Malaga - FC Barcelona | La Liga Matchday 2 | Aug 25, 2013

EST 15:00 | GMT 20:00 | CET 21:00

On Saturday morning, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino named the 19 players for the second league match of the new season.  Leo Messi, who is still recovering from bruising to his left thigh, will not make the trip down to Malaga.  Meanwhile, Sergi Roberto, Montoya and Oier have not made the cut but Adriano, who was suspended for the first leg of the Super Cup, has returned to the match squad.

The players will go to Malaga early on Sunday morning and had their final training session in the Ciutat Esportiva on Saturday morning.  Carles Puyol continued with his recovery programme and Leo Messi had physio treatment.  Youth squad hopefuls Juanma and Ebwelle joined the first team for the session, which was open to the media for the first fifteen minutes.

The match in La Rosaleda kicks off on Sunday at 9 pm (Canal +).

Valdés
Pinto
Piqué
Fàbregas
Xavi
Pedro
Iniesta
Alexis
Neymar
Dos Santos
Mascherano
Bartra
Sergio Busquets
Jordi Alba
Adriano
Tello
Dani Alves
Song
Sergi Roberto

hopefully we can continue with a victory. if everything goes according to plan I want to see Sergi getting time

Roberto is or isn't in the squad?

Roberto in this time, want to see him getting minutes....
Cesc in a Messi role??? or any other surprising idea...

Going to miss it

free_cat wrote:Roberto is or isn't in the squad?

not sure the text contradicts the list

---neymar-----cesc------alexis----

-------iniesta-----------jds--------

--------------a.song------------

-adriano--masch----batra----alves

BarrileteCosmico wrote: Meanwhile, Sergi Roberto, Montoya and Oier have not made the cut

?

ohhh....i forgot Bernd Schuster has taken charge of Malaga...it will be interesting to see how his team plays.....

I'd like to see: VV - Alves - Mascherano - Pique - Adriano - Fabregas - Song - Iniesta - Tello - Alexis - Neymar.

What we will see is: VV - Alves - Mascherano - Pique - Alba - Xavi - Busquets - Iniesta - Pedro - Fabregas - Alexis.

matpol wrote:I'd like to see: VV - Alves - Mascherano - Pique - Adriano - Fabregas - Song - Iniesta - Tello - Alexis - Neymar.

What we will see is: VV - Alves - Mascherano - Pique - Alba - Xavi - Busquets - Iniesta - Pedro - Fabregas - Alexis.

no we will not see that

I would play Neymar in Messi's role and Cesc in midfield. Let Cesc show he can be a good midfielder or sell him at the end of the season. He has been excelling so far too as midfielder. Iniesta can hit the bench according to his form, no problem.

With no CB signing being made,surely Bartra has to start getting minutes.
Or are we going to wait for Pique or Masch to get injured and then throw him in at the deep end like last season.

I think Iniesta's problem is fatigue.He has always missed large portions of the season through injury.But last season he was injury free and played way more minutes than he normally does.It was obvious that he was tired towards the end of the season and his form dropped off.The Confed Cup didnt help.
So it might be wise to give him rest and slowly ease him in.

Dont think Neymar starts.

I would like to see a Roberto and Xavi midfield if that is the case, but I doubt it.

free_cat wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote: Meanwhile, Sergi Roberto, Montoya and Oier have not made the cut

?

The text comes directly form the official site. I'm not sure. Maybe you could check the spanish and catalan versions and see if the inconsistency is still there?

Cesc Fabregas should play in the midfield.
I would really like Tata to try Busquets and Song together in this match with Busquets in Xavi's role and Cesc as AM !

Valdes
Alves Pique Bartra Adriano
Busquets Song Cesc
Pedro Alexis Neymar

Roberto and Tello in 2nd half.

Valdés, Adriano, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba, Song, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Alexis, Cesc

confirmed lineup

--------Valdes
Adriano-Pique-Masch-Alba
---------Song
----Xavi------Iniesta
Alexis--------------Pedro
----------Cesc

Bench
Pinto
Barta
Alves
Neymar
Busquets
Sergi
Tello

Surprised Xavi isnt getting rest and that Neymar still isn't starting

Quite dissapointed with this lineup...

Adriano > Bale

WTH !     Adriano always seems to score the same way and from the same position, left or right side of the pitch.

I really like Adriano, he seams like well balanced full back. And his screamers are perfect. The only thing I dislike about him is that he is injury prone.

Yeah, he would be one of the best offensive full backs in the world if he stayed injury free. Defensively he isn't that great either.

Cesc man of the match so far, great first half from him. Xavi, Pedro and Iniesta missing.

ADRIANO  ..and it begins