City vs Barcelona - Very interesting tie

[Lord Porpington]

They're arguably the two best teams in the world in terms of ball retention and distribution.

City are always the team that pushes all but a couple of players forward to dismantle a teams defence, they aren't used to playing counter attack.

Barcelona are THE ball retention side. They pretty much send everyone forward and are probably the fittest side in the league, as they close you down all game and everyone sprints back to defend if they lose possession.

But which team will sit back and which team will go forward? Neither side has a massive amount of pace, as there's little point if you're against defensively set sides, but there are a few pacey members of each team.

I think the difference could be Yaya Toure. Both sides have their passing players, but he could be the one that makes it difficult for Barcelona. I personally think City should start 4-4-2 with Demicheles and Toure CM to intercept and break up play, with Navas and Silva on the wings, Dzeko and Negredo bullying their defence up front.

City really don't want to sit back in this game, IMO. They need to go forward and bully Barca, but it could be difficult since Barcelona have been doing it for so long now, and CIty have been in the game for only a few years.

I really hope it doesn't turn out to be a boring game. I'm going for 2-1 City. I think it could be their night. But I think Barcelona will win over two legs.

[LONDONTOON]

Would love for City to win but games like this cannot be boring

Going to be an excellent game 3-1 City win

[PFT]

Got a quid on a Messi hat trick

[beatski]

Its the worst Barca team in years - Mourinho

[wolf_the_mag]

I'm going to go for a high score tonight. I think Barcelona will win 4-2.

[MulticulturalMag]

Gonna be a boring game. It's got 0-0 written all over it

[PFT]

With Demichelis starting I can't see Barcelona not scoring.

[Jaiston]

Its the worst Barca team in years - Mourinho

More about putting pressure on Man City I think than disrespecting Barcelona.

[Heisen]

Barca still love passing teams to death I see.

[steviemac14]

Valdes

[Heisen]

This game has been appalling.

[Crouching Shola Hidden Talent]

Utter dross.

[MulticulturalMag]

What did I say?

[yoshiyella@St James' Park]

With Demichelis starting I can't see Barcelona not scoring.

Well they didn't score whilst he was on the pitch

[Heisen]

With Demichelis starting I can't see Barcelona not scoring.

Well they didn't score whilst he was on the pitch

GIF

Spoiler

[Toondes]

2-0 tie over.

[Matthieu]

Barcelona are an awful football side, horrible, absolutely awful.

[Jaiston]

Barcelona are an awful football side, horrible, absolutely awful.

Wish we were 1/100 as awful and horrible as Barcelona.

[Gallopski]

Barcelona are an awful football side, horrible, absolutely awful.

What complete and utter nonsense!

You remind me of the old guy down the club who hates "tikka-tacca", regardless of how skillful and successful it is, because he believes Football is pumping long balls into the box to a big centre-forward, and anything else is "Tricky Foreign fancy-dan rubbish"!!!

Typical of some of the older breed of football fans (my peers! ) for whom football is all about speed, strength, power and aggression, and who regard skill and technique with great suspicion. The Dave Bassett/Sam Alladyce school of tactics, if you like.

The truth is that tikka-tacca is extremely skillful and worthy of respect. And (whether we like it or not) built on three basic principles:-
1) While we have the ball, the opposition can't score.
2) It is not necessary to score a hatful of goals to win, we only need one more than the opposition.
3) It is better to keep possession rather than risking losing it, unless the opportunity to make progress (or to score) is a good one.

This is of course what leads to the endless patient build-ups, short passes, and ball retention in midfield which drives old Frank so wild with rage! "Get it forward", he screams, "Get it in the box!"

All of Spain and Barca's success counts for nothing with old Frank. "Its like watching f**king paint dry," he rages.

Sounds like some people agree with him.

[overseasTOON]

Could Barca play like that on a cold, wet and windy December night in Darlington?