Football fans the world over know Barcelona better than any other team, apart from their own personal favourites. We have all marvelled at how this side redefined the game at club level, before carrying their modus operandi and success to the Spanish national team, with an even greater win ratio, but the devil is in the detail, and the details point to a vulnerability in Barcelona.
They have won European trophies three times in the last nine seasons but only once in the other six seasons have they been eliminated by a non-British team. Five times in nine seasons they have passed, jinked and outplayed British opposition without creating enough clear-cut chances to win the tie, or by protecting their goal sufficiently well.
Inter parked the bus in the 2010 Champions League semi-final, as only Inter can, but all others across continental Europe have been swept aside, no matter how defensively, flamboyantly or aggressively they play.
The pool of teams capable of beating over two legs Barcelona is admittedly small but any opponent who reaches the knock out stage of a competition from France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy or Spain itself would take their chances seriously. The Russians, Ukrainians and Belgians would have a go too. None of these countries have a single team better than Barca by any objective measure, but the same is true of British teams.
There is something about the high-tempo nature of the British game this team just doesn’t cope well with. If they did, they would have won at least twice as many European trophies as they have in the last nine seasons. If it’s objective evidence you are looking for, you don’t need to look too far for a style of football Barcelona don’t cope with.
Chelsea triumphed twice during the period while Liverpool and Manchester United both won once. The sequence started when Celtic drew 0-0 at the Camp Nou after a 1-0 win in Glasgow in 2004. Liverpool also knocked Barca out three years earlier and don’t ask a Dundee United fan about their exploits at the Camp Nou unless you have an hour to kill!
Play your own game, Celtic.
Click here to read the fabulous CQN Magazine for free, or strain your eyes squinting below. You can also buy a hard copy of the magazine here from Magcloud.
[calameo code=000390171a36dad35d58c lang=en page=48 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
378 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
Sammi wide right, Mulgrew wide left with Brown, Wanyama and Ledley in the middle? Jordi Alba is a small left back so maybe Charlie detail is to get diagonal balls to Sammi
BSR
Lustig has much more experience than Matthews and has been playing very well….I’d have have him in on merit
Or perhaps a back 3 of wilson, ambrose and mulgrew with izzy and lustig as wing backs
Come on you Bhoys in green………..IMG_0032.jpeg
Kayal33
A back three…..hope not ….Ajax terrified me ….
Nou Camp isn’t the place for defensive experimentation
Lustig is taller too – another big man. Seems like a good selection to me.
We need eleven heroes tonight.
;Lustiq over Mathews for me
seasoned international,this will hold no fears for him
I was at school with Coyle- he was a tim alright- I remember him in tears outside the Granite City bar (now Brazen Head) the night after a defeat by the tax dodgers 11
PF
Maybe, – and Brown for Kayal.
This is Celtic’s strongest eleven perhaps?
@FCBarcelona_catL’onze: Valdés, Adriano, Mascherano, Bartra, Alba, Song, Xavi, Iniesta, Alexis, Messi i Pedro
BSR
Lustig was immense in Moscow,his best game for us imo
BSR
the strongest 11 has Commons for Wilson , with Mulgrew at CB
Wilson still terrifies me but he has been playing much better of late
Nerves really kicking in.
OpTIMistic about this for some reason.
Just going to enjoy it.
Hail Hail
Mucker
Venga hoops
I believe !
Big Nan
Sammi to score in a one nil win and you got 600-1 ?
Whos your bookie ?
Did Spartak win?
Mon The Son’s Of Dan!
Very nervous, very excited, can’t concentrate on anything.
And hopefully that’s the way Messi feels as well……
Benfica really pushing for equaliser
BBC……………….Reporting Scotland very very briefly from the CL, and have time for Rugby and Horse Racing
Blatant CSC
A Spartak win would be the best result for us. Benfica are the more dangerous of the 2 teams for 2nd spot. Assuming we beat Spartak at home which we need to do then if we end up on the same points we would have a better head to head record and go through.
Good team selection for tonight. Strong midfield
PF
radio contact has been lost with BT and oldtim
Lustig has kicked on this season Matthews too early for ye mate
Still 2-1 Spartak
88mins
Any news of the subs? Hail Hail Hebcelt
into extra time 4 mins Benfica deserve a draw
WDH
hope they make the match
They were meeting a few bhoys today …hope they all managed to meet ..sounded good fun
buick makane
He was, and the concencus seems to be he’s got the nod over Adam Matthews for the biggest of occasions .
PF
KW must be 100% fit
Subs: Zaulska, Matthews, Kayal, Commons, Forrest, Rogne, Miku
Ok, how are we calling that? 4-4-2, 4-1-4-1?
Not a bad wee team Barce have out. Couple of half decent players in there
BT and OldTim
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=527106080652155&set=p.527106080652155&type=1&theater
Sammi, please, just one drop of the shoulder and loping run, that’s all I ask !
UOG
4-5-1..
PF
spoke to them yesterday- seemed to be enjoying themselves…….
Tonight you’re mine completely
you give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
I will still love you tomorrow
Is this a lasting treasure
or just a moment’s pleasure?
And I believe the magic of your side
I will still love you tomorrow
Tonight with words unspoken
you say that I’m the only one
But will my heart be broken
when the night meets the morning sun?
I want you to know
that your love
is love, I can be sure of
So I tell you now, ’cause I won’t say it again
I will still love you tomorrow
Hail Hail
2-1 FT
whitedoghunch
18:54 on 23 October, 2012
Subs: Zaulska, Matthews, Kayal, Commons, Forrest, Rogne, Miku
What, no McCourt?? ;-)
all over spartak win 2-1 ref said 4 added mins and only 54 seconds played with players time wasting.
C’mon you bhoys ion green
HH