Saturday, 23 February 2019 16:15 BARCELONA TIME Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán S E V I L L A PREVIOUS MEETINGS SCdR 30-01-2019 FT Barcelona 6 : 1 Sevilla SCdR 23-01-2019 FT Sevilla 2 : 0 Barcelona SLL 20-10-2018 FT Barcelona 4 : 2 Sevilla SSdE 12-08-2018 FT Sevilla 1 : 2 Barcelona SCdR 21-04-2018 FT Sevilla 0 : 5 Barcelona SLL 31-03-2018 FT Sevilla 2 : 2 Barcelona VISCAELBARCA
Sevilla just played Lazio last night so they are on less rest than Barca, especially since they also played last midweek in Rome. So this is the 4th game in 9 days for them. So no excuses about tiredness for Barca.
Entering on 4 bookings: Lenglet, Rakitic, Vidal Carrying 3 yellow cards: Piqué, Suarez, Umtiti Upcoming Liga fixtures: J26 (A) Real Madrid J27 (H) Rayo Vallecano J28 (A) Betis
Also they have some big injury doubts: Following Sevilla's victory in the Europa League over Lazio last night, the club has released statements on the injuries suffered by key players Sergio Escudero and Jesús Navas. Both are considered serious doubts for this weekend's match against FC Barcelona in LaLiga. Escudero is the most likely of the two to be ruled out. He was taken off in just the sixth minute after he felt pain in his hamstring. Due to him needing to be replaced, the defender is expected to miss a few weeks of action. As for Jesus Navas, who completed the match but was clearly in discomfort, Sevilla are still waiting the test results. Navas might be fit enough for a place on the bench but it appears unlikely he will start against Barça.
Navas doesn't worry me either way. He is not a creative player and wouldn't cause Alba or Lenglet too many problems IMO.
Suarez better step up his game big time. He has been painfull to watch in recent weeks. I'd actually replace him with Coutinho.
Yeah, I mean, you don’t necessarily need a CF when you have Messi. But we need Suarez to beat LPB so would stick with Luisito for another 3 games. If he doesn’t produce in the next 10 days, then leave him out.
The squad list for the game in Andalusia is as follows: Ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Umtiti, Murillo, Jordi Alba, S. Roberto Rakitic, Sergio, Coutinho, Aleñá, Vidal Suárez, Messi, Dembélé, Malcom Left out are Todibo, Samper and Boateng and missing through injury are Arthur, Rafinha, Cillessen and Vermaelen.
Could also rest Luis for first 60 minutes with Messi flanked by 2 of Dembele, Coutinho, or Malcom; then bring Luis on as a sub, he gets some run but he could use rest before Real too. Thought I posted the first part yesterday, anyways, now that the squad list is out, time for best guesses of what EV will do. Real related questions are to what extent to we rotate before the TWO straight CLASICOs in Madrid (CdR semi return leg 1-1, then Liga fixture; all followed by Copa de Catalunya final v. Girona - squad and B team only midweek match, host Rayo, host Lyon in return leg 0-0), who is carrying little injuries?, who needs PT to get back to contributing (Umtiti most of all, then Arthur once cleared)?, who may be rested due to risk of 5th booking before Liga Clasico (Lenglet, Rakitic, Vidal), who needs a spot so they don't have a crisis in confidence; or is this just the time to go all out for 3 straight games of grand once (tempered with the result of Sevilla may mean we care more or less about Liga Clasico or CdR Clasico), etc. times ten because we did not score in Lyon so that's looming too. So here goes: MAtS Semedo - Pique - Lenglet - Alba Alena - Busquets - Vidal Messi - Suarez - Dembele GK: MAtS a given if healthy Defense: RB always a hard question; CB the main pair seems likely till Umtiti gets game time and proves he's back to his best, but Umtiti could get time to spare Lenglet the risk of a 5th card, or Murillo to give Pique a breather. LB - Alba a given if healthy. Mids: Busi a given if healthy, my prediction has another "given" Rakitic rested in large part due to 4 yellow cards, plus I think Alena and Vidal could both use starts (and I have far less concern about Vidal getting his 5th, as hopefully Arthur cleared by next weekend's Liga Clasico), don't see Coutinho in midfield at all. Forwards: LSD all day in a big away game, but, we have two Clasicos and a CL win or die game just ahead. It would be brave of EV to give Suarez a rest for the game or first 60 or so minutes, start Messi with Dembele and either Coutinho or Malcom. Really love to see Messi Malcom and Dembele but won't hold breath, if any of LSD are spelled, expect Coutinho to start.
Official MAtS Semedo Pique Umtiti Alba Raki Busi Vidal Messi Suarez Coutinho So Umtiti is back! Coutinho gets a start with Dembele rested at first. And Raki and Vidal both with 4 yellows flank Busi. Getafe beat Rayo already so Sevilla need 3 points to reclaim the 4th CL spot in Liga table.
jeez busi,vidal,raki,coutinho,saurez, this is freaking slow , why no Malcom ?!?!? the poor guy haven't played a single minute since the LPB match , and we need some speed to take advantage of Messi's passes if they are pressing high and Dembele isn't even playing , seriously what is it with this coach and Malcom
Idiotic to play all the top guys. Suarez should rest, Pique should rest, Messi should rest, Alba should rest, either one of Bus or Raki should rest. We have really important games coming in Copa, CL and also el clasico in La Liga. Does Valverde have no brain? We can't concentrate on them all, guys need rest.
No way. Their player had the ball at the corner top of the box with nobody near him ... with the defense not really set. I would have taken the advantage all day every day.
More important games are coming. If you concentrate on everything, you fail in everything in the end. Suarez has looked empty for a while now. Nice, sevilla scores. Shit.