The title says it all!
Messi had at least six chances to score. He could have score doublehattrick, but still he's the top scorer now with 8 goals in the Champions League! Cheers!!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Barcelona vs Arsenal - Match of the Week?
Barcelona will take on Arsenal at Nou Camp tonight (2.45am). This match stands to attract a lot of attention given beautiful football played by the teams, especially Barcelona, in the first leg last week. I would like to see Boyan get started alongside Messi and Pedro, after his solid performance against Athletico Madrid. Gasquet just need to be wary by not slipping the ball away again! -which made way for Arsenal to score their first goal.
Messi should take the centre stage and show us some great dribbling skills. LOL! My prediction is Messi to score 2 goals tonight.
Fulltime score Barcelona 3 Arsenal 1!
Good news for Barcelona, Iniesta is named in the squad against Arsenal!
Enjoy beautiful football! Peace!
-------------------
FC Barcelona vs Arsenal Preview - Let the Footballing Extravaganza Resume
Update : Iniesta named in the Squad to Face Arsenal
A week has passed since the Barca - Arsenal clash at the Emirates; meanwhile both teams won their corresponding League fixtures but still everyone is talking only about the match at Emirates. With the first leg ending at 2-2, the tie is still widely open. FC Barcelona slightly hold the upper hand with two away goals, but against a team like Arsenal, away goals may not matter. Both teams have a huge number of players out for this tie.
For FC Barcelona, captain Puyol is suspended along with Pique, Ibrahimovic is out of the second leg clash with an injury and Toure will be a doubtful starter. Meanwhile Iniesta is still recovering from his injury. Arsenal has a pretty bigger line of absentees - Gallas, Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas both are injured, the latter is anyway suspended for this leg.
Song is the latest one to be ruled out for the match at Barcelona. Arsene Wenger has announced the squad which will travel to Barelona - Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri, Denilson, Fran Merida, Theo Walcott, Craig Eastmond, Tomas Rosicky, Armand Traore, Emmanuel Eboue, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre
Messi and Xavi are the key Players for Barca
Barca fans will be hoping that the team has taken some lessons from the late comeback of Arsenal at the Emirates, especially Gaurdiola. Arsenal players showed that they are a resilient group and will not give up on the task that easily. Coming back from two goals down to earn a draw, Arsenal definitely have the momentum to take on Barca. But it is also to be seen how much the last gasp victory against Wolves taken out of this young bunch.
Arsene Wenger has identified Thoe Walcott as his main weapon against Barca. That means he will be looking to attack through the flanks more than he did in the home leg. Theo Walcott is certain to start the match and his pace on the right flank could spell trouble for Barca. Against Wolves, he was on fire on the right flank. In that background I would like to see Guardiola employ the traditional 4-3-3 formation against Arsenal, rather than the 4-2-3-1. But there are some interesting problems facing such a decision, which I will explain later.
A 4-2-3-1 formation will see Abidal and Alves being left alone to deal with the pace of Arsenal on the flanks. Meanwhile Lionel Messi had an average match by his standard in the first leg ( only by his standard, otherwise had a good match), would be looking to show off his skills more effectively against Arsenal.
Read more: http://www.allaboutfcbarcelona.com/2010/04/fc-barcelona-vs-arsenal-champions.html
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that Pep Guardiolas Barcelona side is the best team he has ever seen.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Views on Barcelona's match against Arsenal
Missed out the first 20 minutes of the game. Sigh! My friends told me that Barca played probably their best 20 minutes of football game in any competition. Even a good team like Arsenal also cannot tahan. I will make sure I wake up early for Nou Camp match next week! From the first half highlights, I noticed that Barcelona failed too score mostly because of poor finishing.
Barca played better in the first half vs 2nd half. Even though they scored both goals in the second half, its not spectacular goal or involve great movements. The first goal was really simple, and you can blame the defenders, or Pique for the neat cross.
Watch the highlights here:
The second goal was a masterpiece cross by Xavi. You need someone like Xavi in every team. He is a very visionary midfielder. Coupled with strikers that know how to find space and run to the ball, thats all you need to score goals. And Xavi and Ibrahimovic showed its really simple.
Messi didnt perform well. I would like to see something special from him in the next match.
Its not easy to play with Barcelona. Arsenal lost at least 3 players with Fabregas, Gallas and Arshavin unavailable for the next match. The red card for Puyol is imo harsh. Maybe Barcelona can appeal for that. For now, Puyol and Pique are not eligible to play the next game.
Looking forward to two beautiful games in the next two weeks. The return match at Nou Camp (Wed 7/4 morning) and the El Clasico (Sun 11/4 morning)!
Beautiful football game is what I like and how I play. :)
Barca played better in the first half vs 2nd half. Even though they scored both goals in the second half, its not spectacular goal or involve great movements. The first goal was really simple, and you can blame the defenders, or Pique for the neat cross.
Watch the highlights here:
The second goal was a masterpiece cross by Xavi. You need someone like Xavi in every team. He is a very visionary midfielder. Coupled with strikers that know how to find space and run to the ball, thats all you need to score goals. And Xavi and Ibrahimovic showed its really simple.
Messi didnt perform well. I would like to see something special from him in the next match.
Its not easy to play with Barcelona. Arsenal lost at least 3 players with Fabregas, Gallas and Arshavin unavailable for the next match. The red card for Puyol is imo harsh. Maybe Barcelona can appeal for that. For now, Puyol and Pique are not eligible to play the next game.
Looking forward to two beautiful games in the next two weeks. The return match at Nou Camp (Wed 7/4 morning) and the El Clasico (Sun 11/4 morning)!
Beautiful football game is what I like and how I play. :)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Messi-ah in Great Great Form!
Wishlist:
Messi to win second consecutive FIFA World Footballer of the Year! with Rooney comes in second :)
Messi to sink Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabeu!!!
Messi to win second successive Champions League with Barcelona! :D
Messi to win La Liga league with Barcelona for second year in a row!!
and.........
Messi to guide Argentina to their first World Cup title in 24 years!!!!!
One-man scoring machine
Next up for the Lionel Messi show - Osasuna.
Messi has been a one-man scoring act with his second hat trick inside eight days keeping Barcelona in the Spanish league race as the defending champions kept pace with Real Madrid on top of the standings with 68 points.
Messi leads Spain with 25 league goals and has 34 in all competitions after notching his fifth career hat trick in Sunday's 4-2 win at Zaragoza. His form has inspired suggestions that the 22-year-old is on course to becoming one of the all-time greats, alongside the likes of his Argentina coach Diego Maradona.
Coach Pep Guardiola said he'd run out of superlatives to describe Messi.
"He's so good that it's impossible for him not to be so involved in so much of the play," Guardiola said. "He's been one of the chosen ones for some time now."
The biggest question for Wednesday's opponent Osasuna is how to stop Messi after his dominating performance at La Romareda, where even the home fans were out of their seats.
Messi scored with his head before a highlight reel run that he called one of his greatest and added the second with a defender who he left on the turf with his quick feet tugging on his shorts. He took his third from a quickly taken shot that curled past goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez.
"I have no doubt that you can compare him (to Maradona) and that he's even better. He's so young and he has a fabulous future ahead," defender Daniel Alves said. "Let's hope he keeps on like this."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta called Messi the best player in the history of football, even if Messi hasn't been able to carry over that form into international play with Argentina.
"I don't know what the secret with Messi here is," Guardiola said. "I know that at Barca he's comfortable and that he's also the one who most wants to triumph with Argentina."
While Barcelona shines with Messi, the form of Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo appears less inspired.
Madrid had to rally to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 on Saturday.
Ronaldo has scored 15 league goals but the team is out of the Champions League and the league title is its only focus. It next plays in a derby match against Spanish capital neighbor Getafe on Thursday.
The contrast between the two teams is underlined by the behavior of their top players. Ronaldo has argued with teammate Xabi Alonso over penalty duties this year, while Messi let struggling striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic take Sunday's.
"What matters to me are trophies at the group level," Messi said. "The league and the Champions League are more important awards than individual ones."
Meanwhile, Sevilla will be without winger Jesus Nava (ankle) for up to four weeks and Diego Capel (leg) for at least 10 days as it prepares for Tuesday's game against last-placed Xerez.
Xerez has won two straight to give the team hope in its battle to avoid the drop although it is still eight points back of 17th-placed Zaragoza. Sevilla is winless in six with two straight losses to slump to fifth in the standings.
Valencia is without a number of injured regulars for Wednesday's game against Malaga as it looks to consolidate third place. Valencia is four points clear of Mallorca, which plays bottom-of-the-table Racing Santander. - AP
Video link: Messi sinks Zaragoza
Messi to win second consecutive FIFA World Footballer of the Year! with Rooney comes in second :)
Messi to sink Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabeu!!!
Messi to win second successive Champions League with Barcelona! :D
Messi to win La Liga league with Barcelona for second year in a row!!
and.........
Messi to guide Argentina to their first World Cup title in 24 years!!!!!
One-man scoring machine
Next up for the Lionel Messi show - Osasuna.
Messi has been a one-man scoring act with his second hat trick inside eight days keeping Barcelona in the Spanish league race as the defending champions kept pace with Real Madrid on top of the standings with 68 points.
Messi leads Spain with 25 league goals and has 34 in all competitions after notching his fifth career hat trick in Sunday's 4-2 win at Zaragoza. His form has inspired suggestions that the 22-year-old is on course to becoming one of the all-time greats, alongside the likes of his Argentina coach Diego Maradona.
Coach Pep Guardiola said he'd run out of superlatives to describe Messi.
"He's so good that it's impossible for him not to be so involved in so much of the play," Guardiola said. "He's been one of the chosen ones for some time now."
The biggest question for Wednesday's opponent Osasuna is how to stop Messi after his dominating performance at La Romareda, where even the home fans were out of their seats.
Messi scored with his head before a highlight reel run that he called one of his greatest and added the second with a defender who he left on the turf with his quick feet tugging on his shorts. He took his third from a quickly taken shot that curled past goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez.
"I have no doubt that you can compare him (to Maradona) and that he's even better. He's so young and he has a fabulous future ahead," defender Daniel Alves said. "Let's hope he keeps on like this."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta called Messi the best player in the history of football, even if Messi hasn't been able to carry over that form into international play with Argentina.
"I don't know what the secret with Messi here is," Guardiola said. "I know that at Barca he's comfortable and that he's also the one who most wants to triumph with Argentina."
While Barcelona shines with Messi, the form of Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo appears less inspired.
Madrid had to rally to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 on Saturday.
Ronaldo has scored 15 league goals but the team is out of the Champions League and the league title is its only focus. It next plays in a derby match against Spanish capital neighbor Getafe on Thursday.
The contrast between the two teams is underlined by the behavior of their top players. Ronaldo has argued with teammate Xabi Alonso over penalty duties this year, while Messi let struggling striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic take Sunday's.
"What matters to me are trophies at the group level," Messi said. "The league and the Champions League are more important awards than individual ones."
Meanwhile, Sevilla will be without winger Jesus Nava (ankle) for up to four weeks and Diego Capel (leg) for at least 10 days as it prepares for Tuesday's game against last-placed Xerez.
Xerez has won two straight to give the team hope in its battle to avoid the drop although it is still eight points back of 17th-placed Zaragoza. Sevilla is winless in six with two straight losses to slump to fifth in the standings.
Valencia is without a number of injured regulars for Wednesday's game against Malaga as it looks to consolidate third place. Valencia is four points clear of Mallorca, which plays bottom-of-the-table Racing Santander. - AP
Video link: Messi sinks Zaragoza
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Messi Fires Barca into QF of Champions League
Playing at his magical best, Messi collected a ball from Yaya Toure in the 13th minute and ran at the Stuttgart defense before firing a 20-meter, left-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
"He was so decisive," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said of Messi. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."
Barcelona, Bordeaux into Champions League last 8
LONDON (AP): Inspired by the brilliance of Lionel Messi's two goals, defending champion Barcelona beat Stuttgart 4-0 on Wednesday to power into the Champions League quarterfinals as Bordeaux defeated Olympiakos 2-1 to also advance.
Pedro Rodriguez and Bojan Krkic also hit the target as Barcelona went through 5-1 on aggregate despite missing injured midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Bordeaux scored a goal in the fifth minute from a bending free kick by Yoann Gourcuff. Kostas Mitroglou replied for Olympiakos with a long-range drive but Marouane Chamakh added an acrobatic headed goal for a 3-1 overall victory.
Barcelona and Bordeaux join Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Inter Milan and CSKA Moscow in the last eight.
The draws for the quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on Friday at UEFA headquarters at Nyon in Switzerland.
Three English clubs have made it to the semifinals in the past two seasons, but only Manchester United and Arsenal have survived to the last eight this time. With no seeding system to keep them apart, they could be drawn to face each other. The same applies to French clubs Lyon and Bordeaux.
Inter Milan is trying to win the title for the first time since 1965 and is coached by Jose Mourinho, who won it with FC Porto in 2004 and knocked out his former club Chelsea on Tuesday. Arsenal, Lyon, Bordeaux and CSKA have never won the competition.
Even without Xavi, who was out with a calf injury, Barcelona had too much talent for Stuttgart at Camp Nou.
Playing at his magical best, Messi collected a ball from Yaya Toure in the 13th minute and ran at the Stuttgart defense before firing a 20-meter, left-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
"He was so decisive," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said of Messi. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."
Pedro added the second in the 22nd minute when he tapped in a low cross from Toure in a move started by Messi.
Messi made it 3-0 in the 60th when he turned a defender just outside the area and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
The Argentina star, who scored three times against Valencia in the Spanish league on Sunday, should have had another hat trick in the 86th minute when he dribbled past three men but rolled the ball wide of goal.
"His ability is incredible when you consider his age," Stuttgart coach Christian Gross said of the 22-year-old Messi. "I think it's fair to compare him to (Diego) Maradona."
Began added the fourth with his first touch in the 89th minute after receiving a pass from fellow substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
While Mess's dribbling and shooting mesmerized his opponents in Barcelona, Bordeaux's big weapon was Gourcuff's spectacular free kicks.
From wide on the left in the fifth minute, he curled his shot over the goalkeeper and in off the inside of the far post. Gourcuff also hit the bar and post with a near identical free kick in the final minute of the first half.
Olympiakos' Matt Derbyshire put the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.
The English striker was sent off in the 60th minute after his second yellow card.
Despite being down to 10 men, the Greek champions hit back and substitute Kostas Mitroglou equalized on the night with a powerful right-footed shot in the 64th minute. The game became 10 against 10 when Bordeaux's Alou Diarra was sent off for a lunging tackle five minutes later.
That meant a second goal for Olympiakos would have put the Greek club through on away goals. But Chamakh jumped highest to head home a leftwing cross in the 89th minute, tumbling over his opponent as the ball flew into the net.
Bordeaux has now reached the last eight of European football's most prestigious club tournament for the first time since 1988.
Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc said that having two teams in the last eight was a sign of a revival in domestic French football.
"You can think that because of the teams now qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals, and those doing well in the Europa League, that this proves that French football is in good shape," Blanc said.
"But to confirm this we will have to see how this develops over time to see if this can happen again, and to see how regularly French teams get through to the quarterfinals."
In Tuesday's games, Inter won 1-0 at Chelsea to advance 3-1 overall and CSKA reached the quarterfinals for the first time by beating Sevilla 2-1 and 3-2 on aggregate.
"He was so decisive," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said of Messi. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."
Barcelona, Bordeaux into Champions League last 8
LONDON (AP): Inspired by the brilliance of Lionel Messi's two goals, defending champion Barcelona beat Stuttgart 4-0 on Wednesday to power into the Champions League quarterfinals as Bordeaux defeated Olympiakos 2-1 to also advance.
Pedro Rodriguez and Bojan Krkic also hit the target as Barcelona went through 5-1 on aggregate despite missing injured midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Bordeaux scored a goal in the fifth minute from a bending free kick by Yoann Gourcuff. Kostas Mitroglou replied for Olympiakos with a long-range drive but Marouane Chamakh added an acrobatic headed goal for a 3-1 overall victory.
Barcelona and Bordeaux join Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Inter Milan and CSKA Moscow in the last eight.
The draws for the quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on Friday at UEFA headquarters at Nyon in Switzerland.
Three English clubs have made it to the semifinals in the past two seasons, but only Manchester United and Arsenal have survived to the last eight this time. With no seeding system to keep them apart, they could be drawn to face each other. The same applies to French clubs Lyon and Bordeaux.
Inter Milan is trying to win the title for the first time since 1965 and is coached by Jose Mourinho, who won it with FC Porto in 2004 and knocked out his former club Chelsea on Tuesday. Arsenal, Lyon, Bordeaux and CSKA have never won the competition.
Even without Xavi, who was out with a calf injury, Barcelona had too much talent for Stuttgart at Camp Nou.
Playing at his magical best, Messi collected a ball from Yaya Toure in the 13th minute and ran at the Stuttgart defense before firing a 20-meter, left-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
"He was so decisive," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said of Messi. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."
Pedro added the second in the 22nd minute when he tapped in a low cross from Toure in a move started by Messi.
Messi made it 3-0 in the 60th when he turned a defender just outside the area and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
The Argentina star, who scored three times against Valencia in the Spanish league on Sunday, should have had another hat trick in the 86th minute when he dribbled past three men but rolled the ball wide of goal.
"His ability is incredible when you consider his age," Stuttgart coach Christian Gross said of the 22-year-old Messi. "I think it's fair to compare him to (Diego) Maradona."
Began added the fourth with his first touch in the 89th minute after receiving a pass from fellow substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
While Mess's dribbling and shooting mesmerized his opponents in Barcelona, Bordeaux's big weapon was Gourcuff's spectacular free kicks.
From wide on the left in the fifth minute, he curled his shot over the goalkeeper and in off the inside of the far post. Gourcuff also hit the bar and post with a near identical free kick in the final minute of the first half.
Olympiakos' Matt Derbyshire put the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.
The English striker was sent off in the 60th minute after his second yellow card.
Despite being down to 10 men, the Greek champions hit back and substitute Kostas Mitroglou equalized on the night with a powerful right-footed shot in the 64th minute. The game became 10 against 10 when Bordeaux's Alou Diarra was sent off for a lunging tackle five minutes later.
That meant a second goal for Olympiakos would have put the Greek club through on away goals. But Chamakh jumped highest to head home a leftwing cross in the 89th minute, tumbling over his opponent as the ball flew into the net.
Bordeaux has now reached the last eight of European football's most prestigious club tournament for the first time since 1988.
Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc said that having two teams in the last eight was a sign of a revival in domestic French football.
"You can think that because of the teams now qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals, and those doing well in the Europa League, that this proves that French football is in good shape," Blanc said.
"But to confirm this we will have to see how this develops over time to see if this can happen again, and to see how regularly French teams get through to the quarterfinals."
In Tuesday's games, Inter won 1-0 at Chelsea to advance 3-1 overall and CSKA reached the quarterfinals for the first time by beating Sevilla 2-1 and 3-2 on aggregate.
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