Barcelona fan here.

Looking forward to the match on Wednesday. I think that we are going to advance to the next stage nevertheless. We managed to pull an amazing result on a tough ground scoring an important away goal which could be decisive.

Playing on Camp Nou is tough for any away team. The pitch size is larger allowing to spread the opponent's defence. I expect Chelsea to park the bus and try to stall the 0:0 as long as possible and then try to score from the counter. The problem with this tactic is that we have Messi in tremendous form. He's able to score from a free kick on any day tearing even the best defence apart. It's impossible to keep the clean sheet when he is in such form. Also EV implemented a very compact formation that allows them to defend much, much better than in previous seasons. That's why I expect Barca to keep the clean sheet on this match. We haven't lost a single match in La Liga and in CL this season. I believe this stat tells you a lot about this team this season. I'm very positive that we're going reach the finals this season.

As far as Chelsea are concerned, they/you aren't looking well at the moment. I read that there is bad relationship in the wardrobe between the manager and some players (e.g. Conte-Morata, Conte-D.Luiz) and no quality number 9 like Drogba was. In my opinion selling Diego Costa and Mati? left consequences which resulted in a poor season and so many poor performances. The transfers that were brought here to replace Costa and Matic didn't live up to the reputation (Morata and Bakayoko).

 

 

Edited March 10, 20188 yr by CuleForever

Looking forward to it as Chelsea often get written off only to produce something special when least expected.

We have been creating more than a few chances without putting them away, yet re nervous excitement expect our players to be sharp and focussed............

 

When is Messi never on form? Even at 50% he is still better than most players.

For me I'm happy we go in as underdogs as we tend to perform much better. It's not like we haven't done it before......

As for us, we can only get better in general due to the fact we've been playing under par for the last few months.

Edited March 11, 20188 yr by Malcolm9

I want to see the same team as yesterday. If we play like we did in the first half then we have a half decent chance of getting through. Play like we did in the second and we'll get ripped to shreds.

 

Hopefully Conte starts Giroud on top, but have a horrible feeling he'll go with the false striker and puts Hazard there.

17 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

And they are currently up 2-0 against malaga and playing against ten men after 29 mins.  While we just scarapped with Palace. Pedro was rested today so i guess its false 9. SMH

Messi gets a 10 day rest and the games after his previous sons were born he scored a barce and a Hatrick.  I am truly scared for this match

Oh come on, we totally battered Palace, we only "scrapped" it if you look at the score without context.

 Inspiration, inspiration... UTC !!! Had Ashley Cole not cleared on the line ... Who knows where we would be today !!! Not Champions of Europe for sure !!!

Edited March 11, 20188 yr by Londonisblue

35 minutes ago, Argo said:

Oh come on, we totally battered Palace, we only "scrapped" it if you look at the score without context.

Wouldn't say we battered them at all. Decent performance in the first half. The goals were deflections. Second half we just strolled through the game with the occasional break, then Palace came back into it and caused us some nervous moments near the end. Battered a team 2-1 with two deflections. I think it was just nice to see Chelsea play half decent football. 

Edited March 11, 20188 yr by Famous CFC

Morata to score à la Torres at the 93rd the winning goal (3-2 for us ) ... Or Giroud !

Edited March 11, 20188 yr by Londonisblue

I'm starting to hear around, I can't find football fans around that giving Chelsea a chance, I can understand them, but only because of this rumours around we must come and show our class. 

Just think about that, every draw is good for us and playing for a draw is even more possible! We can counter attack properly and be deadly in front of the goal, we can also win balls in the central and start an attack, we also can defend. We have our squad ready, we have our fans ready and it's time to show the world what Chelsea made of. 

If I was Conte, I wasn't talking much before the game, as a coach before my first final with u15, I just showed the kids a short video of their parents/family sending them messages and supporting them. Most of them cried, but on the pitch, I saw them fighting and working for their love and respect!

COME ON CHELS!!!

5 minutes ago, IliyaKrostin said:

I'm starting to hear around, I can't find football fans around that giving Chelsea a chance, I can understand them, but only because of this rumours around we must come and show our class. 

Just think about that, every draw is good for us and playing for a draw is even more possible! We can counter attack properly and be deadly in front of the goal, we can also win balls in the central and start an attack, we also can defend. We have our squad ready, we have our fans ready and it's time to show the world what Chelsea made of. 

If I was Conte, I wasn't talking much before the game, as a coach before my first final with u15, I just showed the kids a short video of their parents/family sending them messages and supporting them. Most of them cried, but on the pitch, I saw them fighting and working for their love and respect!

COME ON CHELS!!!

History may repeat itself... everytime people write us off, we always put massive performances and / or upsets !!! This year can very well be saved by European football!!

I really don’t see anything but a Barcelona win, we will need a 2012 display and a few Lady Luck moments 

courtois 

azbi christensen Cahill 

moses Kante bakayoko Fabregas Alonso 

hazard giroud 

2 minutes ago, Jezq8 said:

I really don’t see anything but a Barcelona win, we will need a 2012 display and a few Lady Luck moments 

courtois 

azbi christensen Cahill 

moses Kante bakayoko Fabregas Alonso 

hazard giroud 

Leaving Willian on the bench?

Conte will never leave in form willian on the bench

Edited March 11, 20188 yr by haidertalal

Bakayoko needs to stay away from this game. Someone leaving Willian out the team. Oh dear. He will be key for us on the break. Plus, the man is brimming with confidence. 

Am expecting the false 9 to be used again.

I would prefer giroud to start:

 

Tibo

 

Azpi

Christensen 

Rudiger

 

Zappa

Kante

Drinkwater 

Alonso

 

Willian

Giroud

Hazard 

The game Wednesday will be good if we can keep 11 men on the pitch. 2012 JT went off after about 30 mins so hope this will be a positive thing this time round

This would come across as a shocker, but I am expecting Conte to drop Eden for the game. The plan from Conte would be similar to the city game. Keep it at 0-0 and hit on counters. A bank of 5 and a bank of 4 is pretty much expected. But will he trust eden to either give the level of defensive contribution as pedro does playing as a winger? I sincerely doubt that. Given how eden performed against city and his attitude, I dont see a point of playing him up top. Giroud would be way better option.

Courtois

Moses Azpi GC/DL AR Alonso

Willian Kante DD Pedro

Giroud

I am a massive fan of Christensen, but he is seriusly short on confidence. Needs to sit this one out. He definitely has a mistake in him and that could prove to be hopelessly costly for us.

My biggest fear: 
Hazard as false nine, a bus parking display like the city game and as a result, hazard getting so frustated at his first game in the camp nou that he wants to leave us

 

Will be there for the game, as a pessimestic I can see nothing else than a Barca win

Edited March 12, 20188 yr by Erdal1905

5 hours ago, didierforever said:

This would come across as a shocker, but I am expecting Conte to drop Eden for the game. The plan from Conte would be similar to the city game. Keep it at 0-0 and hit on counters. A bank of 5 and a bank of 4 is pretty much expected. But will he trust eden to either give the level of defensive contribution as pedro does playing as a winger? I sincerely doubt that. Given how eden performed against city and his attitude, I dont see a point of playing him up top. Giroud would be way better option.

Courtois

Moses Azpi GC/DL AR Alonso

Willian Kante DD Pedro

Giroud

I am a massive fan of Christensen, but he is seriusly short on confidence. Needs to sit this one out. He definitely has a mistake in him and that could prove to be hopelessly costly for us.

I reckon Hazard will be champing at the bit to play in this game, especially if he's on his way to Real Madrid in the summer. This will be the perfect opportunity to showcase his talent in Spain. 

21 hours ago, Jezq8 said:

I really don’t see anything but a Barcelona win, we will need a 2012 display and a few Lady Luck moments 

courtois 

azbi christensen Cahill 

moses Kante bakayoko Fabregas Alonso 

hazard giroud 

Willian is more crucial than Hazard for us at the moment. He’s currently a world beater.

I can’t wait to see Willian play. He’s going to rip their defence to shreds!

The only thing is can we keep them from scoring? I doubt we can, but I am confident we will score, especially with Willian’s incredible form and the class of Hazard.

I really doubt we’ll beat them, but I can see a scoring draw. 2 - 2 would be perfect.

17 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Am expecting the false 9 to be used again.

I would prefer giroud to start:

 

Tibo

 

Azpi

Christensen 

Rudiger

 

Zappa

Kante

Drinkwater 

Alonso

 

Willian

Giroud

Hazard 

That would be my starting 11 unless David Luiz was fit and I would have him in alongside Kante in place of Drinkwater. 

On March 11, 2018 at 14:05, Famous CFC said:

Wouldn't say we battered them at all. Decent performance in the first half. The goals were deflections. Second half we just strolled through the game with the occasional break, then Palace came back into it and caused us some nervous moments near the end. Battered a team 2-1 with two deflections. I think it was just nice to see Chelsea play half decent football. 

Missing easy sitters counters the goals being deflections, if we Germany Braziled them in the first half they could have had no complaints and even that would have probably flattered them.

3 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

I can’t wait to see Willian play. He’s going to rip their defence to shreds!

The only thing is can we keep them from scoring? I doubt we can, but I am confident we will score, especially with Willian’s incredible form and the class of Hazard.

I really doubt we’ll beat them, but I can see a scoring draw. 2 - 2 would be perfect.

I see us going through on away goals as well, so relax everybody: we're in for a great night 

5 minutes ago, Valerie said:

I see us going through on away goals as well, so relax everybody: we're in for a great night 

We're going to score 3 or 4 goals Wednesday, i predict a 3-3.       0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3.  Alonso equaliser late late on.