Saturday, 16 September 2017 16:15 Barcelona Time Coliseum Alfonso Pérez The stadium was built in 1998 and currently, after several extensions, it has a capacity of 17,393 people, with an average attendance of 10,579 (62.2%) in the 2009/10 season. And 9,072 in the 2010/11 season. In the west stand was installed a roof covering almost all of the stand in order to avoid inclement weather. In recent years the average attendance at the Coliseum barely exceeds 9,000 fans. PREVIOUS MEETINGS SLL 12-03-2016 FT Barcelona 6 : 0 Getafe SLL 31-10-2015 FT Getafe 0 : 2 Barcelona SLL 28-04-2015 FT Barcelona 6 : 0 Getafe SLL 13-12-2014 FT Getafe 0 : 0 Barcelona SLL 03-05-2014 FT Barcelona 2 : 2 Getafe SCdR 16-01-2014 FT Getafe 0 : 2 Barcelona NEWS Barça got back to work on Thursday following the rest day Valverde gave his squad after their 3-0 victory against Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday. The first team are top of the league table level on points with Real Sociedad and they impressed in their Champions League debut. Lionel Messi’s form is an important part of this flying start with a fantastic haul of seven goals in four games. Ernesto Valverde started to prepare for the Getafe match on Saturday. He did so with the available first team players on the Tito Vilanova pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva. Barça will play at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez following a two-year absence as the team from Madrid were in Division 2A last year. The blaugranas have won three in their last four visits but it is never a comfortable away fixture. VISCALEBARCA
Super early game & I will be camping so I will rely on highlights when I get back and whatever I can read during or after the game. This article suggests it is time for a bunch of rotations: http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/ernesto-valverde-and-the-puzzle-at-the-colliseum-6288043 and I think that there are reasons for that after we just played a best 11 two matches in a row within a few days. Also, we have another midweek game (host Eibar on Tuesday), also play midweek at Sporting the next Wednesday. So this is when our valued squad players need to show their value: Masch at CB, Digne and hopefully Vidal at fullback, Roberto, Denis, and Paulinho (Turan seems too deep in the doghouse to mention right now; Gomes is worth a mention but I'd rather see the others play), Deulofeu and Paco up front. But we cannot just throw them all on the pitch at once with fingers crossed. Some will play, others will rest. Here's a quick guess: MAtS Vidal-Masch-Umtiti-Digne Rakitic-Paulinho (or vice versa)- Roberto Dembele-Messi-Deulofeu Bench of Jasper, Pique, Semedo, Busquets, Denis, Paco, Suarez. With intention or not needing to play Pique, Busquets or Suarez unless game is out of hand (or injury). Sub on Paco for Messi, Denis for Rakitic. Even that is probably more rotation than we see. Is Vidal in doghouse? Will Gomes still be favored over other players like Denis by our new coach?
The full squad is: Cillessen, Ter Stegen; Semedo, Alba, Pique, Mascherano, Umtiti; Busquets, Paulinho, Rakitic, Iniesta, Denis, Gomes, Sergi Roberto; Deulofeu, Messi, Suarez, Dembele. So, again no Vidal, or Digne, and no Paco either! Was not expecting Verm. Arda is officially injured, as is Rafinha. Revised lineup prediction from me before I disappear to the wilds of northwestern Marin County: MAtS Semedo-Masch-Umtiti-Alba Paulinho-Raki-Roberto Dembele-Messi-Deulofeu So only swapped out the squad/2nd fullbacks since they did not make the squad. And bench wise we have much more firepower in this scenario: Jasper, Pique, Gomes, Busi, Ini, Denis, & Suarez. But aim to rest whichever grand once don't start barring injury or bad scoreline. So bring in Denis and Gomes, Denis for a forward, Gomes for Raki, all assuming we have a 2 goal lead. Press conference of Valverde spoke of rotations but no specifics, of course, says Vidal is not in doghouse: Valverde also played down the significance of Aleix Vidal being left out of the last two matchday squads: "I'm happy with him and with his performances. Remember that he started the game against Alaves... he's not been in the squad for the last two matches but that could change at any moment. "In addition, he's a player who can help us in more than one position," Valverde continued. "I understand these type of questions, but they're going to be recurring because every week it's likely that I will have to leave one or two players out of the squad." More on minutes management: http://www.espnfc.us/barcelona/stor...z-playing-time-during-busy-week-for-barcelona http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...n-all-left-out-by-barca-boss-valverde-6288840
Roberto as RB again .... great ...... where the **** is Vidal ?!?!?! if he's going to rest Semedo then at least play Vidal ffs
This pitch plays slow as molasses. That's going to slow the play down a bit. Looks a bit like the pitch in Met Life stadium when they play those friendlies.
First scoring chance for Barca comes in the 32nd minute. Umtiti misses a point blank chance. Not his specialty though... Maybe he said 'hasn't scored in Getafe'(?)