Sunday, 19 January 2020 21:00 BARCELONA TIME CAMP NOU BARCELONA PREVIOUS MEETINGS SLL 21-09-2019 FT Granada 2 : 0 BarcelonA SLL 02-04-2017 FT Granada 1 : 4 Barcelona SLL 29-10-2016 FT Barcelona 1 : 0 Granada SLL 14-05-2016 FT Granada 0 : 3 Barcelona SLL 09-01-2016 FT Barcelona 4 : 0 Granada SLL 28-02-2015 FT Granada 1 : 3 Barcelona The arrival of Quique Setién as FC Barcelona's new coach has led to a reshuffle of the training schedule for the week. The first team will now train four more times before their game against Granada on Sunday, with sessions on Thursday morning (11am CET), Friday evening (6pm), Saturday morning (11am) and Sunday morning (12pm) . VISCAELBARCA
Good game for Setien to begin with. Not super-difficult but also tough enough that we should be able to notice any improvement or spark in the team, if there is one.
Suspended: De Jong 1 booking away from suspension: Lenglet (Suárez) 2 bookings away from suspension: Piqué Upcoming Liga fixtures: J21 (A) Valencia J22 (H) Levante J23 (A) Betis
With De Jong suspended and Arthur still injured we could see an all old guard midfield: Rakitic, Busquets, and Vidal. Of course Roberto could also feature if Semedo or Wague starts at RB, or Puig could get an even rarer start. Up front we begin life without Suarez, Griezmann presumably moves centrally and Fati or Perez starts on LW, Messi on RW (could also see Messi central but less likely). Will be interesting if Abel Ruiz gets any looks as more of a direct replacement for Suarez. Defensively, already discussed 3 options at RB, presumably Pique starts with Lenglet and Alba at LB (Firpo or Umtiti could also start, latter especially if they want to "save" Lenglet for game at Valencia since he is on 4 yellows). With Todibo seemingly on an 18 month loan to Schalke (who have a buy option which we can trump), we may see Araujo or even Cuenca from Barca B especially if there's an injury or suspension at CB.
Whilst Fati and Perez have been constant members of the first-team picture under previous coach Valverde, the fact Riqui remains in Setien's plans [participated in penultimate training session on Friday] only fuels speculation he will make the squad this weekend. Frenkie de Jong is suspended for the game. There was yet more good news as Arthur and Ter Stegen completed the session without any problems. Neither has been given the green light to return to action but both are hopeful of being passed fit. Out on loan: Alena and Todibo; Suspended: De Jong; out injured: Suarez and Dembele; hopefully cleared in time: Arthur and Ter Stegen. Youth who may make first time: Fati, Perez, Puig. I think we are down to just 19 first teamers with Alena and Todibo out on loan, so with injuries and suspensions we are down to 16 without the youth, and that's assuming Arthur and Ter Stegen are cleared in time, and 19 with the 3 youth and Arthur and MAtS cleared.
My guess is he makes the 18 man roster and gets on as a late sub. But it will be exciting if he gets a start. But even if Arthur Melo is cleared he probably is not thrown on as a starter as he likely cannot go 90 minutes just off a long injury. So that leaves the old guys, Busi, Raki, and Vidal; and possibly Roberto if Semedo or Firpo start at RB. It's not the most exciting but for game 1 I'd guess we see the old guys start.
What were you doing when YOU were 61? pic.twitter.com/KijSxujG69— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 18, 2020
Squad: Goalkeepers: Ter Stegen & Neto Defenders: Sergi Roberto, Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Umtiti, Alba & Junior Midfielders: Busquets, Arturo Vidal, Rakitic, Arthur & Riqui Puig Forwards: Messi, Griezmann, Ansu Fati & Carles Pérez
So quick takeaway from that is the Ter Stegen and Arthur both medically cleared! So I think the only healthy and not suspended first teamer in the stands is Wague (De Jong suspended, Dembele out till sometime in February IIRC, Suarez out likely for rest of season). Which left room for 3 not-quite officially first teamers: Fati, Perez, and PUIG. First two make many squads, but nice to see Puig in there. Along those lines, I read that since Araujo does not have dual citizenship, they won't want to promote him to 1st team (as 4th CB with Todibo out on loan now) until at least the close of the transfer window, as he'd be our 3rd non-EU player which would limit any additions we might make to replace Suarez due to his injury. There are other Spanish players who could get promoted instead (Cuenca or Chumi) or just not promote any of the 3 and just call them up when one of Pique, Lenglet, or Umtiti is injured or suspended. I think that would still allow us to play Araujo but I might be wrong, maybe can only have 3 non-EU on first team OR in any 18 man roster for a game. (Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal are the other non-EU players, weird that Vidal never managed to get Dual as he's been in Europe so long, but maybe moved to much from Italy to Germany to Spain?)
YESS !! Valverde is gone , now i can finally watc .... ohh .. Craperto is still playing ... and as a fullback ... yeah i'll just come back when he retires because there is no way in hell he won't play no matter who the coach is , cya