Pangur Bán
Deconstructed
Barcelona v. Rangers tonight. Looking forward to it, shame though it's not on TV. Messi accussed Rangers of playing "anti-football" at Ibrox, just like the French coach and several French players made similar statements about Scotland. What do they seriously expect?! I'm sure Barcelona would (as France would have loved Scotland to) play three forwards and go all out attack, but they might as well ask them to kick the ball in their own net.
Anyways, the following should be noted:
1960-1 UEFA Cup QF, Barcelona 4-4 Hibernian
1960-1 UEFA Cup QF, Hibernian 3-2 Barcelona
1964-5 UEFA Cup R2: Barcelona 3 v 1 Celtic
1964-5, UEFA Cupt R2, Celtic 0-0 Barcelona
1966-7 UEFA Cup 2R, Barcelona 1-2 Dundee Utd
1966-7 UEFA Cup 2R, Dundee Utd 2-0 Barcelona
1986-7 UEFA Cup QF, Dundee Utd 1-0 Barcelona
1986-7 UEFA Cup QF, Barcelona 1-2 Dundee Utd
2003-4 UEFA Cup 4R, Celtic 1-0 Barcelona
2003-4 UEFA Cup 4R, Barcelona 0-0 Celtic
2004-5 Champions League, Celtic 1-3 Barcelona
2004-5 Champions League, Barcelona 1-1 Celtic
2006-7 Champions League, Rangers 0-0 Barcelona
This means, played 13, won 6, drawn 5, lost 2, meaning prolly that Scottish sides have a better record against Barcelona than any other European country! Plus, other than Celtic, no Scottish side has lost in Barcelona, and Celtic only once. You can look at this three ways. 1) Scottish teams are what we call "bogey teams" for Barcelona, and Rangers might get a result. 2) The record is ridiculously unblanced and will be redressed as soon as enough games come around, starting with tonight. or 3) such records mean nothing, and Barcelona will win comfortably because - frankly - Barcelona play in a different universe from Rangers. I tend to go with 3), but although I was right about how Rangers would play in this Champions League, I was wrong in believing they wouldn't pull of many good results. So maybe I'll be wrong about tonight (we'll see soon enough). Rangers have absolutely nothing to lose tonight. No-one in Spain or Europe will blink an eyelid if Barcelona win 5-0, so all the pressure is on them.
The other thing with Barcelona is I always feel weaker sides have more chance of getting results playing teams like Barcelona away at the latter's home grounds, mainly because these weaker sides aren't compromised by an home obligation to attack but the home team is. Rangers have a chance if they don't concede early. The biggest downside about using the tactics Scotland, Rangers and other Scottish teams use in Europe now is that if you concede early you're basically screwed. Anyways, if that does happen, Rangers should do their best to preserve their good goal difference, rather than become suicidal. These are my thoughts anyways.
Anyways, the following should be noted:
1960-1 UEFA Cup QF, Barcelona 4-4 Hibernian
1960-1 UEFA Cup QF, Hibernian 3-2 Barcelona
1964-5 UEFA Cup R2: Barcelona 3 v 1 Celtic
1964-5, UEFA Cupt R2, Celtic 0-0 Barcelona
1966-7 UEFA Cup 2R, Barcelona 1-2 Dundee Utd
1966-7 UEFA Cup 2R, Dundee Utd 2-0 Barcelona
1986-7 UEFA Cup QF, Dundee Utd 1-0 Barcelona
1986-7 UEFA Cup QF, Barcelona 1-2 Dundee Utd
2003-4 UEFA Cup 4R, Celtic 1-0 Barcelona
2003-4 UEFA Cup 4R, Barcelona 0-0 Celtic
2004-5 Champions League, Celtic 1-3 Barcelona
2004-5 Champions League, Barcelona 1-1 Celtic
2006-7 Champions League, Rangers 0-0 Barcelona
This means, played 13, won 6, drawn 5, lost 2, meaning prolly that Scottish sides have a better record against Barcelona than any other European country! Plus, other than Celtic, no Scottish side has lost in Barcelona, and Celtic only once. You can look at this three ways. 1) Scottish teams are what we call "bogey teams" for Barcelona, and Rangers might get a result. 2) The record is ridiculously unblanced and will be redressed as soon as enough games come around, starting with tonight. or 3) such records mean nothing, and Barcelona will win comfortably because - frankly - Barcelona play in a different universe from Rangers. I tend to go with 3), but although I was right about how Rangers would play in this Champions League, I was wrong in believing they wouldn't pull of many good results. So maybe I'll be wrong about tonight (we'll see soon enough). Rangers have absolutely nothing to lose tonight. No-one in Spain or Europe will blink an eyelid if Barcelona win 5-0, so all the pressure is on them.
The other thing with Barcelona is I always feel weaker sides have more chance of getting results playing teams like Barcelona away at the latter's home grounds, mainly because these weaker sides aren't compromised by an home obligation to attack but the home team is. Rangers have a chance if they don't concede early. The biggest downside about using the tactics Scotland, Rangers and other Scottish teams use in Europe now is that if you concede early you're basically screwed. Anyways, if that does happen, Rangers should do their best to preserve their good goal difference, rather than become suicidal. These are my thoughts anyways.