Tuesday, 17 September 2019 21:00 BARCELONA TIME Signal Iduna Park DORTMUND The sides have met in only two previous UEFA matches, in the 1997 UEFA Super Cup – although the games took place in early 1998 – which UEFA Cup Winners' Cup holders Barcelona won 3-1 on aggregate. First-leg goals from Luis Enrique and Rivaldo, the latter a penalty, earned the Spanish side a 2-0 victory at the Camp Nou, Giovanni extending that advantage six minutes into the return at the Westfalenstadion; a 64th-minute Jörg Heinrich goal was all Dortmund, then reigning UEFA Champions League winners, could muster in return. BARCELONA 2-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND BOURSSIA DORTMUND 1-1 BARCELONA TEAM NEWS Messi and Dembele trained with the group (Dembele only partially) VISCAELBARCA
And before I go to sleep... Messi is back and is in the match squad! So is Netto... 📋 [SQUAD LIST]⚽ #BVBBarça ✈ See who’s making the list for our @ChampionsLeague opener! 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZXoQAvoBMM— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 16, 2019
These guys trolled us on Twitter about practicing corners. Let's freaking crush them! Let's get Messi, Suarez, Griezmann, and Fati each with a goal. Fun trivia: Messi never scored against any of the teams we're facing in this year's CL group.
While Barca is favored to win its group, and especially favored to advance from its group, Dortmund and Inter mean that there are 3 very solid teams in our group (one of whom will miss the elimination stage). And we have struggled for many years against good teams on the road in the CL. If we could get 3 points here that would be huge. I think we can do it, but it isn't a given at all. Happy we are starting out on the road though (particularly given all the injuries), less pressure, more upside potential (if we do manage 3 points or even just 1).
Sport's lineup prediction seems as likely as anything, Suarez back to starting, Messi on the bench: Marca's prediction has the same defense, but Rakitic over Arthur in mid, and Sergi Roberto as the 3rd forward instead of Perez. It will be Valverde's 23rd Champions League game as Barça coach. So far, his record reads: 14 wins, six draws and two losses (Roma and Liverpool), with 43 goals scored and 16 conceded. It's been four years and 18 games on the road since the Uruguayan (Suarez) found the net away from Camp Nou in Europe's top competition.
🔙 2017/18⚽ UEFA Youth League 🔥 Carles Pérez v Borussia Dortmund! 💪 #BVBBarça pic.twitter.com/Jw17kHa2ho— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 17, 2019
I think it will come down to who takes their chances. Doofmund has a good offense. Paco, Reus x2, and Guerreiro scored against Leverkusen on Saturday.
That predicted starting XI for Barca by Sport posted above is a bit depressing. With how good Fati has looked and with Messi back in the fold, why start Roberto up front? If Messi can't start, then seems like a perfect opportunity to give Fati a nice 55 mins or so and gain some CL experience.
It was only Marca which had Roberto starting at all (and Rakitic). Sport had Perez (and Arthur), but Fati gets the start. Sport had 10/11, Marc 9/11: OFFICIAL MAtS Semedo-Pique-Lenglet-Alba Arthur-Busquets-de Jong Fati-Suarez-Griezmann Bench: Neto I. Rakitic Todibo Messi S. Roberto Vidal C. Pérez
Slavia take the lead at the San Siro! Great result if it holds. I figure since the match is in Barca's group it's okay to discuss it here rather than the Other Teams thread.
Very good result if it holds. These groups are dangerous in the sense that your advancement / elimination actually boils-down to just 4 matches instead of 6. Less room for error. But that's not the way this group is panning out I guess. Edit: 8 minutes of stoppage time in Milan?
8 minutes and an equalizer already, still a great result for both Barca and BVB if it holds for 2 more minutes. EDIT - and finished as a draw, given everyone is supposed to get 6 points against Slavia AND Inter was at home, that is a huge setback for Inter.
I expect Barca being pummeled in da bummeh, like every other season by officials and refs. 50/50's 86% for Dortmund, couple denied penaldos for Barca and yellows to be late. Also first Dortmund yellow to be a horror tackle, and Barca some dissent about the horror tackle.
Inter 1-1 Slavia Given that result, a draw today at the Westfalen would be a very good result for Barca.
Loving Griezmann play so far, don't know what on earth position he's playing, but he's bossing as last man.
Paco played hard when given minutes but he rarely was given any minutes. Just sunflower seeds on the bench.
Damn, Junior Firpo is not on the bench even, so Roberto would be the likely sub for Alba if he had to leave. Don't shoot the messenger.