Thursday, 17 January 2019 21:30 BARCELONA TIME Canada – Vancouver (12:30 PM) / Toronto (3:30 PM) US – Los Angeles (12:30 PM) / New York (3:30 PM) Latin America México City (2:15 PM) / Bogotá (3:15 PM) / Santiago de Chile (5:15 PM) / Buenos Aires (5:15 PM) / Brasil – Brasilia (6:15 PM) Friday, 18 January 2019 India– New Delhi (2:45 AM) Indonesia – Jakarta (03:15 AM) China – Beijing (04:15 AM) Japan – Tokyo (05:15 AM) Australia– Sydney (07:30 AM) CAMP NOU PREVIOUS MATCHES SCdR 10-01-2019 FT Levante 2 : 1 Barcelona SLL 16-12-2018 FT Levante 0 : 5 Barcelona SLL 13-05-2018 FT Levante 5 : 4 Barcelona SLL 07-01-2018 FT Barcelona 3 : 0 Levante SLL 07-02-2016 FT Levante 0 : 2 Barcelona SLL 20-09-2015 FT Barcelona 4 : 1 Levante VISCAELBARCA
With the second leg kickoff approaching, controversy has arisen from last week's first leg. Levante are claiming that Chumi - who was in the starting lineup - was ineligible to play the first leg due to five yellow cards he had received playing for Barca B. Normally, "light" suspensions (like card accumulation) are served in the same competition they are received in. "Serious" suspensions (like direct red cards in a single match) carry over to the next match regardless of tonight's competition. But this past summer the RFEF made changes to those rules. According to the RFEF, the change came in a paragraph and only refers to people with a 'double license' (such as player/coach or football/futsal player), not to players who can play for a B team and a first team (as they only have one license). Levante have yet to send a formal complaint to the RFEF but have stated one will be sent tomorrow irregardless of the result. Barca are claiming that (1) the suspension was served in the same competition he received the bookings in and that (2) the 48 hour deadline for Levante to file a complaint has passed. It's up in the air whether or not Barca have broken competition rules with the "Chumi case". This could end up going to TAS/CAS. And now on to tonight's match.
Cillessen Semedo Murillo lenglet Alba Vidal Rakitic Arthur Messi dembele Coutinho Confirmed though positions may vary. Chumi complaint sounds potentially dangerous but unlikely to succeed - if we manage to win and advance.
Levante president Quico Catalán: "It isn't an easy situation for us. We will go to the Camp Nou trying to win the tie. Logically, we have been working with our legal department all afternoon. Whatever happens on the pitch, Levante will present the situation to the Spanish Football Federation tomorrow." Barca spokesman Josep Vives: "Right now, we don't have to defend anything because nobody has accused us of anything. As we understand the rules, Chumi has served his suspension in his competition (with the B team). There are deadlines. We are calm. We believe that fielding Chumi was absolutely correct and in accordance with the rules.""
Chumi case could be a blessing from above. Playing more or mest best squad on a Thursday to beat crappy Levante in a cup that drains too much energy. Playing chumi in that defence was idiotic enough, let alone them perhaps breaking a rule that may or may not exist.
Regarding the Chumi case, LPB did the same thing against Cultural Leonese in the 2016-17 Copa. Youth player Álvaro Tejero lined up against them despite having a fifth card suspension pending with their B team. Barca interpreted the yellow card rule the same way LPB did: Five booking accumulation in league play means a suspension in the same competition, it does not carry over to the next match of a different competition.
Camp Nou attendance 93,265 Sun 28 Oct Real Madrid 16:15 88,712 Sat 20 Oct Sevilla 20:45 86,290 Wed 24 Oct Internazionale (UCL) 21:00 83,174 Sun 11 Nov Betis 16:15 78,686 Sat 22 Dec Celta 18:30 78,015 Sat 29 Sept Athletic Bilbao 16:15 76,398 Wed 5 Dec Cultural Leonesa (Copa) 21:30 76,055 Sun 23 Sept Girona 20:45 73,462 Tue 18 Sept PSV Eindhoven (UCL) 18:55 73,003 Sun 2 Dec Villarreal 18:30 71,057 Sun 2 Sept Huesca 18:30 71,039 Sun 13 Jan Eibar 18:30 70,089 Wed 15 Aug Boca Juniors (Gamper) 18:15 69,961 Tue 11 Dec Tottenham (UCL) 21:00 52,356 Sat 18 Aug Alavés 22:15 42,838 Thur 17 Jan (Copa) Levante 21:30
Risk of losing thou.. 3-2! LOL. Well Messi doesn't need to finish the game. Better rest him and Dembélé for the weekend.
Two more energy sapping, physically draining worthless cup ties on the horizon. Bundesliga clubs have it too easy. No wonder they dominate UEFA. Quarterfinal draw to take place tomorrow (Friday) at 17:00 CET / 11:00 U.S. ET *FC Barcelona Espanyol Getafe Girona Real Betis Real Madrid Sevilla Valencia * Pending the Chuma case. The venue for the final appears to be confirmed for the Mestalla. Valencia CF are celebrating their Centenary this season, thus.
It wasn't that physically draining tbf. It basically was a one-legged tie from the POV of the regulars. EV's strategy paid off - rested guys but kept the treble dream alive. No real chance for a good draw as all 8 teams are in the top 11 of the table.