Sunday, 21 January 2018 20:45 BARCELONA TIME Estadio Benito Villamarín SEVILLA PREVIOUS MEETINGS SLL 20-08-2017 FT Barcelona 2 : 0 Real Betis SLL 29-01-2017 FT Real Betis 1 : 1 Barcelona SLL 20-08-2016 FT Barcelona 6 : 2 Real Betis SLL 30-04-2016 FT Real Betis 0 : 2 Barcelona SLL 30-12-2015 FT Barcelona 4 : 0 Real Betis SLL 05-04-2014 FT Barcelona 3 : 1 Real Betis VISCAELBARCA
Hopefully players decide to turn up this time. And get Messi off penalties , he's sucked at them for a while. Ridiculous how players like Lewandowski have a 100% penalty record while with Messi goalies know they can save him and we don't know if he will score or miss. Has cost Argentina and Barcelona in key moments need someone else to step up and take them.
Suárez and Umtiti carrying four yellow cards. Alba has three. Upcoming Liga fixtures: J21 (H) Alavés J22 (A) Espanyol J23 (H) Getafe
El de este domingo será un encuentro muy especial para @ctello91... 💚🔵🔴¡No te pierdas en nuestro perfil de @Dugout los GOLAZOS que marcaba de pequeño en la @FCBmasia! 👀👇➡ https://t.co/Sy4SZofzZGP.D.: ¡Gracias por las imágenes, @FCBarcelona_es! ☺ pic.twitter.com/0rRRlV3vdC— Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) January 18, 2018 💪💪🤪💚 https://t.co/q4eHLEQOzd— Cristian Tello (@ctello91) January 18, 2018
UMTITI declared fit and makes the squad. (Coutinho also practiced with the squad today but not yet cleared). Mina not in the squad, I thought his paperwork went through but maybe not yet, or maybe the return of Umtiti means 4th/even 5th in this case since Masch still here, CB will often be in the stands (if he even travels to away games). Other things of note: Paulinho, Messi, Suarez - all in the squad after leaving match and/or missing practice post-match; Rafinha - not in squad, supposedly will be loaned to Inter; Paco Alcacer - still not fit; Iniesta - still not fit; Deulofeu - back in the squad, has missed many matches, was not sure if they were saving him for a sale, or knowing Barca, a loan; Surprised to see Vidal, Semedo, Roberto, and Deulofeu all make the same squad; and Alena (and Gomesh) gets another squad while Denis does not. Lineup wise, we are sitting pretty in La Liga (esp. after Atletico only got a draw, and Sevilla's win brings them level with Real in 4th) but obviously want 3 points. Meanwhile we need a result vs. Espanyol to defend the CdRey title (Espanyol lost at home 0-3 today to Sevilla, they did rest some starters too - Naldo, Granero, plus Victor Sanchez, Marc Navarro, and Sergio Garcia only came on as subs). Valverde spoke of Betis's pressing and bravery, basically asking them not to bunker by applauding them in advance for not bunkering. I think we start a very strong squad while trying not to think ahead to midweek, when we really hope Iniesta (and/or Coutinho) can play. Prediction: MAtS Roberto-Pique-Umtiti (and he gets a yellow)-Alba Raki-Busi-Alena Deulofeu-Messi-Suarez Both Roberto and Deulofeu and of course Messi play a bit as midfielders so you could say we play a 3-6-1, but it is more nuanced than that.
Sports predicted lineup and I would love to see both Roberto and Semedo on the pitch, so I like that part, still I remain a Gomesh questioner (I know Iniesta and Coutinho are not medically cleared, so I'd rather see Denis in the squad and played there, or even Alba there in front of Digne, or play Deulofeu there - there being the spot the predict for Gomesh): Injury summary and lineup prediction from Barca Blaugranes (I bolded a couple ex Barca folks): Barcelona injuries: Andrés Iniesta, Philippe Coutinho, Paco Alcácer, Ousmane Dembélé Real Betis injuries: Antonio Sanabria, Joel Campbell, Antonio Barragán Barcelona (4-4-2): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba; Deulofeu, Rakitic, Busquets, Gomes; Messi, Suárez Real Betis (4-3-3): Adán; Francis, Mandi, Feddal, Durmisi; Guardado, J.García, F.Ruiz; Joaquín, S.León, Tello I could very easily see Vermaelen start and ease Umtiti back in. Given that Umtiti is on 4 yellows though I'd love him to sub on late and perhaps pick up that 5th yellow late in the match. He could still play midweek in the Copa and then would have the next Liga match off (suspended) while he rounds into full fitness. Just a thought.
They are playing a pretty high defensive line. Just need to pick the right pass and Suarez stay onside.
I was just in the process of posting that Gomes is playing better than usual today. And as I'm typing he plays a hospital ball to Jordi Alba. Feh.
This is typically a tough ground for us, but then again so was Anoeta. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if referees have been gently suggested to "make the league more interesting" ...