Friday, September 18, 2009

Preview;Barca vs Atletice Madird by Mario(Click Here)

Kick-off: Saturday, September 19 2009; 4pm GolTV
Camp Nou, Barcelona

We all remember the 4 great matches between Barca and Atletico Madrid last year. And now we would want a repeat from Last year’s game at the Nou Camp when Barca thrashed the team from Madrid 6-1. The return match was enthralling too but we ended up losing 2-3 that night at Vicente Calderon when Sergio Aguero scored a last minute winner. In the Copa del Rey last year was a 1-3 and 2-1 wins, both for Barça. Things have changed a lot from that night. Barcelona went on to win the Historic Treble and have got off to a flying start in the La Liga whereas Atletico is struggling hard to find its feet again. They have been out of from for sometime now which might get exposed terribly at the Nou Camp come Saturday night.

Early Season Woes of Atletico

Barcelona played Inter mid week in the Champions League which in all fairness was a good game for us. Atletico had the same fate in the Elite competition as even they were held to a drab 0-0 draw by APOEL. They have picked up only a point from the last 2 games in the La Liga. They were beaten comprehensively 0-3 by Malaga. The early slump has given the critics a lot to say about their La Liga title hopes and their thin squad.

From Strength to Strength For Barca

On the other hand Barcelona is still to concede this season and have appeared solid all around the pitch. The rhythm is still to be regained going forward as Ibra is still settling into the team and Iniesta has only returned from a long term injury he sustained in the last year’s Champions League Final against Manchester United. The defense has looked almost perfect with Gerad Pique and Puyol marshalling the troops at the back. Dmytro Chygrynskiy might get a start in this game considering the fact he is ineligible to play for us in the Champions League.

Threat From Atletico

Their Forwards in Diego Forlan and Sergio Ageuro form one of the most formidable pairs in Spain right now if not Europe. They showed that to us in our last visit to the Vicente Calderon when they beat us 2-3. Diego Forlan went on to pip Eto’o to the Pichichi. Sergio Ageuro has remained with Atletico despite interest from the Biggest Clubs in Europe and he would like always be looking to prove his mettle against the European Champions.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Pep Guardiola will most likely make some changes to the team that drew 0-0 in Milan on Wednesday. Dmytro Chygrynskiy looks set for a home debut, probably in place of Gerard Piqué who played with an injury in Italy, Maxwell could play in place of Eric Abidal while Sergio Busquets also seems due a game and may replace Toure Yaya. The big question is whether Andres Iniesta will get a start, Guardiola indicated in today's press conference that Iniesta will be eased back into the team slowly, so expect him to start on the bench but he should certainly get more minutes in the second half rather than the 13 minutes he played against Inter.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdes – Alves, Chygrynskiy, Pique, Maxwell – Xavi, Busi, Keita – Henry-Ibrahimovic, Messi

Subs :Marquez for Puyol,Iniesta for Keita and Pedro for Henry...

Atletico Madrid

Still without Raul Garcia, Camacho and Mariano Pernia, Atletico will also have to do without the services of first choice ‘keeper Sergio Asenjo who links up with the Spain Under 20 squad for the World Cup in Egypt. Maxi Rodriguez should start, as should Juanito.Despite their problems Atletico are always dangerous. Any team with the likes of Kun Agüero, Forlan, Simao and Maxi Rodriguez in their ranks deserve respect. Curiously neither Agüero or Forlan have found the net yet this season. Let's hope they don't start scoring tomorrow.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Roberto – Ujfalusi, Ibanez, Juanito, Antonio Lopez – Jurado, Assuncao, Maxi Rodriguez, Simao – Aguero, Forlan.

My Prediction

I predict a Barça win in a high scoring game, but I don't expect it to be anywhere near as easy as last season's game.

Barcelona 4-1 Atletico Madrid

Valdes gets his new best record but we concede our 1st goal of the season.

6 comments:

  1. i wouldnt be too sure bout that scoreline i hav the feelin atletico may surprise viewers and really impress to push for a draw at least i reckon atletico will be a very unpredictable side this season

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  2. I can't wait 4 2moro's game, sergio n diego v ibrah, messi n da crew. We have to win 2 as real have a easy match on sunday. Plus the fact we owe athletico 4 our defeat away to them last season, let me tell you I was cheesed off that day. Message to Pep payback, payback, let's get it on boys.

    We have da world club champs to come ccl, spanish cup, la liga lets clean up, in the jan get a couple of players as we have deal with da african nations cup ie. toure won't be around.

    We should have kept eto'o, then we should have got villa n silva n ibrah we would have smashed it like in da old days when milan had van basten, papin, dejan, weah.

    Have no fear barca will be there.

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  3. My 1st 11 would be llike this: Valdes-Alves-Marquez-Chygrynskiy-Maxwell-Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta-Messi-Ibra-Henry but yours is good to just wanna see Ineista start from the begining

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  4. in all honesty, if Henry doesnt start, which i hope he does, i would rather play Keita on the wing & Don Andres in the middle with xavi. our midfield is just not creative enough with keita along side the other two midfielders

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  5. Hey i finally got the lineup right.......SO we r gonna win this den

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  6. we will destroy madrid in the coming clasicooo...
    5-1 for barca 2009

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