Manchester City vs Barcelona, super CL tie 1st leg, 24/02/2015

[SC49]

I blame Ozil for that penalty.

 

[JJH]

Nice one, Messi..

 

[merseyboyred]

Messi shouldn't be taking penalties, but they need someone who's going to take it off him...

 

[GodsGift]

Messi shouldn't be taking penalties, but they need someone who's going to take it off him...

Balotelli?

 

[Stevencc]

If Messi was nice he should have let suarez take it.

Gerrard wasn't very nice then!

 

[merseyboyred]

Balotelli?

Thought Neymar quite liked taking them and had a decent record?

 

[JimJams]

I like how Hart answers the questions in the manner they should be, with a proper "What kind of a fucking question is that?" attitude.

 

[JimJams]

Thought Neymar quite liked taking them and had a decent record?

Recently missed one.

 

[SALTIRE]

Messi is so good he deliberately misses his pens to give Ronaldo a chance

 

[merseyboyred]

Recently missed one.

Yeah, was a terrible 'joke'. Messi's particularly average at them though, would've thought someone else may have tried to take them at some point before then. That was the first time in years someone other than Messi had, wasn't it?

 

[BlueBee]

Just seen a video which shows Suarez attempting to bite a city players hand. Outrageous.

 

[G-Dragon]

Gerrard wasn't very nice then!

Maybe, although this was slightly different situation.

 

[silkyman]

Just seen a video which shows Suarez attempting to bite a city players hand. Outrageous.

Really? Where?

I only caught the end of the second half so don't know if that was a 'thing'

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

 

[Stevencc]

They are positively masticating.

 

[BlueBee]

Really? Where?

I only caught the end of the second half so don't know if that was a 'thing'

I'm on my phone so can't upload....just search Suarez bite on twitter. I don't think he actually bit him but his head movement suggested he wanted to.

 

[CFC91]

That Messi miss...he is human afterall!

 

[allouso]

Bloody late kick offs.

Very pleased for Suarez, the first goal was a peach. Where is Destruction when you need him the most?

 

[SALTIRE]

Bloody late kick offs.

Very pleased for Suarez, the first goal was a peach. Where is Destruction when you need him the most?

Good point as we all know Suarez doesn't score in big games; last night he outdid Dessie's beloved Aguero.

 

[Millersfan]

Kompany is so overrated. Nasri and Silva aren't 4-4-2 wingers.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

it was pretty obvious that 4-4-2 isn't the best formation to play against Barcelona, and if you do insist on playing that way you need to have the right men in midfield (i.e. energetic, pressing central midfielders and wingers who are willing to help out their full backs.

Milner was obviously not 100%, being rushed back from a knee injury.
Fernando is a sitting central midfielder
Both Nasri & Silva aren't particularly keen on getting back.

Which lead to a 1st half where the few fleeting opportunities we got to go forward we looked alright, but when Barcelona had the ball we were seriously outclassed. We made Barcelona look absolutely sensational in that 1st half by giving them far too much time on the ball. Two players stood out for me for Barca last night, Rakitic and Mascherano. Both outstanding. Both probably won't get a mention today but I was really impressed with Mascherano at center half.

 

[Mr.Andrews]

Barcelona made city look like the small time outfit they are last night. "world class" kompany is dog shit. good thing they spent 40 million on a young up and coming centre back oh wait he is even worse.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

Barcelona made city look like the small time outfit they are last night. "world class" kompany is dog shit. good thing they spent 40 million on a young up and coming centre back oh wait he is even worse.

good analysis

 

[LeoRahi]

Fuckin' Suarez still got it in him. And despite missing a penalty Messi had an awesome game.

Great!!

 

[Mustard]

I'm on my phone so can't upload....just search Suarez bite on twitter. I don't think he actually bit him but his head movement suggested he wanted to.

https://vine.co/v/O2awOPEpJTj

Looks worse from the first angle but the second shows he clearly didn't. Shame, would have been incredible if he had.

 

[Nath]

That first half performance from Barca was masterful. Played one of the best teams in England completely off the park. They were literally chasing shadows. Messi was sensational.

 

[mistermagic]

That first half performance from Barca was masterful. Played one of the best teams in England completely off the park. They were literally chasing shadows. Messi was sensational.

Thought it was more Man City making them look good than Barcelona being particularly impressive. City set up with two meagre banks of 4 and Pellegrini thought that would do the trick. He really is a moron. Would does he persist with a system that everybody knows won't work? Kudos for qualifying and remaining just 5 points from Chelsea in the league but he certainly isn't the man to win City the CL.

 

[LeoRahi]

Pelligrini is a big mouth.

 

[SALTIRE]

Thought it was more Man City making them look good than Barcelona being particularly impressive. City set up with two meagre banks of 4 and Pellegrini thought that would do the trick. He really is a moron. Would does he persist with a system that everybody knows won't work? Kudos for qualifying and remaining just 5 points from Chelsea in the league but he certainly isn't the man to win City the CL.

Yeah agree. Barca were very good, but they were allowed to be so, Pellegrini played City right into their hands.

 

[Nath]

In fairness I think Barca would have had City's beating even if the setup was different. I do agree Pellegrini's tactics have to be questioned again

Thought it was more Man City making them look good than Barcelona being particularly impressive. City set up with two meagre banks of 4 and Pellegrini thought that would do the trick. He really is a moron. Would does he persist with a system that everybody knows won't work? Kudos for qualifying and remaining just 5 points from Chelsea in the league but he certainly isn't the man to win City the CL.

City did play into Barca's hands, no doubt. I still believe Barca would have beaten them regardless of the system. The players on the night seemed on top form. Aguero and Silva are the only players who are on the level of Barca's. Kompany has had a massive dip in form for a while. But yeah Pellegrini's tactics were pretty poor once again.