FC Barcelona vs Stuttgart - Champions League Second Leg Preview
FC Barcelona will start as firm favourite to qualify for the next stage of this season's Champions league. Barca struggled at Stuttgart but escaped with a crucial away goal - FC Barcelona vs Stuttgart 1st Leg Match Report. Stuttgart may consider extremely unlucky for not winning that tie after causing serious concerns to Barca throughout the match. Eventhough FC Barcelona's Away form has not been impressive lately, they have been a real force at home. They are playing nowhere near last season's form, but has been somewhat confident at Home. This match has to be a clash between German Efficiency against the Spanish Flair. The failure of the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, to force home the advantage of playing the second leg at home should serve as a reminder for us about the risks involved in the tasks. Complacency is the last thing you want from your players ahead of such a crucial tie. Guardiola has already pointed that - he wants his team to score goal rather than rest on the crucial away goal, indeed a very wise startegy. Guardiola has almost the entire squad available for selection, except Keita.
Lionel Messi Once Again Is the Crucial Man for Barca
Lionel Messi has been saving us for the last couple of matches. The trend might continue in this match also. Barca's preparation for this match has been encouraged with the 3-0 victory against Valencia at home, meanwhile Stuttgart lost their away game at
Schalke this weekend. I have run a poll into the build up of this match asking whether we should start with Ibrahimovic - the majority of Barca fans here believe so. We will most probably see a frontline of Messi, Ibrahimovic and Henry. Henry will be looking to continue with his excellent performance in last match. The midfield shoudl contain the little maestros - Xavi and Iniesta but I would prefer Toure ahead of Busquest as he could present a more physical option to Stuttgart attacks. The defense line-up most probably will have the old look with Alves, Puyol, Pique and Maxweel combining together. Puyol has resumed training, if he is not fit we have got Milito to fill in the shoes. Stuttgart may have surprised us with a tremendous performance in the first leg, but a repeat of the same is very unlikely. I predict Barca to win 2 - 0, with Lionel Messi getting into the score sheet.