Sunday, 1 March 2020 21:00 BARCELONA TIME AWAY GAME PREVIOUS MEETINGS SLL 18-12-2019 FT Barcelona 0 : 0 Real Madrid SLL 02-03-2019 FT Real Madrid 0 : 1 Barcelona SCdR 27-02-2019 FT Real Madrid 0 : 3 Barcelona SCdR 06-02-2019 FT Barcelona 1 : 1 Real Madrid SLL 28-10-2018 FT Barcelona 5 : 1 Real Madrid SLL 06-05-2018 FT Barcelona 2 : 2 Real Madrid VISCAELBARCA
4 straight La Liga wins at the Bernabeu. Setien also never lost having played 3 times at the stadium. Pique and Alba back are good news. But I wouldn't want to force Alba. Up front I would love to play Breadandwater up front ... fuk it ... YOLO. Not sure if he could play right side. But I am guessing we will see Grizemann and Vidal. And I'd go with Busquets, De Jong, and Arthur in the mid. In the first Clasico of the season Madrid did well with Bale, Benzema, Isco up front. I am wondering if Zidane will do the same. Having been humiliated vs Man City I think he could come out cautious. Bale has been pretty much out of it lately so he might go with VJr instead. I'd expect Kroos, Casemiro, Valverde midfield although I'd love to see Kroos, Casemiro, Modric instead. They need the win more. A Barca win would open up 5 pts and also deal a 2nd psychological blow to their season. While a 5 pt lead isn't much, the psychological blow could be enough to send them off the rails. Would love to see Messi put on another great performance at his home away from home but he will have his work cut out for him without Suarez in there.
The quality of the threads you start is always worth the wait. I guess the questions regarding line-ups and tactics probably rank like this: 1. 442 or 433 2. Is Alba ready to start and play 90 or at least 60? 3. Is Pique similarly ready? 4. If Pique ready, then Umtiti or Lenglet (answer is Umtiti for Setien but they might both start if Pique not ready) 5. If 433 does Braithwaite or Fati start as 3rd forward (answer is Braithwaite I think), but the trick answer is Vidal starts as hybrid 3rd fwd/4th mid. 6. In a 4 person midfield there's still an odd man out, what if we start a 3 man midfield? Busquets and FDJ seem most likely to start, 3rd could be Raki, Vidal, or Arthur. Personally I want to see Vidal start (see 5 above), and fine with Arthur or Raki as 3rd/4th mid. My best guess (hoping Pique and Alba healthy enough): MAtS Semedo-Pique-Umtiti-Alba Raki-Busi-FDJ-Vidal Messi-Griezmann subs we likely see in that scenario: Arthur, Braithwaite, Fati, then Lenglet and Firpo esp, if Pique and Alba not ready for 90.
One of the most important league clasicos this century, that's for sure. Win: 5 point lead plus the tiebreaker would be great, and could easily grow from there next weekend with them away to Betis. Loss: We'd probably go trohyless. 1 point deficit and we have more tough fixtures than them the rest of the season. They are about to go out of CL and can focus 100% on the league. Draw: 2 point lead and tiebreaker would then be goal difference. Would make for a very stressful last 12 matches since every goal and minute would matter. Even if we are leading a game 3-0 we can't relax because winning 5-nil or 3-1 could make a difference.
Nothing much has changed since Setien became manager, away from home we still play at the pace of the zombies in Night of the Living Dead, LPB are poor as well so probably a 0-0 is on the cards
1 booking away from suspension: Lenglet, Umtiti, Suárez 2 bookings away from suspension: Alba, Firpo, Vidal Upcoming Liga fixtures: J27 (H) Real Sociedad J28 (A) Mallorca J29 (H) Leganés
Should also note that the team that wins this game wins the head-to-head, so the game is essentially worth four points barring that any other team will compete for the title. Even a score draw gets us the tiebreaker.
STARTING XI FOR BARÇA! Ter Stegen N. Semedo Piqué Sergio Arthur Messi Griezmann Jordi Alba F. De Jong Vidal Umtiti 4-4-2 MATS Semedo - Pique - Umtiti - Alba Arthur - FDJ - Busquets - Vidal Messi - Griezzo
Great lineup given available players, Alba and Pique both ready to start after injuries. Vidal and Arthur join FDJ and Busquets in midfield. Umtiti favored over Lenglet (for on ball build from back prowess?). Really could not be happier with line up but let's see how we play.
He's been playing with a thigh injury. https://en.as.com/en/2020/02/04/football/1580824472_785415.html
Sensible from Setién. Go with your most experienced players, let the formation fit the talent you put out there.