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Here's another pertinent salient fact: the fact that ALL of Barca's European Cup/Champions League triumphs to date have invariably been part of a European Double (or Treble) (La Liga title and European Cup/Champions League trophy). I figured that since Barca were already that much ahead in the La Liga standings they could begin to prioritize the CL a little bit (forget about an unbeaten La Liga season) by resting key players. But Valverde had other ideas. Wanted to preserve the unbeaten La Liga record. So yes in some ways it does feel like a lost opportunity. Oh well can't win em all all the time I suppose. We already have. Twice What other team can say that?

Hello comrades.

The fans applauded the team throughout yesterday's game against Valencia at the Camp Nou and gave Andrés Iniesta a massive ovation. The fans have been with the team and even though they were disappointed, I can't see Suárez directing those comments at the fans and instead aiming at the press (especially the Barcelona based press) who made some really stinging criticisms of the team's performance in the Olympic Stadium in Rome. As far as I'm concerned the criticisms on Barça's performance against Roma in the second leg were all fair seeing as they were all aimed in one argument based on complacency and not respecting their opponent that evening. Roma played well, but Barcelona are the better side and a better side with the benefit of a 4-1 head start coming into that second game. The Barcelona players can't start to try and erase the fact from that evening and it's best to keep quiet and praise the Barça fans who are 100% with the team... Only the fans matter, ALWAYS!

you can tell when Mrs @Cannabis isn't talking to him because he goes posting in topics about a year old

Good news... Just seen my updated source and all 10 episodes are ready to watch... That's my next few nights of viewing sorted

could be both

Hello darkness my old friend...

I was very surprised when I heard about this. He almost had tears in his eyes when he talked about it. Definitely a good sign, and a completely new side of him

agree on both parts. I like aggressive driving and courageous, brave driving but it's not always about being aggressive all the time. There's a time and a place for it and that's what separates the good from the great. As you say, age is on his side because he can learn to be aggressive and reap the rewards for it, as opposed to causing incidents and/or controversy.

Don't take this the wrong way mate, but the fact you feel the way you do about the Champions League I reckon it's because you're not European. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's just that everyone I've ever known from outside the continent of Europe has always swayed that way. That aside... Anyone can beat anyone in a one off game and Real Madrid aren't perfect, much less THIS particular Real Madrid. Their feats over the past two years are misleading everyone to believe otherwise but results (aside from their disastrous domestic season) in Europe analysed properly also show us that it's more a game of nerves and mental excercises for rivals than what's really out there. Real Madrid are more vulnerable than over the past two years and this should be a major factor in anyone meeting them in what's remaining of the tournament. The issue is that the four remaining teams all have their issues from entity size to question marks on other factors which could mean it all equals itself out in the benefit of Madrid... Who knows, we'll see soon enough! Another thing... I've mentioned it before! Due to the size of Real Madrid, how they're run, how the entity (Florentino Pérez) runs the club, the direction that club is run... If they don't win the Champions League this season coupled with the disaster domestically on all fronts, they will be the total focus of everything in the hell hole that the Spanish sports media is. Infact no credence or media coverage will hit the eventual winners of the Champions League and the Barcelona press will also hit as hard as they can for the summer months which will seem eternal to the Madrid cavern... It could mean mayhem in that entity all the way from the bottom to the very top. Barça's season will all of a sudden become one of their greatest and Real Madrid will be in total tatters. That's the way it works in Spain.

YES PHIL. But it's significant because you can tell the quality of the drivers when you see Verstappen nearly causing 2 incidents and Ricciardo sailing clean through. Plus Hamilton should've pitted during the safety car. Not sure why they didn't and we may not be having this discussion if they did!

Yes, but once again poor strategy by Merc, they should have pitted Hamilton behind Verstappen...

The Roma result only happened days ago so it's going to take a bit of time to get over for both players and fans alike, but both will be happy and smiling at the end of the season if this unbeaten run continues and the copa del rey is lifted for a 4th time consecutive. Going out of the Champions league early(I say that as this team is good enough to win it!) after being 4-1 up is terrible and can really over shadow a season but at the same time, winning a domestic double(and potentially winning a league over 38 games undefeated) is definitely something to celebrate.

You do realise he's Finnish, right?

Those people are insane