PBP: El Clásico | FC Barcelona v Real Madrid | J10 - La Liga 19/20 | 18 December 2019 [R]

Another La Manita

 

This Madrid team is far from unbeatable. Problem is we aren't so hot right now either. At least the front three is kind of firing. Hoping for lots of goals from us to balance out the defensive blunders which let's be honest seem unavoidable.

 

This is the most unpredictable Clasico ever. Madrid are absolute pants, only problem is, we aren’t much better at the moment. I always hope we can beat any team playing our brand of football. In this case however, I don’t particularly care how we do it as long as we beat the scummiest club of all.

Our midfield (and defense for obvious reasons) is what worries me. Basically two box to box midfielders and one defensive midfielder. Even if you don’t see Raki as box to box he simply isn’t dynamic enough as an attacking midfielder. Can’t stress enough how much we need a Puig-type player.

Oh well, maybe Raki can have one of those magical games. We’ll see. Visca Barca, always.

 

Who's injured and/or suspended for this upcoming game?
I want Vidal in that midfield with FDJ and Busquéts.
I hope AG takes his chances well, I'm sure he's gonna be fed.
Pretty nervous about this one.

 

Regarding suspensions all Barca players are available. No suspensions.
(Others keep better track of injuries than I do so I'll defer to them.)

 

I don't want Raki or Vidal starting in our midfield. Give me Alena or Arthur if he's healthy.

 

A win would be a great birthday present.

 

I would prefer Authur too, but unfortunately he's out injured. Gotta be realistic - Alena won't start this one, nor should he as he's way off form. So that leaves Rakitic or Vidal (so probably Raki).

 

Agree to disagree on the “absolute pants” bit. Have seen enough of them to be able to make that assertion. I agree that Valverde seems to be an asset for their midfield though, at least up to this point.

Conceding many chances also isn’t indicative of how “good” Madrid are but rather how sub-par our defense is at the moment. Most games this season we have conceded many chances to the opposition. Not exactly a bold prediction, albeit true.

Again, one of the most unpredictable Clasico’s ever. Most are, though, as form tends to go completely out the window when facing each other. More like a grudge match most times. We’ll see.

 

Honestly outside of Benzema nobody else has been scoring for them. He's the guy we got to shut down. At least try because I'm not sure we can shut down anybody.

 

Same line up as against La Real, meaning that Arthur still not medically cleared, and Dembele also out with a longer term injury.

The complete 18 man squad is as follows: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Neto, Clement Lenglet, Antoine Griezmann, Jordi Alba, Carles Alena, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie de Jong, Arturo Vidal, Samuel Umtiti, Carles Perez and Ansu Fati.

First teamers who are not injured but not in the squad either are Wague and Todibo and Junior Firpo.

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Madrid are missing a number of players through injury, with Marcelo, James Rodríguez, Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard and Lucas Vázquez all absent. Also missing, albeit for technical reasons, are forward Brahim Díaz, right-back Álvaro Odriozola and striker Mariano Díaz.

The 19 called up are:

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Areola & Altube.
Defenders: Carvajal, Militao, Ramos, Varane, Nacho & Mendy.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Fede Valverde & Isco.
Forwards: Benzema, Bale, Jovic, Vinicius & Rodrygo.

 

I think the battle will be bloody, but Barca must win.

 

They still have plenty of talent especially in midfield. Hope MSG go off!

 

Vidal apparently stormed out of practice (sounds like he even left early) after learning that he would not be starting. I love the passion he brings when he is on the pitch, but can do without the histrionics right before the biggest game of the season. Plus he is in our 18 man roster and we could in fact have used him as a sub even if he did not start (we could still use him but seems less likely now), and now that is in jeopardy, though at least Alena made the 18 man roster too. Also if correct (it is not reported in Sport.es or Marca) he tipped our rivals to our starting midfield lineup in advance: Busquets, FDJ, Rakitic. Not that they could not have guessed that given that Arthur did not make the squad and Rakitic has been starting in his place. And frankly Vidal himself should not be surprised, he has only started 5 times this season, so why the drama now (beyond trying to force his way out in January), very immature and selfish of him.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...na-training-finding-not-start-El-Clasico.html

 

Send him away.
I, too, love his fighting spirit but... no. He needs to be gone by the time February arrives.
Assuming that's true, of course.

 

Griezmann has been good at doing just that though. And the point you make also highlights the importance of Alba being back in the lineup.

So I'm not as worried about the MF as others. Defense is obviously worrisome though.

 

If the reports are true than I agree that it’s time for Vidal to go. Rakitic can follow him out too as far as I’m concerned. They both seem unable to accept a secondary role and should look for consistent first team action elsewhere. We don’t need that type of drama in these crucial times.

The quicker this happens the quicker we’ll really start to inject some quality in this midfield. I love the prospect of Kai Havertz. Vidal and Raki out, Havertz and Puig in.

I will say that I’d rather have Vidal on the bench than Rakitic if it came down to it.

Oh well. As long as Valverde is in charge I can’t see changes of this magnitude taking place. Barcelona needs an overhaul, manager included.

 

Starts at the top. Barto should be the first to be ousted.

 

Busquets starts on the bench