PBP: UEFA Champions League | Matchday 3 | Bate Borisov v FC Barcelona | 20 October 2015 [R]

Glad Verm got the green light but not sure if he starts this one, he was a revelation early this season as our best CB, but obviously we don't want to rush things as he's had several injury problems, so my guess is a very similar lineup to what we had on Saturday with the changes simply being MAtS in goal for CL, and Munir starting rather than Sandro. And Masch team with Pique rather than Mathieu or Verm or Bartra. Then sub on Verm for the last 30 minutes to get some PT and match fitness:

MAtS
Alves-PK-Masch-Alba
Raki-Busi-S'berto
Munir-Suarez-Neymar

And I know some people would like to see Bravo play but I don't think that is what we will see just yet. If MAtS looks bad in the CL group stage games I could see him get the hook when CL goes to elimination stages, but I don't think Lucho wants to do that (as it would really mess with MAtS's confidence and maybe even lead to him looking for a transfer in the summer). So MAtS is my prediction even if I'd feel a bit more secure with Bravo between the posts.

 

Should be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit when the game starts...not too bad. I was thinking this might be an early kickoff

 

If MAts is that precious/delicate not sure Barca need him TBH. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he isn't such a douche. I really hope that isn't true and affecting Lucho's decision-making. I mean you play crappy, you get benched. That's how football works. He'll get the same treatment anywhere. Pretty simple.

 

So I know they have a new "state of the art football arena" for BATE, but it only seats 13,126 and I have read that they are again playing in Minsk (larger stadium) and where they played in 2011.

Well I don't pretend to know how Lucho or MAtS think, react, make decisions. I do know that we won the CL and CdR with MAtS in goal, that he is much younger than Lucho, and has some great skills. Had Bravo kept clean sheets since being back from injury it would sure make the decision harder for Lucho but we've only had 2 clean sheets in 13 games so far. Both keepers, the D, and the whole team are struggling versus last year. I just don't see MAtS benched for his performance so far, but, like I said, it could still happen later on in CL.

 

I get your point, but kinda disagree. I mean, for one, I don't think it's douchy to want a transfer if you feel like your current club can't give you enough football. It's his career. Secondly, I think there is a lot of value keeping a big part of the squad confident: if you keep starters confident, they're likely to deliver, but starters might not start all the time, and if you don't keep non-starters confident, they will play with a lack of confidence when they inevitably play at some point. Rotation doesn't only allow the best players to be fresh, it also makes squad players feel better.

And this being confident, feel good thing I don't think is about being precious/delicate, it's just that if you're an athlete, you're likely to deliver better if you're confident, and if you feel the others in the team have confidence in you. Mental state is a major factor in sports, obviously, football not being an exception.

Having said that, while I understand the merits of keeper rotation, I'm not a big fan of rotating them by competitition. I'd rather see Ter Stegen play some Liga matches, all CdR, some CL matches, as opposed to all the cup matches. I mean, to me, Bravo is better, and as such, I'd play him in CL knock-out matches.

 

I dunno. The term "clean sheets" can seem cool and catchy but its a pretty poor statistic for assessing a goalkeepers' current form. I wouldn't use it as the basis for any decision if I was manager, but then again I didn't see the Rayo game.

 

official:
neymar------suarez-------munir
--------roberto----busquets-----
alba---------masche--------alves
-------bartra-------pique---------
--------------terstegen------------

bench:
Bravo, Vermaelen, Mathieu, Adriano, Gumbau, Rakitic, Sandro

 

Not enough attacking ability in the midfield, at least on paper. Fine line-up still, I think, and it's not like we have ten prime-Xavis on the bench.

 

About time Bartra makes it off the bench. This is the bigger question, why isn't Bartra getting more playing time? The defence is teetering, time to play him.

 

Happy to see Bartra get a start. Masch & Busquets & Roberto is not a great midfield but given Iniesta out, Rafinha out for most or all of season, and Rakitic needing rest from time to time it seems OK. Hopefully we don't even need to sub on Rakitic (as we have the game in hand). Like to see Verm get some time to regain conditioning.

 

yea, i wonder if we might see dani alves play in midfield at some point? we could use his creativity in midfield and roberto has done well at RB.

 

Yeah that's as good as we have for sure, but we are deep at CB and incredibly thin at midfield, and Lucho has always tried to get Ini and Raki rest here and there (they are often subbed out when they start) which did seem to keep them fresh for the finish of last year (course we had Xavi and Rafinha then). So I understand giving Rakitic a game off, in case of emergency smash glass and get him on in the 2nd half.

EDIT - Damn, now Sergi Roberto injured and we had to break the emergency glass in the first half, Raki on.

 

I think we all agreed we could discuss the other game in our group (other groups only on the other teams forum, please) on here so Leverkeusen is now up 2-0, Roma's odds getting longer and longer, but they host Leverkeusen next and the current game is still far from over.

 

Wow, look at this:
Before today, Bartra had played 1 minute in the Champions League in year 2015 #fcblive (sub against Bayern at Camp Nou) [via @barca19stats]

 

You mean the solid yellow background where the numbers are?

 

"Not so fast, my friend!"

 

Leverkusen 2-1 Roma

De Rossi goal.

 

HT: 0-0.

HT: Leverkusen 2-2 Roma

 

Quite certain that UEFA regulations require numbers be displayed on a solid background when the shirts have dark and light stripes. Atletico, Juventus, Porto, Shakhtar... they all have solid blocks on the back of their shirts.
Barcelona's home kit doesn't have it, I'm guessing because the claret and blue are both deemed to be dark colors. If Inter Milan were involved this season I'm assuming they would not require a solid block as well.

 

Rakitic !!!

 

roketazo!!

edit: good assist from neymar