Wednesday, 6 February 2019 21:00 BARCELONA TIME Canada – Vancouver (12:00 PM) / Toronto (3:00 PM) US – Los Angeles (12:00 PM) / New York (3:00 PM) Latin America México City (2:00 PM) / Bogotá (3:00 PM) / Santiago de Chile (5:00 PM) / Buenos Aires (5:00 PM) / Brasil – Brasilia (6:00 PM) Thursday, 7 February India– New Delhi (1:30 AM) Indonesia – Jakarta (03:00 AM) China – Beijing (4:00 AM) Japan – Tokyo (05:00 AM) Australia– Sydney (07:00 AM) CAMP NOU B A R C E L O N A PREVIOUS MEETINGS SLL 28-10-2018 FT Barcelona 5 : 1 Real Madrid SLL 06-05-2018 FT Barcelona 2 : 2 Real Madrid SLL 23-12-2017 FT Real Madrid 0 : 3 Barcelona SSdE 16-08-2017 FT Real Madrid 2 : 0 Barcelona SSdE 13-08-2017 FT Barcelona 1 : 3 Real Madrid ICC 30-07-2017 FT Real Madrid 2 : 3 Barcelona VISCAELBARCA
Ugh ... now I have to care ... No clear message about Messi. Didn't train today. Neither did Dembele.
BarcaBlaugranes says that Messi didn't train out of precaution and is expected to play. Dembele has tonsillitis. I think he's out till Bilbao.
Too bad about Dembele, he could've really ripped this shaky LPB defense up. Especially/even if he can just come on as a sub for the final 20 minutes or so.
I've read conflicting reports about Dembele, but nothing definitive. Sport English says he's available. BarcaBlaugranes says he was in training. https://www.barcablaugranes.com/201...ning-lionel-messi-misses-out-ahead-of-clasico Guess we'll know for sure tomorrow.
So biggest takeaway, no Dembele, not even available as a sub. But that could be the tonsillitis, he should be ready to roll on the weekend. Also no Cillessen, Umtiti, or Rafinha either (injured as expected), and no Samper either though no longer injured. I don't see any other first team players missing, but the squad is 19 so maybe one of the four CBs gets dropped. Inaki Pena in squad with Cillessen injured but all media indications are that MAtS not the 3rd string / Barca B keeper will start given that it is a semifinal and a Clasico. Prediction: MAtS Roberto?-Pique-Lenglet-Alba Rakitic-Busquets-Arthur? Messi-Suarez-Coutinho I'd prefer Semedo's speed and defense, but am guessing Roberto plays RB. Arthur v. Vidal is the other hard call, but I give the edge to Arthur and think EV does too. Vidal will get on as a sub if he doesn't start. MAtS v. Pena already addressed above, media think MAtS and that's what I want to see and I predict and hope EV will deliver.
📊 | Most successful dribbles in the last 3 Clasicos:Messi: 9Roberto: 9Rakitic: 6(Madrid had a total of 13) pic.twitter.com/eAXfFfra1j— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) February 5, 2019
Apparently Messi's inclusion in the squad isn't a guarantee he's gonna play... Valverde reportedly said he doesn't want to take risks. That's from ESPN.
Just out of curiosity, according to wiki the La Liga stats stands at 72 wins for Madrid and 71 for Barca. A win here would tie it up. All time in competitions it's 95 for Madrid 93 for Barca.
As long as Barca do not concede any goals in this first leg I'll be happy. That includes a 0-0 result.
Good summary of the issues: Messi fit? I say yes but if not does Prince or Malcom start or do we play a 442 with Vidal and Arthur starting? Roberto or Semedo, complicated by Vinicus Jr's presence which points more to Semedo, but I'm not changing prediction. And Arthur or Vidal? https://www.sport-english.com/en/ne...-make-in-ernesto-valverdes-clasico-xi-7288875
-----Coutinho-----Suarez-----Malcom----- ----------------Arthur------Rakitic------------- Alba----------------Sergio-----------Semedo -------------Lenglet--------Pique-------------- --------------------TerStegen-------------------