Wednesday, 26 September 2018 20:00 BARCELONA TIME Estadio Butarque Leganés, Madrid PREVIOUS MEETINGS SLL 08-04-2018 FT Barcelona 3 : 1 Leganes SLL 19-11-2017 FT Leganes 0 : 3 Barcelona SLL 20-02-2017 FT Barcelona 2 : 1 Leganes SLL 17-09-2016 FT Leganes 1 : 5 Barcelona VISCAELBARCA
I hope the Verminator starts. Messi and pique look really good with that shaven look I hope they keep it. Suarez should join the club
Important little stretch coming up. Madrid with 4 games in 10 days, including Sevilla away, a Madrid derby and a trip to Russia. A chance for Barca to build a small lead in the table (though not as good as the chance was 2 days ago )
Squad list - Malcolm medically cleared after 3 weeks out (ankle), and makes squad ahead of Denis; Lenglet out due to red card so Vermaelen also makes first squad in a little while, otherwise same as last weekend if memory serves: No injuries so beyond Denis and Lenglet, the others benched are Alena (but he's still working back to game shape with Barca B right now), Rafinha, and Samper. I expect a strong squad but with a couple rotations. At RB, Semedo got the last start, so I think Roberto will start this one. Rakitic and Coutinho both rested initially then called upon, I'm guessing both will start, but could also see one rested again. Next to Pique is the big question, probably a good idea to give Vermaelen an audition, since Umtiti is suspended for Tottenham and Lenglet is suspended this game and was not on the pitch long enough to have won or lost the battle to team with Pique in Wembley. On the other hand, Umtiti has missed the last 110 minutes and I'm sure would like to play. So prediction of what EV does: MAtS Roberto-Pique-Vermaelen-Alba Arturo-Busquets-Coutinho Messi-Suarez-Dembele If we can get a lead then bring off Alba for Umtiti (or Verm) just for some much needed rest and a chance to see either of the CBs play LB. Sub on Munir for Suarez. Sub off Busquets for Arthur or Semedo (move Roberto up) or Rakitic.
Good point, figure Malcolm should be happy to be medically cleared and in the squad list (something Samper, Alena, Denis, and Rafinha rarely do) and, while Munir has been healthy and always makes the squad list he NEVER plays, and did he ever re-up his contract? Don't think so, so he can sign on to a Bosman in January and we get nothing come July 1. So that's a big reason why I want to see Munir finally play. Back to Malcolm though, he was a darn costly transfer and barely has played, despite looking good in preseason. And finally the other 3 new starters have all started a meaningful match last weekend (Super Copa is meaningful but Lenglet and Arthur only started as Umtiti and Rakitic had barely gotten back after making WC final). So he is due to play and I'd love to see him play, and also don't want to see it be him vs. Dembele. Play them both, play neither, etc.
Official: -----Dembele------Munir------Messi----- ------------Coutinho-----Rakitic----------- *Vermaelen------Busquets-------Roberto --------------*Umtiti--------Pique------------- -------------------TerStegen------------------ * it could also be Umtiti at LB and Verm at LCB, or maybe a 3-4-3? Subs: Cillessen, Suarez, Alba, Malcom, Arthur, Arturo Vidal, Semedo
While it is an interesting lineup with questions about the formation as noted by unclesox, it actually only involves rotation of two non grand-once players (Munir for Suarez, and Verm for Alba) against a team that has only one point and sits at the bottom of the table, still it is a road game but I think we can get it done. While I like the idea of a 3 CB back line, and a 3-4-3, I am really curious to see how Verm or Umtiti can play LB. We were a bit overdue to see how we might play when Alba is rested now that Digne was sold, Cucurella loaned out, and Miranda only 18 y.o. and newly promoted to Barca B. I think Miranda is a crack and will be part of the Alba back up plan, but also curious to see if Verm still has the speed to cover LB, or if we need Umtiti out there, I don't have much faith in Lenglet playing wider (not that he is available today). Wishing Munir and Vermaelen lots of good luck today. And hoping for an early lead so we can see all 3 subs used early. In order I would most like to see Malcolm for Messi, Arthur for any mid, and a wild Semedo sub for Umtiti or Pique where we wind up playing Semedo at RB, Pique or Umtiti at right CB, Verm at left CB, and Roberto at LB. I know many of you don't like Roberto at all, much less as a RB, but he remains the most versatile player and is another trusted squad player who may be called on to back up Alba, so I'd love to see how it works once we have control of the game.
Beautiful technique by Coutinho. With that being said, we haven’t been able to create much this game.
LOL 2-1 to Leganes! Pique has cost Barca 3 easy goals lately. Let's see if Barca can pass the ball into goal twice.
I'm guessing here but was Roberto caught out of position again for one or more of those two quick goals
I don't know who Roberto is but Craperto sure was. Abysmal performance against an abysmal team. Taking teams for granted sure punishes one quickly.
Are you Valverde fans happy now .. 2:1 down to a team that hasn't beaten anyone for ages ..and we are now being outplayed completely
He's pulling a Lucho, rotating the hell out of the squad very early in the season. Also have I btw mentioned I hate this plan A to death passing about with no result when a bus is parked? and parked well!