We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
These two sides served up a kick-fest only punctuated by the genius of Leo Messi last week. Let's hope they can put the handbags aside today and play some footie. I'm in an interminable "retreat" today that's scheduled for 9am-3pm, but I'm hoping to duck out a wee bit early to get back to the office for this one. Join me?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:47 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
83 Comments:
I'm back after my meeting and looking forward to some scintillating footie from these two Spanish giants. Real obviously have a mighty big hole to dig themselves out of going into their away leg in Barcelona two Messi goals down.
This match has real implications for our PPP Game. There are ten points on the line for those who pick the CL winner.
Here are the people who chose Barca to win the CL:
* AZ Kicker
* Blue Devil
* Gooner71
* ManUtdRules
* Simon
* Thomas
* West Ham Rising
And here are those who chose Real:
* Blubber Boy
* Matthew
Beyond these, Someone Said picked Bayern, who were knocked out earlier. And UWS has picked United who are favored to go through to the final tomorrow.
Teams out on the pitch now:
Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Gerard Pique, 14-Javier Mascherano, 5-Carles Puyol; 16-Sergio Busquets, 6-Xavi, 8-Andres Iniesta; 17-Pedro, 10-Lionel Messi, 7-David Villa.
Real Madrid: 1-Iker Casillas; 17-Alvaro Arbeloa, 18-Raul Albiol, 2-Ricardo Carvalho, 12-Marcelo; 14-Xabi Alonso, 10-Lassana Diarra; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 8-Kaka, 22-Angel Di Maria; 20-Gonzalo Higuain.
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
Very wet conditions this evening in Catalonia. I wonder what effect that will have on the proceedings.
As I look at the Real Madrid line-up, it appears that Jose has thrown the Germans under the bus. No Khedira or Ozil in the starting XI.
And we're off!
Ronaldo with two early runs. He's obviously been stung by the criticism coming out of the first leg. He's going to give it a go.
Jose Mourinho is obviously serving a touchline ban tonight. He's up in the stands watching his side.
Another great run by Ronaldo. You can see the water kicking up as he skips by players.
Barca appear to be the away side here tonight although they're playing in the Nou Camp.
Diarra bowls over Iniesta there and might have picked up a yellow for it.
First shot in anger from Iniesta. A tame effort. Barca starting to click a bit here now.
The commentator Bill Leslie is talking some tosh about how this El Classico series has strained relations within the Spanish national team camp. I can't see it, really. The only Spanish internationals on the Real side are Iker Casillas and Xavi Alonso, who doesn't often feature in the first team. The World Cup winning side was mainly built around Barca's side.
Ten minutes in and very few chances really. Only that tame Iniesta shot to show for a lot of running about.
Bloody hell - Alan Smith is harkening back to the George Graham days of trying to maintain a "clean sheet" until half time. Spare a thought for the punters, Smithy!
The assassin Carvalho hacks down Messi and picks up a yellow. He's claiming that it was his first but it was a bad one. He'll now have to walk on egg shells. He was sent off at the weekend and could easily go again.
Danny Alves matches Ronaldo for pace once again.
I'm back after a chat with my mom and it's half-time at the Nou Camp and 0-0. A long way back now for Real Madrid.
Players back on the pitch now. Mourinho really needs to earn his corn now. I would expect some quick changes as players such as DiMaria and Kaka were fairly woeful in the first half.
An intruder is on the pitch delaying the start of the second half. Moment of fame for the lad.
Ronaldo wins a free kick early doors.
GOAL! Pedro strikes for Barca and that should be that!
I am back in my classroom after a very boring Faculty Meeting!
I am watching the match on Premium but it cuts out every five seconds!
Goal hasn't happened yet
Brilliant move there. A typically incisive ball from Iniesta through to Pedro there and such a clinical finish.
Afternoon, Dave! It seems like it's a day for boring faculty meetings, eh?
Glad to have you on board.
Mourinho's response to that goal is to send Adebayor on to replace Higuain.
No sooner has Adebayor come on as he's seemingly stamped out at Iniesta. Nasty, that, but the ref has let him off with a bollocking.
So Barca are 3-0 up on aggregate now. Surely there's no way back.
Has it been a boring match?
Have Real been in this?
Chances to score?
Now Diarra, or "Lass" (not sure what that nickname is all about) has picked up the yellow that he's been begging for all night. Guardiola is looking pensive now about these wild challenges coming in.
Ronaldo looked up for it in the first ten minutes but they really haven't had any chances to speak of.
Let's have some sending offs now!
ALL FOR BARCA!!
Ronaldo looks a depressed figure.. you should have never left Old Trafford buddy!
I lost my link temporarily and now Xavi swings in a free kick. Cleared out.
Doesn't look likely - it's Real players who are on cards and doing most of the hacking. You might get lucky and have a player or two injured if this keeps up, though.
Oh - off the post. And finally Marcello nets!
1-1 Game on?
Di Maria did well there to regain his composure after his shot rocketed back off the post and calmly feed his partner to score.
I haven't seen it yet but the Beeb said Real have scored!
This could give Real a bit of momentum and make the last half an hour more interesting. But are they capable of scoring another two goals?
What - is your feed stuck in the 80s?
TWO MORE AND THEY'RE THROUGH!!
I wish could watch it... lousy link
It's ridiculous... I can't find another one!
Plenty of time to score two!
I'm on this one:
http://www.domacifilmovi.us/
Not sure what language it's in but the video is good.
"Lass" fouls again. How many does he need before he goes off. He's a really nasty player. Don't like him at all.
Now it's Xavi Alonso's turn to pick up a yellow. Real are really thugging it up again.
Cheers for the link but the school won't let me download it!
How was that not a foul by Mascherano? Does he ever actually get the ball?
Try this one - it's not Veetle:
http://homervisionhd.yolasite.com/
What minute are you on
I am only at the 70th
After that frenetic five minutes, Barca are bossing the midfield again.
I'm in the 72nd.
No luck.. it is the school computer!
The ref has had enough of Ronaldo's antics. David Villa coming off to be replaced by Keita's safe hands.
What are you on - a Colecovision?
Sorry, that was mean. I definitely remember those days of using school computers. No fun. I feel your pain, mate.
What did Ronaldo do?
Now goalscorer Marcelo has gone into the book. By my count that's five Real players on yellows now.
He's been falling over all match and looking plaintively at the referee. Usual stuff.
Xavi Alonso goes in hard again. He's walking a tightrope now. This one has degenerated into a kickfest again.
Apparently they had the sprinklers on at the same time that it was raining. No wonder it's such a rotten surface!
Under ten minutes to play now.
Pedro becomes the first Barca player to go into the book.
The match is petering out at this point.
Mascherano has gone down in a heap after another harsh challenge from "Lass." What will the referee do? No action. The lad should have been off the pitch ages ago IMHO.
The Beeb said that Jose wasn't even in the stands tonight. He stayed at the hotel
Have they shown him on camera?
I thought I saw him in the stands. Maybe not. Adebayor into the book now. What's he playing at?
I can't say that the Special One would have had any answer to this match. It was always going to be a hole too deep to dig out of.
How do you think Fergie will play things tomorrow?
I am not sure
He is worried about Chelsea on the weekend. I can't see how you think the title is up for grabs!
Has United ever thrown away a title at this stage? I can't remember it.
Chelski have to go to Old Trafford and win it convincingly. When was the last time they won at OT?
Last season!!
A draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park cost us the Title
We drew 0-0... on lucky goal and #19 would have been won last season
Ok.... they have to go to Old Trafford and win!!!
A one niller would be good enough to go ahead of us!
They won there last season 2-1!!
I you starting to see my point?
Meant to say
ARE YOU starting to see my point?
I can see your point but I don't see that happening. But I know you - you won't be pleased until the trophy is in Fergie's hands.
At least you can see my point a little!
2 added minutes
So Barca are going to Wembley.... will United follow?
Game is over
Not much better than last week by the looks of it
I am off to college
Talk to you tomorrow
TTFN
What I meant though is that United weren't in a clear lead last season. They didn't go into the last group of matches 6-8 points up and then threw it away. It was tight and Chelski edged you out on the last day.
Cheers, mate! Talk to you tomorrow!
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