PBP: UEFA Champions League - Matchday 5 | PSV Eindhoven v FC Barcelona | 28 November 2018 [R]

Rafinha and Roberto out obviously, but also no Arthur, no Suarez.

Denis is back, plus Chumi, Jokin, Alena, Puig and Inaki Pena called up from the B-team.

 

what is with this squad? what are the reasons for no Arthur and Suarez?

Suarez could use the rest definitely..

it just feels to me the season is slipping away from Barca, they should be 10+ pts above any team in the Liga too..

 

Suarez injured - 2 weeks
Cillessen - 3 weeks
Arthur - 1 week

 

So with the injuries the formation should be like this

-----------------MATS-----------
Semedo---Pique--Umtiti----Alba-
-------------------Busi-------------------
------Rakitic------------Coutinho---
Dembele------Messi-------Malcom

but i'm 100% sure that our idiot coach is going to let Munir play , he always finds a way to ******** our game one way or the other exactly like how Lucho used to do

 

After Matchday 4 Barca were the only club that had booked their place into the knock-out round.
But the season is slipping away.

 

Here's my prediction in more of a 4-4-2 format, but nuanced

MAtS
Pique----Umtiti
Semedo--------Busi----------Alba
------Rakitic----Vidal---Coutinho
--------Messi----Dembele------​

Same players but as a 4-3-3

MAtS
Pique----Umtiti
Semedo--------Busi----------Alba
---Rakitic----Vidal---
--Messi--
Dembele----------Coutinho
​

Questions from the back, with Cillessen injured which Barca B goalie makes the bench (Jokin or Inaki Pena)? Does Umtiti start again or rotate with Lenglet (also when do we see if Lenglet and Umtiti can start together as Pique will need rest)? Are Rakitic and Coutinho both ready to start after injuries (if not Alena or Denis seem most ready to plug in at midfielder, and Malcom or Munir at forward if 4-3-3)? Without Suarez does EV start Munir?

Bench most likely (if I got starters right) Inaki Pena (or Jokin), Lenglet, Miranda, Alena, Denis Suarez, Malcom, Munir. Which would mean Jokin, Chumi, and Puig end up in stands.

 

Lineup as predicted save that Lenglet gets start instead of Umtiti next to Pique.

So if Coutinho plays as a forward than a 4-3-3 and only question is who is nominally the center forward? I think Messi, but a bit more withdrawn, like so:

MAtS
Pique----LENGLET
Semedo--------Busi----------Alba
---Rakitic----Vidal---
--Messi--
Dembele----------Coutinho
​

If Coutinho plays as more of a 4th mid then it looks more like this:

MAtS
Pique----LENGLET
Semedo--------Busi----------Alba
------Rakitic----Vidal---Coutinho
--------Messi----Dembele------​

DAMN, was hoping it was just rotation but FCB reports "In yesterday's training session the first team player Samuel Umtiti felt discomfort in his left knee and will miss today's game"

Still no word on the bench on FCB's twitter. Sounds like Umtiti will go to stands so Chumi stays as 3rd CB, then one of the Barca B keepers goes to stands, no clue on third person to stands (but hope it is not Puig as I'd love him to get minutes if we have a lead in 2nd half).

 

Not Puig's day to debut, so I'll hope we get a lead and Miranda gets minutes (or Chumi) but we cannot forget that Malcom needs minutes as will Denis and/or Alena - both midfielders grow in importance to squad with Rafinha out for the season and Roberto also injured:

Subs' bench: Iñaki Peña, Denis Suárez, Malcom, Munir, Aleñá, Miranda and Chumi. Left out: Jokin, Umtiti and Riqui Puig

 

We look very nervous and disjointed..

Raki hasn't even touched the ball yet ... ah he has .. gave it away ..

 

All that pressure from another loose ball from Rakky

 

Busi and Rakitic trying to give goal to PSV.

 

Rakitic

 

Van Bommell unhappy with a challenge- the irony