Liga Or Champions League?

If I had to choose a trophy for this season, it would be the Club's World Cup, coz we never won it.

Nice post....i think the overwhelming reason for the result of this poll must be that the final is at the Bernebau. To win the CL there would be absolutely incredible and something that RM would never be able to live down. If we could beat them in the final it would be even better, but to be honest I dont see them getting to the final, not on the evidence of Sundays game. I think any of the EPL teams would beat Madrid without too much trouble, maybe Arsenal being the only team I could see losing to Madrid. The only way I can see Madrid in the final is if they have a lot of luck on their side. Maybe they get an easy route to the final.

I have to say though, definitely the league is more important. The CL has a lot to do with luck and everything has to go your way, its why nobody has ever won it two years running. Its just so hard to get that kind of luck consistently over two years. The league is all about consistency, who is the best team over an entire season, luck plays a part, but not as much. I would be very content with the league and maybe the Copa. 5 out of 6 aint bad

All that being said, barring any injuries, we certainly have the team to win it all...

I THINK I PREFER LIGA BECAUSE I DON'T MADRID TO WIN IT OVER BARCA.

in any other season, i would likely have preferred the league to the champs league if i was to choose one...but having the option of winning it this year at bernabeu and also being the first to defend the ucl, i certainly prefer the UCL this season.

i'm however aware of the odds considering nobody has ever done it. i just considering the choice as a fantasy one.

also, the english argument has some truth in it. barca vs the english clubs(spain vs england) debate is growing in significance i think

I voted champions league, partially to be the first team to retain, and partially cause of the Bernabeu. Course, I hope Barca gets both, and they do have a better shot than any other team.

I also chose CL even though I would usually go for La Liga. The English vs. Spain is a big reason. Where I live all the people I meet always talk about how great the EPL is. Usually they cite CL results as the reason. Even though I know that it's not the best indicator of the top team, it's another story trying to convince EPL fans of this.

Needless to say, if this Barca team is ever going to get the unanimous, international recognition it deserves for being one of history's greatest teams, we have to do well in Europe. I mean, I know that this is one of the best teams ever. But even after last seasons great results there are a lot of people that still question Barca's quality and usually want to bring up the win against Chelsea as something that completely mitigates all of the great play last year. It's not fair, to be honest, but that's life.

Having said all that, I'll still be really happy if we win La Liga and nothing else. I think this year it could take a record number of points to win it, and I would like us to break our own record, not Real.

As much as I want Barca to win La Liga, my vote for the CL was influenced by the following factors:

- The prospect of becoming the first club to defend its CL title

- The level of competition in the CL (in my opinion) is far superior to La Liga with different clubs playing different styles of football

- Winning the CL gives me bragging rights in my endless arguments with EPL fans because as you rightly said, the CL has more prestige globally than the La Liga

- Without any disrepect to the La Liga,the opportunity of winning the CL at the Bernabeu is just too good to pass up...

personally, im pretty torn. usually id be happy with either one, but this year, id love both again so much. i really cannot choose

one one side, the league is way more important to me. firstly, because its does show greater consistency, but also, just so madrid doesnt get it. i think them winning it would be bad for football as a whole. it would show that if you spend enough money and get into enough debt, you can win things. if you get a collection of stars but have no real team identity, it doesnt matter because you win. so on that side, the league seems my choice. when i was watching sevilla the other day, i was as passionate as ever, just willing them to thrash madrid.

BUT, im with cule@heart/omer here also, IM SO DAMN SICK OF THE EPL and its FANS! despite us humbling united last season, the arrogance hasnt subsided that much. if barca were to win back to back years, surely beating an EPL team along the way, i would never have to defend the spanish league again. we would be labelled the greatest club side around, no arguments. frankly, i think we can win it. though judging teams right now isnt always prudent. but honestly, the EPL isnt the strongest this year. man united are weak, and no matter how many 97th minute winners they get, their squad is NOT impressive. liverpool are not good either, maybe on their day, but overall that squad too lacks quality and depth. chelsea are a tough nut, and arsenal on their day are amazing. but if arsenal tried to play against us, we do the passing thing better, so they would struggle i reckon. plus, winning in madrid? you gotta love that.

so, its a tough call this year. usually league is always more important, and the CL is a bonus in a really good year. anyhow, i dont expect anything. all i want is 100% commitment and lovely passing football, and with that, we can win them both

@blaugranaboy,

i think you're right about the EPL. in many ways it seems as though 1-4 got weaker (all but Chelsea releasing important players and not really signing quality replacements) while Man C, Tot, and Villa seem to be pushing harder. granted, Chelsea is still Chelsea, but they have some age issues and the length of the season may take a toll. if Arsenal can avoid serious injuries (which they seem to always have), they really do have an amazing starting 11. but, i think we could take them because we are just better at the same game (but it would be a fun one to watch i think).

Yeah this is a tough one... So tough i have forgotten which way I voted

I think everyone has pretty got the reasons spot on, and I agree with Nic, that the CL usually has more glory yet less indicative of the best squad.

Well to the new vote, I still think Madrid is going to be the team for us to beat out this year in La Liga. With that many stars, i just dont think they will drop many points against the lower sides. Still, with everyone healthy, Barca can easily put another 6 on that defense.

I disagree completely about Arsenal. I think we would tear them to shreds. Arsenal, like Barca, are a great team when they have the ball. However, unlike us, they do not have an absession with winning the ball back like we do. We are as good as we are, not because we pass the ball so well, but because we win the ball back so quickly. Arsenal are a team that struggle when the opposing team presses hard, hunts in packs and pressures all over the pitch. Sound familiar? I think Arsenal would see very little of the ball if they faced us and I think they would be given a lesson in football. The 2nd leg of the semis vs utd last season is a perfect example of what happens to Arsenal if you put them under pressure. They look great when the opposing team lets them play (like Blackburn at the weekend) and they can score 6 goals against teams that dont put any pressure on them because they have quality players. They remind me a bit of us pre-Guardiola (tho still not quite as good).

The EPL team that worries me the most, as always, is Chelsea. Liverpool used to, but not so much anymore. I think we showed we could deal with Utd, who now are not as good as team we humbled in CL final. Certainly on our day we can beat any of em, but so many factors outside of our control will play a part (injuries/refereeing). That is why i like the league more, i know we can win it if we play to our best. That is not the case with the CL, we could play the best game ever and end up losing because of a silly refereeing decision or a freak goal. I also have a feeling this is going to be Chelsea's year in the CL. I think it is either them or us. I cannot see RM winning it, unless they get really really lucky. Utd are a shadow of the team they were last year and the year before. Liverpool are all over the place and I dont think Arsenal really have the mental fortitude to win the CL (or the league for that matter).

hey hilal man, who u disagreeing with about arsenal? both i and cule said we'd beat em. like u said, arsenal basically play like us, except we are us and we do it better, and as u say, we have that crazy pressing game from the front. and yup, in england chelsea are the ones that would cause the most issues. but to be honest, i think ANY team we play in the CL this year is gonna be a struggle. they will ALL play against us with a 4-5-1. all will play anti-football and try and sneak a goal. thats going to be the curse of our beauty and superiority. its pathetic but true. no one is gonna try play us again after that CL final and our romps over lyon and bayern

So much excitement is built up for the champions league, more so than la liga. So, i would rather have Barca win CL.

HAHA, yeah ur right Blau....Completely misread Cule's post....was a little stoned at the time. Was looking for a debate where there was none

Ur right regarding teams in the CL playing ultra defensive against us. I dont see any teams coming out to play. I think they all would have learned from last year that its basically suicide. That being said, even playing very defensively, there are only a few teams that might be able to stop us (Chelsea/Inter/Liverpool??). Especially since, hopefully, by the time we get to the knockouts Mr Z will be a lot better

About the consistency argument: surely over one year, winning the league shows which team is the best over a complete season, but whith all the arguments about the CL being a lottery, still not won twice in a row and whith the quality of the teams playing in it, being the first team to achieve back-to-back success would have a greater meaning as for the consistency of the team than winning the league, no?
Still I would chose the league as for me the most important thing is to stop Madrid winning anything this year, not because I hate them (well, maybe just a notch ) but because I hate Perez and really want to see his policy implode.
The only case in which I would chose the CL was if Madrid was to win one of the two and we the other. I could live whith the fact that they won the league if we won the CL in their garden, and I just couldn't bear them winning the tenth whith Florentino at the helm.
Now about the teams playing defensively against us: I think that's what will happen, and I think it's good news for us. If you look at the games we struggled in last season, apart the Chelsea one, they were against teams who decided to play against us, like Valencia, Espanyol and of course Atletico, these were teams who did not sit back waiting for us but who gave us a game in the midfield and I think that's where we could be exposed. Over a two legged tie, I hope we will find a way against any "brickwallbusparked" defense, as we proved against Chelsea (just). Those taking the Chelsea game as a reference are in for a rude awakening as we had a really poor play this day, but still found a way. It's a big risk to try to attack Barça, but I think it's your best chance to beat us, and I also think that's the conclusion Ferguson arrived to. Big risk but best chance. And in this case, maybe, just maybe, Arsenal might have a chance against us...

I have to go with the CL title . La Liga is great and beating Madrid makes it even sweeter but nothing beats the glory and prestige of being the champions of all of Europe , the best of the best !!

Champions league, it would be pleasure to win it at the Bernabeu as it would become a thorn in the Madrid side, as their greatest rivals acheived hisdtory in their stadium, when they were (RM) were touted to win it.

I'm sure Barca can do it.

@Nic,Hilal, BBoy,Layi, FCB, Neuro

Dropped in to say a quick hello...I hope you guys are enjoying the season so far. Sorry, I been busy with work and family....

I agree bboy...I just can't chose betweeen liga and CL...I want to take everything from Madrid (and getting CL in Chamartin) will just tear them to shreds for the next 5 years...there again I don't want them to get the league...very very tough choice. I think I voted league because CL seems a bit harder....remember last year, if it were not for the miraculous golazo of SIR ANDRES INIESTA we would not have advanced.

Anyway, got home wednesday from Catalunya and heading back in 2 days (this time for vacation).I hope to catch at least one game at the Nou.

So long guys!!