Barça -v- Shakhtar, Champions league Quarter-final 1st leg

redout

UEFA Champions League

Estadi Camp Nou
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
7:45pm (SSP 2HD, Setanta)

eZe^

Huge match, Messi and Villa will need to step up to the plate and give Barca a good lead before heading over to the Ukraine.

dagdha

I think a 2 goal advantage preferably 2-0 is definitely going to be needed going into the second leg in the Ukraine. I think Pedro should be fit to start so hopefully MVP can get the job done.

partyndbs

dont think donetsk have it in them imo, plus barca are meant to peak this time of season and shakthars season is only just started

Dolph Starbeam

Have to agree, I wouldn't feel too safe going to the away leg with only anything less than a 2-0 lead.

Fully confident Barca can do it though.

everdead.ie

Still think Shaktar are the dark horses in the tournament they should be challenging.

CorkMan

Barca should definitely not concede at home, though I can see it happening with Puyol still out. Very hard to predict. Will probably be a draw tomorrow night but Barca getting through in the end.

Shakthar did win in the Camp Nou 2 seasons ago though!

redout

Barça squad:
Valdés, Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Xavi, Villa, Iniesta, Bojan, Messi, Jeffren, Mascherano, Keita, Busquets, Pedro, Milito, Maxwell, Afellay, Adriano, Fontàs, Thiago

flahavaj

Barca should win this over the two legs but Shakhtar might surprise a few people. Douglas Costa to score a wonder goal.

dagdha

Hopefully Pedro can start and not be too rusty, he should be rested nicely having not played for a few games but hopefully he will be match sharp. It was good that Xavi had a rest at the weekend also plus Messi did'nt play Argentinas friendly with Costa Rica and only played the best part of half an hour against Villareal. Puyol can't come back quick enough, Barca are really lacking his leadership since he has been out.

Paully D

Shaktar are a good side and I'd have fancied them to give any of the other teams in the competition a really good game, but Barcelona will have too much for them over two legs. Funnily enough though, I also think Real Madrid will beat Barcelona over two legs if they do end up facing each other in the semis as expected.

Anyway, 2-0 Barcelona tomorrow night.

WallyGUFC

I've a feeling this could be some game and some tie. Goalfest perhaps. 4-2 Barca, with it all to play for in Donetsk.

Warper

This is a tough game for a Barca side not playing to their usual high standards. Shakhtar are pacey with attacking full-backs, just like Barca. They havnt been great away from home in Europe but are brilliant at home. The game a few seasons ago where they beat Barca in the Nou Camp can be discounted as it was a dead rubber of a match where Barca rested key players as they had already qualified.

They also played each other in the European Cuper-Cup 2 years ago though and it was extremely tight, needing Pedro to score the only goal in the dying moments of extra-time so they have a decent pedigree. Millions has been pumped into the team and they have a lot of Brazilians.

Barca will need a 2 goal advantage to be pretty comfortable heading to the Ukraine, otherwise it will be dodgy. I would take 2-0 with glee. This is a lot tougher than many observers think.

gimmick

I actually think us Barca fans are talking this Shakhtar up way too much. They are a decent side, but that is all they are. They won an easy group to face a pretty shíte Roma side in the last round.

They will come out negative tonight, but I really cannot see anything other than a 3/4-0 win for Barca, making the trip abraod a formality.

They also played each other in the European Cuper-Cup 2 years ago though and it was extremely tight, needing Pedro to score the only goal in the dying moments of extra-time so they have a decent pedigree. Millions has been pumped into the team and they have a lot of Brazilians.

That is not a good marker. It was at the start of Barcas season. It was the middle of Shakhtars. Shakhtar played for penalties from the get go. The razilains thing makes no odds to me either. Are the Brazilians like Jo and Lucas, or are they Brazilians like Kaka and Pato? Very much the former I would suspect.

Raskolnikov

Barcelona will be too much for Shakhtar, I think. 3-1 for me, Chygrynskiy to nab a goal

Warper

gimmick wrote: »

I actually think us Barca fans are talking this Shakhtar up way too much. They are a decent side, but that is all they are. They won an easy group to face a pretty shíte Roma side in the last round.

They will come out negative tonight, but I really cannot see anything other than a 3/4-0 win for Barca, making the trip abraod a formality.



That is not a good marker. It was at the start of Barcas season. It was the middle of Shakhtars. Shakhtar played for penalties from the get go. The razilains thing makes no odds to me either. Are the Brazilians like Jo and Lucas, or are they Brazilians like Kaka and Pato? Very much the former I would suspect.

Jo is brutal while Lucas is very good. The Brazilians they have would be more like Vagner Love than the likes of Jo. The likes of Jadsen, Luiz Adriano, Willian and Douglas Costa are very good players as it their Capt. Darijo Srna. You are taking them too lightly and this is not a game to be complacent about at all.

We need to just look at last night's result at Inter to see what could happen here. Barca are not playing well lately, winning practically every game by the odd game and our away record is brutal in the CL. We need to up our game significantly for this or we could be gone. Shakhtar are a top side with a lightning quick counter-attack. They can cause us problems.

gimmick

Lucas looks ok in an extremely poor Liverpool side. Thats not the issue for now anyway.

I just do not foresee any problems tonight.

RandolphEsq

I hope Shaktar run themselves ragged and take advantage of the frailties evident in Barcelona's defence recently. 3-1 Barca.

Warper

gimmick wrote: »

Lucas looks ok in an extremely poor Liverpool side. Thats not the issue for now anyway.

I just do not foresee any problems tonight.

I hope youre right but i fear them more than i did Arsenal in the last round.

Frisbee

From Twitter:

The team that has knocked Arsenal out of the CL in the last 7 seasons has gone on to lose their next knockout match.

redout

Pinto has picked up an injury this morning so Mino has been drafted into the squad.

Boskowski

I believe that Shaktar will prove to be a much more uncomfortable side than people are willing to give them credit for.

Therefore: A nasty surprise can't be ruled out, but really it's all about Barca.

redout

Boskowski wrote: »

I believe that Shaktar will prove to be a much more uncomfortable side than people are willing to give them credit for.

Therefore: A nasty surprise can't be ruled out, but really it's all about Barca.

Only the clueless think this is a foregone conclusion. Pep said before the draw that Shakhtar was the one team his wished to avoid and that is saying something considering the other teams who were in that draw.

Davaeo09

Personally, based on what i've of both teams so far this year and current form of both Teams, this match will be a thriller. High scoring, Shaktar play a direct attacking game, and can counter attack quiet well.

But with the return of a rested Xavi, Messi and Pedro, Pep will see an opportunity to kill this game tonight and probably instruct his players to go out and give 110% until the final whistle goes.

GavRedKing

2-1 Barca at the Camp Nou for me and the a reverse score line in the Ukraine in favour of Shaktar with the game going to extra time and its anyones guess from there.

CorkMan

Boskowski wrote: »

I believe that Shaktar will prove to be a much more uncomfortable side than people are willing to give them credit for.

Therefore: A nasty surprise can't be ruled out, but really it's all about Barca.

IMO they are being giving much credit, and it is merited. They are being touted as a more dangerous club than Schalke. Sure Guardiola said after the draw Shakhtar were the worst selection.

partyndbs

gimmick wrote: »

I actually think us Barca fans are talking this Shakhtar up way too much. They are a decent side, but that is all they are. They won an easy group to face a pretty shíte Roma side in the last round.

They will come out negative tonight, but I really cannot see anything other than a 3/4-0 win for Barca, making the trip abraod a formality.



That is not a good marker. It was at the start of Barcas season. It was the middle of Shakhtars. Shakhtar played for penalties from the get go. The razilains thing makes no odds to me either. Are the Brazilians like Jo and Lucas, or are they Brazilians like Kaka and Pato? Very much the former I would suspect.

agree fully. shakthar are a good side capable of giving the top teams a game on their day but they also could go out tonight and be beaten 4-0.

s_carnage

partyndbs wrote: »

agree fully. shakthar are a good side capable of giving the top teams a game on their day but they also could go out tonight and be beaten 4-0.

+1

I actually could see Shaktar causing a huge upset over the 2 legs in this tie but if players like Messi, Villa, Xavi & Iniesta turn it on tonight there isn't a team in the world that could prevent them scoring 3+ goals. Look at the Madrid game earlier in the season. Madrid were going into that game looking very strong but what Barca did to them in the first half was just unbelievable.

Boskowski

That's basically what I said. Shaktar are a very uncomfortable draw for Barca but if Barca show up then I'm not sure if anyone can stop them let alone Shaktar.

RandolphEsq

Frisbee wrote: »

From Twitter:The team that has knocked Arsenal out of the CL in the last 7 seasons has gone on to lose their next knockout match.

That's wrong

redout

RandolphEsq wrote: »

That's wrong

Dunno but opta have it up.

dfx-

Davaeo09 wrote: »

But with the return of a rested Xavi, Messi and Pedro, Pep will see an opportunity to kill this game tonight and probably instruct his players to go out and give 110% until the final whistle goes.

I think it's imperative for the game to be over tonight from Barcelona's point of view. Anything low, even a 2-0 lead is a dodgy lead

Frisbee

RandolphEsq wrote: »

That's wrong

Yup it would appear Pool drew with Chelsea in their next game in 07/08. Optajoe was wrong it seems.

Warper

2009-10 - Barca
2008-09 - Man Utd
2007-08 - Liverpool
2006-07 - PSV
2005-06 - Finalists - void
2004-05 - Bayern
2003-04 - Chelsea

Fact is right - all the above were knocked out in the following round

Edit: Just reread the stat is wrong if it said beaten in the next KO match but i take it he meant KO round

Frisbee

Ah, I read next match as losing their next knockout first leg, as opposed to losing the tie overall.

Frisbee

Warper wrote: »

2009-10 - Barca
2008-09 - Man Utd
2007-08 - Liverpool
2006-07 - PSV
2005-06 - Finalists - void
2004-05 - Bayern
2003-04 - Chelsea

Fact is right - all the above were knocked out in the following round

Edit: Just reread the stat is wrong if it said beaten in the next KO match but i take it he meant KO round

And it would count for 05/06 then kinda as after beating Arsenal in the final in 05/06 Barca then lost their first knockout tie of the next season to Liverpool.

redout

Warper wrote: »

2009-10 - Barca
2008-09 - Man Utd
2007-08 - Liverpool
2006-07 - PSV
2005-06 - Finalists - void
2004-05 - Bayern
2003-04 - Chelsea

Fact is right - all the above were knocked out in the following round

Edit: Just reread the stat is wrong if it said beaten in the next KO match but i take it he meant KO round

Frisbee wrote: »

Ah, I read next match as losing their next knockout first leg, as opposed to losing the tie overall.

Opta are wrong as they say 'has gone on to lose their next knockout match.' That is what I have in front of me.

Warper

Statto.com has all the scores

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/europe/champions-league/2007-2008

They were wrong alright as it finished 1-1 at Anfield in the first leg.

Tbh who gives a fcuk, why i wasted 10 mins of my life checking that i dont know, ive a headache now.

redout

Warper wrote: »

Statto.com has all the scores

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/europe/champions-league/2007-2008

They were wrong alright as it finished 1-1 at Anfield in the first leg.

Tbh who gives a fcuk, why i wasted 10 mins of my life checking that i dont know, ive a headache now.

I was just thinking the same thing

Frisbee

Warper wrote: »

Tbh who gives a fcuk, why i wasted 10 mins of my life checking that i dont know, ive a headache now.

+2 :pac:

dfx-

redout wrote: »

Opta are wrong as they say 'has gone on to lose their next knockout match.' That is what I have in front of me.

Is the first leg their next knockout game though?:P

redout

The Floyd p

I was gonna post the team ya bastardo redout! :pac:

redout

The Floyd p wrote: »

I was gonna post the team ya bastardo redout! :pac:

Looks like Chyg didnt even make the bench - been carrying an injury for the last few days.

The Floyd p

redout wrote: »

Looks like Chyg didnt even make the bench - been carrying an injury for the last few days.

He was treated like shít by Sandro. I would have been nice to see him play.

redout

The Floyd p wrote: »

He was treated like shít by Sandro. I would have been nice to see him play.

Aye, I honestly wanted him to score - after we were 3 up of course!

redout

redout

Jizz

1 - 0

dagdha

gol iniesta!!

dagdha

There is a goal or two in this for Shakhtar if Barca don't hold it together in defence.

redout

Alves aint at the races.