Barcelona will advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League in Lisbon tonight with an unrecognized title - Underdog • Bayern Munich is a more complete, hungry team and has the deadly Robert Lewandowski • But if there is one player who can inflict a first loss on the Bavarians after 27 games it is the flea with the number 10 on his back
Messi. It's all about him
Photo:
IPI
Lewandowski. Does not stop conquering
Photo:
GettyImages
For the first time in many years Barcelona come to the Champions League meeting when they are not favorites, and Bayern Munich lovingly receives the title of the team preferred tonight in Lisbon thanks to a streak of 27 games without a loss (26 wins, 1 draw), 100 goals scored in the Bundesliga and the Catalans' weakness.
"Today's Barça is not what it used to be. Of course, it has Messi, and a player like him can decide a game in one genius action, but he alone will not be enough against Bayern of the year to have to make many mistakes to lose to this Barcelona," said Luther Mathieu Former Bayern captain.
Barça players need to frame that quote and hang in the locker room to motivate, but it's the truth - Bayern Munich are a more complete team, stronger physically and mentally and have Robert Lewandowski as the outstanding scorer in the Champions League this season (13).
The only factor that gives the Catalans a chance against the German machine is wearing the number 10 on the back. With the coach and the rest of the team receiving harsh criticism, Barcelona fans are counting on another magical night for Messi. On the other hand, Liverpool and Rome have proven in the last two years that one flea is not enough to win the top European factory. So this is what we'll get tonight: a football genius against a well-oiled machine with a formidable scorer.
In its precarious situation, Barcelona are grateful that the ticket to the semi-finals will not be decided in a double encounter, because with Messi in his best version and a significant improvement in defense - Barça can beat any team in 90 minutes. Especially if Griezmann and Suarez justify trusting them.
Manuel Neuer. Veteran and safe // Photo: GettyImages
Dembele will return to the squad after not playing an official game for the past nine months, and ironically, his last rival was also German - ex-Borussia Dortmund. After a disappointing first season, Dembele played just nine games this year - a meager number for someone who came as Neymar's replacement for 150 million euros plus 40 million bonuses.
The second player to arrive to fill the void left by Neymar's departure - Filippa Coutinho, will likely be on the bench for Bayern today. If Coman does not open due to injury, the Brazilian may get a chance, and the one who will certainly be absent is defender Benjamin Faber. Barcelona on the other hand will miss Omititi. And what is tactical? Bayern Munich 4-2-3-1 vs. Barcelona's possible 4-4-2.
A German derby between the posts
with all due respect to the meeting of Tiago and Arturo Vidal against their axes, and even to that between Lewandowski and Messi - the most intriguing and spicy battle in the war in Lisbon tonight will be between the posts.
Bayern Munich captain and German team Manuel Neuer, against heir Marc Andre Ter-Stegen. After Noir was favored in the World Cup despite only returning from injury, the Barcelona goalkeeper has publicly admitted that he is disappointed and finds no explanation for the coach's decision not to give him the first goalkeeper's jersey - which angered Bayern men. Even Neuer replied to himself that although he is no longer 17, he is still the best, and team chairman Carl Heinz Rummenigge said that "Neuer is a world-class goalkeeper, Ter-Stegen on the way there."
Mark Andre Ter Stegen. Neuer's successor in the German national team // Photo: AFP
Eight years separate the German goalkeepers who show a very high ability this season combined with composure and a strong personality. If one-on-one and Ter-Stegen foot play is better, Neuer is better than him when it comes to height play. And there is no better stage for both of them to prove that number one of the Manshaft deserves them.
Where will the champion come from?
The game tonight will bring together two luxury clubs without top-notch coaches. They both did not start the season on the team, but while Hans-Diet Flick was a huge success - in terms of ability and numbers - Kika Stein not only lost the Spanish championship and confidence in his locker room, but also broke his promise of beautiful football. At least tonight no one will criticize him if he gets the ticket to the semifinals in a bad game.
Bayern last won the Champions League in 2013 and Barcelona in 2015. Too long in terms of that