Wednesday, 22 November 2017 20:45 Barcelona Time Allianz Stadium (Juventus Stadium) Turin PREVIOUS MEETINGS UCL 12-09-2017 FT Barcelona 3 : 0 Juventus ICC 22-07-2017 FT Juventus 1 : 2 Barcelona UCL 19-04-2017 FT Barcelona 0 : 0 Juventus UCL 11-04-2017 FT Juventus 3 : 0 Barcelona UCL 06-06-2015 FT Juventus 1 : 3 Barcelona UCL 22-04-2003 AET Barcelona 1 : 2 Juventus VISCAELBARCA
First goal could prove pivotal. A draw would be enough to win the group. Semedo enters on three yellows.
Barca 10 + 6 GD Juve 7 0 Sporting 4 -1 Olymp. 1 -5 Juve lost today at Sampdoria 3-2, but were down 3-0 before getting two consolation goals in stoppage time. Cuadrado played despite picking up an injury on international duty, Dybala did not start but came off the bench to score. They look to be at full strength vs. when we played them the first time, but I'm sure their fans will let us know who is injured. It's a tricky game as Valencia looms and is more important, even if we lose to them we still will qualify and likely win the group too.
Not sure why Juve rested quite a few players on the weekend. Winning the CL group is a stretch, and not the be-all and end-all anyway. And that league loss could be crucial!
Squad list for the match Marc-André Ter Stegen, Jasper Cillessen, Adrià Ortolá (31), Nélson Semedo, Gerard Piqué, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Denis Suárez, Andrés Iniesta, Luis Suárez, Leo Messi, Paulinho, Gerard Deulofeu, Paco Alcácer, Jordi Alba, Lucas Digne, Aleix Vidal, Samuel Umtiti, Thomas Vermaelen.
I am not sure if we were going for winning the CL group or not, but we rested a few in order to be at full strength. Even if we beat you guys, unless its 3-0 or more we won't win the group. Assuming you beat Sporting on match day 6. We have got Mandzukic, Khedira, and Cuadrado back, although in all honesty, Cuadrado should not be playing if you ask me. Douglas Costa and Mandzukic should start. There have been rumors that Mandzukic could be benched, but that was before Chiellini's injury, so if Allegri is smart he will start Mandzukic regardless, but especially with Chiellini out. Honestly I thought we should win this, but with Chiellini not there, I am not sure now. Its a toss up honestly. I hope we win though as a Juve fan.
Well I better get a prediction in. Overall, ever since Dembele went down the biggest question has been who plays 3rd forward / 4th midfielder? Before Roberto got injured the secondary question was Semedo or Roberto at RB (Vidal did play some RB against Leganes but I don't think it rises to the level of controversy yet, at least until we see Vidal get selected to start over Semedo, and we are not there yet). So basically, I think that 10 starters are pretty much given for this game, barring unknown injuries: MAtS; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Raki, Busi, Ini; Messi, Suarez. To those you add Paulinho or Paco (best guesses), or Deulofeu, Denis Suarez, or Gomes (next best guesses in declining order). For me it's basically do we prefer a bit more steel and control of the middle (Lord P), or more of an attacking threat who has been on a nice run lately (Paco). Since Lord P is also a valuable attacking threat I think he is the answer. Sport agrees, as did the Barca Blaugranes site: They still show Chiellini starting so that's one prediction they seem off on, time will tell if the Barca prediction is right.
Just a quick review of what's at stake today! Barca go through to the last 16 as Group D winners with a win or a draw; and Barca go through to the last 16 with a loss, should Sporting Lisbon not beat Olympiacos. Barca youth won 0-1 today in Turin (Torino) and advance to the final 16 (along with Liverpool and ManCity), while Sporting will make the playoffs as the 2nd placed team in the group. Puig scored for Barca who had 13 shots, 8 on target; Juve had just 3 shots and 1 on target, they also picked up two reds late in the game at 84th and 90+3 (after we'd scored in 50th). Through to last 16: Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City Confirmed in top two: Atlético Madrid, Basel, Bayern München, Chelsea, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Tottenham Hotspur Confirmed in play-offs: Spartak Moskva, Sporting CP, Ajax*, Brodarac*, Internazionale Milano*, Krasnodar*, Nitra*, Salzburg (holders)*, Željezničar* Can still finish first or second: Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund Can still finish second: Benfica, Feyenoord, Napoli, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk *from Domestic Champions path
So little surprise is Digne for Alba; huge surprise is Deulofeu for Messi; and less huge surprise in Lord Paulihno getting the call as 3rd forward/4th mid. MAtS Semedo - Pique - Umtiti - Digne Raki-Busi-Ini ------Paulinho ---Deulofeu-Suarez
It is very unexpected that he is not starting. Not sure if it signals an issue (health wise) or if Valverde is just signalling that we have a long season, need Messi at his best against Valencia this weekend (he looked not his best against Leganes), or even asserting himself a bit as the coach who knows we win things in April not November. Hope we can get a result without him, but if we need to bring him on in the 2nd half to get a result that's cool too. And even if we lose I don't think we'll lose 3-0.
You won't lose 3-0, but Messi must have some kind of injury for that to happen. Since when does Messi not start an important UCL match if healthy?
Pretty nice bench: Messi, Alba, Paco, Denis Suarez, Jasper Cillessen, Vermaelen, and Vidal. Would like to see a bit of Verm before needing to use him versus Valencia, so ideally with Umtiti so they can figure that two left footed CB thing a bit. Denis should also sub on so we can rest one of our midfielders. Could also put on Messi if needed, or Paco or Vidal if Messi not needed.
It's not an important UCL match. But yeah... its unusual to say the least. In fact I think Messi has played every minute of every match this season so far, excluding Copa del Rey.
Well if we don't lose 3-0 (or worse) it really isn't important results wise (still important as it is Juve, recent history with them, big historic club, etc.), we will go through, and failing such a loss should go through in first too. That said, you are right, it probably is health related. Or if it is rotation based I'm sure Valverde "cleared" it with Messi first before announcing it to the squad and the world.
If it was health-related, I doubt he'd be on the bench at all. Yeah, there's no way Messi doesn't start without Valverde clearing it with Messi first.
It must be said: Messi was pretty invisible against Leganes. Not that that tells us much; could still be either carrying an injury, tired or just had a bad match. But one wonders if the reason behind that Houdini performance last Saturday is related to not starting today.