Tonight's Football

[ChrisC]

All uphill from there - be surprised if the Massive got anywhere near them in the Camp Nou.

City with Aguero back.. nothing to lose.. need to score 3. I can see Barca winning a high scoring game. Something like 4-2.

[TANGODANCER]

City did well enough with ten men, very well in terms of effort in fact, , but I got the impression Barca had a couple of gears left. If the blues win away it will be a bit miraculous.

[Prufrock]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

[Worthy4England]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing Kevin Davies up front on his own at Stamford Bridge.

[Bruce Rioja]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing Kevin Davies up front on his own at Stamford Bridge.

Exactly that. Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

[Beefheart]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing Kevin Davies up front on his own at Stamford Bridge.

Exactly that. Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

I thought it was the Barca Manager who was complaining as he thought a Swedish ref would be more lenient to City's physicality for some reason.

[Worthy4England]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing Kevin Davies up front on his own at Stamford Bridge.

Exactly that. Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

That's just a bizarre comment regarding Swede's being allowed to ref important matches. The pengy awarded, I thought was outside the area - but a tough one to spot.

[Bruce Rioja]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing Kevin Davies up front on his own at Stamford Bridge.

Exactly that. Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

That's just a bizarre comment regarding Swede's being allowed to ref important matches. The pengy awarded, I thought was outside the area - but a tough one to spot.

Isn't it a bit racialist, that?

Watching it live I thought it was well inside the box but from the replay yeah, probably just outside

[wigan white]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing Kevin Davies up front on his own at Stamford Bridge.

Exactly that. Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

That's just a bizarre comment regarding Swede's being allowed to ref important matches. The pengy awarded, I thought was outside the area - but a tough one to spot.

Completely agree, when i saw it happen I thought it was outside the box but from the ref's position its easily understandable why it looked like it was in the box. My gripe is why the Linesman didnt see it, from where he was stood it wouldve been clear that the tackle happened outside the box. All game (as we've seen over the last few seasons watching us) the linesman looked to the referee to make all the decisions. its ridiculous, its like they dont want to be liable in getting anything wrong.

Thought city where caught between a rock and a hard place, they played kolorov on the left to stop Alves from getting forward but kolorov isnt the most creative getting forward. Thought Fernandinho was outstanding, but they lacked any ooomph upfront with negredo completley isolated.
Have a feeling they'll go hell for leather at the camp nou, then get caught on the break and get battered.#
Also, how crap is Clichy!!!!

[Little Green Man]

Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

I suspect he's trying to imply that a referee from a country that has no 'big' games is not competent to referee a 'big' game.

[Wandering Willy]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing with Kevin Davies..

[Bruce Rioja]

Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

I suspect he's trying to imply that a referee from a country that has no 'big' games is not competent to referee a 'big' game.

But he's from Chile, so what was he doing there then if that's his parameter?

[Little Green Man]

Oh, and why is San Pellegrino moaning that the match was refereed by a Swede?

I suspect he's trying to imply that a referee from a country that has no 'big' games is not competent to referee a 'big' game.

But he's from Chile, so what was he doing there then if that's his parameter?

Quite.

A 'top' manager (say one with a red nose) would have oh so subtly raised these issues before the game, not afterwards when he was in a sulk.

[Athers]

I don't blame Demichelis for his positioning, but when it came to it, although rash, he'd got there outside the box and if it was a free kick and red maybe it'd have been worth it. As it was it'd have been better to just concede the 1 on 1.

Looked to me like Kompany didn't know Messi was standing a mile offside when he (naturally) starting dropping a mile deep.

The only dive I recall was Navas'...

[Worthy4England]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

I thought that too. Some of the first half was like watching us playing with Kevin Davies..

That wasn't an indictment of Davies.

I see we've gone from strength to strength on the striker front since he left. Banging them in for fun, we are indeed.

[Bruce Rioja]

That wasn't an indictment of Davies.

I see we've gone from strength to strength on the striker front since he left. Banging them in for fun, we are indeed.

You've just made me actually, literally and physically LOL. You've just got me in trouble. I hope you're happy now.

[Worthy4England]

That wasn't an indictment of Davies.

I see we've gone from strength to strength on the striker front since he left. Banging them in for fun, we are indeed.

You've just made me actually, literally and physically LOL. You've just got me in trouble. I hope you're happy now.

I'm working from home today, so LOLing at will. I'm sure you'd do the same for me!

[BWFC_Insane]

Thought they looked hugely overawed until the red card, then after that they looked capable. I'd be livid with Demichellis though, who is an absolute liability. I fancied them at 1-0 actually, but think it's too much now.

This is a good summation. Barcelona are weak at the back. Primarily from set pieces and crosses into the box. But City backed off and backed off. And yes Barcelona are tough to get the ball off, and yes you're going to have to defend your half a lot and the edge of your box. But they didn't get amongst them enough for me. Not given the power City had in midfield. And yes they did better when a goal and man down.....

[boltonboris]

I think it was a misake playing Kolorov on the wing. Obviously wanted to put a cap on Alves, but for me, I'd be seeing Barca's right side as an area that you can attack down.

Obviously tough to play against them and there's so many things to take into account with them, but I think they could've just had a little more gusto in midfield and look at swamping Barca as much as they can to build attacks

[BWFC_Insane]

I think it was a misake playing Kolorov on the wing. Obviously wanted to put a cap on Alves, but for me, I'd be seeing Barca's right side as an area that you can attack down.

Obviously tough to play against them and there's so many things to take into account with them, but I think they could've just had a little more gusto in midfield and look at swamping Barca as much as they can to build attacks

Kolarov's delivery is good so I don't think it was a bad idea. I just think as Pru says they backed off too much, possibly in fear. Would have liked to see Fernandinho and Toure get about their midfield much more. Mind it is easy to say, and hard to do.