Saturday, 21st April 2018 21:30 BARCELONA TIME Wanda Metropolitano Last time the two teams met up in the Copa del Rey Final Recent Meetings SLL 01-04-2018 FT Sevilla 2 : 2 Barcelona SLL 05-11-2017 FT Barcelona 2 : 1 Sevilla SLL 06-04-2017 FT Barcelona 3 : 0 Sevilla SLL 07-11-2016 FT Sevilla 1 : 2 Barcelona SSdE 18-08-2016 FT Barcelona 3 : 0 Sevilla SSdE 15-08-2016 FT Sevilla 0 : 2 Barcelona VISCELBARCA
If we win this, it will put bigger preasure to RM on their remaining CL campaign because that means Barca already secured 2 thropies. We can at least takes a deep breath for having a solid campaign. Also, nobody seems to mention it.. if we win, this would be Barca 30th CDR title. Next season we can focusing more on CL and let the second strings to play this tournament.
In today's news there's a headline confirming that Rakitic has returned to training and another saying he should be cleared to play after his finger fracture, I think that means we have the full complement of players Valverde has relied upon most this year. While some could quibble about Roberto or Semedo at RB, or Paulinho or Coutinho as fourth mid/3rd forward, or MAtS v. Jasper since MAtS is our leading keeper and it is a final, though CdR has been Jasper's domain all year. I think that Jasper Cillessen, Roberto and Coutinho join the other 8 starters to form this team: Cillessen Roberto-Pique-Umtiti-Alba Coutinho-Raki-Busi-Ini Messi-Luis Nolito interview: https://www.sport-english.com/en/ne...interview-we-can-smack-barcelona-down-6768587 Sport picks same starters but shows a different shape, more 4-3-3, less double pivot.
Squad lust: Cillessen, Ter Stegen S.Roberto, Semedo, Piqué, Umtiti, Y.Mina, Vermaelen, Jordi Alba, Digne Rakitic, Sergio, D.Suárez, Iniesta, Coutinho, Paulinho, André Gomes, Vidal Messi, Suárez, Dembélé, P. Alcácer Four names will have to be discarded.
Yeah, that's the whole first team. I like it better when they pare down the list to 18 by 24 hours before the game, but glad the whole first team can at least travel to see the match and all are eligible (looking at you Sergi) / and un-injured (Raki) to play in the final. I will be doing my first ever 'daddy & daughter' camping (with 5 other dad friends and their daughters), no moms, no sons tomorrow and Sunday so just checking scores. My daughter and I camp a bunch but never in this format. Hopefully it's worth missing the game for even though we play a great game and win our 4th in a row. While no team has ever done 5 in a row, I agree that, as others have stated, we need to de-emphasize Copa a bit and need to rest most starters for Copa till at least semifinal (or meeting Real).
Barca achievement in CDR is way ahead of anyone else , so I dont get why the likes of Messi , Suarez, Pique, Busquet and Iniesta still needs to play before semifinal especially if you're gonna aim at CL victory. At least few of the veterans needs to be rested completely (no late cameo). They could play if we need to win and turn the result around in second leg of knockout stage or facing RM , but other than that we need to reserve energy for CL.
This is going to be a very tough game which will be decided by 1 goal!! Shit I wouldn't even be surprised if it went to penalties!!
Substitutes: ter Stegen; Semedo; Denis; Paulinho; Alcácer; Dembelé; Vermaelen Discarded: Andre Gomes, A. Vidal, Mina and Digne
Coutinho is playing on the right side ??!?!?! and people still want this idiot coach to continue coaching us next season ?!?!?