I think people will overestimate City and underestimate Barca ahead of the tie.......still see Barca as favourites.

I expected City in the semis, Turks would have been a perfect opponent to start of the final 16

2 whole months to go, a lot of things can change, but while you'd only expect City to keep on gelling, Barça aren't looking good and don't seem to be making much progress - they actually seem to have gone backwards a bit in the past month or so; plus, I'm under the impression that some of the guys, esp. Xavi, are more concerned about the World Cup this season.

I'd still prefer Barça to go through despite Pellegrini, but I think quite a lot would have to change from now until mid Feb.

they actually seem to have gone backwards a bit in the past month or so
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They have looked a bit Messi since Lionel got injured

At least Messi will be back, might get a CB in the winter break as well, maybe.

Have the exact dates or at least weeks been announced yet? Domestic fixtures could play an important part.

Just checked the league fixtures, they are all easy on a paper so Barca will be able to easily rest some players before the City clash.

Yep, was just about to say the same. Much more complcated for Madrid re our league campaign: we visit the Calderón immediately after our 1st leg in Gelsenkirchen and the clásico right after the return leg.

You will be able to rest players against Schalke though, no way I'm seeing 04 even threatening Madrid.

Both Atleti & Barça have much easier Liga fixtures around their CL games. Osasuna and R. Sociedad away respectively are the hardest games they'll have right after any of the CL legs, and none of the ones before their ties look too hard either.

Dan, the trouble is that we can't afford to play a 2nd-string side before the away leg, it's too big a risk. Only if we more or less seal the tie away will we be able to rest players for the clásico, and that might be at the expense of being whacked before we play Atleti.

Think we really need to close the 5 point gap before then or we'll have way too much pressure going into that series of games.

With the way Barca are playing atm, you'll be able to close the gap on us, not sure about on Atletico though, they can't seem to stop.

Also don't forget, Madrid's bench is miles ahead of Barca's.

True, but some of our new signings really haven't bedded in yet and Ancelotti still seems to have doubts as to his best formation. We've got a couple of motnhs to sort it out, but we can't really afford to drop many more points on the way.

Can't imagine what's gonna happen to Spain if Pique and Ramos will be the main CB's in the world cup, both used to be immense now I'm laughing watching them play

Agreed Haven't seen much of Pique this season, but Ramos has been an absolute mess.

On the other hand, it's not so unusual though for players to take it more easily in the first half of the campaign during World Cup years. I hope that's the case, but planning ahead like that would be a bridge too far for Ramos seeing as he can't even remember what happened 10 minutes before committing a second bookable offence.

Keeper not 1st choice for domestic team
Central defenders a mess
Reliance on ageing (aged) Xavi
No first choice striker.

Not looking great for Spain at the moment.

But then again Spain can field out 3 teams of which all can challenge for the world cup title.

I'd like to see Spain EPL vs LaLiga Spain

comment by CroCop (U6052)
posted 1 minute ago
But then again Spain can field out 3 teams of which all can challenge for the world cup title.

I'd like to see Spain EPL vs LaLiga Spain
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I actually think that is now becoming a disadvantage to Spain.

I don't think they have a first choice 11 that is the best in the world, unlike in previous tournaments. They now seems to have a large amount of players of similar level, some exciting youngsters and the old guard.

I couldn't name you Spain's best 11.

Mine would be:

Valdes - Montoya Pique Puyol Alba - Sergio Xavi Iniesta - Pedro Cesc Tello

What do you guys think, winning combo?

Thanks ioag a pint or two would have been nice though

Athletic Club are 4th!

Feck off Llorente and Martinez!

Euskal Herria!

Hiya guys

Anyway, good news + bad news.

The bad news is that I've been searching for a job and I've had no luck of late and I've fallen out of favour with everyone at the minute nothing interests me. The person I asked about his business says he is already in talks with someone more experienced and says that from there, all the positions are filled, which is a shame , however.

The good news is that I've been taken on back at my old career in Medical and becoming a GP at a doctors about 25 minutes away from where I live. I'll be working from 8AM - 4PM and I won't be able to get on through the day as usual. The job doesn't start until January 6th because that is first full week back and because of disruptions through Christmas and New Year. However, I've got an Interview tomorrow and Thursday and I've got to go in on Wednesday for a day just to get used to my new co-workers and my surroundings and then I'll have go in from 8 until around 12 - but not sure what for.

So yeah.

Good luck with the new job.

Where are you from again, Scotland or smth?