Doing a quick match thread starter as game is in less than 3 hours. If a more official one is created feel free to take this down. Toughest game of the season and without de Jong, Roberto, and Umtiti so 8 Barca B teamers fill out our 23 man squad: We play in Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium: Sevilla is in 3rd place. After a stuttering start to the campaign, Sevilla have been performing more and more solidly as the season has progressed and they have only lost three of their last 21 games. They were third before Covid-19 interrupted the season and a 2-0 derby win at home to Real Betis and a 1-1 draw at Levante mean they have managed to hold onto that place. They are also still alive in the Europa League, where they face Roma in the Round of 16. Their top goalscorer this season is Argentinian Lucas Ocampos with 11 goals. They’re managed by a familiar face, former Barça goalkeeper Julen Lopetegui, and the squad includes defender Sergi Gómez, who played 96 games for Barça B, and striker Munir El Haddadi, who after loan spells from Barça to Valencia and Alavés joined Sevilla full-time in January 2019. Sevilla are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions. Barça have only failed to score in four matches against the Andalusians in all competitions dating back to 2006 (43 matches in total). Sevilla are Lionel Messi’s favourite opponents. In the 38 matches that the No.10 has played against them, he’s found the net on 37 occasions, including 29 goals in 26 LaLiga games. Amazingly, he has scored at least once in nine of the last 11 games between the sides. Messi has scored 699 career goals for FC Barcelona and Argentina. So his next goal would be number 700 for him! In February 2018, as an Atlético Madrid player, Antoine Griezmann scored a hat trick at the Sánchez Pizjuan. LAST FIVE MEETINGS 6/10/19 (LALIGA) Barça 4 Sevilla 0 23/2/19 (LALIGA) Sevilla 2 Barça 4 30/1/19 (COPA DEL REY) Barça 6 Sevilla 1 23/1/19 (COPA DEL REY) Sevilla 2 Barça 0 20/10/18 (LALIGA) Barça 4 Sevilla 2 Barça picked up a big win against the Andalusians at the Camp Nou earlier this season, scoring four to no reply thanks to Suárez, Vidal, Dembélé and Messi, and that was despite having both Araújo and Dembélé sent off. from: https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/foot...campaign=1429eab6-6181-4b5b-acf0-5776992c4acf
What's up, #Culers!Here's your starting XI for #SevillaBarça! pic.twitter.com/zP7EQRP4Ev— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 19, 2020 Here's the #Culer bench for #SevillaBarça!8. Arthur13. Neto (GK)17. Griezmann24. Junior26. Iñaki Peña (GK)28. Riqui Puig30. Collado31. Ansu Fati33. R. Araujo38. Saverio40. Chumi42. Monchu— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 19, 2020 Don't know about that midfield...
The defense is as expected (with Roberto out, Umtiti suspended), and with FDJ out it seemed likely to come down to Rakitic or Arthur for the 3rd spot, though both could start if Vidal was on the bench. Up front Griezmann starts on the bench, bit of a surprise, but Martin brings just as much defensive energy as Griezmann, and perhaps can mesh better offensively with the Leo-Luis synergy. --------------MAtS Semedo-Pique-Lenglet-Alba Rakitic-Busquets-Vidal Messi-Suarez-Braithwaite Happy Birthday to Lenglet, who turned 25 Wednesday.
Scuffle at the end of the half. Leo probably lucky not to be carded for that push. HT: 0-0. Yellows Pique Busquets Reguillon Fernando
We are so slow when we play away from home, honestly it's painful to watch. Our tranfer dealings have been an utter disaster, Dembele, Couthino, Greizman, they have done sod all
We've changed managers but we olay in exactly the sane way, plod, plod, plid, everything is dibe at a snails pace. Team selections are the same, pmayers come in for a game then are dropped fir the next one. We are only in the title race because of Messi but we just aren't good enough.
Well damn, lots of possession but not many great looks at the goal. I think Leo's free kick was going in but for Kounde heading it away. Best thing I can say is 3 clean sheets in a row, 2 of them on the road after not holding a team scoreless on the road since December 1st in all competitions. Kounde is just one of over half a dozen highly rated young (all 19-21 y.o.) CBs from France, it is crazy how many are coming through into big 5 leagues first teams: Upamecano 50M and teammate Konate 45M at RB Leipzig; Zagadou 35 BVB, Kamara 30 Marseille, Saliba 25 St. Etienne, Kounde 25 Sevilla, N'Dicka 25 Frankfurt, Badiashile 20 Monaco, Sarr 18 St Etienne. None older than 21, prices are guess-timations by transfermarkt. Todibo is still our own player and only 20 but only valued at 10.
We will play agains Bilbao who is solid at the back. Prepare for another boring match. Rakitic is good today. Seems that he find his form but Busquest oh my god. Griezmann is useless,Suarez is not fit and Messi is off. Meanwhile we have Fati,Puig on the bench for no reason.
I could be wrong ... but in these first few games, Messi doesn't really look like he wants to be out there.
We get five subs but it seems that Setien does not even trust his players. So many youngster left on the bench.