I'm more worried about the Nou Camp more than anything else. Those midgets know how to exploit the space on their field.
CL Quarters and Semi's
- Thread starter Thunderhead
- Start date
They've had a few iffy games in the league but yeah I agree, generally the standards set for Barca are far too high due to how dominant they've been in the recent past.
I think it's more their recent CL record that has people doubting them, but for me the past doesn't matter too much. They're bossing their league for a reason and were very impressive in the group and first round knockout, and Messi will have a point to prove.
Ajax if any.
They're bossing a league in which their only competition is going through a terrible year and Atlético finally seems back at their level, which is comfortably a level below them anyway. They simply bully all other teams in the league without too much problems.
Disagree that they've been impressive in the CL as well. They drew at Lyon and lost at home against Spurs (albeit in a game that didn't matter to them). They're huge favourites against United and definitely still a top, top side, but maybe I'm also guilty of holding them against an unrealistic standard, yeah.
If City and Utd get through, the second leg of the semi final will be at Old Trafford instead of Anfield.
True, but still, they're clearly a strong side. Atletico aren't a bad team and having a very comfortable lead over them is pretty impressive.
They pissed a tricky group and drew one game away in the knockouts then won 5-1, that's pretty impressive. They didn't lose to us by the way, they drew 1-1 and it was a dead rubber for them as they had it wrapped up early.
Ah yeah cheers, I remember that Spurs had to win in principle but Inter fecked their game against PSV, didn't they?
I think United will need to win at OT to stand any chance in the return leg. Don't mind facing them in the semis though should we progress against Porto, I'd much rather Barcelona than Juventus or City.
Nope. Just Pep vs money
There's always an upset at this stage and it's obviously not going to happen in Liverpool or Juve's games so I think we have a stronger chance of defeating Barca than Spurs do of defeating City.
Juve vs. City in the semi's. Would fancy City over two legs due to the midfield. United vs. Liverpool I think if we beat Barca we'd have the momentum and it's Liverpool. Sure, they have been jammy all season but you'd hope our momentum they'd suffer a horrible moment in the semi's. I think if they reached the final this year they'd win.
Going to call a United vs. City final in FA Cup and Champions League. We'll win one and lose one.
Juve vs. City in the semi's. Would fancy City over two legs due to the midfield. United vs. Liverpool I think if we beat Barca we'd have the momentum and it's Liverpool. Sure, they have been jammy all season but you'd hope our momentum they'd suffer a horrible moment in the semi's. I think if they reached the final this year they'd win.
Going to call a United vs. City final in FA Cup and Champions League. We'll win one and lose one.
Juve ripped apart Monaco a few years ago and they'll do the same to Ajax. Liverpool to go through as well. Spurs have a chance only if City are hit by injuries and bad form.
For us, roma beat Barca last year
For us, roma beat Barca last year
Yep, exactly that.
The problem with Barcelona is if Messi really turns up, you can't do anything. You can have the best defensive plan in the world and he will go on a mazy, impossible run and take 3-4 defenders out of the equation in a couple of seconds. You have to hope he's off his game and you can isolate him enough that he can't influence the game, a bit like Roma did. But again, if he's seriously in the mood and having one of his games, what can you do? The guy is unreal. 26 goals and 12 assists in the league, 8 goals 3 assists in the CL. Honestly, against us he scored 2 and it could easily have been 5, we could do so little to stop him.
But yeah, no way do United win at the Nou Camp. They need a solid result at OT and a lot of luck.
I reckon Ajax will go through. Just need to find who has the best odds for Ajax to go through, so I can put my money where my mouth is with £10.
Pitch sizes at Camp Nou and Old Trafford are exactly the same.
Anything can happen as we have seen in PSG game.
And yet they will make it feel like theirs is bigger.
I have a feeling for Spurs over city, there is usually a shock and I reckon this could be it.
We should be in it to win it. However, if we were to lose, i'd rather see us lose against Barca right now than Liverpool or City in future.
I know with four english teams there was always going to be a high chance of having two of them face each other, but that draw is still BS.
I hope you're right, but it's pretty much the toughest draw we could have got.
Also, for the first CL game in our new stadium I was hoping for a more exciting team than City, who we play twice a year anyway.
Of the English clubs, United have the glam tie against Barca
City's entire route to the latter stages in every single competition this season has a certain whiff about it. Not far fetched too when considering all the other dirt that's came to light on them lately too.
Hope we do not embarrass ourselves against Barca, like how Arsenal used to do against Bayern....
I guarantee we will pass Barcelona.
If we don't, I'll never guarantee that again, for three years.
If we don't, I'll never guarantee that again, for three years.
I feel you. I felt the same when we drew PSG in the group. They're a good team sure, but if you're going to draw a crazy team from pot one, a team like Bayern/Juventus/Barcelona/Real have much more glam about them.
Sucks to get a good team that isn't also a storied team. You really got unlucky in that sense.
PSG are at least not a domestic team, so it's still an interesting matchup.
City is just dull. We face them 2 times a season and that's more than enough.
Yup, doubly boring. I feel for you. Still, it can be a good tie, and I'm hoping you lot go through.
Probably the worst possible draw. For so many reasons. Ffs.
The 4 best teams have been kept apart in the QF and there's a very good chance all will progress imo.
The 4 best teams have been kept apart in the QF and there's a very good chance all will progress imo.
City are a pointless club. That tie or any tie involving them has the charisma of a trodden on chip.
This is so messed up! We are not getting an easy draw anywhere hahaha. Well we will have to score a bit at OT and survive at Camp Nou.
Funny how that worked and the chances of Messi vs. Ronaldo or Pep vs. Barca before the final are zero.
They're the football equivalent of the color beige.
I can kind of let Liverpool as they had a very difficult group but City. I can’t believe the ties they have got this season.
Not just in the Champions League but all cup competition. They have had lower league opponents in the FA Cup, even Burton in a semi final in the League cup. Just a joke.
Not just in the Champions League but all cup competition. They have had lower league opponents in the FA Cup, even Burton in a semi final in the League cup. Just a joke.
I think spurs will do city. I really do fancy them over two legs.
Fixed that for you.
20 years ago our FA Cup and Champions League were rough as hell.
Liverpool, Chelsea (and a replay), Arsenal (and a replay) and Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich.
No City that year though. Obviously the league was rigged or something.
Yep. Nothing to the club whatsoever. Just plastic, corporate blandness trying way too hard.
My reaction to them winning anything is always 'oh, ok .. fine'. Even on the odd chance we knock them out it'll be nowhere near as fun as beating a Juve or a Barca.
We're basically just playing Mercenary F.C.
Jammy all season. You lot make me chuckle. The rhetoric is so ironic.
Messi is going to completely take us apart, this will seriously be 10 times worse than the first leg of the PSG game
Yeah, I felt bad in 2012 more on account of us losing the league in heartbreaking fashion than anything to do with City. I was just as gutted when we didn't beat West Ham in 1995. I was actually glad City won the league in 2014 and hope they win this year because the alternative is disgusting to me but yeah City for what they bragged made them a real club and all that bollocks really doesn't exist anymore and when they were that they were a laughing stock then too.
They are Sunderland but share a city with a super club. Meh.
Really? I'll take that.
I presume everyone thinking, juventers, Liverpool, city and Barca are going through.
But football is never simple as that.
But football is never simple as that.