Chapter 630: Round 2
In fact, before the first round, the English media did not look down on QPR very much.
Except for a few newspapers such as Spain's World Sports and Every Sports that clamored that Barcelona could massacre QPR in the away game, most neutral media believed that QPR, currently ranked second in the Premier League points, would not be too embarrassed at home.
Facts also prove the professionalism of these media.
Not only were QPR not embarrassed, they also won the game at home - although the process was not smooth, the result was not bad.
However, after the first round of the game, most media were pessimistic about QPR's promotion prospects.
Barcelona holds two away goals in their hands, which is too fatal.
Back at home, Barcelona only needs to win 1:0 or 2:1 to advance.
QPR wants to draw with their opponents away from home? It's too difficult.
Even if Messi can't play, he can't do it.
It's not that QPR is not strong.
But Barcelona is too strong.
How domineering it is to reach the Champions League semi-finals for 6 consecutive years!
Although QPR has strength, it is their first time participating in the Champions League, so they lack experience. Their grasp of the rhythm of the game, the distribution of physical fitness, and the referee's standards are not clear enough.
So they can perform amazingly at home, but when they get to Camp Nou, they may not be able to perform so well.
In this regard, Liccardo said mischievously in an interview: "Football is round. Anything can happen on the football field. The team with stronger paper strength may not always win, right?"
QPR is still stepping up training, and the imaginary enemy is still Barcelona.
But before the second round, they have to play a league game.
Their league rivals Manchester United have been eliminated from the Champions League and are now focused on preparing for the league. This is not good news for QPR.
On the evening of April 7, a tired QPR faced Wigan Athletic at home.
Wigan Athletic is currently ranked second from bottom and in the relegation zone. They are 2 points behind Sunderland, which is third from bottom, and five points behind Newcastle, which is fourth from bottom. For them, every point is precious.
Facing the powerful QPR, it is certainly impossible for them to play away from home.
In this game, Simeone rotated most of the players, while Wigan Athletic set up a bus, and the two sides fought 0:0 in the first half.
In the 54th minute of the second half, Liccardo suddenly showed his power, took the ball in the midfield and ran 40 meters, passing three people in a row, and fired an angry shot from the edge of the penalty area through Wigan Athletic's goal.
However, the tenacious Wigan Athletic were not willing to surrender, and they began to counterattack vigorously.
QPR had physical problems and was unable to maintain a high-intensity press.
In the 86th minute, their goal finally fell.
The 1:1 score brought QPR's points to 77 points, which is currently the same as Manchester United, but Manchester United has one game less.
However, Manchester United's opponent in this round is their city rival Manchester City, so QPR players still have a little expectation in their hearts.
One day later, the match between Manchester United and Manchester City was held at Old Trafford. At this time, QPR was on the plane flying to Barcelona.
With the score tied at 0:0 in the first half, Manchester City scored two goals from Sergio Aguero and Silva. Only at the last minute did Manchester United get a goal back from Evra.
Manchester United lost 1:2 at home.
After 32 rounds of league games, Manchester United and QPR have 77 points together, and Manchester United temporarily tops the list with a slight goal difference.
Manchester City is third and Chelsea is fourth. They are both more than ten points behind Manchester United and QPR. The championship will inevitably be born between Manchester United and QPR.
The relieved QPR were able to focus more on preparing for the game against Barcelona.
The game started on time at 8:45 pm on April 10th.
Messi failed to recover from injury in time and returned to the starting lineup. Mascherano was suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards. Barcelona's lineup today is not complete.
Goalkeeper Valdes, defenders Alves, Pique, Adriano and Alba. Adriano is a full-back and today he plays as a central defender.
The midfielder is still Habaib, and the forwards are Pedro, Villa and Fabregas. Calabash moved to the wing today, with Fabregas acting as a false nine.
QPR's lineup has also been fine-tuned, with goalkeeper Handanovic, defenders Alex Sandro, Van Dijk, Miranda and veteran Maicon, midfielder Fernandinho, midfielder Modric and Napoli Ingram, there are three Brazilians on the front line: Ricardo, Ronaldo and Neymar.
There are 6 Brazilians in the starting lineup, which can be regarded as half of the Brazilian national team.
After the opening, QPR did not launch a fierce high-position press, but adopted a defensive posture and stationed troops in the backcourt.
Barcelona has always played with the ball.
In the first 20 minutes, both sides created several dangers but did not really create a threat, and then QPR recovered even more.
The fans at Camp Nou booed one after another, expressing their dissatisfaction with QPR's retreat.
Simeone was unimpressed.
If it comes to the first round, he just wants to play QPR's style and doesn't care about the outcome.
So at this time, what he was thinking about was how to advance to the next round.
QPR resolutely played defensive counterattack, and their counterattack was indeed sharp enough. Barcelona did not dare to be careless, and the defense did not dare to press for assists, maintaining the integrity of the defense line.
In the 22nd minute, Villa sent a cross, and Fabregas' shot in the penalty area was blocked. Pedro grabbed the second spot and passed the ball, which bounced off the defender. He grabbed the ball again and shot, hitting the side net.
Although the ball did not go in, the QPR fans at the scene were shocked.
2 minutes later, Villa passed the ball after a breakthrough. Iniesta took the ball in the penalty area and shot immediately, but was blocked by the defender.
QPR's defense was very dense and Barcelona couldn't come up with a good solution.
At this time, QPR counterattacked, and the football naturally came to Liccardo's feet. After he rushed through the midfield with the ball, he started to cut inside, passing Xavi and Adriano in a row, and suddenly distributed the ball at the front of the penalty area, and the football was handed to inside. Mal.
Neymar took a single step, but the step was a bit too big, and he had to fall to the ground to stab. Valdes struck very timely. When the Barcelona fans were furious, he bravely passed the ball with his fingertips. After dialing it, the football spun and flew towards the bottom line.
Nainggolan stepped in at high speed and shot into the empty goal, but he missed the ball by a little.
Very thrilling.
QPR fans hugged their heads. If this goal is scored, the rest of the game for QPR will be very easy to play.
But it's a pity, if you miss it, you miss it.
3 minutes later, QPR created another killing opportunity. In the counterattack, Modric sent a precise direct pass of more than 30 meters. After receiving the ball, Ricardo broke through Alves' defense and sent a cross. Neymar used his header, which he is not good at, when no one was marking him from the far point. Attacking the goal, he hit it a little straight, and Valdez saved the ball from the baseline.
Neymar took a corner kick, Van Dijk grabbed the point and hit a rebound ball, but the trajectory deviated from the goal.
But just as the football was about to fly out of the baseline, a foot suddenly appeared and swept the ball into the goal.
Ricardo started running to celebrate.
But after the referee blew his whistle, he pointed to the penalty area and signaled Barcelona to take a free kick.
The linesman had raised his flag and Ricardo was offside during the relay.
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