In the first match of the second round of the Champions
League on February 23, "Arsenal" will take on its field"Barcelona"
at 07.45.
Arsene Wenger's charges are on the brink of relegation
from the main European competition, but in the last rounds were able to tip the
scales in their favor and jump on the bandwagon of the train, go to the
playoffs of the Champions League Football. Victory with an identical score of
3: 0 over Zagreb "Dinamo" and "Olympiakos" (in the away
match with the last "Gunners" needed to win by two goals) allowed to
leave the group in the second position.
Successful breakthrough in the Champions League soccer play-off
coincided with the beginning of a successful series of "Arsenal",
which since 21 November 2015 has only lost twice in all competitions. With this
performance the team not only took place in the next round of the European Cup,
but also fighting for the championship in England and made it to the 1/8 finals
of the National Cup. On the eve of a duel with the Catalan club, Londoners are
unbeaten in five games, while in the hospital is only one key performer -
midfielder Santi Cazorla.
The current winner of the Champions League has not yet
experienced any problems with the new European Cup season. Wards Luis Enrique
won four matches in the group stage and two matches brought a draw. This last
one took place after the release of "Barcelona" in the playoffs.
Catalans unbeaten in all competitions has 32 match - the last time the team was
weaker than their opponents, October 3, 2015 in a match against Examples of
"Sevilla".
Moreover, Barça only twice reduced draw their matches in
2016: since then, as a team of Luis Enrique draw with "Espanyol"
January 3 in the Spanish Cup, he scored nine wins out of ten. The exception was
the former formality match with "Valencia" in the country after the
defeat levantiytsev Cup with a score of 7: 0. The staffing situation at the
"Barcelona" more favorable - only injured Rafinha, whereas in January
the team can count on the summer beginners Arda Turan and Aleysha Vidal.
Both soccer teams scored a good shape, so the game
promises a tight script. It is important to note that in the previous two duels
of these teams in the Champions League Football Londoners Catalans have not
lost at home: a draw in 2010, 2: 2, and a season later - home win 2: 1.
