PBP: Copa del Rey - Round of 4, Second Leg - Barcelona v. Atletico Madrid - 7 February 2017

The situation in a nutshell, we lead 2-1 and have 2 away goals as well so we advance with any win or draw at home or a 0-1 loss, a 1-2 loss means extra time. Neymar is suspended but so is Gabi. 6 more players (3 on each team) including Messi are at risk of suspension if they get a 3rd Yellow in this game. Awaiting in the final will be Alaves or Celta.
Where - Camp Nou:

When:

L.Enrique: "I think Pique is ready, we've 1 more day to go & a few more hours to rest. So we'll see if he is in optimal condition to play.""Neymar suspended for tomorrow's game? I do have some interesting players I can put there on the wing""But we are going to make the other coach (Simeone) think about it and not give away who we are going to play there." "Messi, Umtiti and Alba in danger of missing Cdr final through suspension? It will not affect our approach to the game; they are good at knowing the situation. I don't think it's going to affect how these players play in game."

Sport prediction: The Barça boss is prioritising reaching the final and will not reserve his big guns. Correctly predicting a Luis Enrique side this season has almost been a question of luck, given the coach has a rotation system which often defies logic. However, against Atletico the possible line-up will be defined by the importance of the game. In goal will be Jasper Cillessen, a regular in the Copa del Rey. In defence will be Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba at full-backs and Gerard Pique in the middle along side Javier Mascherano -- although this is one of the doubts, as Samuel Umtiti may play. In midfield, the good news is the return of Sergio Busquets. He will be joined by two from three in the form of Andre Gomes, Ivan Rakitic and Denis Suarez. There's not much mystery up front. Arda Turan will fill in for the suspended Neymar alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.

Injury news:
Pique practiced today after being subbed off as a precaution on Saturday, expected to start. Busi, Ini and Digne have all been practicing with the squad of late and are expected to be cleared. So we should have a full squad to choose from, save suspended Neymar, Rafinha (stitches and broken nose), MAtS - rested in Copa, plus one healthy player who won't make the 18 man roster. Sport is tipping Busi to start along with Pique but Iniesta to be held in reserve and used if/when needed presumably in 2nd half.

My guess:
Jasper
Roberto-Pique-Umtiti - Alba (could see Masch for Umtiti or for Pique if Pique not 100%)
Rakitic - Busi - Denis (could see Gomes start again but hopefully won't)
Messi - Suarez - Arda

Of my predicted starters only Umtiti and Arda played the whole game on Saturday, and several played half my predictions played no minutes. I think that the rest will do the club well. So too will knowing that Atletico need 2 goals. I think they will score at least 1 but their pressure will open space for us to exploit. I think 2-1 win for us is most likely but it could easily be a tighter nail biter.

 

Marca, being Marca, take a much dimmer view of the prospects of Ini, Busi, and Pique playing. Time will tell.

Tuesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid promises to be a huge test for Luis Enrique, who faces a tough task in preparing a strong starting XI before anything else. Los Rojiblancos are 2-1 down going into the Camp Nou clash but Diego Simeone's men will be heartened by the sheer lack of options that his opposite number has to play with.

Andres Iniesta, back training with the squad, will almost certainly find that this fixture is beyond him, as it will be for Sergio Busquets while the anchor man continues his comeback from an ankle blow against Eibar. That would potentially put Javier Mascherano up as an option for the role but the Argentine could be required to fill the considerable boots of Gerard Pique. Taken off at half-time on the weekend, the centre-back felt discomfort in his thigh and is in doubt for Tuesday's game, as is Rafinha after Marc-Andre ter Stegen accidentally dealt a broken nose to his teammate in the same game.

Luis Enrique's problems don't stop there, either, with Neymar suspended for the Atleti showdown and Arda Turan the most likely to step up into the attack line, although Paco Alcacer's maiden Barcelona goal against Athletic Club on Saturday will give his coach something to think about.

 

So the squad list is out and Busi Ini Pique and Digne all made it so the 4 first teamers missing are Neymar suspended, Rafinha hurt, MAtS rested in Copa, and Mathieu rotated. The fact Mathieu was rotated suggests to me that Busi and Pique will start as predicted by me and Sport but not Marca- otherwise we'd want Mathieu available on bench.

 

Really glad we have so many rested players and that Pique feels 100% or close enough to start. Really hoping both Ini and Busi can play all or most of the 2nd half -- but of course only if they are ready. Hopefully we do not even need them though they both bring somethings to the team that no one else can bring. My point is they'll help if they are healthy enough to play but ideally it is just to get them back in game shape rather than to solve a problem.

Hope Raki at DM is true and he and Gomes don't swap (in which case Denis would be on the other side than shown above).

Let's do this!

 

Wish that were so (Busi and Ini both ready to start), I'm more 'agnostic' about the right back selection, and the Masch or Umtiti selection. Gomes and the rest of the odd midfield (only 1 starter but he's out of position and not having his best season to boot) don't fail us now!

 

Well Busi is on the bench, obviously, as he is not ready to play a whole game coming back after a long injury break. Hopefully he comes on for all or most of 2nd half. As for Masch v. Raki both have looked OK, neither is Busi, Masch is a real DM with Argentina and was with Liverpool but has rarely played there for Barca. Also with Mathieu in the stands starting Masch at DM would mean we have no CB in case Pique or Umtiti needs a sub.

I for one won't blame players for not being Busi or Ini, but I also won't blame Lucho for putting this team out there. I wish Busi (and Ini) were ready to play the whole game but I don't think that they are.

 

Gomes at DM not Raki, damn