barcelona were unbelievable last night

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Was a pleasure to sit back and watch such artists at work.

[Holders]

As you say, a pleasure to watch.

[Burt]

I think we should make a cheeky bid for that Messi fella. He's got a lot of potential, and will make it big one of these days...

Seriously, awesome display, they've had a relative dip in form domestically recently but that was as good as it gets. Champions-elect...

[Jack Fulham]

A determined highly motivated Barca is frightening.

[FFC1987]

As much as they were good, I couldn't help but think they were rather fortunate to go through. If Milan took there chance it was a different ball game. Last 15 mins I felt had Milan pushed even a little bit more, they could have got that away goal. Stunning match for the neutral though!

[MJG]

As much as they were good, I couldn't help but think they were rather fortunate to go through. If Milan took there chance it was a different ball game. Last 15 mins I felt had Milan pushed even a little bit more, they could have got that away goal. Stunning match for the neutral though!

I still think Barcelona would have gone onto win 4-1 at least if that goal had gone in.
That was them at 100% last night, something that has been missing for maybe the last 6 weeks in their game.

[FFC1987]

As much as they were good, I couldn't help but think they were rather fortunate to go through. If Milan took there chance it was a different ball game. Last 15 mins I felt had Milan pushed even a little bit more, they could have got that away goal. Stunning match for the neutral though!

I still think Barcelona would have gone onto win 4-1 at least if that goal had gone in.
That was them at 100% last night, something that has been missing for maybe the last 6 weeks in their game.

Maybe. Totally different game though had they took that goal.

[Riverside]

As much as they were good, I couldn't help but think they were rather fortunate to go through. If Milan took there chance it was a different ball game. Last 15 mins I felt had Milan pushed even a little bit more, they could have got that away goal. Stunning match for the neutral though!

I still think Barcelona would have gone onto win 4-1 at least if that goal had gone in.
That was them at 100% last night, something that has been missing for maybe the last 6 weeks in their game.

Maybe. Totally different game though had they took that goal.

Yes terrible . I am sure they cannot wait until the transfer window do get a good set of players in .......

[A Humble Man]

Do not watch foreigners against foreigners got to draw the football line somewhere or the wife will blow her top.  Had to enjoy the delights of the dead, dying and puking on Holby City.

[FFC1987]

As much as they were good, I couldn't help but think they were rather fortunate to go through. If Milan took there chance it was a different ball game. Last 15 mins I felt had Milan pushed even a little bit more, they could have got that away goal. Stunning match for the neutral though!

I still think Barcelona would have gone onto win 4-1 at least if that goal had gone in.
That was them at 100% last night, something that has been missing for maybe the last 6 weeks in their game.

Maybe. Totally different game though had they took that goal.

Yes terrible . I am sure they cannot wait until the transfer window do get a good set of players in .......

I think its fair to say, this season is a season of transition and they are going to have a major restructure in the summer.....

[God The Mechanic]

As much as they were good, I couldn't help but think they were rather fortunate to go through. If Milan took there chance it was a different ball game. Last 15 mins I felt had Milan pushed even a little bit more, they could have got that away goal. Stunning match for the neutral though!

I still think Barcelona would have gone onto win 4-1 at least if that goal had gone in.
That was them at 100% last night, something that has been missing for maybe the last 6 weeks in their game.

Not having their manager around has probably had a reasonable effect on them.  If they win he league this year (which is crazy likely now) then they'll have done it with last year scout in charge for half the season, not bad going :P

As much as they were good, I couldn't help but think they were rather fortunate to go through. If Milan took there chance it was a different ball game. Last 15 mins I felt had Milan pushed even a little bit more, they could have got that away goal. Stunning match for the neutral though!

I still think Barcelona would have gone onto win 4-1 at least if that goal had gone in.
That was them at 100% last night, something that has been missing for maybe the last 6 weeks in their game.

Maybe. Totally different game though had they took that goal.

They could also have had a penalty beforehand, and hit the bar themselves.

[Lighthouse]

The game was dull and boring. Pass pass pass pass. Great team but frankly it is the sort of football that makes you read a book until something happens.

Yawny yawn yawn.

[YankeeJim]

Perhaps you need to shine a light on that match again. Truly fantastic. What I like about Messi is that he just gets on with it. No diving or whining as seem typical of countries that border the western Mediterranean and all those south of the Rio Grande. I never saw Pele until he was well past 30 so I can't compare. I can't imagine he was any better.

[epsomraver]

The game was dull and boring. Pass pass pass pass. Great team but frankly it is the sort of football that makes you read a book until something happens.

Yawny yawn yawn.

:plus one: just like watching Fulham

[btings]

Look at this heat map of Barcelona's touches in the first half!



They destroyed Milan.  Amazing to watch.

[FC Silver Fox]

Breathtaking football. A couple of their players could actually get into the Fulham team too.

[westcliff white]

I can't help but feel Milan let theirselves down, played terrible. As good as they were in the first game, this time totally opposite. Having said that barca played the perfect game an early goal, then just before half time which makes Milan nervous and edged more than they already were.

If Niang had scored I t would have been different. 1-1 at half time and its barca on edge, however that's an if and as we all know ifs count for nothing in football

[God The Mechanic]

I can't hel but feel Milan let theirselves down, played terrible. As good as they were in the first game, this time totally opposite. Having said that barca played the perfect game an early goal, then just before half time which makes Milan nervous and edged more than they already were.

If Niang had scored I t would have been different. 1-1 at half time and its barca n edge, however that's an if and as we all no ifs count for nothing in football

If Barca had played better in Milan then they wouldn't have had to win 3/4-0 last night :P

[cmg]

It would be a dull old world if everybody saw everything the same way.
Reading the interesting responses in this thread helps me understand why some of my emminent and esteemed friends who post here do not seem fully to share my attitude towards the kind of football we are currently playing (or at least trying to play).

I've admired Barcelona ever since I became aware that the game was played to any effect outside these islands. Even when Real were ruling the European scene they always seeme to me to be the classier outfit. When they won the European Cup in 1992 I was struck by the way that, although they had to play in a changed strip of yellow, they immediately changed into the 'blaugrana' to collect the cup.
So many of the overseas players I have admired: Kubala, Kocsis, Czibor, Louisito Suarez, Evaristo, Cruyff, Neeskens, Maradona, Laudrup, Koeman, Stoichkov, Ronaldo, Figo, Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o, Steve Archibald (only kidding) have found their way there; the current bunch ain't too bad either. I think it's the way the game should be played (although having the players helps).

[HatterDon]

The only problem I have with Barcelona is that people think that the way they play should be emulated. Why is that a problem? Because unless you have the depth of quality personnel they do, you wind up touring cul-de-sacs for 90 minutes. Also, the pace they play at is jarring to Italian, Spanish, and French teams. English and German teams would find it hard to play that style at the pace they're used to in their leagues.

In the larger sense, any result that has AC Milan, Real Madrid, Paris St. Germain, and Chelsea flat on their assess and out the door is a good one for me.