Chapter 625: Business Conflict

QPR stepped up their preparations.

Modric may return in time, but it will be difficult for Fernandinho, Klose and others to catch up with the first round.

Simeone urgently transferred Eric Dier from the youth team as a backup.

Of course, Dell may not be able to start the game. Simeone is considering starting with the 4231 formation at home, playing offensive football and trying to win the game at home.

Barcelona's lineup is very neat, and the regular main players have no injuries or suspensions due to red or yellow cards, so QPR has to face a Cosmos team that is 100% committed.

However, Simeone wants to play against such a team.

Many teams have tried to play against Barcelona in the past, and everyone knows the consequences. Even Real Madrid was badly beaten when playing against Barcelona.

But Ricardo had no intention of persuading Simeone.

You still have to dream a little bit, and if you can beat Barcelona with offensive football, it will feel great.

At the pre-match press conference, Simeone confidently announced the starting lineup in advance.

Goalkeeper Handanovic, defenders Sandro, Alderweireld, Miranda and Walker, midfielders Pogba and Nainggolan, attacking midfielder De Bruyne, Ricardo on the left, Neymar On the right, veteran Ronaldo single arrow.

Modric never fully recovered, but Simeone decided to put him on the bench. In addition, there are Icardi, Coutinho, Eric Dier, Van Dijk, Maicon and Courtois on the bench.

Not to be outdone, Guardiola announced the starting lineup in advance: goalkeeper Valdes, defenders Alves, Pique, Mascherano, and Alba, midfielder Habaib, Sanchez on the left, Messi on the right, and forward Calabash.

"We don't know much about QPR," Guardiola said. "They are new in the Champions League and their performance has been up and down. I don't think they can be defined by their performance in the group stage and the first two knockout games."

"I have carefully studied their game videos and Simeone's team played very interestingly. And just like Messi is our core, Liccardo is also the core of QPR. And these two core players are difficult to be replaced. Frozen."

"I won't try to freeze Liccardo in the game, that's impossible. I would rather use overall football to beat the opponent. Barcelona's reputation is justified, QPR is not a weak team, but I believe that in the two After the match, they can deeply feel the gap between them and the real giants."

Simeone retorted: "Barcelona is very strong this season. They are far ahead in La Liga and are very likely to win the championship several rounds in advance. But I think Guardiola does not understand that the Champions League is not La Liga. If he thinks that the Premier League champions will compete with If the teams in the middle and lower reaches of La Liga are just as easy to deal with, then he is very wrong. I would be happy for him to realize his mistake during the game."

"We achieved great success last season, winning the top flight for the first time in our history and the FA Cup for the first time in our history. We continue to make history this season, reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time and for the first time Entering the Champions League quarter-finals. It feels great to create history. My players enjoy this feeling. We also enjoy the feeling of meeting a giant of Barcelona's level. If we can beat it, it will be even better."

"I reiterate, I don't expect to win the Champions League, nor do I expect to reach the final. I just want to meet Barcelona and beat them."

Guardiola rolled his eyes and responded: "You can keep dreaming."

Although QPR and Barcelona faced each other in an official match for the first time in history, there was a lot of tension before the game.

Some fans don't understand why there seems to be a strong sense of confrontation between QPR and Barcelona.

Until the media pointed out: "Last season, Messi missed the Ballon d'Or. If he wants to revisit this honor this season, Liccardo will be his biggest opponent. The match between the two teams in the Champions League will become important." basis for judgment.”

"Messi himself is not necessarily hostile to Ricardo.

But players and coaches who want to help Messi win the Ballon d'Or again must regard Ricardo as a thorn in their side, and they are also hostile to QPR. "

"QPR players and Simeone have similar emotions towards Barcelona. Messi and Ronaldo are Ricardo's biggest enemies to win the Ballon d'Or again."

However, both Messi and Ricardo denied any hostility towards each other.

"Messi is one of the greatest players of this century. I am very happy to be born in the same era and compete with him. Our confrontation makes football attract more fans," Liccardo said in an interview Said, "My personal relationship with Messi is nothing more than that. He is a humble and good man. After retiring, I think I will continue to keep in touch with him."

Messi also said: "Ricardo is the contemporary king of football, and I have a deep understanding of his greatness. When I was in La Liga, my confrontation with him was one of the biggest hot spots in the league. I hope that in the next games, He can play perfectly, and I want to beat him who is perfect. Of course, the reality may not be as expected, or it may be that I play perfectly, but lose to him. This is the charm of football, too many Uncertainty. Although QRP are new to the Champions League, they are the favorites to win. In fact, a team with Liccardo is always the favorite. We will do our best to strive for a good result."

At 8:45 pm on April 2, this world-famous match started at Loftus Road Stadium.

The starting lineups of both sides are just as announced by the two head coaches at the pre-match press conference. They are both proud people and disdain to lie.

Before the game started, Ronaldo and Ricardo did not say hello to their former acquaintances. Liccardo and Messi exchanged a look and it was considered a greeting.

As for Pique and Habaib, these are old rivals, not friends, so there is no need to talk more.

After the start of the game, both teams implemented high-position pressing tactics. Relatively speaking, Barcelona's pressing was more efficient and the ball was more skillful, so from the perspective of the scene, Barcelona had a slight upper hand.

But it was QPR who took the lead in creating a threat. Only 7 minutes into the drive, De Bruyne quickly turned around and sent a diagonal pass after receiving a cross from Ricardo. Neymar inserted into the penalty area to get the ball, dunked Pique from a small angle and hit a close corner. The football hit the post and popped out. Ronaldo followed up with a follow-up shot, but was blocked by Mascherano.

The fans at the scene let out a frustrated sigh.

"If this goal is scored, QPR will be much easier to play in the next game. They only need to shrink their formation and counterattack." The commentator also sighed.

Liccardo didn't think it was anything. QPR has not been very lucky in the past two seasons, but it turns out that QPR can perform miracles without luck.

Tonight will be no exception.

The mighty Barcelona will definitely fall at Loftus Road!