PBP: UEFA Champions League - Matchday 1 | FC Barcelona v PSV Eindhoven | 18 September 2018 [R]

Viscaelbarca · Sep 16, 2018

Tuesday, 18 September 2018
18:55 BARCELONA TIME

CAMP NOU
BARCELONA

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

1990 Friendly P.S.V. Eindhoven 2-2 FC BARCELONA
1994 Friendly P.S.V. Eindhoven 0-1 FC BARCELONA
1996 UEFA Cup FC BARCELONA 2-2 P.S.V. Eindhoven

1996 UEFA Cup P.S.V. Eindhoven 2-3 FC BARCELONA

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1997 European Cup FC BARCELONA 2-2 P.S.V. Eindhoven

1997 European Cup P.S.V. Eindhoven 2-2 FC BARCELONA

SOME PLAYERS WHO PLAYED FOR BARÇA & PSV

Eidur Gudjohnsen, Patrick Kluivert, Gheorghe Popescu, Michael Reiziger, Ronaldo Nazário, Mark van Bommel, Ibrahim Afellay and Boudewijn Zenden

VISCAELBARCA

celito · Sep 16, 2018

Note the different time structure this season with some game staggering. Barca plays the early game in this round.

Viscaelbarca · Sep 17, 2018

Time and date added to the opening post.

It is going to be 3 am for me. I don't think I will be able to wake up

BocaFan · Sep 17, 2018

Looks like they put 2 fairly attractive fixtures in the very first early time-slot to wake people up to the fact that we now have double-headers every MatchDay. But that is not a sign of things to come. The 18h55 CET kick-off time is mainly used for the less-attractive matches and it will be the only early kick off for Barca during the group stage.

Forzabarca · Sep 17, 2018

Probably one of the most important CL games of the season.

Gilmango · Sep 17, 2018

Not happy with the early starting time, would not mind if Arthur, Semedo, or Munir got a start, but I'm predicting the grand once all start:

Ter Stegen;
Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba;
Rakitic, Busquets, Coutinho;
Messi, Suarez, Dembele.

So missing out are Malcolm (injured still?), Samper (injured still?), Denis (injured still?), Vermaelen, and Alena (getting back in game shape with Barca B), and no one (like Miranda or Puig) from Barca B.

evil_allan · Sep 18, 2018

no surprises here:

----Dembele-----Suarez------Messi-----
------------Coutinho----Rakitic------------
Alba------------Busquets--------Roberto
------------Umtiti--------Pique--------------
----------------TerStegen--------------------

Subs:
Cillessen, N. Semedo, Arthur, Rafinha, Lenglet, Munir and Vidal

evil_allan · Sep 18, 2018

And in the other corner ....

puyol · Sep 18, 2018

nice clearance by Roberto ... almost gave them a goal there

Viscaelbarca · Sep 18, 2018

Why isn’t Arthur starting? [emoji53]

celito · Sep 18, 2018

Viscaelbarca said: ↑

Why isn’t Arthur starting? [emoji53]
Click to expand...

Saving him for big occasions

Viscaelbarca · Sep 18, 2018

They got too close again, too vulnerable on the counter

inswinger · Sep 18, 2018

Viscaelbarca said: ↑

Why isn’t Arthur starting? [emoji53]
Click to expand...

Over whom?
Busquets - Rakitic - Coutinho (who was cup-tied all last spring) = a solid, experienced midfield.

Bada Bing · Sep 18, 2018

Well Rakitic's been awful.

Viscaelbarca · Sep 18, 2018

Stupid attempt by Suarez there, should’ve cut back to the middle where Dembele was running.

Viscaelbarca · Sep 18, 2018

inswinger said: ↑

Over whom?
Busquets - Rakitic - Coutinho (who was cup-tied all last spring) = a solid, experienced midfield.
Click to expand...

Rakitic

inswinger · Sep 18, 2018

Interesting to see Messi starting from the wide right position and working his way in from there.

edit: it's like throwback Messi

Viscaelbarca · Sep 18, 2018

Damn! Lozano outpaced Alba [emoji33]

inswinger · Sep 18, 2018

Viscaelbarca said: ↑

Rakitic
Click to expand...

Raki is almost in a double pivot with Busi, except he sometimes ventures forward a la Lord Paulinho.

I think Raki gives us more ball-winning presence to start the match, and Arthur can step in when PSV have tired some and there's more space to play passes through.

Viscaelbarca · Sep 18, 2018

Gooooolazoooo!

celito · Sep 18, 2018

Messi !!! FK Maestro !!!

1 x 0

inswinger · Sep 18, 2018

As soon as I saw Messi spot where the GK was standing, I knew where he was going to put it.

Bada Bing · Sep 18, 2018

Wasn't even close of getting it.

celito · Sep 18, 2018

Sick pass from Messi to Dembele there. Close.

Gilmango · Sep 18, 2018

inswinger said: ↑

Raki is almost in a double pivot with Busi, except he sometimes ventures forward a la Lord Paulinho.

I think Raki gives us more ball-winning presence to start the match, and Arthur can step in when PSV have tired some and there's more space to play passes through.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I love that we have added Arthur and I do want to see him play more but Rakitic is constantly underrated by some Barca fans. Also PSV are pretty tall overall and one of the most dominant teams in terms of winning aerial duels (something like 55% I read) so Rakitic helps us there too (vs. Arthur).