******* OFFICAL La Liga Thread *******

It's not very often you see Barca having to defend in their final 1/3rd. They don't get examined nearly enough in the the league. In the CL group stages they always get a couple of teams who either hold them to draws by parking the bus or they beat narrowly with a moment of quality, it's just we're too busy watching the Prem teams games to pay much attention. Any team that plays Barca will get one or two runs at their defence, mostly because they always have a massive gap at the back because they play most of the game pitched in the opponents half, it's just most don't keep their composure and take advantage, then don't defend well enough at the other end and get the sword put through them.

They could still win tonight, but Sporting are making a game of it through their tactics and solid defending, rather than it just being because a Barca team with Messi, Villa, Iniesta, Xavi e.t.c. is too busy thinking about a tie they won 6-3 on aggregate last year.
 
Sporting tiring now, with about 10mins left. Deserve the win just for being so obdurate, although if they're cramping up now I dunno if they'll be able to hold on.

Ha! 1-1. Super chip but the keeper shouldn't have been so far off his line, the pleb.
 
1st game in ages that ive seen a lot off barca players having a bad night. Iniesta,messi, villa and many more have been poor. But it only takes a few touches of magic and they equal. I think the international game mid week has taken its toll on the players. Sporting have defended very well with a bus
 
They've closed down and marked the players properly too, which involves a lot more work than just sitting deep and defending for your lives. Messi has been marked out of the game most of the night.
 
Sporting would have won if they keeper hadn't been such a twerp. Hopefully Arsenal can take some inspiration, although Arsenal and 'defend' don't inspire much confidence, especially if Squiallaci is playing.
 
Barca without Puyol seem to be lost. Every time he isn't playing, the whole team plays poorly. Puyol is out for the Arsenal game as well. Piqué was terrible. Almost gave away a goal near the end.
 
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