Barca v Chelsea: Semi Final - Leg 1

[a;sdlfkjas;df]

unless chelsea plays an all defensive game again, they are going to be very vulnerable and they are going to have a lot of trouble coping with barcelona's attack.

i think it's going to be a very open game, and chelsea have just as much an opportunity to win as barcelona. en

i doubt that chelsea opens up all that much.  it wouldn't make any sense to get into a track meet w/barcelona.  i have a feeling that they'll grind something out

[TheGodEmperor]

Messi v Bosingwa > Bossingwa is a right back who hasn't been playing regularly. He was still successful in shutting Messi down.

Remember when Khalid Boulhruz shut down Ronaldinho in the previous fixture.

Chelsea is organized. Barcelona didn't play beautiful football against Chelsea. Chelsea forced Barcelona to play at a tempo that Chelsea are comfortable with through out the whole game.

Hiddink didn't go to Barcelona to win the game or score goals. It wss pretty obvious with Ballack, Esseien, Mikel midfiel + Lampard and Malouda... No Kalou the right wing. This was done to compensate for having a second choice center back with a third choice RB and a RB playing LB.

Barcelona was unable to connect passes and play that high tempo football that makes them arguably the greatest strike force in European Club football right now. Because they played against a team that knows how to control games in all situations.

Barca played the way they always play. Look at the possession stats and tell me they didn't connect passes. They had lots of wasted opportunities and Chelsea's defense played a very good game, I'll admit. Barca doesn't shoot enough, though. If they'd shot more, it would have been 2-0.

[VG]

Chelsea are gonna lose at home, at least from that match that was what i gathered, because they simply cannot play 2 legs sitting 9 mean on the edge of the box or if they do it will be extremley disappointing, towards the end of the game when Chelsea actually started to play upfield a bit their defense was getting nicely outplayed by Barca's attackers because their defenders simply are not good enough to contain Barca's attack force.

At Stamford Bridge i say 3-1 Barca and anyone who says its impossible to score 3 goals at the bridge i shall just point you to 4-4 with Liverpool.

Also bringing Lampard off was definitely a good sub as he was doing completely fuck all for the period he was on.

[Sule]

lets see what we have here,the best striking force of europe,who hadn't a single match at when they didnt score at home,with the best midfield player of the world combined with the best strikers,could not score a goal.Thats the final result,believe it or not.Barcelona couldn't score at home against chelsea who have conceded three goals even at home,against a side like bolton.
what do you say now?
it was very clear what hiddink was thinking of,he wanted a draw and he got it and now you'll see how barca get themselves fucked up at ST when chelsea will come with a lot more attacking approach.
the dream of winning the champions leagye for barca is over :down:

The only reason they couldnt score was because Hiddink went for the 0-0 or at worst 1-0 loss. He packed the midfield with 5 players to stifle the touch and go football Barca play.
Chelsea wont win at the Bridge because if they open up to attack they know how vulnerable they'll be in the back for barca's counter.
The only way Chelsea get through would be a bullshit call, such as random red card to Barca or random PK awarded for Chelsea

[cigar omar]

Hiddink played the game twice in his head before the actual game took place.  :thumbsup:

[a;sdlfkjas;df]

Chelsea wont win at the Bridge because if they open up to attack they know how vulnerable they'll be in the back for barca's counter.

why does everyone think that they'll open the throttle completely?

 :dontknow:

[^_^]

chelsea have basically acknowledged that barcelona is the better team (similar to what arsenal did) because they know they have the ability to get a sloppy goal, for instance something on a set peice or on a mistake from barcelona's defense.

[cigar omar]

Messi v Bosingwa > Bossingwa is a right back who hasn't been playing regularly. He was still successful in shutting Messi down.

Remember when Khalid Boulhruz shut down Ronaldinho in the previous fixture.

Chelsea is organized. Barcelona didn't play beautiful football against Chelsea. Chelsea forced Barcelona to play at a tempo that Chelsea are comfortable with through out the whole game.

Hiddink didn't go to Barcelona to win the game or score goals. It wss pretty obvious with Ballack, Esseien, Mikel midfiel + Lampard and Malouda... No Kalou the right wing. This was done to compensate for having a second choice center back with a third choice RB and a RB playing LB.

Barcelona was unable to connect passes and play that high tempo football that makes them arguably the greatest strike force in European Club football right now. Because they played against a team that knows how to control games in all situations.

Barca played the way they always play. Look at the possession stats and tell me they didn't connect passes. They had lots of wasted opportunities and Chelsea's defense played a very good game, I'll admit. Barca doesn't shoot enough, though. If they'd shot more, it would have been 2-0.

Would have? That might have counted for something in the European Would-have League.

This is the Champions league and the game ended 0-0.

[TheGodEmperor]

chelsea have basically acknowledged that barcelona is the better team (similar to what arsenal did) because they know they have the ability to get a sloppy goal, for instance something on a set peice or on a mistake from barcelona's defense.

exactly

[manutd.]

This one is too tough to call. It can definitely go either way.

[a;sdlfkjas;df]

essien 1-0

9th minute

incredible goal off of the volley

[a;sdlfkjas;df]

abidal sent off for "denying" a clear goal scoring opportunity.  here, denying is used very liberally.

still 1-0 69th minute

it has been an interesting game.  barcelona has been completely incapable of breaking chelsea down