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Some cracking games this week, Barca/City and Bayern/Arsenal. Can't see past Bayern and Barca wins. Pellegrini has said he'll attack Barca and I say do so at your peril. This may not be the Barca side from 2010-2012 but its still a very very good side with players in form currently, namely Fabregas, Sanchez and with a returning Messi back in the goals. There's a chance that if they go in with two strikers that they could get torn to pieces. I think against Barca you have to play a 5 man midfield. They keep the ball too well and will just pass their way through you.

Alves & Negredo booked so far.

Usual tippy tappy from Barca don't look threatening though.

1-0 PSG to those that care

City look absolutely rock solid at the back (as I type that Kolarov nearly kills a guy).

Kolarov joins the booking club. Jumps in with a scissor to two footed tackle

Danger for City as Barca breaks.

Fortunately it's only Sanchez

2-0 PSG - Ibra

There's one goal for the "great" man. We won't mention it being a penalty.

6 in 31 now

Clutch

3-0 PSG - Guess who Ibra again...

Errr......

Cagey so far

Be careful what you wish for.

it never pans out.

yawn..

citeh gone in to there shells..

they need to,understand they need goals.. They only have to play positive.

At the same time you can't give Barca away goals heading back to the Nou Camp

Demichelis sent off - Should be a free kick but a pen given. Navas seemingly fouled in build up.

Man Citeh 0-1 Barcelona - Messi Pen

One of the more idiotic challenges I've seen in a long time

Olly wrote:Also reminded about this time every year just how bad a goalkeeper Victor Valdes is

Are you being serious?

That was a clear red and penalty. Barca clearly showing their superiority in this match.

socal1976 wrote:

Olly wrote:Also reminded about this time every year just how bad a goalkeeper Victor Valdes is

Are you being serious?

He's not as bad as he's made out to be but he's pretty poor compared to the goalkeepers at other top clubs.

It would help if it was inside the box Socal. it sure as hell didn't look it on replay.

Is there a worse team to play 11 on 10 than Barca, I can't think of one.

socal1976 wrote:

Olly wrote:Also reminded about this time every year just how bad a goalkeeper Victor Valdes is

Are you being serious?

I'd take many many PL keepers over him. I've never seen a keeper flap like him

Fernando wrote:Demichelis sent off - Should be a free kick but a pen given. Navas seemingly fouled in build up.

Never a foul on Navas, its just outside the box but its a close call. Looked a pen on first viewing to me

Fernando wrote:It would help if it was inside the box Socal. it sure as hell didn't look it on replay.

Good spot at the time nando, I didn't even notice until that replay a minute ago.

Olly wrote:

Fernando wrote:Demichelis sent off - Should be a free kick but a pen given. Navas seemingly fouled in build up.

Never a foul on Navas, its just outside the box but its a close call. Looked a pen on first viewing to me

It's why i put seemingly, Was based on what the commentators said   

Fernando wrote:It would help if it was inside the box Socal. it sure as hell didn't look it on replay.

I just saw the replay and it was just outside the box by inches, in fairness to the ref it was a bang bang play and we are talking inches out the box. My initial reaction was penalty. Either way the red was justified and Barca would most likely win with 11 on 10 either way.

socal1976 wrote:

Fernando wrote:It would help if it was inside the box Socal. it sure as hell didn't look it on replay.

I just saw the replay and it was just outside the box by inches, in fairness to the ref it was a bang bang play and we are talking inches out the box. My initial reaction was penalty. Either way the red was justified and Barca would most likely win with 11 on 10 either way.

No doubt it was red but it wasn't a penalty ud fancy your chances better at a FK on the edge hard to get ball up and down then a pen.. Id fancy a defensive movement against Barca if stayed at 0-0 from the FK.

Olly wrote:

socal1976 wrote:

Olly wrote:Also reminded about this time every year just how bad a goalkeeper Victor Valdes is

Are you being serious?

I'd take many many PL keepers over him. I've never seen a keeper flap like him

I disagree, I think he is a very good keeper. I would take him over Joe Hart. Nasri should have done better with that half chance.

City fighting hard with ten men, they are almost playing better with 10.

Fernando wrote:

socal1976 wrote:

Fernando wrote:It would help if it was inside the box Socal. it sure as hell didn't look it on replay.

I just saw the replay and it was just outside the box by inches, in fairness to the ref it was a bang bang play and we are talking inches out the box. My initial reaction was penalty. Either way the red was justified and Barca would most likely win with 11 on 10 either way.

No doubt it was red but it wasn't a penalty ud fancy your chances better at a FK on the edge hard to get ball up and down then a pen.. Id fancy a defensive movement against Barca if stayed at 0-0 from the FK.

Agreed. It is a bit harsh on City. It seems their luck with the calls ran out on that one.

socal1976 wrote:

Olly wrote:

socal1976 wrote:

Olly wrote:Also reminded about this time every year just how bad a goalkeeper Victor Valdes is

Are you being serious?

I'd take many many PL keepers over him. I've never seen a keeper flap like him

I disagree, I think he is a very good keeper. I would take him over Joe Hart. Nasri should have done better with that half chance.

Game of opinions. I'd take Chesney, Cech, Hart, De Gea, Lloris over him every day of the week.

Chelsea did OK the last time they went down to ten men against Barcelona

Too many of the Man City players are lazy at winning the ball back. Case in point, that half chance for Nasri, who after having his shot block sort of strolls back, and allows Barca to play a simple one-two down his side to get out of danger. Negredo equally culpable after a cross goes just over his head, he doesn't even make a move to pressure the defender who picks up the ball near his corner flag and is allowed a simple route out.

This is really a disappointing performance from Man City, Barca look there for the taking but haven't been pressured enough.

IMO this result is on Pellegrini. He had to pick between Demichelis and Lescott and made the wrong choice.

The Special Juan wrote:IMO this result is on Pellegrini.  He had to pick between Demichelis and Lescott and made the wrong choice.

Pick your poison really

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Chelsea did OK the last time they went down to ten men against Barcelona

Too many of the Man City players are lazy at winning the ball back. Case in point, that half chance for Nasri, who after having his shot block sort of strolls back, and allows Barca to play a simple one-two down his side to get out of danger. Negredo equally culpable after a cross goes just over his head, he doesn't even make a move to pressure the defender who picks up the ball near his corner flag and is allowed a simple route out.

This is really a disappointing performance from Man City, Barca look there for the taking but haven't been pressured enough.

I agree MFC, even before they were down to 10 men Barca looked to be bossing the match and I don't mean just in possession terms. As much as I loathe Jose he does get his teams playing hard when they don't have the ball. Although in fairness City haven't done that bad since going down to 10. AT 1-0 they still got a chance in this tie.

Sanchez off for Neymar. Negredo off for an even lazier forward in Dzeko.

This was so obvious. Knew Barca would hammer them tonight, even if the scoreline doesn't suggest that. Dominated possession, like usual, bossed the game, like usual, and won the game, like usual. Everyone hyped up City, look what happened...

Mascherano with a late tackle and a booking. Some things never change

Olly wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:IMO this result is on Pellegrini.  He had to pick between Demichelis and Lescott and made the wrong choice.

Pick your poison really

Maybe so but I thought Lescott was excellent on Saturday.

Olly wrote:

socal1976 wrote:

Olly wrote:

socal1976 wrote:

Olly wrote:Also reminded about this time every year just how bad a goalkeeper Victor Valdes is

Are you being serious?

I'd take many many PL keepers over him. I've never seen a keeper flap like him

I disagree, I think he is a very good keeper. I would take him over Joe Hart. Nasri should have done better with that half chance.

Game of opinions. I'd take Chesney, Cech, Hart, De Gea, Lloris over him every day of the week.

Agree with everyone on that list except Hart, I think Hart in a couple of years maybe better than Victor Valdes. Lets remember that Valdes doesn't exactly have the greatest pair of Center Halves in front of him, and his fullbacks basically play like wingers. Pique is having a terrible year this year by his standards.

The Special Juan wrote:

Olly wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:IMO this result is on Pellegrini.  He had to pick between Demichelis and Lescott and made the wrong choice.

Pick your poison really

Maybe so but I thought Lescott was excellent on Saturday.

Whatever happened to Nastasic he was 1st choice most of last season and him & Kompany seemed to work well together.

Fernando wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

Olly wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:IMO this result is on Pellegrini.  He had to pick between Demichelis and Lescott and made the wrong choice.

Pick your poison really

Maybe so but I thought Lescott was excellent on Saturday.

Whatever happened to Nastasic he was 1st choice most of last season and him & Kompany seemed to work well together.

I was just thinking that. Surely he must be injured/suspended, otherwise you'd definitely start him over either of those two?

Nastasic is injured ain't he?

Toure playing one of the worst matches I have seen him play for awhile.

Citeh get away with one there, miles onside

In all honesty they haven't had a second great CB since Richard Dunne

Cesc Off Sergi Roberto on

Citeh 0-2 Barca - Dani Alves.

Good finish. Really good.

That'll be the tie over

Really unprofessional by City to not lock up shop with 10 men in the 90th minute. At 1-0 at home you are not out of it, at 2-0 this tie is pretty much dead. What is Clichy doing?