AC Milan (Europeon champs) vs SL benfica tuesday 18th

Originally Posted by Bandit®

Tony I dont think Barca are a team to fear, they can and will be beaten by a team with European pedigree (Milan, Liverpool etc) as they look vulnerable sometimes.

Defensively they have got some flaws, and big teams in the UCL can take advantage of it. On the other hand , though, they have got an offensive line which I'm afraid to say, is by far the best in the world(for this season, that is). They have got such immense firepower that they could flatten a small country like Liechtenstein.
Let's see how far they will go this year. As some people suggest, Lyon did give them too much space, but I don't think that factor can overshadow their outstanding performance last night.

Barcelona didn't play great. Certainly not brilliant. I expect much more of a team to say that they played brilliant. Only Messi did great. And there was one good teammove with the goal of Messi. But that is their strongest asset of course: they can create a goal chance at any time and they don't have one or two players to create goalchances at their own, like most of the teams, but 4-5 players.
They also have become stronger in defence: Abidal and Milito really have made the defence better and it looks like Zambrotta has find his good form.
And last but not least, Barcelona has bought Touré Yaya. They allready call him the missing link in Barcelona and that really sais it all. He is somewhat the Pirlo of Barcelona, off course his crossing isn't as good as Pirlos at all, but he combines defence with offence and really every player of Barcelona on the field with eachother like the best.

OT , but just look at comments on forza inter prior to the Fener game

I think Uefa should start putting teams on merit in CL, and not restrict the big leagues to have only 4 teams in the CL. That way, we will have teams like Atletico Madrid, Villareal, Fiorentina and Palermo in the CL, rather than crappy teams like Febrenache(or however the hell, they spell it) which no one gives a **** about.
What a boring start to CL.

Don't be jealous that your team means nothing in the world of football. You will face European giant who will teach you a lot so at the end it will be beneficial for you. You still can fight for 3rd place and gain another European experience in UEFA Cup.

Originally Posted by slicknick

Defensively they have got some flaws, and big teams in the UCL can take advantage of it. On the other hand , though, they have got an offensive line which I'm afraid to say, is by far the best in the world(for this season, that is). They have got such immense firepower that they could flatten a small country like Liechtenstein.
Let's see how far they will go this year. As some people suggest, Lyon did give them too much space, but I don't think that factor can overshadow their outstanding performance last night.

Exactly what I was trying to say, they have some faults and a big European team will expose these faults just like Liverpool did last year. They had a decent game but to say they are one of the favourites after just the one game is rubbish, first goal was an own goal and the third goal was scored off a rebound.

They have the best firepower on paper, but look at them struggling in the Liga - trust me it will carry over on to the Europ scene. Im not saying they cant win the competition but it all depends on when they face a 'real' team, it could be in the early stages of KO, or QF or maybe the SF but when they do face them they will need change their system which Rijkaard aint good at.

Originally Posted by King tiger

OT , but just look at comments on forza inter prior to the Fener game

How ironic, huh? Congratulations, Inter, Italy is proud of you

TONY, I have toi admit I am afraid of Barca and wouldnt want to face them before the final, and I do claim they are no.1 team in teh world now by players, but now by the way they played yesterday.

But the season is looong and Barca's advantage is that they have like 35 player of top class. On the other hand, I didnt see them play so brilliantly as you say. And i hoipe we meet - in Moscow

Originally Posted by Tony29.

Lol, Inter

Barcelona on the other hand .... WOOOOOOOOOOOOW
Poor finishing aside, this was perfect in any sense. Only Milan destroying Manchester at SS comes close to the dominance Barcelona had tonight.
It was a pleasure watching Dinho-Henry-Deco-Messi-Xavi creating chances. It was a pleasure watching Zambrotta-Abidal ( best full backs in the world, without any doubts) and the defense did also great.
This could have easily been a 7:0 win for Barcelona.
I think Barca is atm the only team that can create a chance whenever they want.

Zambrotta and Abidal best full back without a doubt?you are joking or something like this,they played vs players defensively weak,both of Grosso and Clerc is awful in defensive part of the game even though they are well on attack,Oddo,Maicon and Daniel Alves are much better than Zambrotta,maybe you dont watch Oddo lately,also considering he was a key factor for our last champions campaign,Barcelona played vs a team,Lyon their key players are injured,Cris,Fred,Coupet and however they sold half of their team this summer,the central pair is Bodmer and the other guy,one is slow and the another one is losing his place and his man.

Honestly i fear more from english teams this year than Barcelona or Real Madrid,dont forget we are still number 1 fave to win this coupe again,we won it without strikers,When we had Pato and Ronaldo together in attack,we will be the team to beat.

PS:Lahm is the best LB in the world without a doubt,abidal is good,solid in defense,thats all.

I agree with ForeverMilan there Lahm is the best LB/Fullback in the world with Zambrotta a close second

Zmabrotta is the best fullback in the world.

Originally Posted by ForeverMilan

both of Grosso and Clerc is awful in defensive part of the game even though they are well on attack

grosso was like a ghost. he was invisible, I agree, he did absolutely nothing out there versus barca.

Originally Posted by jpick

grosso was like a ghost. he was invisible, I agree, he did absolutely nothing out there versus barca.

Yes, it was like he wasnt playing at all

Barca was great yesterday. Are they THE favorites to win the CL?? I don't think so as I put them on the same level with the other top clubs.
Also, we need to stop thinking of Lyon as a European superpower as they are not that anymore. The were a superpower in the past few years but their team has slowly started to fade. There is no more Essien,no Diarra, no Malouda, no Abidal, no Tiago....and they didn't have Fred nor Cris yesterday. Their team has changed a lot over the past few years and this is the first year that they will feel the downflow, at least in Europe.

Originally Posted by mrki

Zmabrotta is the best fullback in the world.

No way, Maicon is the best then maybe Alvez and what's wrong with Jankulovski and Oddo? They were the key to the victory over Man United.

Originally Posted by nefremo

Barca was great yesterday. Are they THE favorites to win the CL?? I don't think so as I put them on the same level with the other top clubs.
Also, we need to stop thinking of Lyon as a European superpower as they are not that anymore. The were a superpower in the past few years but their team has slowly started to fade. There is no more Essien,no Diarra, no Malouda, no Abidal, no Tiago....and they didn't have Fred nor Cris yesterday. Their team has changed a lot over the past few years and this is the first year that they will feel the downflow, at least in Europe.

Yes Lyon haven't been the same since we beat them in 2005

I think when all teams play their peak in only one game. Barcelona is the best,not only prensent time,even in last 20 years(maybe ever,due to the fast pace of modern soccer). They got the whole package to be in this position. unmatchable talent level,great team coordination,perfect 2-4 man group attack innovation,suffocating intensity of ball pressure upfront. and they easily take over the game under their rythm,that's the most impressive part,the ultimate index of your capacity.

I shall emphasise it's only IMO. Luck(and all factors unpredictable) always prevail in football.