Saturday, 2 February 2019 18:30 BARCELONA TIME CAMP NOU PREVIOUS MEETINGS SLL 07-10-2018 FT Valencia 1 : 1 Barcelona SLL 14-04-2018 FT Barcelona 2 : 1 Valencia SCdR 08-02-2018 FT Valencia 0 : 2 Barcelona SCdR 01-02-2018 FT Barcelona 1 : 0 Valencia SLL 26-11-2017 FT Valencia 1 : 1 Barcelona SLL 19-03-2017 FT Barcelona 4 : 2 Valencia VISCAELBARCA
The big things with this match are (1) no Busquets - suspended for red card accumulation, so likely Rakitic to DM, flanked by Arthur and Vidal (though Alena could start); (2) only 2 days of training between Sevilla Remontada with Grand Once and this game; and (3) the draw for semifinals will be early Friday and its result could creep into view, mainly if Real advanced and we drew them, as then a Clasico would loom large. Fortunately we are at home again so no travel to get in the way from yesterday's game to this one. No real chance Dembele could possibly be cleared, more likely to return for next Liga match if all goes well, not much current news since the 15 days was announced. That was January 21st, so would mean cleared Feb. 5th roughly.
Suspended from this match: Busquets Enters with 4 yellow cards: Alba, Vidal Carrying 3 bookings: Lenglet, Piqué, Rakitic, Suarez, Umtiti Upcoming Liga fixtures: J23 (A) Athletic Bilbao J24 (H) Real Valladolid J25 (A) Sevilla J26 (A) Real Madrid
Thanks for keeping this updated on each match thread. I see we have 3 really tough away matches in the next 5 matches and 7 key players 1 or 2 cards away from suspension (well 6 if we write Umtiti off for the season). Depending on what happens when we host Valencia (in terms of new yellow cards) it might actually be advantageous for one or more players to get a 5th yellow in the Bilbao match (mainly Alba who is on 4 and for whom we have no real replacement). Not to take Valladolid at home for granted, but we sure want Alba (and Suarez, and Pique) when we play away at Sevilla and Real Madrid. Rakitic, Vidal, and Lenglet all nice to have as well.
Updates on Umtiti - still practicing, but no timetable yet. Dembele - missed practice so absolutely not playing against Valencia but might be ready by CdR and is expected to practice next week. https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2019/01/31/5c53071d268e3ee3418b45ac.html
Makes sense. Especially with CL coming in the following midweek (ie right after match with Valladolid). They can use the rest. The tough stretch of fixtures also means EV probably fields a very experimental lineup in the first leg of the CdR semi (unless its against LPB, I guess), which would continue the pattern of the previous 2 rounds.
Looking at Valencia's position in the table highlights how insane the fight to avoid relegation might get in La Liga, along with how much parity there is outside the top 3. Valencia is in 7th place and maybe a good bet to finish 5th this season, but if Celta beat a struggling Sevilla side at home, Valencia might only be 5 points above the relegation zone at this time tomorrow!
Somehow this season all the squad lists grew by one, in terms of what needs to be released a day ahead of time for Liga matches, then it gets trimmed to 18 just before the match. The first surprise I see is Inaki Pena as backup goalie, guessing Cillessen took a knock in the 6-1 over Sevilla? Or maybe they just want to be sure he has a rest since he'll have his first Clasico coming midweek, this way he gets to avoid the travel and can study up on Madrid players' tendencies... EDIT - dang, we qualified for Semis, drew two Clasicos, and now Cillessen misses both, out 6 weeks with a calf injury. HUGE QUESTION - does MAtS start the Copa games or does that go to Inaki Pena? Could go either way. https://www.sport-english.com/en/ne...en-out-for-six-weeks-with-calf-injury-7281910 Next surprise, no Coutinho. Again, did he get a knock, or just being rested as he will surely start vs. Madrid unless Dembele is cleared on Monday and can also start by Wednesday, which seems unlikely. So good to rotate/rest him and gives us a chance to see Malcom or Princ get a start. Without Denis and with Rafinha injured we don't have any other mids who also play forward, besides Coutinho himself (who Valverde only plays as forward in a 4-3-3, though he can play mid in a 4-4-2 for EV, but EV seems to be under firm instruction not to 4-4-2 this year), and I guess it has happened to Vidal (with NT) and Roberto (in years' past) on occasion. A small surprise, 4 CBs in the squad, all but the injured Umtiti and brand new signing Todibo who hasn't played for a couple months after he told Toulouse he would not re-up his contract with them. Todibo is huge and maybe still growing at 19: and adds to the growing French contingent (Umtiti, Dembele, Lenglet, now Todibo - only poor Griezmann missed out). Next surprise, SAMPER makes a squad! Though we was cleared medically there was no talk of him leaving in January, which is odd, but then he is the only "true DM" we have beyond Busquets (Sergi and Oriol in Barca B), though once De Jong joins it is hard to see any room for Samper, even if De Jong plays both DM and AM. Could Samper actually get a start, I don't think so, but hopefully we can get a lead and he can spell Rakitic whom I expect to see in the middle with Busi suspended. With Dembele, Umtiti, and Rafinha injured. Busquets suspended for 5 yellows. Denis and Munir gone. And Todibo getting back to match fitness I think that covers the entire first team. Biggest questions: Right Back - Semedo or Roberto; Third forward - Prince, Malcom or ? (only Vidal or Roberto or a 4-4-2 seem like remote possibilities). Prediction: MAtS Semedo-Pique-Lenglet-Alba Vidal-Rakitic-Arthur Messi-Suarez-Malcom Sub on 3 of Prince, Samper, Vermaelen or Murillo to rest players like Suarez, Rakitic, Lenglet or Pique, or Alena for Vidal or Arthur.
Wow, i think the upcoming Clasico, first leg at home (not to mention Remontada effort to make Semis just 3 days ago), got to EV, as this is some real rotation. Verm starts, Roberto and Semedo start at the same time, Alena starts, I think I mis-read the squad list yesterday as I thought Coutinho was not on the list, he starts up front with Leo and Luis. Alba is rested (he's on 4 yellows but this is actually a good match to get a fifth). Roberto is not playing as a mid, so either he or Semedo mans the right flank (thoughts and prayers). MAtS Semedo-Pique-Vermaelen-Roberto Alena-Rakitic-Vidal Leo-Luis-Phillipe
Barça subs: Iñaki Peña, Arthur, Malcom, Lenglet, Murillo, Jordi Alba and Prince. Left out (coach's decision): Samper
Well that was lucky. Bad cross ball from Messi leads to quick counter and they hit the post after a great save from MATS. Now Messi on the counter uncharacteristically fumbles with the ball.
Classic Roberto cock up Rakitic, Roberto along with Vidal who's also sluggish .. what could go wrong ?
Seriously .. put a God damn B squad to play the Copa del Rey and concentrate on La Liga and the CL. Is that so difficult ?