Topic: ⚽ Sportsbet.io ⚽ Spanish La Liga ⚽ Football Pool Discussion Thread - page 134. (Read 31322 times)

I am thinking Atalanta has nice chance to KO Real Madrid today. They are very fired up after first game when they played man down for the most of the match and they will come out to play and prove that they good team.

Real is also far from their best form and don't forget they will be without Casemiro today who is maybe their most important player in games like this one. There could be anything in this match but I am looking to place money on both to score market or Atalanta to qualify.

not really, there is a slight chance for Atalanta, but they are far from last year team
back to topic, Atletico is down with their form, and Barca could reach top spot in the end, did not expect that, but long season with audience is obviously taking its toll

on the other hand, Sevilla has an easy game tomorrow, but two loses in a row put them already out of title race, which was expected, more or less

Huge huge win for us last night and you could actually tell that people like Messi looked like he was enjoying himself again:) 4 points now and yes we were the huge favorites but just the way we can now score again and actually look happy? 2 goals for our man, catching up and going past his best friend Suarez?

Atalanta to KO Real Madrid tonight you think guys?

Sorry to you Barca fans. I bet on you too, in case you also want others to share in the misery (but not that it helps, trust me I know nothing makes me feel better when my team doesn't win).

Does anyone else feel like we should bet against Real Madrid tonight? Just because they might have eyes on Europe? I do. 18/1 is too tempting not to take given the way they've been playing lately. I thought a handicap at least but since I like throwing money;)

Okay then let me lower your hopes. Pique isn't fit to play against PSG. So, center back duo will be Lenglet and Umtiti or Lenglet and Mingueza. RIP Barca!

when Barca entered Anfield with 3:0 (which is better for losing team than 1:4 at home), it was hard to believe that Liverpool will go through, and that happened
without audience, there is little to save PSG at home if things go down, and it could happen, just psychology

of course, two fast goals (first 30 minutes) are pre-condition for everything to become interesting

Guys please don't raise my hopes up so high. I know we've done it before and the good news is we actually do it when we are down, and seeing us do this twice now in the Copa del Rey makes me think maybe it can happen.

No harm to hope, but as long as we go to win big and score, I can live with myself. We're 3.5x to win so who knows?

Barca's lineup from recent games, i.e. 3-5-2 looks much more strong defensively. They are able to keep clean sheet in 3 straight games without giving opposition much spaces to attack. However, as temping as this lineup is, they can't go with the same in PSG game. In my opinion, to have any chance of winning the draw, they should go with the following formation:



An attacking 4-2-3-1 formation. Although, I marked Griezmann as CF but we all know how it's in Barca. Messi and him exchanging positions dynamically. The advantage of this formation is that Barca can switch to new working 3-5-2 formation whenever they think they are losing the control. Depending upon which wing is attacking, the lineup can become one of the following:



Important Exclusions/Inclusions:

1. Dest - He has been superb in his new role as the right-midfielder. With Mingueza covering area behind him, he gets more chance and space to dribble forward and doing that superbly. But he hasn't been clinical in shooting. On the other hand, Trincao has been finding net frequently in recent league games. With 4 goal deficit to fill, I bet on Trincao over Dest anyday, even if it makes the squad weaker defensively.

2. Pedri - He has been the talk of this season. He has become such an important player that Koeman had played him in every Laliga and CL games except one. But Busquets is thriving in the new system and surely upper in the pecking order than Pedri. So, Buquets-De Jong in midfield would be best when 4 are playing upfront.

3. Umtiti - This may be one of the worst Laliga season for Clement Lenglet. He alone has cost Barca 4-6 points in the league. But even with his defensive mistakes, he's better than Umtiti any day. Since, Araujo isn't fit, Pique-Lenglet pairing would be ideal with Mingueza-Alba providing further cover.

If Barca fails to increase goal tally with the above formation, Koeman should make early substitutes (in 60-65th minutes) and bring on Braithwaite, Pedri and Dest in the place of Griezmann, Busquets and Mingueza. Depending upon performance, he can even replace Dembele/Trincao with Puig if necessary.

This in my opinion is the only possible plan for the remontada to happen. We can concede a goal or two but this formation is capable of getting 4-5 goals. Let's see what Koeman has in mind. 

Umtiti magic isn't going to happen, neither is the Messi's magic going to... All eyes will be on Messi and he wouldn't be much involved in individual plays.

Quote me, If Barcelona are to make it through, Messi play the most important part, but might not even be on the score sheet.. So, Barcelona would need to count on both Greizmann and Dembele to clinical rather than wasteful as usual.

yeah, but eventual after 0:2, they have to attack with all forces, and do not have to keep their net clean (2:5 suits them perfect, and that is 2:3 from 0:2 point), just play without defense after 0:2 (if that happen)
must say that I do not expect that, would put 10% chances in Paris, and 25% in Liverpool tonight to see mayor upsets, but cannot rule out that this could happen

just remainder, MUTD made 1:3 few seasons ago on the same pitch, having much worse form than Barca at the moment, and not having Messi

I will never rule out Messi magic, if things start and he has one of the better performances...sky is the limit. Quite sure Umtiti magic is not happening though 

For me the problem for Barca is not even scoring those 4 goals, it will be much harder to keep their net clean. Only real chance for me is if PSG decides to go super defensive and defend lead from the first game and then after they are 0:2 the panic starts to rise and it gets difficult to start playing. Don't expect them to be that stupid though.

0% Chance, 0% Luck but 100% Faith! Imagine if following happens...



Or could be Umtiti Magic.. 

Man I'm trying so so hard not to get excited. Last night was truly the best outcome for Barca. we stay 2 points ahead of Real who will get stronger. And Atleti is now only 3 points ahead with their game in hand. And of course, you and me will be hoping for the 10th magic, I mean, isn't that how we usually progress nowadays? By making it hard the first time hehe;)

The game of the season could be in May though. We welcome Atletico still:)

seems impossible, but actually with two fast goals in the beginning, does not have to be
PSG is not that great, have fantastic result, but they have lost better than that already

just as crypto super cycle, this could be "this time is different", but two fast goals, and PSG ship is already near to sinking

not a Barca fan, just thinking

It will be difficult task to maintain undefeated run, considering that we have games with Real and Atletico remaining. But yeah, things isn't over yet and it's getting more interesting.
Remontada against PSG still looks mission impossible for me, but we are still alive until Wednesday.
Also, there is Copa del Rey final remaining for us. Yes, it's not most important trophy, but for Barca it would be nightmare to end second season in a row without any trophies.

Just 12 games to go. If Barca can maintain the undefeated form in the league, they can pretty well be the winner of LaLiga as well. CL defeat against PSG will help them focusing on this single objective. However, I would still love to see the remontada on 10th, who wouldn't as a Barca fan?

yeah, 1:1 was the most realistic outcome in the beginning, and finished that way after all
after a long time did not watch even a minute of Madrid derby, was there anything worth watching it, so that I pick-up some highlights?

looking at the table, Barca was the winner in Madrid tonight

Yeah! The touch was there but Felipe's hand was moving close to his body when the ball hit him. Smart decision from the ref.

So, the match ended in 1:1. Although, I lost the bet but got 3 points for 1:1 exact pick in the pool.

Not gonna happen, Atleti 1:0 up after just 15 minutes, courtesy of Suarez of course. Did not watch the first half, been watching Liverpool loosing another one at home, but I was very surprised Real Vadrid did not get a penalty in the last minutes of first half. My app says Atletico player got hit in the hand and there was VAR check, thought this was always given, or maybe it is only given if Ramos is on the pitch?

Spanish title race is getting interesting. Barca appeared out of no where and won 13 of its last 16 games without a defeat! That's 42 points out of the possible 45. And who would have thought we would witness Madrid Derby when the table is so tense. Anyhow, even bookies are confused who gonna win tonight. Both teams have equal odds. Real earlier were looking inferior but Zidane is able to bring Bezema back in his side so it's 50/50 now and odds speak the same story.

I think it will end as a goalless draw. Gonna take the risk and putting money on 0:0 scoreline. 7.20x not bad.