Horrible..huge bad news for the Barca team and Spanish team, but a good, steady recovery is what's most important right now..
The ref didn't cost them that game, and I think it's really pathetic to even say that instead of just accepting defeat. Leave the moaning and whining to the fans, what type of message do you give your fans when you moan and whine about the ref's decisions instead of stating what your team did wrong? How about the fact that Xabi was a complete foul on his tackle on Iniesta? Madrid's entire backline giving Iniesta a clear opening to the net? Other than Di Maria, no other midfiel...
I would agree, but I think it was right over the line and it's basic karma for Barca's match at Eithad. Overall I think the ref did a good job for such an intense and physical game. He was strict, and strict for both sides..
They've been saying this for a while but they keep winning la liga titles and still marching on to UCL's semi finals. They're certainly not the best in the world anymore, but this doesn't mean they've stopped winning trophies.
What he did with Neymar's help, driving against a white wall, against Ramos, and then receiving the pass and having the composure to finish...it's just awesome. His pass to Iniesta for that first goal was also crucial.
Xabi built a wall and clipped Iniesta down, if these plays were fair it'd be incredibly difficult to dribble inside the area and shake off a defender.
Busquets did something similar against Modric I believe in the midfield and it was a foul. As for Ramos' red, that could've been a red in any other match, both Ramos and Alves dragged their foot on purpose, slick, but not slick enough for a strict ref. I don't think these guys go into the game trying to help Barca...
3 non-existing penalties?? Xabi Alonso fouled Iniesta with both legs, it was a clear penalty imo. I also think the first penalty for Ronaldo was fair, Dani dragged that foot to catch Ronaldo on purpose.
The ref was strict, and Madrid paid the price because Barca is a much, much conservative team when it comes to fouls.
What a match! Benzema was incredible! Iniesta was brilliant!
When we were down 2-1 I thought Madrid had such a heavy momentum on their side, but Barca fought just an inch more than they did. Alves' foul on Ronaldo was a penalty, so was Ramos on Neymar, and Alonso's foul was just a clear penalty. Great to see Messi score a hattrick and set Iniesta up for that first foal.
Defensively Barca struggled with Madrid's crosses, thus highlighting again the ...
Madrid's results against Juventus weren't great, and I'd hardly consider Juventus much of a competitive team against these remaining teams in the CL. Atletico tends to shut down against Real Madrid anyway..
Usually Madrid look like they're in a really great shape to win the UCL but then struggle in quarter-finals and then lose in semi-finals, not that it's a bad way to go out of the competition of course, but what I meant is that if they crush Dortmund, I cou...
since we're talking about ManU making it to the Europa league, would be funny to see united face the UCL winner in the Supercup and win, giving that united win the europa league of course.
Indeed, they need to worry more about their defense and then their midfield, Xavi is on his way out soon.
I agree, I think Barca will struggle against Atletico Madrid but they'll come out winning, they beat them in the supercopa, and Atletico Madrid recently had a few bad losses in la liga too. Madrid and Dortmund will be close but the Bale and Ronaldo partnership looks deadly, not to mention Ronaldo is in great form.
Somehow though, I just don't think Bayern will completely dominate United, I do think Bayern will win but underestimating any team with a big history is deadl...
This will be a good test for Madrid, I'm interested in seeing how Madrid can do against a familiar challenging team like Dortmund, this season they haven't done too hot against big teams...
I can't complain, Barca can very well beat Atletico. Overall very interesting match-ups, Ibra can torment Chelsea, and I want to see Mou complain and whine, Real Madrid gets their shot at revenge, and I they'll get it, and I'm rooting for United against Bayern! XD
Honestly, I think the ref was pretty good with fouls, the first several fouls that City players made he didn't pull out any yellows, Messi was held back by a City defender, when he could've gone straight through, and he didn't get a yellow. Fernandinho deserved his yellow after several fouls, so did the rest of the defenders, and I think Zabaleta kicked Iniesta in the stomach, no intentional of course but still a bad foul. Another Barca player was elbowed in the face.
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The linesman was wrong twice, although the second time the ref bothered to actually call the goal valid for City as opposed to Barca's first disallowed goal. But hey, I didn't see City as strong as they should've been, on both matches.
Nonetheless I liked the match, I liked the formation Tata put up, Fabregas was a bit poor, and it was unfortunate that Aguero couldn't keep playing because of his injury.
It's sad to see them that way, don't wish that upon any team, but that's football, giants will fall eventually..but losing against Atletico Madrid isn't embarrassing at all, that's a really tough team to face off against.
Feel bad for Arsenal, but definitely think they could've done better, and is it me or did Arsenal's forward line feel disconnected? Giroud looked alone too many times up front, both teams seemed too defensive, probably why it was such a boring match.
Well they have a goalkeeper now, (which doesn't seem to be good with his feet but that's a different issue), they need at least one world class defender that can also keep Pique focused, and Mascherano has done really good but they need to think a bit towards the future. Nobody can even weigh in on Bartra because he hasn't had enough playing time, and throwing him in against Bayern last year shows nothing really.. Iniesta can still play, he has been doing great, but they need to s...
Damn, what a turnaround. Athletico WILL drop points before they meet Barca, they visit Bilbao this saturday, tough place to get 3 points... and they also have a match against Valencia away, where they can easily be stunned.
The following weeks will be tough for all three teams, they face quite a few teams from the upper part of the table, and Barca without Valdes, Madrid losing confidence and in 3rd place, and that match between Barca and Athletico, good thing it is at Camp Nou...