And it ended, may be in a spectacular fashion than everyone anticipated. Lionel Messi bowed out of yet another World Cup with more questions than answers! Despite this Argentina being one of the most horrible teams, everyone agrees that they putup quite a show before they bowed out. The fans would have some consolation that they went out to a better team and their team performed better than their abilities suggest.
Argentina pulled out the 'Miracle of the Tournament' with a late goal from Marcos Rojo, which take them to the knock-out stage of 2018 FIFA World Cup.
An entire nation, their fans across the World and the Players all breathing a sigh of relief after Argentina pulled out a late victory to prevent getting eliminated from FIFA World Cup 2018. It took a late goal from an unlikely candidate, Marcos Rojo and like many pundits pointed out with a strike from his weaker foot; to take Argentina through. Lionel Messi earlier put Argentina in the lead in first half; but a second half penalty given away by Mascherano tied thetally for Nigeria.
With two rounds of the group stage over, every group remains pretty volatile! Almost all the match in the thrid round of Group stage remains crucial for determining the destiny of the Tournament.
This World Cup from the start has surprised many with the kind of quality which has been put up in display. Usually, going by the last three world cup trends; the Group stage usually is pretty non-exciting. There could be some upset result here and there but most of matches would have gone by the script.
This edition was different in this behaviour. Ususally the first round matches of Group stage would see a lot of Mourinho like approach. But not in this World cup; there have been very few stale matches in the first two rounds.
Will Lionel Messi be able to Produce the magic to take Argentina into the Knock Out stage.
HHope has returned to Argentina; not only to the players but to a whole nation and to the fans across the World. A nation which was shattered last night; courtesy of three killer goals from Croatia; may have regained hope, at least a slimmer of!
For Lionel Messi, who cut a totally dejected figure last night; now there is hope. By his standard it can be done; but the big question is whether he be able to find his standard in Russia. The Lionel Messi of Barcelona has been always different from the Messi of Argentina. But the way Messi got them qualified, felt like we may see the Barca Messi in Russia. But so far, nothing has changed!
With Just Days for World Cup to Start, it appears an entire hope of 44 Million Argentinians depend on only one person, Lionel Messi.
Once again the whole attention of another World Cup is majorly focussed on one Man, Lionel Messi; or at least for those who support Lionel Messi and Argentina. Many builds it as Lionel Messi's last chance to secure a World Cup and end the debate of the "Greatest of All Time" once and forever. Some claim it would be his last tournament but I think people are going over board. Unless something untowards happens; you would all see Lionel Messi in the Doha World Cup 2022 and may be even in the World Cup of 2026 even at the age of 38.
FC Barcelona produced another sensational footballing display against Villareal in their pursuit to becoming the first team to remain unbeaten in a La Liga season. There are two matches left for Barca in the league, the first one is against Levante away from home and the next one is Real Sociedad at home. Goals from Coutinho, Messi, Paulinho and a brace from Dembele helped Barca to a comfortable 5-1 victory against Villareal.
10 Men FC Barcelona managed to chalk out a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid last night at the Camp Nou with some sensational plays from the big players. Messi and Saurez scored for Barca meanwhile Ronaldo and Bale scored for the Los Blancos. Watch the highlights from the match below:
Even though FC Barcelona have won the La Liga title and Copa Del Rey; still this Clasico matters a lot especially for the future of their Manager.
Normally a domestic double in any league is a huge task for a team to achieve; but with this Barca side we have become so used to it; it appears like a routine affair! Everytime we don't achieve the treble it feels like a bit of disappointing season; little we remember that only it has ever been done twice in history.
Considering where we were at the start of the season, any fan would have taken the domestic double. The disappointment stems from the fact that we have rounded up the league effectively by december and how we screwed ourselves against Roma. It hurts more seeing how other teams are also seriously under-performing; which definitely makes you wonder had we played properly in the second leg at Roma, would there be anyone who could stop us from performing the treble.
Against all odds Roma pulled off the seemingly impossible task by knocking out FC Barcelona with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the visitors at home.
For the 3rd Season in succession, FC Barcelona, favourites to win the Champions League with Bet365, was knocked out of the Quarter-Final stage in UEFA Champions League. Now that's a seriously dangerous pattern which needs to be addressed soon. All of us believed that Barcelona had the tie rapped up after the 4-1 victory at the Camp Nou.
But a combination of complacency and tactical mistakes from the Manager resulted in Barca being at the receiving end of a wonderful come back once again at this stage of the tournament. Now they may have to once again watch from sidelines their biggest rivals (who despite the hiccup against Juventus) script another glorious chapter in European Football.
Last summer, the omens did not look good for Barcelona fans. Having sacked manager Luis Enrique after a second-place finish in La Liga, the club had taken a risk in replacing him with the untried Ernesto Valverde. That appointment was followed by the loss of star striker Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and the failure to bring Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool to Catalonia. It seemed as though another season of disappointment beckoned.
FC Barcelona is drawn to face AS Roma in the Quarter Finals of the UEFA Champions league 2017-18 season. Looking at all the possibilities possible, we got the easiest draw even though the fact that we play the second leg away from home could make this tie tricky. The first leg will be played on the 3rd of April at the Camp Nou and we will have the second leg a week after in Italy.
Time has come to announce the winner for the Lionel Messi Jersey contest run on the blog. There was very good response to the contest and Ii would like to thank everyone who participated in the same. The Winner's name is announced below and I will personally mail to the winner to proceed further.
So, the Winner of the Contest is :
Lionel Messi was instrumental in the 3-0 victory of Barca over Chelsea at the Camp Nou.
Enjoy 3 GIFs of Lionel Messi destroying Chelsea below:
Lionel Messi scored two goals and created the other one in a 3-0 demolition of Chelsea securing a record 11th Consecutive Quarter Final appearance in UEFA Champions League.
Lionel Messi, once again was the difference maker for Barca in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2017-18 Pre-Quarter Knockout tie. The little Argentinian scored two goals and created the other one in a very efficient 3-0 victory against Chelsea. In the process he became the second player in UEFA Champions League history to score 100 goals. The 3-0 scoreline may give a picture of the match being too comfortable; but this match was like the Atletico match where we were made to suffer; may be a lot more than Atletico. But like against Atletico, we clearly shut down Chelsea from making anything much of the game.
With Iniesta's presence still a doubt, Barca will be depending on Lionel Messi more to get the job done against Chelsea at the Camp Nou in the second led of UEFA Champions League Knockout tie.
Lionel Messi, will be once again the focus point when Barcelona lines up against Chelsea in the second leg. Lionel Messi who became father for the third time this weekend dropped himself out of the squad which traveled won against Malaga in the weekend. He would be fully rested for this clash and will be the focal point of Barca's attack. Despite Messi's heroics this season, one person dominates the entire build up to this match - Andres Iniesta. Iniesta was expected to sit out this tie after picking up an hamstring injury, but now there are serious report coming out of Barcelona that he may even start. Personally I don't think he will start, but going by the progress he has made in recovery, he definitely will play a part in second half.
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Share the contest details and this post to you friends and other groups, so that they all get a chance to win the Jersey. This is the first time I am running a 'GiveAway Contest' on the blog and let's see how it turns out to be.
Lionel Messi's wonder skills against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou from Last Night
Lionel Messi proved to be the deciding factor in FC Barcelona's 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid which takes them eight points clear on top. This wasn't a match were Barca tore apart their opposition in sensational fashion; but instead this was a macth where Barca simply shut every option for their opposition, that too one of the most in form team in Europe.
Lionel Messi once again maybe for the umpteenth time decided the outcome of the match between first and second in the League; and he may also have decided the fate of the league too. With eleven games to go, that may be too early but it's safe to say that Barca will not let go off this lead that easily. And also with this victory, FC Barcelona may have stopped the momentum which Atletico was building up in recent matches. This also was a statement to the whole world, about this Barca side's pedigree and determination. This wasn't a match were Barca tore apart their opposition in sensational fashion; but instead this was a match where Barca simply shut every option for their opposition, that too one of the most in form team in Europe. The only bad part of the match was Iniesta's hamstring injury, which will see him missing the Chelsea second leg for sure!
FC Barcelona's lead on top of the table has been reduced to five points from the eleven they held at the start of 2018. Atletico's visit to Camp Nou gives Barca the perfect chance to regain the momentum of La Liga race.
March is turning out to be a very crucial month in Barca's Silverware pursuit! At the start of the year, sitting with an enormous eleven point lead this fixture was never considered a crucial one; instead it felt like a fixture when the last opposition will move out of way to Barca's La Liga triumph. How quick things change? In a span of one month we have seen our lead getting reduced from eleven points to five points. At the same time, Atletico Madrid have completely turn around the season and has launched a full fight; a full force open assault on La Liga title race.
Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz once again played the spoilsport for Barca like he always does in a match which could make Sunday's encounter with Atletico pretty important. With the help of teh Referee Las Palmas was able to hold Barca to a 1-1 draw which reduced Barca's lead at top to just five points.
Watch the Highlights from FC Barcelona's 1-1- draw against las Palmas below:
Despite scoring the vital away goal, Barca's performance against Chelsea was a subdued one. Chelsea for mostly part was able to negate FC Barcelona with a solid formation and defense.
In 20 day time, FC Barcelona will be facing Chelsea in the second Leg of Champions League knockout tie at the Camp Nou. Barca hold a definitive advantage after scoring the vital away goal in the draw at Stamford Bridge. But banking on that alone would be recipe for disaster, as Chelsea have proven time and time again that they can score goals at the Camp Nou. In a way Chelsea's usual playing style is the one we usually despise and is the one usually make us pretty uncomfortable.
Lionel Messi GIFs from FC Barcelona's 6-1 victory over Girona. He was instrumental with some of the best plays we have seen so far in 2018.
