UCL: Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United [23.4.2008] - TalkSoccer

**kyan** · 11-04-2008, 05:57 PM

It's still a few weeks away but:

Barca's Messi set to face Man Utd

Quote:

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is set to win his fitness battle for the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United on 23 April.

Argentine sensation Messi, 20, has been named in the Barca squad for Saturday's La Liga game against Recreativo Huelva.

He tore a muscle in his left thigh in the Champions League last 16 game against Celtic on 4 March and has been recovering from injury in Argentina.

Barca are without Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho for the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old, who has struggled to hold down a regular place this season, pulled a leg muscle in training last week.

Barca forwards Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic picked up knocks in the European game against Schalke on Wednesday, while midfielder Andres Iniesta has a knee problem.

Portuguese midfielder Deco has missed the last month with a calf injury, but he may still be fit for the first leg.

BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Barca's Messi set to face Man Utd

Which is disappointing from our point of view but not the end of the world.

Barcelona have looked really poor recently, they looked toothless both against Schalke and their previous league game v Getafe. And despite having "the fantastic 4" and the wonderkids (Bojan & Giovani) it looks like they rely more on mistakes than anything else to score.

Hopefully their form won't have picked up much by the time they face us. But if they are on form they're a match for anyone, so this is a huge test for United, and a really difficult one. Nothing should be taken for granted because it's a knockout competition, not a league so if Barca show up it'll be 2 bloody good games which could go either way.

**dukeofdavinci** · 11-04-2008, 06:12 PM

ronaldinho is out till end, thats a bonus, just a little one though

aye' on messi being back to give us problems, but we have the man power to keep him at bay at the same.so its an even steven.they have a formidable defend to keep us at bay and we have the same.

**kyan** · 11-04-2008, 06:16 PM

Nah their defence has been terrible for large parts of the season, and Puyol is missing the first leg with a suspension, with Milito and I think Thuram both a booking away from suspension, so if United manage to get either of them booked (particularly Milito) it'll help us in the 2nd leg.

Mr Brightside · 13-04-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyan

Nah their defence has been terrible for large parts of the season, and Puyol is missing the first leg with a suspension, with Milito and I think Thuram both a booking away from suspension, so if United manage to get either of them booked (particularly Milito) it'll help us in the 2nd leg.

True Kyan. Little things like that ^^^^ can really make a difference in deciding huge games like this one is going to be.

The loss of Puyol is more influential than most people realise. he is a quality defender who is Barca's best defender and captain to boot. And if Milito gets a yellow, we'll be dancing jigs of delight !

If we can exploit his absence in the Nou Camp by scoring one or two goals, I think we'll go through.

The fact that we only have two players (is that definitely correct?) on possible suspensions is another great added bonus.

But I have a feeling that these two games against Barca are going to be explosive with plenty of goals, just like our 3-3 draws home and away in 1999.

I can't wait. This is what football is all about !

**Pat Murphy** · 13-04-2008, 03:34 PM

I'm not looking forward to this, I'd rather win easily and boring that have an exciting and tough game anyday.

There's only one tactic we will play against United considering Puyol is out and that's just scoring as many as possible with no view to defending, just like against Chelsea 3 years ago. If United score 5 over 2 legs then Barca will go all out for 6. Should be a good game for a neutral.

c.ronaldo#1 · 13-04-2008, 05:53 PM

I think Barca will beat Man U at the Nou Camp. Man U have to get an away goal because Barca will go all out to score at Old Trafford.

**dukeofdavinci** · 13-04-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

I think Barca will beat Man U at the Nou Camp. Man U have to get an away goal because Barca will go all out to score at Old Trafford.

cmon brother have faith!!

, i mean yes barca are huge, very huge but at the same time a lot of ppl said the same when we went against lyon and they did come banging.

as long as we play our game, minimize our errors we should be fine.

c.ronaldo#1 · 14-04-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeofdavinci

cmon brother have faith!!

, i mean yes barca are huge, very huge but at the same time a lot of ppl said the same when we went against lyon and they did come banging.

as long as we play our game, minimize our errors we should be fine.

Lyon is good but they don't have players the calibre of E'to, Messi, Xabi, Henry, Ineiesta and Deco.

Barca are much better and faster on the ball then Lyon.

**kyan** · 14-04-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c.ronaldo#1

Lyon is good but they don't have players the calibre of E'to, Messi, Xabi, Henry, Ineiesta and Deco.

Barca are much better and faster on the ball then Lyon.

Who cares who they have! Look at how they're playing and their results, then compare it with United's...

I don't think Barcelona's attack is particularly stronger than United's, whereas United's defence is much stronger than Barcelona's.

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 15-04-2008, 06:52 AM

United have a real good chance to reach the final as Barca have dissapointed a lot recently. They seem out of form and this should be a piece of cake for United.

hanuma · 15-04-2008, 09:24 AM

They won't be able to cope with Utd's trademark counterattacks.

They'll probably dominate the possession and I think your central midfielders will need to be careful not to dive into too many challenges, because a sending off might kill your chances.

If Ferguson plays Ronaldo as far forward as possible he'll have a great game, if he plays him as a winger tracking back on Messi all day, he'll have another dissapointing European night.

Barca still have great quality on paper, but for me this would be a typical Euro failure from Fergie if you can't get past them at their weakest.

**Pat Murphy** · 15-04-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyan

Who cares who they have! Look at how they're playing and their results, then compare it with United's...

Our recent league form:

At.Madrid 4-2 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona 1-2 Villarreal CF
UD Almería 2-2 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona 4-1 R. Valladolid
Real Betis 3-2 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona 0-0 Getafe
Recreativo 2-2 FC Barcelona

Including getting knocked out by Valencia in the Cup makes 1 win in 9 inside Spain. Even in the CL we've been lucky by winning the last 3 games 1-0 to scrape qualification.

1 game to get to form now. At home to Espanyol this weekend.

**dukeofdavinci** · 15-04-2008, 04:19 PM

yes barca have some big names so do we, what im saying it will be evenly matched even on paper.if we can hold our nerves and play our game soak their pressure and re applying it we can do it.

be it by ronaldo, rooney or others, as united we can do it

santos6 · 15-04-2008, 04:33 PM

I expect Park to man mark Messi both games, this game has me torn as I am a Barça fan that has really grown to like United and their football because of Ronaldo. I won't be that dissapointed either way the result goes.

c.ronaldo#1 · 16-04-2008, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyan

Who cares who they have! Look at how they're playing and their results, then compare it with United's...

I don't think Barcelona's attack is particularly stronger than United's, whereas United's defence is much stronger than Barcelona's.

Yes the defence is better. However M U have never played a team who will leave 3 players up front at Old Traford. They are used to having teams parking the bus at Old Trafford.