What: Champions League (Round of 16)
Who: Barcelona (1) vs Arsenal (2) (First leg scores in brackets)
When: Tuesday 8th March, 2011, at 19:45 UK time
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Attack is the best form of defence
Barcelona’s status as Europe’s most talented team cannot be questioned, but falling short of the final for a second straight year would be a damaging blow to their aura of invincibility. And so, for all the drama in the buildup to El Clasico in November, this second leg is Barcelona’s biggest game of the season thus far.
Given that the Barcelona rearguard is likely to be depleted, the emphasis will be on attack against an Arsenal team which has more talent and belief than the side that was demolished at the Camp Nou in 2010. With Victor Valdes and Gerard Pique already ruled out, Josep Guardiola will be urging his players to be ruthless at the other end.
And Guardiola, who has been in hospital after picking up a back injury, is confident that his side can handle the pressure on the occasion. “I have faith in my players,” he said. “They have achieved too much in a short space of time for me not to have faith in them.”
Domestically, the Catalans have put Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in their rear view mirror, building a substantial lead. Though no one should ever count out a Mourinho team, La Liga is Barcelona’s to lose. Yet a league triumph while Real Madrid won the Champions League would take the gloss off another title win; it is Barcelona’s job to ensure that does not happen – by winning the trophy themselves.
Season-defining night
Arsenal have made plenty of big statements this season about their quality and improvement, but this will be the ultimate test of the spirit and resilience of Arsene Wenger’s young group.
The memories of last year’s humbling 4-1 loss still linger, however with Jack Wilshere now implanted in the first team and Samir Nasri blossoming, the Gunners enter the game with more belief and more options.
With a Treble up for grabs, this will be a season-defining night. If Arsenal emerge with a spot in the quarter-finals, few would bet against them using that motivation to outlast Manchester United in the Premier League title race. However, a defeat could spread self-doubt.
Midfielder Nasri believes the first leg victory showed how far the team has come over the past 12 months. He said: “Last year we were a little scared of Barcelona because they are fantastic and play amazing football and we were surprised how good they were. This year we said, ‘Look, they are fantastic and if we lose to them it will be normal because they are the best team in the world.’ So there was no pressure on us and we played our normal game and showed everyone we can beat them and be at their level.”
Recent form
Barcelona:
Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona (26/02; La Liga)
Valencia 0-1 Barcelona (02/03; La Liga)
Barcelona 1-0 Real Zaragoza
(05/03; La Liga)
Arsenal:
Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham
(27/02; Carling Cup)
Arsenal 5-0 Leyton Orient
(02/03; FA Cup)
Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
(05/03; Premier League)
Key absences
Barcelona: Carles Puyol; Gerard Pique; Victor Valdes
Arsenal: Cesc Fabregas (doubt); Robin van Persie; Theo Walcott; Thomas Vermaelen
Players to watch
Barcelona – Lionel Messi: The Argentine wizard torched the Gunners in last season’s second leg at the Camp Nou and he will be the biggest threat, cutting in from the right and linking with David Villa. He is the man who will be giving Wenger most nightmares. Pedro can sometimes be overlooked in the sea of big names at Barcelona, but his all-round game continues to impress.
Arsenal – Gael Clichy: The Frenchman’s tussle with Messi will ultimately be decisive. If Clichy can keep the Argentine quiet, Arsenal’s chances of reaching the last eight will sky rocket. With the Gunners expected to play much of the game on the back foot, young keeper Wojciech Szczesny must keep his cool in the most tense and intimidating atmosphere of his career.
Match Prediction
After the hype surrounding Arsenal’s first leg victory, it is easy to forget that Barcelona could have been out of sight by half-time. In Messi, Andres Iniesta, Pedro and Villa, the hosts have too much quality to be contained by an Arsenal defence that remains shaky. While the loss of defensive rock Puyol is a concern, Guardiola’s men should prevail and increase Wenger’s Champions League frustration.
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