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CL Debate: Have Barcelona re-established themselves as Champions League favourites?
Does Barca's convincing defeat of Stuttgart serve as a timely reminder to the rest of Europe...
18 Mar 2010 06:40:41
By Paul Macdonald
On certain occasions this season, Barcelona could be accused of suffering from the perennial second-season syndrome. After the superhuman, convention-defying achievements of their Triplete-winning campaign, a repeat performance was unlikely. Replication of perfection is virtually impossible; and perhaps the strain of attempting to emulate their own success was proving too heavy a burden on Pep Guardiola’s side.
Of course, Barca were always one of the hot favourites in the Champions League, but critics were pointing to their lack of conviction as proof that their European crown was on the verge of slipping. But in the Camp Nou this evening, a blistering Blaugrana blitz could well have re-established the Spanish giants as favourites to clinch club football's top prize in Europe.
The sceptics’ concerns had been legitimised after a far from convincing run of European results before Stuttgart’s visit to Catalunya this evening. In the first leg of the tie, the Germans had been much the superior side, and were unfortunate to be pegged back by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s leveller, which arrived distinctly against the run of play.
Unconvincing Qualification
The evidence gathers stature when their group stage results are assessed. Russian champions Rubin Kazan could not be beaten, and indeed were one of only three sides (the others being Sevilla in the Copa del Rey and Atletico Madrid in La Liga) to have defeated Barcelona this season, and on Spanish soil, too.
Equally unconvincing were the performances versus Dynamo Kiev, with the Ukrainians missing gilt-edged chances to level the home encounter before Pedro’s clincher. In the corresponding fixture, Lionel Messi produced magic to swerve in a match-winning freekick to despatch the plucky Eastern European side. The performances were laboured, the attractiveness had diminished, but the results were functional, and they had made it through without ever truly exerting their influence over their rivals.
Ibrahimovic’s arrival has been viewed as conflicting with the Barcelona ethic, interrupting their team dynamic with his individualistic style, and so making Guardiola’s pass-and-move philosophy more difficult to execute. The Swede’s ability has never been questioned, rather the more pressing issue of which Barcelona side is the most revered, and hence the more feared – with Ibracadabra or Samuel Eto’o leading the line.
Many still believe the latter is true, and that this will be a contributing factor to Barcelona relinquishing their title, and yes, there has been a lack of flow evident in recent domestic outings, but the cobwebs were well and truly blown away with a consummate, imperious production of attacking football against Stuttgart.
Oozing Quality
Lionel Messi’s importance to this team is without debate and rather than rigidly hugging the touchline, Guardiola offered him licence to roam across the extremes of the pitch. At times he took up his customary role on the right, others switching flanks quickly with Pedro, then he would drift back to a trequartista role dictating play behind Thierry Henry, picking out decisive passes such as the slide-rule effort that allowed Yaya Toure to play in Pedro for the decisive second goal.
But Messi was just simply, Messi. Aside from his magnificent two goals, Barcelona looked in complete control in every area of the pitch, and even without the persuasion of the incomparable Xavi, who was injured, the slick nature of their passing proved too much for a Stuttgart side that didn’t know what had hit them.
Pedro produced once again, getting his name on the score-sheet, while Thierry Henry worked hard from centre forward, keeping Ibrahimovic warming the subs' bench. The expensive acquisition should not be in a position to fear for his place, but it could be argued that Barcelona looked a well-rounded unit in his absence.
At the back, Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol are a pairing only rivalled in Europe by Inter’s duo of Walter Samuel and Lucio, while Dani Alves and Maxwell offered the obligatory roving roles from full-back that we have come to expect from Brazilians in those positions.
Put simply, the remaining seven sides in the competition who may have been becoming complacent, believing that being paired with the Blaugrana in Friday’s draw (which you can follow here on Goal.com) may not be such an alarming prospect, should have suitably re-evaluated their outlook of whether they would be confident of facing Guardiola's entertainers.
Wayne Rooney may be rousing Manchester United, Inter may have been inspiring in their defeat of Chelsea, while Arsenal may have pummelled Porto, but there remains one team in Europe who anyone and everyone should dread being pitted against – and based on tonight’s showing, that team is Barcelona.
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Of course, Barca were always one of the hot favourites in the Champions League, but critics were pointing to their lack of conviction as proof that their European crown was on the verge of slipping. But in the Camp Nou this evening, a blistering Blaugrana blitz could well have re-established the Spanish giants as favourites to clinch club football's top prize in Europe.
The sceptics’ concerns had been legitimised after a far from convincing run of European results before Stuttgart’s visit to Catalunya this evening. In the first leg of the tie, the Germans had been much the superior side, and were unfortunate to be pegged back by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s leveller, which arrived distinctly against the run of play.
Unconvincing Qualification
The evidence gathers stature when their group stage results are assessed. Russian champions Rubin Kazan could not be beaten, and indeed were one of only three sides (the others being Sevilla in the Copa del Rey and Atletico Madrid in La Liga) to have defeated Barcelona this season, and on Spanish soil, too.
Pep looks satisfied as his players celebrate
Equally unconvincing were the performances versus Dynamo Kiev, with the Ukrainians missing gilt-edged chances to level the home encounter before Pedro’s clincher. In the corresponding fixture, Lionel Messi produced magic to swerve in a match-winning freekick to despatch the plucky Eastern European side. The performances were laboured, the attractiveness had diminished, but the results were functional, and they had made it through without ever truly exerting their influence over their rivals.
Ibrahimovic’s arrival has been viewed as conflicting with the Barcelona ethic, interrupting their team dynamic with his individualistic style, and so making Guardiola’s pass-and-move philosophy more difficult to execute. The Swede’s ability has never been questioned, rather the more pressing issue of which Barcelona side is the most revered, and hence the more feared – with Ibracadabra or Samuel Eto’o leading the line.
Many still believe the latter is true, and that this will be a contributing factor to Barcelona relinquishing their title, and yes, there has been a lack of flow evident in recent domestic outings, but the cobwebs were well and truly blown away with a consummate, imperious production of attacking football against Stuttgart.
Oozing Quality
Lionel Messi’s importance to this team is without debate and rather than rigidly hugging the touchline, Guardiola offered him licence to roam across the extremes of the pitch. At times he took up his customary role on the right, others switching flanks quickly with Pedro, then he would drift back to a trequartista role dictating play behind Thierry Henry, picking out decisive passes such as the slide-rule effort that allowed Yaya Toure to play in Pedro for the decisive second goal.
But Messi was just simply, Messi. Aside from his magnificent two goals, Barcelona looked in complete control in every area of the pitch, and even without the persuasion of the incomparable Xavi, who was injured, the slick nature of their passing proved too much for a Stuttgart side that didn’t know what had hit them.
Pedro produced once again, getting his name on the score-sheet, while Thierry Henry worked hard from centre forward, keeping Ibrahimovic warming the subs' bench. The expensive acquisition should not be in a position to fear for his place, but it could be argued that Barcelona looked a well-rounded unit in his absence.
The coach enjoys a smile on the way to victory
At the back, Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol are a pairing only rivalled in Europe by Inter’s duo of Walter Samuel and Lucio, while Dani Alves and Maxwell offered the obligatory roving roles from full-back that we have come to expect from Brazilians in those positions.
Put simply, the remaining seven sides in the competition who may have been becoming complacent, believing that being paired with the Blaugrana in Friday’s draw (which you can follow here on Goal.com) may not be such an alarming prospect, should have suitably re-evaluated their outlook of whether they would be confident of facing Guardiola's entertainers.
Wayne Rooney may be rousing Manchester United, Inter may have been inspiring in their defeat of Chelsea, while Arsenal may have pummelled Porto, but there remains one team in Europe who anyone and everyone should dread being pitted against – and based on tonight’s showing, that team is Barcelona.
Become a fan of Goal.com UK's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything related to the beautiful game!
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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