprisingly open, these semifinal first leg games will be much more defensive, tactical games. The clubs will look to decide their matchups in the second leg.
iPuerta amigo, Sevilla esta contigo!
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Mr. Pither
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If I am not mistaken on Wednesday it is Manchester United hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford. While Barcelona and Arsenal are each known for their passing games, it is not as if Chelsea and Manchester United are incapable of buildup play either.

Most of the press will talk about Chelsea trying to stop Messi but to me it is Xavi and Iniesta who hold the key to Barcelona. On the other side Barcelona needs to find a way to stop Drogba who if given a bit of space will punish the defense.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
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Don Balon
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I agree with the comments on what Chelsea needs to do to try and contain Barcelona, restrict Xavi and Iniesta, but what does Barcelona need to do to be successful tonight? In my ooinion, keep the ball, make Chelsea chase them and then quickly cut through their defense with filtered passes to Etoo, Henry, Messi and Dani Alves.
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Simon
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Two really interesting games in prospect this week. We were spoilt by a magnificent bunch of quarter-finals, perhaps with the exception of Barca - Bayern which the German giants weren't really able to contribute to.

I don't know whether the same sort of thing can happen again, but I do know that both semis are very difficult to call. Chelsea have been a bit up and down recently - recent results have included defeat at Spurs, a poor performance in a 0-0 draw with Everton, and a narrow and kind of underwhelming 1-0 win over West Ham at the weekend. And what are we to make of that 4-4 draw with Liverpool, or their game two weeks ago with Bolton in which they led 4-0 and ended up clinging on to a 4-3 win? I think Chelsea's defensive troubles will bite them. Carvalho is out so Alex must play, right-back Bosingwa must deputise at left-back for the suspended Ashley Cole, and meanwhile there's no doubt that Petr Cech is in jittery form right now and has a new-found frailty dealing with crosses. If Barcelona are on their game, they can score goals against the Blues. On the other hand, Chelsea are in decent attacking shape and players like Lampard, Essien and Drogba can hurt any team. Any Drogba goal would set a new record for scoring in 6 consecutive CL games.

It was inevitable that United would play an English team in the CL at some point what with all the English sides going so deep into the competition, and here we are. O'Shea will probably play at RB as Rafeal, great talent that he is, is still a bit positionally naive. Neville is injured and although Brown is now fit, he's only played two sub appearances since injuring his foot in October so it probably wouldn't be wise to throw him in here. Van Persie and Clichy are out for Arsenal while, fortunately for us, Arshavin is ineligible. Silvestre and left-back Kieran Gibbs are doubtful while Carlos Vela has been quarantined after receiving visitors from his native Mexico! United's form has certainly been patchy recently. Defeats against Liverpool and Fulham, 17-year old Italian rescue acts against Villa and Sunderland and then the remarkable 'game of two halfs' against Spurs. Arsenal are on a hot streak and will be very unforgiving of any slack play from the Red Devils. The Gunners are unbeaten in over 20 games, though it's fair to point out that many of those earlier games were disappointing draws, including four consecutive 0-0 stalemates. It's in the last two months that their form has really bloomed into life. An important factor may be that the CL is Arsenal's priority while the league is of overwhelming importance to United.
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Loco4LosChe
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Barcelona + Chelsea = yawn...
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Winslow
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Tuesday's result.....
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Barcelona 0, Chelsea 0.

I didn't think this was quite as dull as Loco indicated, but the Londoners only had one good scoring chance in 90+ minutes--Valdes stopped Drogba cold after a giveaway by Marquez in the first half. Barca had a lot more chances, starting in the second minute on a free kick that gave the Blues defense fits. Just about all of Barca's attackers could have converted in the last 20 minutes and failed, as Cech made big saves on Eto'o and substitute Hleb while Krkic put an open header over the bar from a few yards out. There was also a second-half penalty shout when Henry might have been pulled down by Bosingwa, but IMO he just fell down trying to turn with the ball.

Barca's got a problem in central defense for the second leg; Marquez limped off (he'll be out for the season, says the AP), and his replacement Puyol got a booking that will prevent him from going to London.
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robdog
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Loco4LosChe,Apr 28 2009
12:45 PM
Barcelona + Chelsea = yawn...

I wasn't yawning :D Now I am very estatic. Puyol done, R. Marquez hobbled. Now if we can see Barca score first at the Bridge & try to hold The Blues back. Then Guus will throw in Nico w/ Drogs at top. Looks like Chels might make it back Roma. If this was poker, I would throw it all in & see how it plays out. Keeping the Blue Flag flying High!!!

Simon,Apr 28 2009
09:48 AM
The Gunners are unbeaten in over 20 games.

Uh Bevis, you forgot about the FA Cup semis @ Wembley. I believe this tie a lot tighter than most people can see. Walcott has been coming on, but can Le Gooners soft defensive stop an attack w/ Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo, & Rooney??? I hear that Gibbs is supposed to be marking Cristiano Ronaldo. Hmm. :huh: Quick question, is Billy Gallas fit enough to play???
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Loco4LosChe
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COME ON BARCA! Enough EPL dominance.
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Simon
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Fair enough Robdog, the Arsenal stat must just refer to league games!

I also actually enjoyed it, as it was tense and remained interesting IMO if not thrilling. I haven't seen all that much of Barcelona this season as far as full 90 mins are concerned, but I reckon their deficiencies remain much the same as when I last saw them. It sounds an odd thing to say, but they seem a bit one-dimensional in attack. By that I mean that they constantly look to cut inside if wide, or more usually to go through the middle and thread through balls. Where Liverpool and even Bolton have scored plenty of goals against Chelsea recently it's been by mixing it up between long and short, wide and central. It never looks to me like Barca have anyone to go direct to. I think it was just a bit too predictable what Barca would do. It was notable that one of the few times they stayed wide and slung over a far post cross it resulted in the best chance of the game, somehow missed by Bojan.

Other than that it was a game of very few proper chances. The only other ones I can think of were when Eto'o got in on Cech, when Drogba got in on Valdes and also Ballack's header. Hleb's effort towards the end was a presentable half-chance but could have been more if his first touch had been better. Barca did a lot of speculative shooting from distance but Cech was on his game tonight. In fact the whole of Chelsea's makeshift back line were very resolute, particularly Bosingwa playing on his weaker foot and yet marginalising Messi. The lack of an away goal means it remains in the balance, but Chelsea will no doubt fancy their chances of finishing the job at the Bridge next week.
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rosarino
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Barcelona found it difficult against Chelea's packed defense and surprisingly for them they were more deliberate in their attack than they have been for most of the season. Still I thought they created enough chances but were stopped by Cech who was well positioned throughout the game. Chelsea will have to open up the game a bit more in London and that should provide Barcelona more space. Give credit to Bosingwa who did an excellent job on Messi, that was an anonymous as I have sene messi in a game in several years.

This result sets up what should be an intriguing second match next week in London.
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Merengue
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The referee let the clubs play and that favored Chelsea's physical approach. They defended well but I agree with rosarino, Barcelona were too delibrate in their buildup. This looked more like the Rijkaard coached team from last season than the more dynamic Guardiola team we have seen this year. I didn't even know Lampard was playing until he came off the field. His midfield partners did harass Barcelona well but if Barca had passed the ball quicker I think they could have opened Chelsea up defensively. As rosarino notes, Chelsea will have to push the play a bit more at home and that should open it up for Barcelona. What are the odds that Messi, Eto'o and Henry can be shut down for a 2nd consecutive game? I am hardly a Barca fan but I still think they are favorites to go through.
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robdog
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Merengue,Apr 28 2009
03:59 PM
I am hardly a Barca fan but I still think they are favorites to go through.

Even after R. Madrid beats on Barca's bodies this weekend??? I think that there is too much on Barca's plate. Also, Guus is a genius, I think he will find a way to out-strategize Pep Guardiola. Then you add the fact that Barca has to play w/out R. Marquez & Puyol. Stopping Drogba will tuff. Just what will happen if Guus pairs Anelka with him???
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Loco4LosChe
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It hardly takes a genius to put 11 men behind the ball and park the proverbial team bus in front of the goal.
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robdog
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Loco4LosChe,Apr 28 2009
08:35 PM
It hardly takes a genius to put 11 men behind the ball and park the proverbial team bus in front of the goal.

Hate it all you want, but Barca has the most explosive team on the planet. Chelsea did what they needed to in order to get the job done. Especially since everyone stated it would be Barca vs manure in finals.
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