FIFA virus, Leo carrying a foot issue, Neymar in a lousy run of form and Lucho still lacking ideas in these sorts of matches. Still, ref only had a couple of mistakes on the night - one of them was a terrific goal from Neymar who outside of 20 minutes was pretty poor, giving balls away cheaply. 3 VERY important points to start off a tough April, 7 more matches to goWell, it's fair to say that the whole tridente has cooled down significantly... Messi has been average since the 2nd leg v City. Neymar as close to useless as a human being can be and Suárez getting too caught up all the time, spends more time on the floor than on his feet. Barça's DF saving them in the last two games, Piqué, Mathieu, Dani Alves, Busquets today, Bravo... just brilliant.
Indeed. What a strange day in la liga.So madrids 9-1 vs Barcas 1-0.. makes no difference
No way, they still have Sevilla away (who are in great form at the moment), Valencia at home, Espanyol away before that. RM still have to face Celta and also Sevilla away, where they could conceivably drop points. Also Valencia at home. This win was absolutely massive for Barça.Only chances for Madrid to get closer is when Barça plays Atlético and specially when they face Moyes again
Made me laughWell, it's fair to say that the whole tridente has cooled down significantly... Messi has been average since the 2nd leg v City. Neymar as close to useless as a human being can be and Suárez getting too caught up all the time, spends more time on the floor than on his feet. Barça's DF saving them in the last two games, Piqué, Mathieu, Dani Alves, Busquets today, Bravo... just brilliant.
Heh you thought i was being serious As much as i´m rooting for Moyes and give credit for his awesome home result, he will have as much chances at Nou Camp as he did at the BernabéuNo way, they still have Sevilla away (who are in great form at the moment), Valencia at home, Espanyol away before that. RM still have to face Celta and also Sevilla away, where they could conceivably drop points. Also Valencia at home. This win was absolutely massive for Barça.
Well, obviously not about the Moyes part, although it would be just like football if that's where they lose their leadHeh you thought i was being serious
Speaking seriously now, i think Barcelona will win the league but as you say they still face very dificult challenges. Combine that with the Champions League campaign and the Copa del Rey final and it´s obviously a very demanding schedule.Well, obviously not about the Moyes part, although it would be just like football if that's where they lose their lead
That spin on the edge of the boxI don't know how to describe Xavi anymore. He just comes in and suddenly barca controls the game -relatively speaking, we were shit today- even when he's not touching the ball. It's like an aura or something !!
The unusual part is that this season it's far more the offense (and Iniesta) that's letting them down than the DF. Piqué, Busquets and Bravo have been absolute rocks since the turn of the year. Mathieu also putting in more confident performances and coming up with two vital goals. The lack of balance in Lucho's system is troubling them again like it did at the end of the 1st half of the season. All in all, apart from a period between January and March it's probably Barça's defensive players (and Messi) who have been the most consistent throughout the entire season. The issue is that against teams that have the ability to match them technically and the willingness to press them high up they're clearly struggling to gain any sort of control over games and you get very tight affairs (2-3, 3-1 v PSG; 1-3, 2-1 v RM; 0-1, 1-0 v Celta; 1-0, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2 v Villarreal; 1-0 v Valencia).Speaking seriously now, i think Barcelona will win the league but as you say they still face very dificult challenges. Combine that with the Champions League campaign and the Copa del Rey final and it´s obviously a very demanding schedule.
Simply the best midfielder of his generation, if not ever.I don't know how to describe Xavi anymore. He just comes in and suddenly barca controls the game -relatively speaking, we were shit today- even when he's not touching the ball. It's like an aura or something !!
Without him, Spain wouldn't have won anything + less trophies for barca. He's one of the greatest MVP in history !!Simply the best midfielder of his generation, if not ever.
Fair summary. Just to add, I don't think it can be emphasised enough how good Piqué has been over the past few months. Must admit I never thought he'd ever get back to how he played alongside Puyol but he's been incredible in 2015. Best centre back in the world in 2015 I'd say.The unusual part is that this season it's far more the offense (and Iniesta) that's letting them down than the DF. Piqué, Busquets and Bravo have been absolute rocks since the turn of the year. Mathieu also putting in more confident performances and coming up with two vital goals. The lack of balance in Lucho's system is troubling them again like it did at the end of the 1st half of the season. All in all, apart from a period between January and March it's probably Barça's defensive players (and Messi) who have been the most consistent throughout the entire season. The issue is that against teams that have the ability to match them technically and the willingness to press them high up they're clearly struggling to gain any sort of control over games and you get very tight affairs (2-3, 3-1 v PSG; 1-3, 2-1 v RM; 0-1, 1-0 v Celta; 1-0, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2 v Villarreal; 1-0 v Valencia).
I had Barcelona -1 as my final game of the betting weekend. Started off with $25 on Betfair, needed Barcelona to win by more than one to claim more than $1k. Imagine my face when Messi put that over the bar, I'd already been celebrating as I was supposed to buy my dreamy Tag Heuer watch with the money...Messi Needed that one for **,5 team goals. Sloppy finishing
And to think he was already 28 when his unparalleled (by anyone) years (2008-2012) started.Without him, Spain wouldn't have won anything + less trophies for barca. He's one of the greatest MVP in history !!
What he did in those years was amazing. Messi edges him in those Barcelona teams, but not by a mile or anything ridiculous. Xavi was that good.Simply the best midfielder of his generation, if not ever.
This video of the game sums it up.I don't know how to describe Xavi anymore. He just comes in and suddenly barca controls the game -relatively speaking, we were shit today- even when he's not touching the ball. It's like an aura or something !!
Brilliant videoThis video of the game sums it up.
If in 30 years my grandsons ask me about Spain golden era I think that I will talk about Xavi (with some mention to Iniesta).Big thanks to Luis Aragones who in 2008 (already with 28 years) trusted him to be the real boss.Unfortunately and unfairly he didn't get any ballon d'orWithout him, Spain wouldn't have won anything + less trophies for barca. He's one of the greatest MVP in history !!
That's a real shame.Poor Iker (Muniain). Confirmed that he's tore his cruciate ligament...
Good question... I'd probably go for something like this,Leaving out barca and madrid players, what would a team of the season look like? I dont follow european football as much as I used to.
Leaving out barca and madrid players, what would a team of the season look like? I dont follow european football as much as I used to.