I'm gonna have company trips and might miss out on the Quarter-Finals, sadly... Anyone cares to help me with the schedule on when the Porto - Manchester United Semi-Final would be played? 
Champions League QF: Manchester United v Barcelona - Build Up Thread
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It's a hard tie there's no question about that but it's not impossible. Honestly the worst thing about the draw is the dread that Liverpool have a bye to the semi's so I have to dread the thought they are still in it and possibly awaiting us in the semi's. Do I think Liverpool will make the final again? No. But the chance is there and it makes me sick.
Onto the matches with Barcelona. They have weaknesses we can exploit and vice-versa. I think the games will be tight. I actually think we'll get a positive result at home. Messi is the best player on the field so if we can keep him to 70% our chances increase. Pogba is the best midfielder and creator and I think they'll have problems with him. Both have world class goalies and weaknesses (individually) in defense despite being fairly resolute (collectively).
Arguably the one truly outstanding side left in the cup is City and they are on the other side of the draw so today could have been better but it could have been worse.
Onto the matches with Barcelona. They have weaknesses we can exploit and vice-versa. I think the games will be tight. I actually think we'll get a positive result at home. Messi is the best player on the field so if we can keep him to 70% our chances increase. Pogba is the best midfielder and creator and I think they'll have problems with him. Both have world class goalies and weaknesses (individually) in defense despite being fairly resolute (collectively).
Arguably the one truly outstanding side left in the cup is City and they are on the other side of the draw so today could have been better but it could have been worse.
I'd pay a few thousand right now if I can get that as a semi-final. I'd empty further funds for Spurs to knock City out too.I'm gonna have company trips and might miss out on the Quarter-Finals, sadly... Anyone cares to help me with the schedule on when the Porto - Manchester United Semi-Final would be played?
rubbish negative line up. we must be brave and attack like Roma did. any defensive line up will get battered.
Barcelona were unfortunate to not get an even bigger scoreine against Lyon. Thoroughly dominated 160/180 minutes.
Barca are better at just about every position except for GK which could be a coin toss.
United need to be clinical because Barca will overrun them in the midfield.
Barca’s defense isn’t spectacular but certainly better than United’s. United need to try to not allow more than one away goal. Barca are in the midst of a CL record with 30 straight home games without a loss. Dembele may miss the first leg which bodes well for United.
I’m very excited about this matchup, I think this is the most likeable United squad in a long time.
Barca will most likely lineup with a 4-3-3
Ter Stegen
Semedo-Lenglet-pique-Alba
Arthur-Rakitic-Busquets
Messi-Suarez-Coutinho
Umtiti May start instead of lenglet but he only came back a week ago
Whereas lenglet has been fantastic all year.
Best of luck guys!
Barca are better at just about every position except for GK which could be a coin toss.
United need to be clinical because Barca will overrun them in the midfield.
Barca’s defense isn’t spectacular but certainly better than United’s. United need to try to not allow more than one away goal. Barca are in the midst of a CL record with 30 straight home games without a loss. Dembele may miss the first leg which bodes well for United.
I’m very excited about this matchup, I think this is the most likeable United squad in a long time.
Barca will most likely lineup with a 4-3-3
Ter Stegen
Semedo-Lenglet-pique-Alba
Arthur-Rakitic-Busquets
Messi-Suarez-Coutinho
Umtiti May start instead of lenglet but he only came back a week ago
Whereas lenglet has been fantastic all year.
Best of luck guys!
Semi finals start April 30 and second legs are may 7.I'm gonna have company trips and might miss out on the Quarter-Finals, sadly... Anyone cares to help me with the schedule on when the Porto - Manchester United Semi-Final would be played?
Both those dates are Tuesday’s
Barcelona is leading La Liga but they are not a super team. Against Lyon for example it was 2x1 and Lyon was closer to a draw when they had to change a full back for a 9 and Barca scored 3 goals in few minutes. Like happened at this point last season their current position in La Liga is not a correct reflex of their overall level. I would say that Barcelona is favorite 55 to 45% because of Messi but its not a surprise at all if United beat them.
City have had it very easy on terms of matchups. They are the favourite but they are worse defensively than even Barca. They also play pretty poorly away from home.
They may be the favourite but they are also very fortunate to have such easy draws which makes them look better than they are in this tournament
This will be a very good game, people shouldn't write us off so quickly.
Barcelona are slight favourites, however I think this is the only quarter final that is more or less completely open. I’d say we have a 40% chance of knocking them out.
We need to avoid injuries, we need Rashford and Pogba in form and we also need Messi to perform at a non-alien level.
We need to avoid injuries, we need Rashford and Pogba in form and we also need Messi to perform at a non-alien level.
Can't wait. This is what the champions league is all about
If we’ll try to be brave and go with a proactive lineup, we’ll be taught a lesson, just like in 2011.
The last time we faced Barcelona over a 2 leg tie, they were fourth in La Liga and we’ve had Ronaldo, Rooney, Rio, Vidic, Evra and Scholes.
We still parked the bus then, and that is what we should do now.
Anyone volunteering to kidnap Messi for a few weeks?
What worries me the most is definitely Left Back. Hopefully Shaw plays instead of Young. Also, i'd rather see Herrera and Andreas partner Pogba than Matic and Fred.
About Messi, he can't be stopped, but a system can be made to stop Dembele and Suarez.
About Messi, he can't be stopped, but a system can be made to stop Dembele and Suarez.
Old Trafford game is key as Barca are a bitch to deal with at Nou Camp. Last time they lost a game was when Bayern humiliated them in the semi's in 2013. Since then, 31 matches - 29 wins - 2 draws.
Jordi Alba vs Young gonna be another nightmare away from Messi vs Smalling and Lindelof. Urgh..
The last time they lost at home was against Bayern in May 2013. Since then, they've won 27 and drawn 3 
We also need to score goals and we likely won't have that many chances.
Parking the bus Mourinho style would be not allowing any player bar one or two forwards past the half-way lime. Such an approach would be suicidal. In contrast, Ole usually plays 5 defenders in his defensive styles, but once we get the ball, the midfielders and forwards are allowed to go high up the pitch and try to do something with the possession.
We need to be good at the latter approach to stand a chance of winning the tie.
Why on earth would you rather see that. He'd be eaten alive by Barca
even suggesting McTominay makes more sense than him.How do you pray to Messi?
No question. They've had a dream route thus far. Even Juve over two legs is decent given how average Juve's midfield is.
Well, I think he is more talented on the ball than Scott and we will need fast attacking transitions. I'm not happy with how Matic and Fred have performed this season, but I get your point.Why on earth would you rather see that. He'd be eaten alive by Barca
He's not a defensive midfielder though, and has never excelled in that in that position. But you'd be happy to see him face Barca? It just wouldn't work.
At least Young can have a 2017 Watford night and score that beautiful freekick again... hope is a powerful thing!
That is true but to be fair they seemed to do the same for Coutinho, Suarez, Arthur and Dembele...even Pique ffs.
Well, in that case I guess Matic would be the best option, he is the most experienced midfielder we have at european level... but he is also slow.
Looking forward to this. As other posters have said, this is what the Champions League is all about. We weren't guaranteed to go through against anyone, and when you consider that in the last 2 years we've been knocked out because of losses to Wolfsburg and Sevilla, we might as well see how we shape up against the best in Europe.
What does that have to do with Moyes?
I just think that Barcelona are probably the best team in europe.
Barca is about 2 tiers above PSG. Consider for a moment that PSG played with washed up wingers (Di Maria), wingbacks (Alves, Bernat) and a CB (Marquinhos) in midfield and had their talisman injured with overrated pansies like Thiago Silva in defense who is still living off of his reputation from 10 years ago when Nesta was holding his hands. And they were still superior (despite choking). Now Barca come with 3 genuine world class, experienced central midfielders + Messi who drops into the zone. Totally different beast at game control, snuffing out counterattacks and positioning/pressing.
Also Valverde is an underrated coach. He is better than Pochettino for example IMO but doesn't get any sort of respect because many Barca fans are clowns who feel entitled to win every game 6-0 in style and when they only win 4-1 with 10 minutes where the opponent also creates 2 chances, the coach must be shit.
Also Valverde is an underrated coach. He is better than Pochettino for example IMO but doesn't get any sort of respect because many Barca fans are clowns who feel entitled to win every game 6-0 in style and when they only win 4-1 with 10 minutes where the opponent also creates 2 chances, the coach must be shit.
Well, we're not going to have much of the ball in these games so we better be good when we gain possession. Hopefully Lingard, Rashford and Martial will cause them problems on the counter and our defence and midfield play a blinder.
I'm disappointed we didn't get an easier draw as I would have liked a sneaky route to the semi-final (Porto) but it's not impossible. I know Barca have an amazing record at home but I actually fancy our chances there more than at OT. It could be a mirror of the PSG tie in that respect.
I'm disappointed we didn't get an easier draw as I would have liked a sneaky route to the semi-final (Porto) but it's not impossible. I know Barca have an amazing record at home but I actually fancy our chances there more than at OT. It could be a mirror of the PSG tie in that respect.
5-4 on agg for us.
In fact, Real Madrid have the winning mentality in their roots, especially when it comes to European games. Barcelona were always the second team in their country. Ronaldinho influence them to an era of competing for everything and winning everything possible.
Anyway, we are not going to make it. They have depth, they got Messi, they got a way of playing while we are building one. Their defensive line is way better than ours. We are not winning. And while I 'm writing this, I hope Ole's guys prove me wrong after a heart-braking second leg.
Like PSG, Barca have the superior players in terms of technical ability, so we'll find it difficult to get the ball off them unless they are having a poor passing/possession match...which is probably unlikely.
But unlike PSG, Barca have all the experience, patience and understanding of how to play within themselves yet hurt the opponent.
PSG was without a fully fit Cavani, Neymar and probably one or two other players that are up there...yet United still squeaked by. Barca is much more solid across the back and have Messi and Suarez, in addition to a much better system and central midfield that PSG.
An enormous challenge, but again, another great test for Barca and United. It's the draw of the round (again) for United.
But unlike PSG, Barca have all the experience, patience and understanding of how to play within themselves yet hurt the opponent.
PSG was without a fully fit Cavani, Neymar and probably one or two other players that are up there...yet United still squeaked by. Barca is much more solid across the back and have Messi and Suarez, in addition to a much better system and central midfield that PSG.
An enormous challenge, but again, another great test for Barca and United. It's the draw of the round (again) for United.
Disappointed with the draw. BUT we play a lot better against big teams in the Champions League than we do against small teams.
2019 Man United are another Chelsea 2012.
They saw the Roma game from last season and thought they could do the same. Never the same situation at all. We'll contain them much better than that.
We're no where near that dreadful, shit or drudging to watch but if that means we're going to win the Champions League 2019, I'll take it.2019 Man United are another Chelsea 2012.
No way. They've hardly been tested yet. Mountains are there to be climbed.
Dembele injured again 3 to 4 weeks out. Probably will not be 100% in the first leg.
On the flipside I can't see anyone on that City squad who can deal with Ronaldo in the air.
But yeah, their midfield should have a field day with Juventus.