La Liga: FC Barcelona vs Valencia

Date: Sunday, 09/02/2012 21:30

Competition: League

Stadium: Camp Nou

City: Barcelona

Capacity: 99786

Referee: Pérez Lasa

My Expectations

Im expecting Barcelona to focus on winning in La Liga after a disappionting SuperCopa.
I'm expecting Thiago to play some part of this game and make some good slick touches on the ball
Song and Fabregas to start. Have a feeling that Busquests and Iniesta will be rested whilst the two Arsenal boys will start.
Im hoping Fabregas picks his game up as with Thiago getting the medical green, he will definately be hungry for places on the starting pitch.
Mascherano will hopefully be rested after a poor game against Madrid. Puyol will come in and start at least 60 minutes. Barta will come on if we have a comfortable lead.
Alves won't be risked imo and Montoya will get the nod and hopefully he doesn't make a silly mistake like he did last time against Valencia...
Im hoping Villa will start. Sanchez clearly needs a rest after continous flops in the past 3 games and well Tello doesn't impress me. Villa can start at least 60 minutes. More minutes, the better.
Messi to score a double again.

My Starting Lineup:

------------Valdes------------
Montoya--Pique--Puyol--Alba--
-------------Song------------
-----Xavi----------Fabregas--
Villa--------Messi--------Pedro

Prediction: 3-1

I really like that lineup but I think that Vilanova will play tello over villa.

I do not understand why Vilanova refuses to play Villa on big games, he always preforms let alone against his old club.
Anyways Villa got called up for Spain so that's always good news

Song and the lost lamb in midfield...against Valencia..no thank you. Its like asking for a defeat.

Song will need time, gradual minutes. While Cesc is horrible in midfield and has been so, he needs to get established against the weaker teams.

I dont understand "resting" Iniesta and/Busquets. What are they being rested for? The big games? This is one of them.

If they are tired, thats another matter. But I somehow doubt they are so tired they are unable to play from the outset.

So for me, the strongest line up possible.

I also understand easing Villa back into things. Its a bit different starting a match, where everyone is fresh, the tempo is higher and the game tighter. Its not easy, I dont imagine him starting this one.

Predicted line-up:


----alexis------messi------pedro-

------cesc---------------xavi----

-------------busquets----------

alba---masch-------pique---alves---



I think subs will be: villa (pedro), song (busq), tello (alexis)

The Franchise wrote:Song and the lost lamb in midfield...against Valencia..no thank you. Its like asking for a defeat.

Song will need time, gradual minutes. While Cesc is horrible in midfield and has been so, he needs to get established against the weaker teams.

I dont understand "resting" Iniesta and/Busquets. What are they being rested for? The big games? This is one of them.

If they are tired, thats another matter. But I somehow doubt they are so tired they are unable to play from the outset.

So for me, the strongest line up possible.

I also understand easing Villa back into things. Its a bit different starting a match, where everyone is fresh, the tempo is higher and the game tighter. Its not easy, I dont imagine him starting this one.

Lol. For me anyway, I reckon Song and Fabregas will start together. I don't want it but I know it most likely will happen. Saying that there is an international break next week therefore we can afford to play as many starters as possible...

Fabregas is in really shit form, can't even score goals so no point starting him. Busquets, xavi and iniesta in midfield and Villa Messi Pedro upfront. Sanchez needs to be benched till he gets his old form back.

My preffered lineup:Valdes-Montoya-Puyol-Pique-Alba-Song/Busquets-Xavi-Iniesta-Sanchez-Messi-Pedro
Busquets looked really tired against Madrid so he should maybe be rested.Thats up to Vilanova anyways.My Prediction is 2-0.

In my opinion Fabregas will start same with sanchez and when they do nothing, which they will the big guns will come in from the bench.
Players seem tired.

This is a big game and the best 11 needs to start.So that means no Fabregas and Song.If Alves is available,then he needs to start.
Is Adriano available or does his suspension carry into the league?If not I would like Adriano starting over Alba.
This is a must win game.Madrid have handed us a huge advantage in the league and we need to make the most use of it.
The points lead needs to go up before it goes down.

Agree with Dani and Alex... This is a big game. Bigger than the Supercup really, because this is La Liga.

I'm not sure on the suspension to Adriano... but I feel Alba will play anyway. With Montoya on the other side, Alba's runs shouldn't leave us so bare at the back. Monty is capable of playing a more reserved role.


I will be overjoyed to see this lineup.

Gago

Has dominated Xavi before and can do so again

Le Samourai wrote:Gago

Has dominated Xavi before and can do so again

He is injuried for this game. Valencia will flop in terms of possession. I don't want Song or Fabregas to start though I feel one will start tomorrow. Would I like it? No.

No Banega, no Gago = no possession for Los Che.

Valencia are in good form in attack but they have been shaky in defence. I expect Barcelona to win with a good performance after they lost the cup less than a week ago.

Also while this is still a big game for Barcelona in their search to reclaim the La Liga crown, I think Atlético will offer a more difficult challenge than Valencia this season. Simeone has improved the team drastically since he took over from Manzano. He troubled both Barcelona and Madrid last season more than any other team and has a solid team to challenge for 3rd spot.

what site would you guys normally use to stream, I'm sorta new to this lol

Barcelona line-up (official): Valdés, Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Adriano, Xavi, Song, Fàbregas, Pedro, Messi, Sánchez.

Bench: Pinto, Alba, Bartra, Busquets, Iniesta, Tello, Villa.

Puyol didn't make match squad due to his injury. Fontàs, Montoya, dos Santos and Thiago due to Tito's decision.

No surprises in the squad, it was obvious that Song and Fàbregas would start. Let's see how will team play in this game. I predict 2-1 after tough match.

also assumed both would start even though they shouldn't but luckily were winning now.

I wouldn't say luckily. We deserved the goal, we were much better side so far. I think Valencia did not have one clear shot on goal so far.

Fabregas missing 1v1.

Fabregas missing empty net. Here we go.

Song played well :notbad:

Fabregas showing that he's not only bad in the midfield, but if you play him up front, he'll miss 1v1's, fantastic signing wasn't he.

Song has been really good I think, Fabregas has some shaping up to do. Thought Pedro wasn't good second half, constantly screwing up attacking moves, and I was waiting Villa to come but he didn't.

Wasn't a pretty win, but a crucial win.

Alexis showed more confidence, worked hard and was better at beating his man but his decision making was absolutely poor in the final third, not to mention a couple of his signature facepalm moves where he gets himself surrounded by 2-3 players and loses the ball in a dangerous position.

Fábregas, linked up fairly well in his more advance role but missed a sitter as well as another very good chance. Still looks lost at times and definitely has lost his confidence.

Song, very conservative performance. His positioning and decision making was bad, went for dead balls a couple of times without having any chance to retrieve the ball thus leaving a gap in front of the defence and overall didn't do very well to protect the back four in my opinion even though Barcelona were hardly challenged (defensively) by Valencia tonight.

Messi didn't look fresh at all. Very frustrated the whole match, his passing was very unlike him and certainly a performance to forget.

Again Barcelona were very weak on set-pieces. Also I don't think Alba won a single aerial battle throughout the match.

Xavi and Adriano were superb.

Valencia defended well. They were good, and our finishing was bad. Cesc had 2 great chances and blew them. I think Pedro had another one. I really don't get it. Either our defense sucks or our finishing. It looks like they take turn in sucking.

Messi was not that good, but when think of it he has not been that great this season (bar pre-season games). He just scored the other games. I mean, i am not saying he is bad, but he has not been good by his standards. He still kicks ass most than others though

Messi will finally be able to rest for a full week, thankfully he shall come back strong.