'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After an exhilarating 2-1 win over Barcelona in the first leg of the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal are all set to take on the Blaugrana tonight at Camp Nou. In what promises to be the most exciting 90 minutes of football, the two famous clubs will fight out for a place in last 8 round in a must win game for the host team.Barcelona will have to hold Arsenal scoreless by 1-0 as that will put them through on away goals or win by a two goal margin. Both the sides are capable of winning the game but here I provide 5 ways Barcelona can beat Arsenal.
Scoring Early:Nothing can stop Guardiola’s boys from progressing into the last eight if they can score early on. This will calm the nerves of their makeshift defense and send the crowds roaring. It will thus put extra pressure on the Gunners and they will find it very tough to make a comeback. Even a 1-0 win would ensure the host a place in the last 8.However, Wenger’s side is known to make a strong comeback and Barca have to be very careful. Even a slightest mistake can deny them their Quarter Final berth but I don’t think Arsenal will find Barcelona letting down, even slightly as they did in the first leg.
The Messi Magic:If there is anyone on the football field who can influence a team’s fate with his individual brilliance, it is Lionel Messi. Who can forget how he single handedly dashed Arsenal’s hopes when he scored four goals in their 4-1 triumph against the same opponent last year?
Messi is very capable of repeating his performance and the whole world hopes that he steps up his game tonight and produces some individual brilliance and takes Barca to the next round of UEFA Champions League.
Good Build-up:Most of the best goals in Football are a result of good build-up and Barcelona are the masters at it. It starts with Victor Valdes with numerous touches in the middle with Messi providing the final touch into the net.Though Barca struggled to play a good build-up game in the Emirates and adopted the long ball tactics, it will be a different game here with the crowds back up, as they will look to built from the back and strategically break down the Arsenal’s defence.
Home Ground Effect:Playing in home ground is the biggest advantage that a team has when playing against a strong opponent. The Camp Nou seems to settle Barcelona and give them dominating possession in the opening minutes.The home crowd needs to rise to the occasion and put an impact on the game just the way the Arsenal fans did it at the Emirates. The players need to respond with confidence and intimidation on the field.The players should begin dominating from the start and with every elegant and crispy move; the home side should elicit roars and applause. Camp Nou effect can definitely help Barcelona.
Making Their Experience Count:If there is anything that Arsenal lacks over Barcelona, it is ‘Experience’. Most of the Barca players are experienced at playing high tension games and often turn the results to their advantage winning it all together.On the contrary, though Arsenals are gifted with talented youngsters, for few of them this is by far the most important match of their lives viz, keeper Wojciech Szczesny, and defender Laurent Koscielny. So there are chances that the youngsters might succumb to pressure and commit some mistakes. Barcelona on the other hand, will try to capitalize both on their experience and Arsenals in-experience.
