Barcelona 2010/11 v Barcelona 15/16: who would win? Football Manager takes a look...
Friday 29 January 2016 15:59, UK
Messi v Messi, Iniesta v Iniesta, Pique v Pique, with some added Xavi, Neymar, Suarez and Mascherano.
Ever wondered how the current crop of Barcelona stars would get on against Pep Guardiola's infamous 2010/11 side?
That discussion will forever be consigned to pub talk, but the team at Football Manager have managed to simulate the encounter in computer form, using the same player and team statistics from the time.
Luis Enrique's current side won five trophies in 2015, and have continued their fine form in 2016 with seven wins out of eight as they launch a trophy assault on all fronts again.
Enrique's team have drawn comparisons to Guardiola's class of 2010/11, who won La Liga, the Champions League and the Club World Cup the following season, but would Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar get through a Barca midfield with Xavi at his peak?
Taking the most common starting XIs from both campaigns, and the stats from the last points of 2010/11 and the first point of 2015/16, here's how the match panned out...
Starting line-ups
Barcelona 2010/11 (4-3-3): Valdes; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Abidal; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Villa, Pedro
Barcelona 2015/16: (4-3-3): Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Match report - first half
1: The 2010/11 Barcelona side get the match underway in front of a packed Nou Camp.
3: Luis Suarez bursts through and shapes to shoot before he is brought down on the edge of the area by Busquets. From the resulting free-kick, the Uruguayan puts the ball into the stands.
21: The first real chance of the match as 2010/11's Messi cuts into the box, moves the ball onto his favoured left foot and strikes the foot of the post with an effort from just over ten yards out.
29: Xavi collects the ball on the left hand side of the pitch and leaps over a challenge from Busquets before hitting a low shot that forces Bravo into a good save to turn the ball around the post.
44: Abidal feeds the ball through to Pedro inside the area. Pedro goes down after a challenge from Daniel Alves and the 2010/11 squad loudly appeal for a penalty but the referee waves play on.
45: 2010/11's Messi beats two defenders before attempting to curl the ball in from just outside the area, but it drifts agonisingly wide of the post.
Half-time: Barcelona 2010/11 0-0 Barcelona 2015/16
Match report - second half
46: 2015/16 Barcelona get the second half underway.
59: The current Barcelona side have a corner which Neymar drifts into the box; Mascherano flicks a header towards goal but Valdes reacts quickly and palms the ball away.
64: GOAL! 2015/16 Barcelona! (1-0, Suarez) A beautifully weighted ball from Messi reaches Suarez who is one-on-one with Valdes. The former Liverpool man strokes the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the current crop.
67: GOAL! 2015/16 Barcelona! (2-0, Suarez) It's a quickfire double for Luis Enrique's side as a superb direct pass from Ivan Rakitic sets Neymar through on the left wing. The Brazilian dribbles into the box and draws in two defenders before laying the ball off to Suarez to side foot home from close range.
78: GOAL! 2015/16 Barcelona! (3-0, Messi) This is turning into an emphatic win but the 2010/11 side are masters of their own downfall for this one. The move starts with some lovely play on the wing from the 2010/11 Dani Alves which sees him beat three opponents but his final ball is poor and the current Barca side launch a counter-attack. Suarez plays in Neymar who, left unopposed since Alves is still up the other end of the pitch, sprints into the box and pulls the ball back for Messi to tap in.
83: Guardiola's team continue to plug away at the three goal deficit but stick to their tiki-taka philosophy, trying to pick holes in the current defence. Alves presses forward once more and feeds a nice ball to Messi who slams the ball into the net only to see the linesman's flag raised for offside.
86: It's Messi, to Neymar, to Suarez but the Uruguayan sends his header just wide of the post for what would have been his hat-trick.
89: GOAL! 2010/11 Barcelona! (1-3, Villa) David Villa pulls one back for Guardiola's side as he plays a neat one-two with Messi before sliding the ball under Bravo.
FULL-TIME: Barcelona 10/11 1-3 Barcelona 15/16
Scorers: Villa (89); Suarez (64 and 67), Messi (78)
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