Once again, we face a must-win in the CL (if Inter win as expected vs PSV). No Trippier or Aurier at RB, Foyth is ineligible, Dembele and Wanyama are also out. So it looks like the youngster Walker-Peters will get the nod at RB. Lamela is back from injury so Poch will be able to field a strong side to take on a Barca club which has only lost 17 of its last 306 home fixtures (5.5%). Suarez and Ter Stegen definitely won't play for them, but their gaffer Valverde is playing coy about whether Messi will be in the team. Regardless of who lines up for Barcelona, we cannot afford to make the bonehead errors that have cost us goals in our last 3 away fixtures in the CL at Juve, Inter and PSV, all games in which we outclassed the opposition over the 90 minutes, but shot ourseleves in the foot by conceding sloppy goals.
as a draw won't do, we'll surely try to play with them. and the unfortunate reality is that when you try to play football with Barcelona, you come off second best. I have no difficulty in envisioning this being a long day for the lads. still, to dare is to do, eh? COYS!!!!
them: 13 Cillessen 2 Semedo 4 Rakitic 7 Coutinho 8 Arthur 11 Dembele 15 Lenglet 19 Munir 24 Vermaelen 26 Alena 27 Miranda us: Lloris Rose Verts Toby Walker-Peters Winks Sissoko Eriksen Dele Son Kane we're in with a chance, here.
Here are the teams! Messi starts on the bench for them. The Sissoko-Winks combo in midfield concerns me. Leaving Dier on the bench is a big call. Barcelona: Cillessen; Semedo, Lenglet, Vermaelen, Miranda; Arthur, Alena, Rakitic; Dembélé, Munir, Coutinho Subs: Ter Stegen, Piqué, Busquets, D Suarez, Messi, Alba, Vidal Spurs: Lloris; Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Winks; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane Subs: Gazzaniga, Lamela, Dier, Llorente, Moura, Davies, Skipp Referee: M Mazic (Serbia)
Miranda is apparently a youth player, and Vermaelen is a bit shite, so we could really give them trouble. If Coutinho plays on the left, Walker-Peters could have his hands full.
Dreadful from Walker-Peters, he pulls a Foyth by giving the ball away and then allows Dembele to blow by him for 1-0. What did I say about not giving away a bonehead play early in the game?
HT 1-0 Barca. Walker-Peters bonehead error gifts Dembele the goal which makes our task all the more difficult.
Meanwhile, PSV have a shock 1-0 lead at the San Siro at HT. As it stands, we are going through, but don't bank on it.