Barca would be travelling to Zaragoza with uncertainity over Lionel Messi's participation. Lionel Messi missed the final training today morning and going by Guardiola's pre-match conference Messi may miss the match against Zaragoza. Zaragoza who got promoted this season is currently lying on the 17th position, three points clear of drop zone. Earlier in October, FC Barcelona Thrashed Zaragoza when they visited Camp Nou. Guardiola has announced a 19 man squad which will travel to Zaragoza - Pinto, Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Chygrinskiy, Milito, Maxwell, Márquez, Jeffren, Touré, Keita, Sergio Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Ibrahimovic, Henry, Pedro and Bojan. Messi has been included in the list but will only participate if he is fully fit. In such a crucial juncture of the season Guardiola will not take risk with his star player.
Mar 21, 2010
Barca vs Zaragoza Preview
Barca would be travelling to Zaragoza with uncertainity over Lionel Messi's participation. Lionel Messi missed the final training today morning and going by Guardiola's pre-match conference Messi may miss the match against Zaragoza. Zaragoza who got promoted this season is currently lying on the 17th position, three points clear of drop zone. Earlier in October, FC Barcelona Thrashed Zaragoza when they visited Camp Nou. Guardiola has announced a 19 man squad which will travel to Zaragoza - Pinto, Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Chygrinskiy, Milito, Maxwell, Márquez, Jeffren, Touré, Keita, Sergio Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Ibrahimovic, Henry, Pedro and Bojan. Messi has been included in the list but will only participate if he is fully fit. In such a crucial juncture of the season Guardiola will not take risk with his star player.
Mar 19, 2010
It's FC Barcelona vs Arsenal in UEFA Champions Quarter Final
FC Barcelona vs Arsenal Tie Could Be a delight for Neutrals
FC Barcelona has been drawn to face Arsenal in the Quarter Final stage of UEFA Champions League. FC Barcelona hold a slight advantage of playing their second leg at home. But as I wrote in the Preview to Quarter Final Draw, that advantage would amount to nothing against a team which plays the same way. Arsenal vs Barca will be a treat for the neutrals, but for the clubs this might have come a bit earlier.FC Barcelona has better players on a one on one comparision to Arsenal but we all know the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin etc are capable of. The last time these two teams met was in the final of Champions League 2005-06 in Paris. Barcelona emerged victorious in that match, but Arsene Wenger could be out here to extract revenge. Henry who played for Arsenal in that final would be facing his team mates for the first time after he has left. Fabregas meanwhile will be pitted against his childhood club and Arshavin against his favourite team. The first leg of the Quarter Final will take place on 30th and 31st of March and the second leg a week after. I was just going through the previous records of Arsenal and defeating Arsenal is not a great Omen, as all teams has lost out in the next stage. May be that's just a coincidence.
Mar 18, 2010
Champions League Quarter Final Line-up Preview
With FC Barcelona and Bordeaux qualifying last night, we have clear picture of the teams which qualified for the Quarter Final stage. FC Barcelona, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Arsenal FC, FC Bayern München, FC Internazionale Milano, Manchester United FC, Olympique Lyonnais and PFC CSKA Moskva are the teams which will battle out each other in the next stage of UEFA Champions League. There were some surprising results from the Knockout stage, Real Madrid's exit will top the list followed by Chelsea's exit. There are two teams from England and France and one each from Russia, Germany, Italy and Spain. For another season in row Barca represent the only Spanish challenge in the quarter final stage. The quarter final draw and the semi-final draw will take place on this friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. There won't be any seeding or restrictions in these draws, that means anyone can get paired with anyone. But the crucial factor will be to get the chance of playing the second leg at home, that is a hge advantage usually in Champions League. At this stage there could be no favourite for any team to face, as all are dangerous - but considering CSKA's success in Champions League stages, they could be everyone's favourite.
Messi Inspires FC Barcelona To Victory; FC Barcelona - 4, Stuttgart - 0
FC Barcelona vs Stuttgart Highlights
In a performance which brought back memories from last seasons clash against Lyon, Lionel Messi lead FC Barcelona to a 4-0 demolition of Stuttgart at the Camp Nou tonight. In the build up of the match, Barca received a bad news in the form of Xavi being ruled out for the tie. He has injured his thigh and will be unavailable for two weeks. But that was the only thing which went against us. First half goals from Lionel Messi and Pedro killed the game; Messi added a second in the second half , while Bojan helped himself with a goal within first minute of his introduction. It was another Superlative performance by Messi which secured the match for us. Guardiola surprised many by deciding to start Ibrahmovic from the bench. Henry started in the centre, Messi on right and Pedro on left. The absence of Ibra meant we played at a very good tempo from the start of the match. The midfield had Iniesta and Busquets and Toure playing the holding midfielder role. The defense had the usual look with Alves and Maxwell flanked on the each side of Puyol and Pique infront of Valdes.
In a performance which brought back memories from last seasons clash against Lyon, Lionel Messi lead FC Barcelona to a 4-0 demolition of Stuttgart at the Camp Nou tonight. In the build up of the match, Barca received a bad news in the form of Xavi being ruled out for the tie. He has injured his thigh and will be unavailable for two weeks. But that was the only thing which went against us. First half goals from Lionel Messi and Pedro killed the game; Messi added a second in the second half , while Bojan helped himself with a goal within first minute of his introduction. It was another Superlative performance by Messi which secured the match for us. Guardiola surprised many by deciding to start Ibrahmovic from the bench. Henry started in the centre, Messi on right and Pedro on left. The absence of Ibra meant we played at a very good tempo from the start of the match. The midfield had Iniesta and Busquets and Toure playing the holding midfielder role. The defense had the usual look with Alves and Maxwell flanked on the each side of Puyol and Pique infront of Valdes.
Mar 17, 2010
FC Barcelona vs Stuttgart - UEFA Champions League Preview
FC Barcelona vs Stuttgart - Champions League Second Leg Preview
FC Barcelona will start as firm favourite to qualify for the next stage of this season's Champions league. Barca struggled at Stuttgart but escaped with a crucial away goal - FC Barcelona vs Stuttgart 1st Leg Match Report. Stuttgart may consider extremely unlucky for not winning that tie after causing serious concerns to Barca throughout the match. Eventhough FC Barcelona's Away form has not been impressive lately, they have been a real force at home. They are playing nowhere near last season's form, but has been somewhat confident at Home. This match has to be a clash between German Efficiency against the Spanish Flair. The failure of the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, to force home the advantage of playing the second leg at home should serve as a reminder for us about the risks involved in the tasks. Complacency is the last thing you want from your players ahead of such a crucial tie. Guardiola has already pointed that - he wants his team to score goal rather than rest on the crucial away goal, indeed a very wise startegy. Guardiola has almost the entire squad available for selection, except Keita.
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