retired_adge1475

I'm in the midst of my second season with Valencia and have run into a problem: Barcelona. I won the season last year even though I lost to Barcelona twice. Luckily they struggled against other teams, while I won most of them and edged Real Madrid for the title. I ended up losing the Spanish CUp final and the Super Cup to Barcelona.

This season, it's a three horse race. After about 20 games, Barcelona and Real Madrid have won 19 games and drew one. I've won 18 games and drawn 1 and lost 1 (to Barca). I'm not worried about Real even though they've only conceded 7 goals (2 were mine) thus far. Barca is a problem because I'm playing them away and have also drawn them in the Spanish Cup.

The problem with Barcelona is that I cannot prevent them from scoring. The first year I lost both games like 3-5 or something. I lost at home to them this year 3-2 and Hildebrand got a 9 rating which shows how many chances they had.

I recognize that they're doing to score but, no matter what I do, they score at least 3 goals. I've reloaded the Spanish Cup match (at home) at least 5 times, while making the variations I would think would help- but it never matters. One time I was winning 3-1 after 90 minutes but then Barca decided they wanted to score and scored 3 in 4 minutes.

What they do is pass the ball to the wingers who:

1. outrun my fullbacks, deliver a (perfect) cross which Eto'o heads in
2. Cut in side and pass a through ball to Eto'o. Interestingly, Eto'o doesn't seem to be affected by the 1v1 on the keeper bug and scores every time.
3. Pass back to the central midfielders who either take a long shot (always on target) or pass a through ball to Eto'o.

Sometimes my players decide to randomly sit there with the ball and let Messi/ROnaldinho take it away so they can do their thing. I don't know why or how to fix it.

Here's what I've tried:
1. Put back arrows on CBs. This didn't work because they kept backpedalling and Deco and Iniesta demonlished me with long shots.
2. Put back arrows on FBs. This didn't work either. It just gave the wingers more room.
3. Use close marking on all non-defenders. This didn't seem to have an effect.
4. Hard tackling. Resulted in no effect except lots of yellow cards and my players being injured (they always get injured anyway when playing Barca though. Marquez has personally ended the careers of Helguera and Baraja )
5. Closing down. All of my players decided to rush toward the ball carrier who just passes a through ball to Eto'o who scores.

So what do I do?

For reference, I'm using the "WInning" tactic which has worked wonderfully against all other teams (including Real Madrid).

I know I can fix the problem by shackling the wingers, but I don't know how. I don't know how to stop Eto'o at all. It's not only me who has a problem with him. He's scored about 30 goals in 25 appearances this year. He just scores on every shot he takes. It's immensely frustrating. I injured him one game and was really hopeful but Henry dutifully took his place and scored twice.

Please just defensive tips. I know I can score using any tactic, no matter how defensive.

For reference, my team is:

GK: Hildebrand, Canizares
RB: Miguel, Alexis
CB: Garay, Albiol
CB: Zapata, Ujfalusi
LB: Pasqual, Insua
DMC: Mascherano, Fernandes
MR: Joaquin
ML: Vicente, Mata
AMC: Silva, Kroos
AMC: Riquelme
FC: Villa, Zigic, Morientes

I generally use Villa as AMC along with Silva and Zigic as striker, but it varies.

Please help! Barcelona are making me wanting to stop playing the game. My board are already mad because I lost the Super Cup to them.