Sunday the 20th of April 2014. .. | BARCELONA (CEST), 21:00 | LOS ANGELES (PDT), 12:00 | MONTREAL (EDT), 15:00 | LONDON (BST), 20:00 | DUBAI (GST), 23:00 | MELBOURNE (AEST), 05:00 (NEXT DAY) Camp Nou BARCELONA . . RFEREE GENERAL STATS + SCORING TIMS PLAYER STATS PREVIOUS MEETING'S STATS
With Alba and Neymar out, Tata will choose 5 midfielders and sit Alexis on the bench no good reason again. We're getting closer to seeing my 0-10-2 formation. This last few weeks have been an absolute debacle. I'm alright with going out to Atletico, but it's been the attitude (lack of urgency) of some of the players that really annoys me.
i think busquets is suspended for this one, no? who does that leave us? tello---------messi----------pedro -------iniesta-----cesc------------- adriano------xavi------------alves ---------masch--song------------- --------------pinto----------------- or pedro---------messi--------alexis -------iniesta-----xavi------------- montoya------song----------alves ---------masch--adriano---------- --------------pinto-----------------
looks like bartra has received medical clearance for today. sergi gomez has also been called up from the B-team. so we'll probably see something like: tello---------messi----------pedro -------iniesta-----cesc------------- adriano------song-----------alves ---------masch--bartra----------- --------------pinto----------------- with question marks over whether alexis plays after his outburst aimed at Tata, and whether tata goes with cesc, iniesta or xavi. most of the rest of the team basically picks itself. full squad: Pinto, Olazábal, Montoya, Fàbregas, Xavi, Pedro, Iniesta, Alexis, Messi, Mascherano, Bartra, Song, Afellay, Tello, Adriano, Dani Alves, Sergi Roberto, Sergi Gómez.
having said that, i see that alexis has denied that he had a clash with tata. statement from alexis' agent: “Having just finished speaking with Alexis, he asked me to flatly deny the story of his altercation with FC Barcelona’s manager. In more than a 10 year career [Alexis] has never had a problem with any of his managers. Alexis did not confront his manager, much less insult him. He has always had an exemplary attitude.” so hopefully we'll see him starting today.
Yes to Bartra playing. Yes, to Alexis playing. I don't want to see Tello anywhere near the starting 11, maybe as a substitute. I can't wait to see this match. I think the team will respond well, but there will be times of slack defending that might let the points slip away again.
Nope. They have the weekend off. Barca were also supposed to have this weekend off but once they got knocked out of the Champions the LFP made a change. Today's Athletic Bilbao game was supposed to be played on May 7. LPB will still have their Jornada 34 match away to Valladolid on May 7. All this was planned after Barca and LPB were confirmed to meet in the Copa final back in February. With the final set for April 16, there was still the possibility that Barca and LPB could end up meeting in the Champions semi. So league officials moved the J34 fixtures involving both clubs to May 7 so that they would have one full week in between the Copa and Champions games. Alas, Barca decided to not turn up against Atletico. And what about Atletico? It was likely believed that by this time Atletico would have folded out of contention in both the Liga and Champions, so no consideration was given to moving their J34 fixture. After Atletico advanced past the quarterfinals perhaps Elche declined a change of date (?). In any event, I'm guessing the LFP scheduled their match for Friday to kind of make up for the situation and allow Atletico an extra days rest before their Champions semi.
Barcelona line-up (official): Pinto - Alves Bartra Mascherano Adriano - Xavi Song Iniesta - Alexis Messi Pedro Bench Barcelona: Oier, Montoya, Sergi Gomez, Cesc, Sergi Roberto, Afellay, Tello Busquets is suspended for tonight's game after 5 yellow cards in the Liga this season
Crowd cheered Messi's name when it was announced over the tannoy. Some reports of a possible homage to MESSI, MESSI, MESSI in the 10th minute. We'll see.
its nice to see that the fans are still cheering the team on...they know the problems are more off the pitch than on the pitch.
No serenading of Messi's name, but crowd applauded/cheered Messi when he had possession a couple minutes ago.