La Liga | J7 Date: Sept 26th, 2023 After the Houdini escape to grab all 3 points and claim top of the league on Saturday, it's a quick turnaround for a midweek Tuesday La Liga match as Barca goes on the road against Mallorca (16th). The bad news is that Frenkie de Jong has picked up an ankle injury and could be out for 5-7 weeks. With Pedri also still out, the team loses some passing quality in the midfield. Hopefully Gundogan can step up.
Yeah, with no Frenkie and no Pedri our midfield is hurting, but it points to how fortuitous it is that we got Gundogan on a Bosman, and Romeu for a small fee. Not to mention with how well Joao Felix is playing (and Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Raphinha also playing well) we can play 3 forwards, not Gavi as a forward/4th mid. So pretty easy first 11, with the questions being which 2 CBs start of Araujo, Christensen, and Kounde; and who partners on the front line with Lewa and Joao Felix, either Yamal, Torres or Raphinha. Of course the trouble is rotating the mids till Pedri then FdJ get back, only Roberto and Fermin are first team midfield subs (well Fermin like Yamal and 3rd goalie Astralaga are all B team players officially). That sort of raises an odd question, could Yamal, Raphinha, Torres, or Felix play as an attacking mid given health issues?
So, no Lewandowski at all (not even on the bench). I agree with not starting him given the Sevilla match is in just 3 days and the most difficult CL group game is next mid-week (plus 3 road games out of the next 4), but would it hurt to have him on the bench just in case we need a late goal?
How do you guys rate Xavi so far? Just curious despite La Liga last year. I recall some former FCB coaches who won but weren't rated by FCB fans.
Pretty highly so far. I don't blame him for not getting out of the group phase last season. He is doing good with the situation he was given. Not sure how long he will stick around, but it would be interesting to see how he does if he was able to pick from a better transfer market pool.
I swear the refs in Spain are simply corrupt They let everyone kick chunks out of our players without even warning them nevermind booking them
You guys have done great in the marker in spite of your situation. Cancelo and Felix last minute was game changing. I didn't think FCB had depth really but now I can see it. Esp with targeting players who can play multiple positions. I guess this year would be a bigger test for Xavi's mette.
Hoping for an Araujo header goal off a corner or FK to snap us out of this. Nothing coming from run of play still.
OK I was asking for your rating as a FCB fan of Xavi but you answered your preference. Not really answering the question. I don't come here in hostility or anything funny. Could not tell by your answer your view on Xavi.
The guy just hacked Gavi down cynically right in front of the ref as he was darting through .. not even a yellow