PBP: Jornada 24 | La Liga BBVA 15/16 | FC Barcelona v RC Celta de Vigo | 14 FEB 2016 [R]

So Celta is missing 6 players? 4 for discipline plus 2 ex barca ones injured? That's rough for them but still a tough team so strong lineup - I will guess grande once but with Arda spelling Rakitic. B; APMA;ArdaBI;MSN

 

We need to get revenge on those critters!! I'm predicting a 3-2 win!!

 

Busquets, Neymar and Mascherano enter the match with 4 bookings each.

Alves and Suarez each carrying 3 yellows.

Upcoming Liga matches:
J16 (A) Sporting Gijón
J25 (A) Las Palmas
J26 (H) Sevilla

 

No reason to rest anyone on account of the 4 booking as this is the hardest match till Sevilla. Las Palmas is the 18th team, and Gijon is the 16th in current standings, so it would not be terrible if one or two picked up the 5th in this match or J16, just want all of them for our revenge against Sevilla. Hopefully that will be 34th match in a row without defeat (and part of a new 5 game winning streak). OK, one game at a time, I know.

 

it's a shame to see Rafinha, Nolito, Fontas, and Sergi Gomez all missing against their former teams.

 

Celta have won 5 times on the road in the league this season, Sevilla is still winless.

But anyway, I have a bit of a different take on the fixture-list in the short-term, and long-term for that matter : I think Barca's away matches will be the more challenging ones for the rest of the league season (even though they are generally against teams in the bottom-half of the table).

 

Sure we struggle more away from home especially on smaller pitches with longer and unwatered grass which sometimes resembles a potato patch seemingly in part to break up our precision passing and possession game, but I mention both Celta and Sevilla as teams to fear because both took huge points away from us in the first half of the season. Sevilla was the last team we lost to period, in any competition, 2-1. Celta was our worst Liga loss all year and second only to the Bilbao bashing in Super Copa, we lost to Celta 4-1. On current form? Well Sevilla just smashed Celta at home and tied them on the road, and Celta will be without 6 top players, which is why I consider Sevilla a bigger challenge. That said I was not aware of their dismal road record this season. Either way both are huge "revenge games" as we already dropped 3 Liga points to each club. Away games are always tough but Gijon and Las Palmas don't really seem too intimidating, beyond the long flight to Las Palmas.

 

Anyway, finally a late kick-off time. Yes! Can watch Barca while drinking beer instead of having coffee and an English muffin.

 

coffee and english muffin doesn't sound that bad, tho

 

Especially when one doesn't drink alcohol.

 

I'm not sure what the blue means? Is that predicted starters by you or whoever posted the squad list? I don't see Vidal getting a start as he started vs. Valencia while Alves rested. Celta is a grand once team so my biggest question by far is whether Rakitic gets the start or Arda. Normally Rakitic, but with Arda's foot badly hurt after last weekend (reports were that he could not even get his foot in his boot on Tuesday) Rakitic anchored the team in Valencia mid week. So I guessed Arda gets start. Basically what you have in blue but Alves instead of Vidal.

Media picks similar:
Possible line-up (vs Celta): Bravo - Alves Pique Mascherano Alba - Rakitic Busquets Iniesta - Messi Suarez Neymar #fcblive [md]
Possible line-up (vs Celta): Bravo - Alves Pique Mascherano Alba - Arda Busquets Iniesta - Messi Suarez Neymar #fcblive [as]
Possible line-up (vs Celta): Bravo - Alves Pique Mascherano Alba - Arda Busquets Iniesta - Messi Suarez Neymar #fcblive [l'esportiu]
Possible line-up (vs Celta): Bravo - Alves Mascherano Pique Alba - Arda Busquets Iniesta - Messi Suarez Neymar #fcblive [ep]

 

Good summary re Celta's recent woes, injuries, and suspensions: http://www.totalbarca.com/2016/analysis/matches/preview-score-settle-celta/ excerpt:

Eduardo Berizzo will have to manage without a number of his best players. Andreu Fonts and the summer pursued Nolito are currently injured and will miss the chance to face their former club. Iago Aspas, Sergi Gómez, Fabián Orellana, and Theo Bongonda will all be serving respective suspensions, putting their team at a great disadvantage heading into the game. Hugo Mallo, however, returns from suspension for the trip to Barcelona.

As previously mentioned, Celta have been going through a rough patch ever since their win against Simeone’s side 6 weeks ago. Celta have as well lost their last three away games in La Liga, and hopefully that streak will not end today at the Camp Nou.

Predicted XI: Álvarez, Jonny, Cabral, Mallo, Planas; Radoja, Díaz; Wass, Beauvue, Pablo Hernández; Guidetti

Match Squad: Sergio, Rubén, Hugo Mallo, Marcelo Díaz, Radoja, Pablo Hernández, Guidetti, Beauvue, Drazic, Wass, Jonny, Planas, Cabral, Señé, Borja Fernández, Borja Iglesias, Pape Cheikh and David Goldar.

 

I plan on enjoying steak, salmon and salad...with chocolate strawberry shortcake and pink moscato for dessert!!

 

Sounds like expectations are for an easy match lol, instead of just biting nails. Hope you're right.

 

No he predicted only a 3-2 win for us earlier, so could still be a nailbiter. Gotta get your Valentine's celebrations on win or lose though, no? Especially if your sweetie doesn't care for Barca and football and merely tolerates your watching.

Personally it is hard for me to see where they get goals from with their depleted line up. I think we win 3-0.

 

I thought he planned to eat all that himself while watching the match.

4-0.

 

hat trick no brainer

 

SR ? is rakitic or arda injured ?

 

Phil and Ray are calling the game!!