He wasn't given much opportunity to do anything else. There were only two or three times that the whole Barca attack managed to combine without getting snuffed out, and each time it wasn't Messi at the spearhead because he had to go so deep into midfield to get a touch of the ball. Chelsea excelled by forcing the play out wide and Barca had no targets in the middle, all they could do was win corners and bring Puyol up.

It will be different in the second leg but Chelsea really played a smart game at home, great teamwork, and they didn't even have to foul Messi every five minutes like everybody else does.

I enjoyed that very much (not the game but the fact Barca lost), hope they can repeat this at Camp Nou.

I hope Barca rip the wankers apart at home.

I'm surprised by this Barca praise on the internet, really am, like 14 out of 15 people i talked to (all very different) hate Barca's play with a passion, when i see two players passing the ball 6 times to one another, makes me wanna scream.

If you have posession, you're in control Boris. Sport isn't supposed to be played out to please people, their style of play is only annoying if they are playing against you or your team, to watch them pass pass pass pass, is quite an excellent showcase of skill. It's a shame English clubs don't follow this ethos.

I'm glad they don't, at least i watch different game each time on Premier League, and club on the bottom of the table can make a surprise and beat top teams, and it's always a blast to watch, you have vollies, strikes from 35m, headers. I honestly have no idea how it's interesting to watch 1000 passes a match.. and those one-twos, omg...

I was under the impression that people only watch Barcelona to see Messi embarass the opposing keeper.

Side note: Fecking Wigan the Giant Killer.

Quote from BlueFlame :

It's a shame English clubs don't follow this ethos.

Actually Swansea do the same. But as Chelsea showed, for all Barcelonas class they have a flaw which means that they are very vulnerable on the counter attack which just so happens to be Cheleas strength.

To be fair to Barca you don't get to counter-attack very often when they've got 70%+ possession!

I've really enjoyed having Swansea in the Prem this season.

Quote from vipex123 :

Actually Swansea do the same. But as Chelsea showed, for all Barcelonas class they have a flaw which means that they are very vulnerable on the counter attack which just so happens to be Cheleas strength.

Yep, i saw that in group phase, when Plzen played with them. For a czech team they played very well and in home match they had 2 or 3 chances to score, before ref has conjured a red card from his sleeve.

Quote from Mackie The Staggie :

Now I know what some of you are thinking, you're thinking "Hey Mackie....why quote a post from almost 2 years back...have you gone mad"

Well not quite. First of all I've been tested and called crazy... not mad (there is a little difference, being mad gets you locked up, being crazy gets you put in goals) but secondly is that until tonight, this was the best day I had supporting County. Back then we where going to a national final, a small team in the north of Scotland was going to fight for one of the oldest cup competitions in the UK. As it turned out we lost 3-0 that day, but the feeling stayed with me and with it what I thought was as good as it got.

Tonight however,that feeling came back. Due to the season we have being having and results that have gone our way...Ross County are now in the SPL. 20 years ago, the club nearly folded while in the Highland league playing away games to the likes of Wick Academy and Fort William. We are the first ex-Highland League side to make it to the top leagues and will now face the likes of Rangers (if they are still here) Celtic, Heart, Hibs, Aberdeen and more importantly Caley. I can't really explain what it's like, but it feels sooooooo good.

Saturday will be a very very drunk day up in the Highlands. I make my apologies now in case I get PC access later on in the weekend.

Congrats Mackie, I bet all 6 of you are over the moon

Quote from Boris Lozac :

I'm glad they don't, at least i watch different game each time on Premier League, and club on the bottom of the table can make a surprise and beat top teams, and it's always a blast to watch, you have vollies, strikes from 35m, headers. I honestly have no idea how it's interesting to watch 1000 passes a match.. and those one-twos, omg...

Surely if you have played the game at any level, or even as an armchair enthusiast, you appreciate just how difficult it is to do what they do.

The way they pass their way out of tight spots so frequently that the opponents eventually stop chasing is mesmeric and jaw dropping. These are professional athletes that they are making look helpless.
They're constantly probing, moving the opposition, opening gaps, creating space, and at any moment they might accelerate into an audacious, precise and intricate attack of the penalty area.

I find myself giggling like a school girl sometimes, when I watch Barcelona. It's quite literally incredible on occasion.

Offcourse I acknowledge that they are good, I'm just saying it's way too annoying for me as a viewer to watch that, it's always fcking same, and goals are what football is famous for, different kind of goals, not a million passes..

I hate Barcelona because of style of Spanish football in general, I didn't like them since the very beginning and I prefer UK when watching football because in my opinion that is the best league out there.

Now when I say I don't like Barca everyone goes insane on me, the thing I really don't understand. Therefore I am happy Chelsea won, though I have to admit Barca was better in every single part of the game... Except of goals, of course...

Quote from Boris Lozac :

Offcourse I acknowledge that they are good, I'm just saying it's way too annoying for me as a viewer to watch that, it's always fcking same, and goals are what football is famous for, different kind of goals, not a million passes..

I guess we watch the game in a different way entirely. I mean, they're prolific goalscorers too. I would watch Barcelona play before any other team in the world. Even on an off day with a blank scoresheet you're virtually guaranteed moments of brilliance. At their best they're scintillating. Definitely worth the patient build-up play, surely?

Quote from sinbad :

I mean, they're prolific goalscorers too. At their best they're scintillating. Definitely worth the patient build-up play, surely?

Indeed, Messi alone has scored more goal than all the Chelsea forwards combined this year ( 61 - 64 ) it really is incredible. But Chelsea know what they have to do in Spain to reach the final - score one goal and Barca will need 3. Such is the strength of Chelsea's defence once David Luiz returns from injury, under Di Matteo who seems to actually have a logical brain on him compared to AVB, I can't see them scoring 3... Having said that a goal against a home Barcelona is not easy! Should be a cracking game for sure!

On another note, great to see Sturidge, Terry, Lampard, Cahill and Cole in such great form ahead of Euro 2012 I just hope we have a decent manager, and whilst Harry was pipped for it, he hasn't done great since in all honesty. Dream outcome would be to see Jose 'the special one' Mourinho coaching but I think that is wishful thinking!

Quote from sinbad :

Definitely worth the patient build-up play, surely?

Not really, if there were more players like Dani Alves then yes, who shoots every time there's a good chance, while other players would one-two all the way into the goal if possible...

Watched a tiny bit of the Derp classico.. Barcelona was poor and both teams are full of diving filth...

The diving is really atrocious... Its embarrassing to even watch... Real Madrid played well though - good on the counter attacks and good defending. Barcelona with most of the possession again, but cant do anything with it. Poor finishing.

Barca were awful. Madrid didn't have as much of the ball, but when they needed to score they did. Bad tactics and selection from Guardiola, and the possible end of the Barcelona era.

Fck off Farca! Madrid played their hearts out, totally deserved..

Unseen celebration of Real Madrid's victory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2gYmjr1Pn4&feature=share

Holy crap. What a first half.

Terry you idiot, referee you idiot..

Quote from Boris Lozac :

Terry you idiot, referee you idiot..

How is the ref an idiot, surely not for sending off Terry??????