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Absolutely stonewall, Vim.
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Nothing unusual here, the Bin Dippers regularly get the benefit of doubt and favourable game changing refereeing decisions, the amount of times referees bottle it in Pool`s favour is staggering, it must be worth at least 12 points a season.
 
Thanks for putting up the link. It's a disgrace isn't it. I guess the "evening up" of the penalties must be waiting for the last few matches where Liverpool will have to give away about five in each match. Would be a bit funny though if ManC don't get in the top four though.
 
I thought PSG did quite well tonight, Luiz aside. Barcelona look impossible to play though, back to their best after a short reprieve for the rest of Europe. 3 of the best 5 forwards in the World and they only really need one to be on their game to give the opposition a lot of problems.

Bayern's result has put their chances of facing Barcelona in the final in doubt but that's the final I really want to see, no one else is equipped to stand toe to toe with this side unless they resort to ugly football.
 
I thought PSG did quite well tonight, Luiz aside. Barcelona look impossible to play though, back to their best after a short reprieve for the rest of Europe. 3 of the best 5 forwards in the World and they only really need one to be on their game to give the opposition a lot of problems.

Bayern's result has put their chances of facing Barcelona in the final in doubt but that's the final I really want to see, no one else is equipped to stand toe to toe with this side unless they resort to ugly football.
Real Madrid at their best have the players and especially the midfield to match Barca. Kroos and Modric bossed Barca earlier in the season, and despite returning after being injured for a few months, I thought Modric had a great game against Barca in the Camp Nou despite Madrid losing, also Ronaldo always has a goal or two in him whenever he plays Barca.
 
Real Madrid at their best have the players and especially the midfield to match Barca. Kroos and Modric bossed Barca earlier in the season, and despite returning after being injured for a few months, I thought Modric had a great game against Barca in the Camp Nou despite Madrid losing, also Ronaldo always has a goal or two in him whenever he plays Barca.

Yeah, you have a point, although I think Kroos falls quite a way short in a deeper role, he's best further forward or at least alongside a proper defensive midfielder. I just think those games get very bitty due to hacking and flare ups. Ronaldo can produce the sublime but without him on form I don't think they have enough to beat Barca without pulling out all the dirty tricks.

I'm not totally convinced Bayern would either but it's a match that I'd love to watch.
 
I think Real Madrid can beat Barcelona.

I think Barca are a diamond encrusted Arsenal - great in possession, but if the opposition are good enough to get the ball for periods, they can look flaky and the defence can wilt under pressure.
 
I think Real Madrid can beat Barcelona.

I think Barca are a diamond encrusted Arsenal - great in possession, but if the opposition are good enough to get the ball for periods, they can look flaky and the defence can wilt under pressure.

How much pressure can you exert when they've got Messi, Suarez and Neymar waiting to counter?
 
How do you defend against Barca? You just have to hope they don't have their shooting boots on from what I've seen.
By not giving the ball.

How teams go about this depends on the opposing coach: Mick McCarthy would have his players kick their players into the stands before they got three yards, Mourinho would have his players trip their players before they received a pass before grabbing the ball and retreating twenty yards before handing it back for the set piece, Guardiola would use the same tiki-taka tactics so his side would keep the ball for themselves, while Marcelo Bielsa would have his players go balls out attacking that Barca would be shell shocked by it.
 
I think Real Madrid can beat Barcelona.

I think Barca are a diamond encrusted Arsenal - great in possession, but if the opposition are good enough to get the ball for periods, they can look flaky and the defence can wilt under pressure.

Yes. Clearly Barca are beatable, IF you can get the ball. Their defence is vulnerable. Getting the ball is the problem.
 
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