Chelsea v Barca CL last 16 first leg 20/02

This topic contains 86 replies, has 24 voices, and was last updated by hyllested hyllested 6 years ago.

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  • #1599265

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    The first big decision for Conte will we be whether to go 3/4/2/1 in the first leg or 3/5/1/1?

    The tactics will decide the starting eleven.

    Personally I can see the benefit of going with either formation, 5 in midfield will make us defensively sounder and hopefully allow us retain a bit more possession and it worked a treat v Atletico.

    The 4 in midfield allows us to be more attacking which arguably we need to be in the first leg.

    #1599274
    Wise-fan
    Wise-fan
    Participant
    • :

    If we go for 3-5-1-1. i can guarantee you Bakayoko will feature. which means we will lose badly. i have this feeling that both him and Cahill will be recalled for this match. as i think Conte values defensive solidity and experience. if that happens, its about how much Barcelona will score at Stamford Bridge. because the we will have no chance in the return leg. if Conte has balls he should play the same team, ok may be alter Morata for Giroud and Zapacosta for Alonso. but i know we have no good plan and Bakayoko is the first team on the sheet.

    #1599388
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    Hope that we’ll avoid shame by being beaten by Barca at the Bridge by some margins. English clubs do really well with the large victory of City, Liverpool and Spurs drew Juve away.

    But who knows, we weren’t favorite when we beat Barca 2012. Just saw again the goal from Ramires and Torres, what a good time back then. Barca for sure would choose to avoid us too if they were given choice.

    I would pair Kante and Drinkwater to contain their midfield and play the trio Hazard – Morata/Giroud – Pedro up front to take advantage of our speed. Morata and Giroud are both experienced in UCL but I have tendency to start Morata as he’s fit and he knows the opponent very well from Spanish League. The question would be: should we play Cesc?
    I would like to see him play to give long passes to our attacker, but it would mean that our midfield will be way weaker with him in the starting 11. It’s a dilemma. But I think Conte won’t take risk, he will start Kante and Drinkwater or Kante and Bakayoko.

    I also have one more suggestion: start Kante and Luiz as DM, it will be explosive for us

    #1599398
    Wise-fan
    Wise-fan
    Participant
    • :

    We have no chance in that game period. we will lose big as we have no balls to attack Barca. tell me where will the goals come from? Zidane introduced two attacking players today, while the PSG coach has taken off a striker and sent on a defender. and we know who won that contest.

    #1599443

    CFC1905
    Participant
    • :

    As I have stated elsewhere this game will depend on Conte getting his tactics correct. My fear is that he will go the same way as we did against Roma (both legs) and we will then get spanked

    I think that Conte in Europe is more about his defensive qualities and staying in the tie for the second leg (being Italian I think that is only natural for them), whereas I would much prefer we play to our strengths and take the game to them at the Bridge. We will need to go to Barca with at least a single goal advantage..?

    Will not be easy but at this stage of the competition and against Barca would you expect anything else? Belief in ourselves and our football is paramount. KTBFFH

    #1599445

    bluepylon
    Spectator
    • :

    Not the time to berate individuals Barca will just be too good whoever plays and the Chelsea team will be set up with one up top probably Giroud if fit
    And just hope for the best and who knows maybe a surprise

    #1599475
    Stuilse
    Stuilse
    Participant
    • :

    My prediction has always been that an English team will win the CL this season. I just don’t think it will be Chelsea. I believe we will do enough at the Bridge to stay in the tie but my fear is the return leg at Camp Nou. If we somehow get past Barca then I may just start to believe.

    #1599485

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Stuilse, I think you’re right a PL could very well win the CL this season and it looks like there will probably be 3/4 PL teams in the Qtr Finals.

    Like you I don’t think it will be Chelsea but if they were somehow to get past Barca as unlikely as that may seem it would give the team a significant confidence boost and stranger things have happened.

    Who would have said Chelsea would win the CL in 2012 when we were 1-3 down to Napoli and Cole hooked a fourth off the line.

    #1599498
    hyllested
    hyllested
    Participant
    • :

    Aindro, I’m with you regarding Luiz in midfield- We’ve seen him in this role before. and he can certainly do the job. With Bakayoko in there, we won’t have a chance. Luiz and Kante should be our DM’s for the remainder of the season, as I see it

    #1599608

    CFC1905
    Participant
    • :

    Agree and have said before for certain games that Luiz can do a job for us in the middle with Kante. Trouble is, I simply do not see Conte going there…? KTBFFH

    #1599644
    super frankie
    super frankie
    Participant
    • :

    For all the ‘big games’ Conte has gone 3-5-2 / 3-5-1-1 , I see him doing the same here. Worked earlier in the season to great effect vs Spurs & Atleti but as we have seen on many occasions since, our attack looks devoid of idea’s at times in that system. I see it being no different vs Barca. Concur with those above, Luiz would be a better option then Danny or Baka as the other man in the middle but would be surprised if Conte goes for him, shame as his spirit is exactly what is needed when we are up against it – if his head in the right place which could be the reason for the omission.

    Awful time for us to play them, without meaning to sound negative my hope is for some magic from Eden to get us a goal (hopefully two) which will keep us in the tie.

    Also conscious that if we do manage to get an advantage, we no longer possess the same grit and steel it takes to see out a game against that kind of attacking power, not the same kind of leaders on the pitch.

    We do always seem to play well against good oppo when everyone writes us off, hopefully Eden fancies it!

    #1600525

    young_blue
    Participant
    • :

    This could be a season defining game we have a number of issues to solve. Emerson looks good. but not sure if he is defensively sound. between Morata and Giroud. who should we start with? my mind says Giroud should start because of his physical presence. but my heart says go for the pace of Morata. another issue is should we stick with the 3-4-3 that had been serving us well in our last two games, or revert to 3-5-1-1? if 3-5-1-1 formation which i suspect will be the order of the day. Fabregas seems to be in form. may be the rest has done him a world of good. he seems to be fit and energetic. and Willian has done well to be considered against Barcelona. Bakayoko missing is a real bonus. if we play 3-5-1-1 formation. i would like a trio of Kante, Fabregas and Drinkwater. flanked by Moses and Emerson if Alonso isn’t fit. we need not to concede that should be our game plan. and the more we keep the scorline at 0-0 the more Barcelona will open up and commit players forward, and we have players with pace to hurt them on the counter.

    #1600572
    Stuilse
    Stuilse
    Participant
    • :

    Willian has to start. I’m going 3-4-3

    Courts
    Azi
    Christensen
    Rudiger
    Moses
    Alonso
    Kante
    Cesc
    Willian
    Eden
    Morata

    Was tempted to start Giroud as his physical attributes could hurt Barca but Morata starts. Cesc is probably seen by some as controversial but we will need his creativity. Barca won’t be nearly as physical as the PL sides Cesc sometimes struggles against. He has the ability to change a game with one pass. Baka and Drinkwater will be lost against Barca…cannot see what they’d contribute.

    #1600954
    Chelsea.man
    Chelsea.man
    Participant
    • :

    I have to set the records straight here. everyone is expecting us to struggle in this match. which gives our players so comfort, all they can do is to go out and do what you can do. we will not lose this game. i have this feeling, and i can’t see us losing this game. my preferred team if fit is 3-5-1-1. Courtois, Azpi – Christensen – Rudiger, Moeses- Fabregas – Kante – Luiz/Drinkwater – Alonso/Emerson, Hazard, Morata. we could have 2 midfielders sitting and protecting the defence. Fabregas can support the attack. i agree with Young_blue, keep it tight and 0-0 as much possible as we can. once Barcelona commits players forward hit them on the break. they are not defensively strong. Kante will have his work cut out as he will be following Messi. and Christensen has his work cut as he will be facing Suarez. whatever the outcome is there is no shame in to losing to Barcelona. i will approach that game with high spirit. just enjoy the football. i really hope Luiz is fit as we may need him. our defence needs to be at their 100% best. they hold the key to this game. i would take 0-0 in the first leg.

    #1601060

    alanp
    Participant
    • :

    I like the idea of Luiz in midfield, he can lack discipline, but he can play so if fit yes he is in my side if not Drinkwater. Rudigers pace rather than Cahill, Moratta up front. The problem is you can only have either Willian or Fabregas. I would tend to go with Willan in a 3-4-3 as we are at home. If you play Fabregas Barca will run off him and he does not have the pace tp respond, maybe sub for last 20 minutes.

    #1601072
    phwepsi
    phwepsi
    Spectator
    • :

    Stulise id go with your team but kante and cesc against a barca midfield of busquests coutiho rackatic and possibly iniesta? Can you imagine ?

    Conte will put 3 in midfield i have no doubt. Kante luiz and cesc would work but im not sure he trusts luiz anymore

    #1601077
    Chelsea.man
    Chelsea.man
    Participant
    • :

    Coutinho is ineligible to face us. in case you don’t know, a player can only play for one team in the competition. and he has already represented Liverpool earlier in the competition.

    #1601081
    phwepsi
    phwepsi
    Spectator
    • :

    Totally forgot about that one. Still. Kante and cesc in midfield will be cut apart whenever barca feel like it

    #1601146
    Chelsea.man
    Chelsea.man
    Participant
    • :

    I don’t think Fabregas and Kante will be deployed. but even if they are deployed. i suspect Conte will tell our wing-backs to stay. which will give Christen to join the midfield at a times. we may deploy 5-4-1 when they have the ball. and 3-5-1-1 when we have the ball. very simple. if Conte picks Fabregas i think he knows what he is doing. and he is paid millions to coach this team.

    #1601157

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    If Cecs plays we would almost certainly play 5 in midfield, Luiz has been injured for a while and I doubt he will be fit enough for the bench.

    Tough call for Conte Ampadu in midfield would be a massive call so presumably it would have to be Drinkwater. Having said that taking Pedro off at ht suggests he may start which would suggest 4 in midfield. Not long until we know for sure.

    Massive game, massive test against a team unbeaten in La Liga just hope we put in a performance. Cheers All 999

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