Thursday, 11 January 2018 21:30 BARCELONA TIME CAMP NOU BARCELONA PREVIOUS MEETINGS SCdR 04-01-2018 FT Celta Vigo 1 : 1 Barcelona SLL 02-12-2017 FT Barcelona 2 : 2 Celta Vigo SLL 04-03-2017 FT Barcelona 5 : 0 Celta Vigo SLL 02-10-2016 FT Celta Vigo 4 : 3 Barcelona SLL 14-02-2016 FT Barcelona 6 : 1 Celta Vigo SLL 23-09-2015 FT Celta Vigo 4 : 1 Barcelona VISCAELBARCA
Celta drew 2-2 at the Camp Nou just over a month ago. That result would be enough for them to advance.
They got a 2-2 draw at our place in La Liga and had chances to win (as we did as well), that was the only time we dropped points at home in Liga play. All they need to do is replicate that scoreline and they advance on away goals. Plus by getting a draw at their place we have to play a stronger team than we'd like to at home, which is fine and should hopefully lead to a win, but it adds up as we play twice a week for several weeks assuming we get past Celta. So rotation and rest helps and we cannot do so much now as the result is not yet decided.
You mean the match that you also predicted would be an easy win, with Messi getting a hat-trick? https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/co...elona-4-january-2018-r.2080152/#post-36204038
This is one of the most important games of the season if we are going to do anything to prevent that.
@Forzabarca As much hard time as I've given you for being pessimistic, your blind optimistic bizarro double is way more annoying.
Hard to predict how strong a team we will play with a trip to San Sebastian to play Real Sociedad looming on Sunday. La Real are not all that this season but that is often a tough away game and we don't want to give hope to the teams behind us in La Liga. Jasper for sure Semedo - Pique - Verm - Alba Raki - Busi - Denis Dembele - Messi - Suarez sub on Alena or Paulinho for Raki or Busi (moving Raki to DM if Busi comes off); Arnaiz for Dembele; Digne for Alba or Masch for Pique to get some rest for players we will also want to start in Anoeta. And in that scenario Iniesta and Roberto would get a full game off (unless they are needed to get the result v. Celta).
this might be Mascherano's last home game for Barca. he probably starts and gets subbed off to a standing ovation.
Yeah, was expecting them to either sub him off in the last minute at the last Liga game. Was actually surprised he got the start there (due to injury risk - though I understand that was something that was discussed with his future Chinese club - and there were contractual assurances in place that deal still happens so long as injury is not season ending). Could see it play out as you suggested, or they just bring him on for a late cameo to big applause. Also, though Umtiti has started training with the group, not sure that they let him go till either or even both of the following occur: Umtiti medically cleared to play, and Mina officially announced (after passing his own medical). So there's a decent chance Masch is here for another home game or two.
Mascherano should stay until the end of the season and get a few more trophies. He would be stupid to leave mid season just for playing time.
Well, I assume he's also doing it for money. Money + playing time is a lot to refuse, so I understand if he wants to leave. If he stays and gets a bad injury, the move might never happen. Also Chinese Super League season (& AFC Champions League) starts in late-February so makes sense to move there before a new season starts. At the same time, no need to move until 31 January since its off-season in China atm.
With Mina officially announced, and Umtiti back in training, the Masch tranfer is now official, they won't wait till June or end of January, they will get 10M. And Sport is suggesting he will start this last game, presumably next to Pique (not Verm) his long standing defensive partner, and then presumably be subbed off near the end to even great applause. Not La Masia but a true Barca legend. And one of the only non-La Masia ones who fit in a CB for Barca (and stayed healthy) before Umtiti arrived (and after Marquez). Abidal was great at LB and CB when healthy, most others tried and failed in the past 12 years, even La Masia products (beyond Puyol and Pique).
Can't believe Mascherano is really leaving us. First Puyol then Xavi now him. He's too good to leave what if pique and umtiti get injured what happens then?
If Pique and Umtiti are both out we play Vermaelen and Mina, and call up David Costas or another CB from Barca B to be on the bench. While Costas is on loan to Barca B we might negotiate to buy him, plus we have Marlon on loan to Nice through 2019 (but under Barca contract through 2020). It is not ideal to lose Mascherano but at least we (1) already replaced him as a starter with Umtiti, (2) bought a promising younger player who can replace him as a back up, and (3) we are getting paid for it. While Puyol simply retired due to injury, other Barca legends went on to sign lucrative contracts for them yet we got no transfer fee as we either agreed to mutually terminate their contract as a sign of good will - Xavi, Villa?, Marquez, Valdes; or they negotiated to be able to opt out like Alves.
So Masch's last game and he gets to start, strong lineup, mostly as predicted (once I updated CB pairing prediction to PK and Masch one last time) but Gomesh???? Strong bench too if needed: 1. Ter Stegen 11. Dembélé 15. Paulinho 19. Digne 20. Sergi Roberto 25. Vermaelen 37. Arnaiz