Hey folks, want to get this posted so it is up for more than 24 hours before the match but it's late so this will be quick. This is a classic trap game after a huge midweek win we go out on the road to a difficult stadium in the frozen north, beyond the wall... Seriously Depor is not so great this season but we cannot afford any slippage. Fortunately we have nothing midweek so no need to rest / rotate too much, though I think our fullbacks both come back for this game, in a 4-3-3. On the road again (after 3 home games in a row); great setting near the water in NW Spain (mostly due north of Porto and Vigo, mostly due west of Bilbao, Santander, and Gijon: Second earliest Liga game on SUNDAY, right after US time change, I believe this takes the time change into account but best to double check: Preview from a site I have not been to for previews before but seems well organized: http://footyroom.com/matches/79924861/deportivo-vs-barcelona/preview Good news - we don't play again till next weekend. We're first they are 17th. Bad news - hangover from big win, on the road again, trap game, historically tough stadium. Prediction - MAtS Roberto-Pique-Umtiti-Alba Raki - Busi - Denis M - S - N Love to hear Mathieu cleared to play. Could easily see Gomes get start instead of Denis, or Raki rested instead of Ini, or both rested and Rafinha starts or Turan starts, but I predict with my heart and we don't play again till next weekend, and each of Raki and Ini got subbed off (as is normal) v. PSG. What I don't see is a 3-4-3. Esp. if we are still down to 3 healthy CBs only, that was ballsy Lucho, with no sub for CB other than putting on a FB. We don't rest on laurels, win 0-4.
Entering the match on four bookings: Messi, Piqué Three yellows: Rakitic, Sergi Roberto Upcoming Liga fixtures: J28 (H) Valencia J29 (A) Granada J30 (H) Sevilla
Pretty cool "match facts" from that link I posted in the thread starter. Also of note is that Depor has two players suspended for this match (deliberate?) leading scorer with 8, Florin Andone, and joint 4th leading scorer with 2, Pedro Mosquera (so they are without players responsible for 35% of their 29 Liga goals), also have three players listed as doubtful in injuries (we have Vidal out 100% and Mathieu "doubtful"): Deportivo de la Coruña have gone 13 games without tasting victory against Barcelona (W9 D4), failing to score in eight of those games. Deportivo's last win against Barcelona in La Liga came at the Riazor, 2-0 in 2008 under Lotina. Since then, they have drawn once and lost five of their last six meetings. Five of Deportivo's last eight goals in La Liga have been headers, which equates to a league-high 32% of their total haul this season. Barcelona won at the Riazor 8-0 last season, the biggest defeat suffered by Deportivo in La Liga history. Barcelona have not lost any of their last 19 La Liga games (W14 D5), the best current run in La Liga. Barcelona have not lost in their last nine La Liga games away (W6 D3), their best such run in the competition since March 2016 (11). Lionel Messi has scored ten goals at the Riazor in La Liga, his favorite away stadium in the competition in terms of scoring. Messi has scored in his last six La Liga games (8 goals). The Argentine superstar hasn’t scored in seven or more consecutive games since 2013 May (21 matches). Lionel Messi has scored more goals from outside the box than any other player in the big five European leagues this season (six). He has already scored as many goals from outside the box this season as in the whole of the last campaign. Neymar has embarked on the most dribbles in La Liga this season (119, with a 54% of them completed), 47 more than the next highest player (Messi with 72). Koln about to play their way back in to European place in Bundesliga. No jinx.
I'll add 1 more , Neymar with 99 goals for Barca and hopefully he will celebrate his 100th in this game
Squad against Deportivo: Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Piqué, Rakitic, Busquets, Denis, Arda, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Mascherano, Paco Alcácer, Jordi Alba, Digne, Sergi Roberto, André Gomes, Umtiti and Alena (B team) Missing players: Neymar (thigh), Rafinha (gastroenteritis), Aleix (dislocated ankle), Mathieu (sprained ankle), while Masip is omitted out. So revised lineup without the Brazilians is just to start Turan where Neymar would on LW. I will keep the same scoreline and hope Neymar is ready for the next game, Mathieu too would be nice. Would be great to see Alena play if the game is in hand (he scored for the first team in CdR but I don't think he has even had his Liga on field debut.
Starters: mats Roberto Pique Masch alba Gomes Busi Denis Messi Suarez Arda more like this on offense: To be clear game is on now, the photo with clock times did NOT take into account time change in America.
Here we go again with Shitmes in the starting lineup, let's see how that plays out and if he can earn his Gomes like Roberto [emoji6] [emoji41] Looks like crap weather. Hope they can get something before halftime. Damn Suarez straight at the keeper.
Damn that was a great chance, Roberto getting into the box but Lux in the way. MATS! Fantastic save.. Puuuuh! Then he drops the ball and Depor take the lead [emoji19] WTF!
Again rotating half of the players who started in the last game. This is in Enrique's genes and no matter what he will never learn. No brainer, he will sub in Iniesta and Raki.
Come on guys, no time to have a hungover. In with Umtiti and push them up and hoof it in for Pique and Umtiti.. PSG style, create mayhem.
not like he played any good but at least he was running and had an assist. The team is looking tired after PSG game. Lucho should have started with a strong team to finish the game earlier then sub out players like Iniesta and Raki not the other way around because the longer this game goes the more tired the players will be.