CL Last 16

Some cracking games this week, Barca/City and Bayern/Arsenal. Can't see past Bayern and Barca wins. Pellegrini has said he'll attack Barca and I say do so at your peril. This may not be the Barca side from 2010-2012 but its still a very very good side with players in form currently, namely Fabregas, Sanchez and with a returning Messi back in the goals. There's a chance that if they go in with two strikers that they could get torn to pieces. I think against Barca you have to play a 5 man midfield. They keep the ball too well and will just pass their way through you.

City to win 3 nil tonight.

Toure and Fernandinho, who I think are starting tonight, are a lethal combo in the middle.

Attack Barca down the flanks, that is their weak spot. Barcelona expected to play 4-3-3 tonight - that is absolutely perfect for the Manchester club. Stretch Xavi and Fabregas in the middle, with Kolarov and Nasri down the left, accompanied by Zabaleta and Navas (superb pairing) down the right.

Silva, in the free role as ever, will find holes all over the place; ably assisted by Toure bombing forward. Negredo up front to polish it all off.

No contest. Barcelona aren't what they were, and their defence is even weaker (Puyol still playing!). Messi isn't in form, Xavi and Iniesta are over the hill, the frankly overrated Busquets occupies the middle.

City 3-0 Barcelona...never in doubt.

Duty281 wrote:Messi isn't in form

Think you need to catch up on recent events over in Spain, Duty. Messi is in fine form now he's fully recovered from injury.

Agree with Mourinho, this isn't the best Barcelona side, however, can still see them doing a good job in Manchester & then relying on the home game to get the job done.

Oh yeah...he's scored five in the last three games.

Nevertheless, he's never scored on a Premier League ground. Ever. And he'll be all alone tonight, with Citeh dominating the midfield area. Only hope for Barcelona is that he produces some magic, but I think Kompany will have the measure of the Argentine.

Not quite sure Iniesta is "over the hill" at 29 either Duty, Xavi on the other hand has slowed a lot.

Sergio Busquets overrated?   he's the glue that keeps Barcelona ticking over.

If he was so overrated, how did his development lead to Toure's(he was dreadful at Barcelona) Barcelona exit.

Busquets is good at what he does, I'd rather he cut out some of the play acting. I'll always remembering him peering through his fingers to see if he'd managed to con the referee in to sending a player off.

Im expecting to see Negredo try to get himself on Jordi Alba at Corners/Goal Kicks to be honest. Try and physically dominate like Bayern did. Wouldn't be surprised to Garcia for extra protection.

I'm expecting to see Yaya charging through Midfield with Xavi tucked under his arm like a roll of carpet

Well over the hill might be a bit harsh for Iniesta.

Not the player he was a few years ago, that much is sure.

come on!!

this is what its all about

I think City will win tonight. Barca remain a quality outfit but they're not the side of a few years ago. Citys physicality to make the difference, 3-1.

Bayern probably too strong for Arsenal.

my bet for the night is just over 4.5 goals.

I am hoping for a citeh v arsernal special type game

but........ maybe its worth the 0-0 bet

Yeah i recon City will win tonight. But will lose overall. 

Bayern are the best team in the world. Arsenal are the 3rd best team in England, so realistically Bayern should win. But you never know, wouldn't rule out a shock.

arsernal are a bit of a specialist team against German outfits so I wouldn't be surprised at the win or a couple of drawn games

To be favs to knock out barca if you play at home first you need to be at least 2 goals ahead for the return. The Nou Camp is a is a fortress.

When both teams score...its goals galore!

If there is an early goal its going to be carnage..

I wouldn't be surprised to see 8 or more tonight

Tbf to Wenger, his sides have done well against Pep at home

Duty281 wrote:Oh yeah...he's scored five in the last three games.

Nevertheless, he's never scored on a Premier League ground. Ever. And he'll be all alone tonight, with Citeh dominating the midfield area. Only hope for Barcelona is that he produces some magic, but I think Kompany will have the measure of the Argentine.

Kompany got embarassed by Redmond a week or two back, Messi will kill him. Overrated

"Worst Barcelona team in years"..........What is the matter with this guy Mourinho.....

He's pathetic isn't he !!.....Always looking to knock all the other teams and Managers around him....

Downplaying a possible City win....

Diddums.....If City win...Does it mean you won't be the centre of attention ??

Man...That guy is bitter !!

The 2 - 0 on Saturday was lovely !!

Messi is no Redmond olly..  

In all seriousness I think  Messi has played fine and provided a lot of key passes and assists its just that he isnt scoring a goal a game anymore.

shock horror!!

he is just getting older and playing a bit deeper probably as all players do when they reach a certain age.(I admit to not seeing much of him but this is going by his stats)

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"Worst Barcelona team in years"..........What is the matter with this guy Mourinho.....

He's pathetic isn't he !!.....Always looking to knock all the other teams and Managers around him....

Downplaying a possible City win....

Diddums.....If City win...Does it mean you won't be the centre of attention ??

Man...That guy is bitter !!

The 2 - 0 on Saturday was lovely !!

Mourinhio is a legend..

but its all word/mind games.

he is saying that citeh should beat barca. Therefore if they do they deserve no respect and if they lose they are rubbish type of stuff.

If chelsea had this horrid draw he would be talking very different lines

I'm dreading the game.........Our back four is an accident waiting to happen.....

Please tell me Lescott is playing........

Nastasic and Demo are Man Utd plants.........

He's 26 Myst. He doesn't need a zimmerframe just yet

GSC wrote:He's 26 Myst. He doesn't need a zimmerframe just yet

with all them hormones/steroids he was given as a kid and the amount of times his feet move- he is probably closer to a physical age of 32.

As said not sure what is going on with him- but it sounds like he is playing very well just deeper for barca

He's been injured

GSC wrote:He's been injured

injured but still playing.

nah cant buy that one mate.

he has still racked up over 2000 mins this season with a short break or two

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"Worst Barcelona team in years"..........What is the matter with this guy Mourinho.....

He's pathetic isn't he !!.....Always looking to knock all the other teams and Managers around him....

Downplaying a possible City win....

Diddums.....If City win...Does it mean you won't be the centre of attention ??

Man...That guy is bitter !!

The 2 - 0 on Saturday was lovely !!

Mourinho is just speaking the truth. It is the worst Barcelona side for four or five years. If you can't accept that then you obviously don't watch La Liga & haven't seen how Bayern dismantled them last year. They still haven't bought a world class centre back either which would solve many issues.

He sees City as more of a threat to Chelsea than Barcelona most probably. He's trying to provoke a response out of Barcelona.

They rushed him back too soon

maybe..

but as stated his stats are still very good..

John wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"Worst Barcelona team in years"..........What is the matter with this guy Mourinho.....

He's pathetic isn't he !!.....Always looking to knock all the other teams and Managers around him....

Downplaying a possible City win....

Diddums.....If City win...Does it mean you won't be the centre of attention ??

Man...That guy is bitter !!

The 2 - 0 on Saturday was lovely !!

Mourinho is just speaking the truth. It is the worst Barcelona side for four or five years. If you can't accept that then you obviously don't watch La Liga & haven't seen how Bayern dismantled them last year. They still haven't bought a world class centre back either which would solve many issues.

He sees City as more of a threat to Chelsea than Barcelona most probably. He's trying to provoke a response out of Barcelona.

Maybe It is the truth........But you know and I know he can't bear to see other teams over here succeed.......

Downplaying a potential City win.......Because he is a very nasty, bitter Man..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

John wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"Worst Barcelona team in years"..........What is the matter with this guy Mourinho.....

He's pathetic isn't he !!.....Always looking to knock all the other teams and Managers around him....

Downplaying a possible City win....

Diddums.....If City win...Does it mean you won't be the centre of attention ??

Man...That guy is bitter !!

The 2 - 0 on Saturday was lovely !!

Mourinho is just speaking the truth. It is the worst Barcelona side for four or five years. If you can't accept that then you obviously don't watch La Liga & haven't seen how Bayern dismantled them last year. They still haven't bought a world class centre back either which would solve many issues.

He sees City as more of a threat to Chelsea than Barcelona most probably. He's trying to provoke a response out of Barcelona.

Maybe It is the truth........But you know and I know he can't bear to see other teams over here succeed.......

Downplaying a potential City win.......Because he is a very nasty, bitter Man..

bitter and nasty or just a world class WUM..

come on Truss, you love a wum!

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

John wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"Worst Barcelona team in years"..........What is the matter with this guy Mourinho.....

He's pathetic isn't he !!.....Always looking to knock all the other teams and Managers around him....

Downplaying a possible City win....

Diddums.....If City win...Does it mean you won't be the centre of attention ??

Man...That guy is bitter !!

The 2 - 0 on Saturday was lovely !!

Mourinho is just speaking the truth. It is the worst Barcelona side for four or five years. If you can't accept that then you obviously don't watch La Liga & haven't seen how Bayern dismantled them last year. They still haven't bought a world class centre back either which would solve many issues.

He sees City as more of a threat to Chelsea than Barcelona most probably. He's trying to provoke a response out of Barcelona.

Maybe It is the truth........But you know and I know he can't bear to see other teams over here succeed.......

Downplaying a potential City win.......Because he is a very nasty, bitter Man..

Why all the hate? Did Jose shag your wife or something?

He's not downplaying a possible City win. Barca aren't the same Barca they were when Chelsea had them wrapped around their fingers.

Chelsea never really had barca wrapped round their finger though did they?

Hi Im Jose Mourinho and I'm a turd

I'm thoroughly bored of Jose Mourinho already. Petty little man. Hopefully Chelsea play Bayern and Pep rips him a new one again

Ent wrote:Chelsea never really had barca wrapped round their finger though did they?

Barcelona have only beaten Chelsea once with 11 v 11. That was a 1-1 draw won on away goals the goal coming after we'd kept them scoreless for 182 minutes over the two legs and should have been 2 or 3-0 up. Messi 0 goals in 8. In the Xavi/Roman era the aggregate score is 14-12 to Chelsea. In ten meeting Barca have 2 wins.

Man City to win tonight, Barcelona to win the tie. I'll say 2-1 to Citeh in Manchester, 3-1 to Barca in Spain.

Also, it's the start of the bit games where we find out yet again what a big phony Ibrahimovic is!!

Zlatan has 5 goals in 30 CL knockout games.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Kolarov, Silva, Negredo. Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Lescott, Nasri, Dzeko, Javi Garcia, Jovetic.

Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas, Alexis, Messi, Iniesta. Subs: Pinto, Pedro, Neymar, Bartra, Song, Adriano, Sergi Roberto.

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

===========

Leverkusen: Leno, Hilbert, Spahic, Toprak, Guardado, Bender, Rolfes, Castro, Sam, Kiessling, Son. SUBS: Yelldell, Reinartz, Wollscheid, Hegeler, Oztunali, Boenisch, Brandt.

PSG: Sirigu, van der Wiel, Alex, Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Verratti, Motta, Matuidi, L. Moura, Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi. SUBS: Douchez, Pastore, Cabaye, Marquinhos, Menez, Digne, Rabiot.

We're not allowed to spout the myth that Zlatan disappears in big games TSJ

GSC wrote:We're not allowed to spout the myth that Zlatan disappears in big games TSJ

Ok then   Hat-trick tonight for the big man then.

CFCNick wrote:

Ent wrote:Chelsea never really had barca wrapped round their finger though did they?

Barcelona have only beaten Chelsea once with 11 v 11. That was a 1-1 draw won on away goals the goal coming after we'd kept them scoreless for 182 minutes over the two legs and should have been 2 or 3-0 up. Messi 0 goals in 8. In the Xavi/Roman era the aggregate score is 14-12 to Chelsea. In ten meeting Barca have 2 wins.

yep and that game you were robbed blind..

e talk about bad reffing these days but omg that was dodgy.. Call me paranoid but you had 4 stone wall penalty's.

GSC wrote:I'm thoroughly bored of Jose Mourinho already. Petty little man. Hopefully Chelsea play Bayern and Pep rips him a new one again

Couldn't agree more, its gone beyond mind games its just plain disrespectful now.

what he said about wenger was bang out of order IMO.. but the rest is just fun and games.

The only reason he's talking about Barca is because he's bitter they went for Pep over him, and crucially to Joses ego, he did more than Jose would've

Iniesta's just so good to watch. I think Messi can do anything Iniesta can do in the skills and flicks department but has there ever been a player with Iniesta's vision?

Didn't realise Pulis was in charge of citeh for the evening...

Also reminded about this time every year just how bad a goalkeeper Victor Valdes is

Team of the year RB on show there....