Lionel Messi 4, Arsenal 1

He's the Messi-ah.
4 goals is phenomenal. Yet somehow, it doesn't strike me as odd that he did it. He's gonna start making the absurd seem mundane at the pace he's tearing up European futbol.

Ray Hudson said it right a couple of weeks ago when he said "Trying to understand his greatness is like trying to count the number of bubbles in a champagne bottle."

Maybe DCU can use one of their DP slots on Messi.

He shouldn't cost too much......

It's too bad Messi can't score against English teams. I only hope I have the opportunity to see him lift a World Cup trophy. If he does, I think he'll be listed in the same breath as Maradona and Pele, and deservedly so.

Get it while it's hot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_iYAWt5YGs

The best.

"He made the impossible possible," said the Arsenal manager. "He has six or seven years in front of him, touch wood that nothing happens to him, and he can reach unbelievable levels."

That's the losing manager saying that... Unreal praise.

Duke/Butler. Messi. Gonna be tough for Wednesday to match Monday and Tuesday this week.

There are few adjectives of praise that can't be used. Nay, none.

I am utterly dumbfounded.

MESSI!

hey Goff whats with the English news links bias? aren't we unfortunate enough to have them taking over the in-game commentating already? (thank you fox sports espanol today!)

@Bucky_Badger,

As in Bucky from the Big 10 tournament in Madison in like 2001?

Ben

That 4th goal...what a great stop and go on the 18, and then a nutmeg for a goal...

Duke/Butler. Messi. Gonna be tough for Wednesday to match Monday and Tuesday this week.

Posted by: OWNTF
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True. Wed, Thur and Fri will come up short, but at least there is the United-Union classico on Saturday! ;-)

Jose Mourinho is a better manager. Inter is a better team. If the referees let them play, they win. It's all up to Michel Platini and who he wants in the final.

Inter is a better team? Won't matter...

I'll admit that Inter are playing well at the moment, but Barcelona has already played them twice in the group round, drawing 0-0 at the San Siro and winning 2-0 at Camp Nou. It will be interesting to see if Inter's form has improved enough.

Inter isn't playing on the same level as Barca.

Based on what happened in the first legs, today's games could prove to be quite tasty.

hey Goff whats with the English news links bias? aren't we unfortunate enough to have them taking over the in-game commentating already? (thank you fox sports espanol today!)
Posted by: GraciasRiquelme
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Yeah. I was hoping for a few news sites in Malayalam, Cantonese, and Tagalog to avoid the European bias and, you know, to appeal to the readers of soccer Insider.

Spain's leading newspaper:
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/prensa/mundial/rinde/Messi/pequeno/maestro/elpepudep/20100407elpepudep_5/Tes

Spain's leading sports source:
http://www.marca.com/index.html?a=3f7357251cc6be6f4385f32a8bd303c9&t=1270651653

The 'special on' will review film of Barca CL games from top to bottom...his strategy will be a positional strategy to overload Messi's side...Messi may be neutralized by the 'special ones' tactic, but Barca is a 'special team' with other great players...imo, 1 - 0 Barca in first leg; unless Inter gets enough set plays from shooting range to take advantage of their height and muscle.

Boogie_Knight, Inter is a better team?

They sure look like they are ripping through Serie A. The coaching match-up will be interesting if it comes to that point.

I just dont think guys like Sneijder, Thiago, and Cambiasso will be able to stop the Xavi-Iniesta-Yaya MF.

And Barcelona's speed at up front will be too much for Lucio, Zannetti and Samuel.

Here is a nice link to video highlights:
http://www.video-highlights.net/barcelona-arsenal-video-highlights/

GRACIAS A DIOS MESSI ES ARGENTINO....NUESTRO PAIS AMA EL FUTBOL (COMO NADIE EN EL MUNDO)EL SENTIMIENTO ARGENTINO SOBREPASA TODA PASION DE TODO EL PLANETA...AYER STABILE SIVORI DISTEFANO CORBATA MARADONA MESSI ENTRE TANTOS OTROS..OJALA DIOS SE ACUERDE DE NOSOTROS Y NOS REGALE LA 5 ESTRELLA 2 MUNDIALES Y 2 OROS OLIMPICOS...

This is what many non-english language papers are saying, with my translation when necessary:
Traigan adjetivos, que elogios sobran (Bring adjectives, we have more than enough praise)

Compañeros, rivales, argentinos, españoles, brasileños. Todos se rinden ante la inmensidad de Messi. Acá, algunas de las sentencias que se escucharon y leyeron después de sus cuatro goles al Arsenal:
(Teammates, opponents, Argentines, Spaniards, Brasilians. Everyone bows to Messi’s greatness. Following are a few statements heard and read after his 4 goal performance against Arsenal).

Diario Lance! (Brasil): "Messi, Messi, Messi e Messi: Show e semifinal".

Globo Esporte (Brasil): "De outro planeta". (from another planet)

Diario As (España): "Messi da miedo: no es de este mundo". (Messi is scary: he is not from this world)

Diario Sport (España): "No diga fútbol, diga Messi". (Don’t say futbol, say Messi)

Diario de Hoy (El Salvador): "Messi está contento, el mundo también". (Messi is happy and so is the World)

Xavi (jugador del Barcelona): "Messi es un futbolista que sale cada 25 ó 30 años". (every 25 or 30 years you get a player like Messi)

Diario El Observador (Uruguay): "Messi se divirtió y puso al Barca en semifinales". (Messi had fun and took Barca to the semifinals)

Diario The Sun (Inglaterra): "Leo slayer". (Leo asesino)

Pep Guardiola (entrenador de Messi): "Messi es un jugador especial, de altísimo nivel y que fue decisivo". (Messi is a special player, of the highest caliber and he was decisive) The understatement of the year in my humble opinion!

Diario Ultima Hora (Paraguay): "Messi ha vuelto a escribir una nueva página en letras de oro". (Once more, Messi has written a new page in golden letters)

Francisco "Pancho" Ferraro (técnico argentino): "Lionel Messi demostró que es un chico al que sólo le gusta jugar a la pelota". (Lionel Messi has shown that he is a kid whose only pleasure is playing with a ball)

Diario Marca (España): "El mundo a sus pies". (The World is at his feet)

Gazzetta Dello Sport (Italia): "Messi 'e stratosferico". (Messi es de otra galaxia) (Messi is from another galaxy)