CL Preview: Barcelona – Liverpool
The last two winners of the tournament clash at a 98,000-strong Camp Nou in the mother of all ties!
When: 2045 CET, Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Spanish Flavour
The match takes place in Spain, but that will have little to do with the Spanish flavours available on the menu.
What will, are the Spanish roots – and philosophies, despite recent formations suggesting otherwise – of a certain Senor Rafael Benitez.
That Xabi Alonso will line up right against international midfield teammate Xavi, will add more Spanish sizzle to the dish.
On the side, we have 'Pepe’ Reina looking to outdo Victor Valdes, the man who has taken charge of the Catalans’ goal since the former was unceremoniously deported to Villarreal three-and-a-half years ago.
Dessert, as it should be, is optional. Benitez, the master tactician that he is, is set to throw Alvaro Arbeloa in at right-back, to take charge of Ronaldinho.
Why? You might ask! Because the former Deportivo centre-half-cum-right-right-back, who just moved this winter, fared superbly against Barcelona in a very recent La Liga clash at the Riazor.
No point throwing a clueless Steve Finnan into the fray when you have a specialist for the job, particularly when in Arbeloa, you also have a charged up former Real Madrid youth team player to send out at the Camp Nou!
Finnan will also be thrown in, but let me hold that back for a while!
Crisis? Where?
Barcelona have had the whole Eto’o fracas to contend with, while Liverpool have had the Bellamy incident, and it would be unfair to say that the two incidents have not played a significant part in the build-up.
While questions on that will again be asked of whoever comes off worse tomorrow, it will really only detract from our focus on the game if we were to belabour that here.
Once the two teams step on the pitch, one fails to see how anybody will have time to think of what Eto’o said or whom Bellamy reportedly hacked.
Tactics
What will be spoken and thought about, will be Rijkaard and Benitez playing cat-and-mouse with each other. Rest assured, that is what it will be, even though Barcelona will go about playing their passing game, looking to slice Liverpool open.
Rafa has insisted they will not go just to defend, but believe that at your own peril. That, is just what he will do! It would almost be suicidally stupid if he did anything else!
The quick breaks and the dead ball situations will be Liverpool’s chances for glory. To earn those, they will have to stop Xavi, Deco, Messi and Ronaldinho dead in their tracks, first.
Suicidal, it will also be, for Rijkaard to believe Barca need to win, and win big, ahead of the Anfield leg. Liverpool might be favourites at home, but Barcelona are capable of scoring once in any stadium in the world, and going for broke would just play into Rafa’s hands.
Not that there is any indication Rijkaard will do that!
While it might not be the best advert ahead of the game, do not be disappointed if the two sides spend time sizing each other up on the pitch.
Team News, More On Tactics
Barcelona
Samuel Eto’o has been left out of the squad, in what has come as a huge surprise. However, it might just be the prudent decision again, for if he was only fit to play 25 minutes, it would have tied Rijkaard’s hands just that bit.
However, Lilian Thuram has been passed fit, and is expected to step into the defence alongside Carlos Puyol after Edmilson’s shambolic show against Valencia. The French veteran will be asked to square up against the lanky Peter Crouch.
Two out of Gio, Zambrotta and Oleguer will win the race for the wide spots – Zambrotta and Oleguer could get in ahead of Gio, with aerial ability dominating the criteria for selection. The objective also is to keep it tight at the back, so that Ronaldinho and Messi have some freedom. Thus, it is safe to assume that the likes of Belletti will remain parked on the bench.
Rafael Marquez should once again anchor the midfield, and will be charged with the task of staying with Steven Gerrard.
Deco and Xavi will be responsible for running the Barcelona show, with Messi – who will start – and Ronaldinho for spice. Watch out for Xavi to be heavily marked, though, as that was the one thing that characterized Benitez’s clashes against Barcelona when with Valencia.
Gudjohnsen is once again likely to get a nod ahead of Saviola, firstly because of his aerial ability – perhaps used for marking Hyypia – and because of his Premiership experience.
You can expect Andres Iniesta to come on at half time with a defender being sacrificed and Marquez dropping back, as Barcelona look to get more aggressive.
Probable Line-ups: Valdes – Oleguer/Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Zambrotta/Gio – Xavi, Marguez, Deco – Messi, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho.
Liverpool
There are some very interesting indications coming from the Liverpool camp, with suggestions of one of the most defensive XIs ever being sent out by the shrewd Rafa.
Yes, most defensive ever, so prepare to be shocked! Benitez is expected to play two overlapping wing-backs on both sides, in a bid to have one each man-mark Ronaldinho and Messi, and the other cover the flanks zonally. The width of the Camp Nou pitch also seems to have played a part in the decision.
Riise and Aurelio could start on the left, with Arbeloa and Finnan on the right. Incredible indeed! There is more to come. Gerrard and Xabi Alonso will be accompanied by Momo Sissoko in midfield, leaving just one up front – likely to be Crouch for his aerial prowess.
The idea is simple – to shut shop from minute one, frustrate Barcelona, and pick up the pieces on the break and in the air. Rafa believes Barca will concede at least once given their recent defensive woes, but he is unlikely to be too disappointed if Liverpool were to draw blanks.
If any anyone can, Liverpool – arguably the best defensive outfit in the world at the moment – can.
Probable Line-up: Reina – Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurelio – Finnan, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise – Crouch/Kuyt.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Barcelona: Lionel Messi
He has been thee best player on the pitch since coming on as a substitute over the last two games. His continued improvement has convinced the management to hand him a start against the Reds, particularly with Eto’o missing. The diminutive Argentine – fiercely protected and supported by the rest of the squad – will be given the license to kill, with Oleguer likely to anchor himself in the Barca half, behind him.
Liverpool: Steven Gerrard
With the Reds likely to keep the Kuyt-Crouch partnership for the Anfield leg, there is little doubt as to who will be handed charge of barging up the field and supporting the lone striker. With the pace of the likes of Aurelio and Riise on the left, the precision of Xabi Alonso behind him, and Crouch to hold it up, expect him to keep the shots coming!
PREDICION
Barcelona will hog possession, no doubts about that. However, their ability to get through the Reds remains a huge question on the eve of the game. Their biggest benefactor could be the Camp Nou, as much the crowd as the wide pitch. There will be plenty of spaces to squeeze into, no matter how many defenders are packed into defense.
They have scored 5 goals against Chelsea in the 3 home games, and could well score two more. Can they keep it scoreless? I don’t think so!
A 2-1 Barcelona win to leave the tie tantalizingly poised
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I don´t know why I even enter this kind of discussions, nevermind. 
