[nLr]

We can use this chance and lead in Liga after 3 matches. Hope not to see us lose or draw like last year(s) when we couldn't win when we needed.
Looking forward to this game which can show are we really going seriusly for the title.

If we play some good football and win I say we have only Valencia as our rival for the title. Been watching almost full espanyol - rm game and by rm looks they hardly will take anything this season.

On the other hand Valencia are playing great. They trashed Sociedad. And have some serius team. Looks like they are going for all the titles. They got great players on bench. Not like tonights rm team.

 

[Almogàver]

I know I tend to be pessimistic, but am I the only one who thinks that a draw would be okay?

 

[killah]

I know I tend to be pessimistic, but am I the only one who thinks that a draw would be okay?

i think so

Atletico were pretty crap against Albacete, esp in first half, ended up needing 2 goals in 5 mins, i sense a hammering :devil:

 

[Almogàver]

i think so

Atletico were pretty crap against Albacete, esp in first half, ended up needing 2 goals in 5 mins, i sense a hammering :devil:

Why do I ask? I was waiting for something like this. :tongue: In any case, I don't expect an easy match, they are a confident team now. Perhaps they had problems to score, but they are very reliable in defense too.

 

[Fargo]

If Ronnie really find his feet in this game, and the rest of the team is up to the usual standards it could get nasty.

But I agree K4 that a draw would be OK. After all, this is one of the most difficult games of the season.

 

[nLr]

As killah said Atleti were not so good against Albacete. But it's not the same playing against Albacete away and Barça at home in front of Demencia.
Very hard match, but I hope we can silent the fans like we did against Celtic and take 3 points.

 

[Barça_Fan]

It feels great to feel so optimistic And it's even better when your rivals are playing like bollocks :tongue:

I am very optimistic about the game, but a draw wouldn't be the end of the world. But after beating "tricky" teams like Sevilla and Celtic, I think we have the ability to do the same against Atletico. Like I've been saying before, if we get the first goal, then we'll have an excellent chance of winning.

I can't wait to see Ronaldinho play - I have a feeling he'll put in a similar performance like he did in the away games against Deportivo and Valencia last year.

 

[Voyteck]

That would be great for Giully - four goals in four matches.

I would actually mean six goals in six matches, because he has earlier scored against Milan (Gamper Trophy) and another one for French NT (against Faroe Islands). So far 5 consecutive games & goals.

 

[Pauliño Alcantara]

On the other hand Valencia are playing great. They trashed Sociedad. And have some serius team. Looks like they are going for all the titles. They got great players on bench. Not like tonights rm team.

Real Sociedad were poor though (they might be for relegation battle), Valencia haven't beaten any strong teams convincely yet, the game against Villarreal was hardly jaw dropping. I think the teams we have beaten are much stronger. Although Ayala is still injured.

They did play well in CL though, but I agree with you, they are going to be our main rivals, Depor and Madrid look weak this season. Great for us!

 

[killah]

Real Sociedad were poor though (they might be for relegation battle), Valencia haven't beaten any strong teams convincely yet, the game against Villarreal was hardly jaw dropping. I think the teams we have beaten are much stronger. Although Ayala is still injured.

They did play well in CL though, but I agree with you, they are going to be our main rivals, Depor and Madrid look weak this season. Great for us!

i agree with you, even though i might be labeled a tad optimistic, arrogant even ,but
with the poor form and internal conflicts at Depor, the Circus acts going at the Bernabeu especially with new clowns such as owen and samuell and the fact that Hell will freeze over before Ranieri wins a league title, it will take a Miracle for us NOT to have the league won by Feb/March

 

[Fangio]

Koeman don't be pesimistic, that mentallity of wanting a draw is what makes Spain not obtaining more titles or being ok with draws de visitantes...MAN you are Barca!! if you jsut don't think you can win and MUST every game what is left for the rest?, you are playing very good, confidence pal, confidence... I hope to see a great game, finally two teams that respect their 10 (not that much before anyway in both cases arghhhhh, I can't help myself, sorry), and hopefully will play attacking football, of course for me I'm with ALeti, but mostly as I'm not real fan of both, I wish is a great match to watch

PD: Ronie is playing no?

 

[Moe]

If Ronnie plays 100% fit then the whole world cannot stop him... that's where i get my confidence from. Besides that i believe the team is fantastic bec for the first time we are capable of efficient possession football.

Being able to win on away as i saw with celtic gives me further confidence... it's good that this away with atletico comes right after the away game vs celtic so that Rijkard doesn't have to scratch his head very much.. same attitude is required

 

[Robin]

I hate it when Barcelona fans have no confidence, I tell you here, we are the best, we can win everything.

 

[Fangio]

I hate it when Barcelona fans have no confidence, I tell you here, we are the best, we can win everything.

well way too much to the other side, there are no ethernal bests at everything and everytime, but hell everytime must try to BE, that 's the key, gong out to the pitch for drawing is useless, another stuff is that a bad day push to consider good to draw, complettely another case, remember is not worthly DIE for something, is worthly LIVE for...

 

[Almogàver]

Koeman don't be pesimistic, that mentallity of wanting a draw is what makes Spain not obtaining more titles or being ok with draws de visitantes...MAN you are Barca!! if you jsut don't think you can win and MUST every game what is left for the rest?, you are playing very good, confidence pal, confidence... I hope to see a great game, finally two teams that respect their 10 (not that much before anyway in both cases arghhhhh, I can't help myself, sorry), and hopefully will play attacking football, of course for me I'm with ALeti, but mostly as I'm not real fan of both, I wish is a great match to watch

PD: Ronie is playing no?

No, I want to win and I want them to go for the victory, I don't want to see them defending a 0-0 or a 1-1. I just think that this is a difficult match, that we can't win everything and a draw in Atlético's stadium wouldn't be a bad result, as it wouldn't be in Mestalla. It's just a feeling. If I were Rijkaard I wouldn't open a mouth considering this option and I'd say that only a victory would be okay.

 

[NEO]

it will take a Miracle for us NOT to have the league won by Feb/March

I think many people will make you hold on to these words, although I see either Barca or Valencia winning the title this year!

 

[SPANIARD]

Koeman don't be pesimistic, that mentallity of wanting a draw is what makes Spain not obtaining more titles or being ok with draws de visitantes...MAN you are Barca!! if you jsut don't think you can win and MUST every game what is left for the rest?, you are playing very good, confidence pal, confidence... I hope to see a great game, finally two teams that respect their 10 (not that much before anyway in both cases arghhhhh, I can't help myself, sorry), and hopefully will play attacking football, of course for me I'm with ALeti, but mostly as I'm not real fan of both, I wish is a great match to watch

PD: Ronie is playing no?

This shows that you are over confident. If it's real, barca, valencia, milan, arsenal.... it doesn't matter: tieing Atletico in their stadium is a victory. You have to understand that if a team comes out flying in Spain always on the attack, usually the home team will punish you. We have one of the best leagues in the world, some people don't realise just how good every team is and it's kind of off topic to talk about the NT in this case. If an english, argentine, italian ect said they would be expecting a win in the Calderon they would be fooling themselves and be shocked if it happened.

 

[VBI]

I don't think anyone should be getting carried away with anything. People are letting some good performances go to their head. We can be optimistic, but not overly so. And there's no reason for us to be over-confident, since WE aren't actually the ones out there playing!

 

[Almogàver]

I don't think anyone should be getting carried away with anything. People are letting some good performances go to their head. We can be optimistic, but not overly so. And there's no reason for us to be over-confident, since WE aren't actually the ones out there playing!

I agree with you.

Overall, I'm optismitic, I think that we can do win an important title this season. But knowing this, winning away is not easy in Spain and less in stadiums like Atletico's one. Today, this stadium is going to be a hell and their fans and squad are optimistic too. I was only considering that, before the match, I don't see a draw as something bad for us. After this, each game has its own history.

I don't think we are going to win La Liga so easily, we have our chances, more chances than in the last 5 years, but La Liga is not easy. Yesterday, Valencia was brilliant. Real Madrid have 6 points, in the worst of the cases they'd be 3 points behind. Their current state may change in 2 weeks, if the are able to win 3 or 4 consecutive matches. They have quality enough to do it. Perhaps they are not so galacticos, but one thing is for sure, they are not as bad as they show to be.

Let's go match by match... if we think we'll win in February, we'll crash once more.

 

[Almogàver]

Cadena Ser unofficial lineups (although they say they are sure of them one hour before the match):

                          Valdés

  Belletti       Puyol          Oleguer      Gio

      Xavi            Edmilson        Deco

         Giuly                         Ronaldinho
                         Eto'o

So Edmilson since the begining and Oleguer instead of Marquez, perhaps thinking in Torres speed.

I guess that Etoo will be the 9, but recall that against Celtic, Etoo was the left wing and Ronaldinho the striker.