14:00 EST | 19:00 GMT | 20:00 CET

Rumored team (MD):

It would be nice to give Xavi a rest

BarrileteCosmico wrote:14:00 EST | 19:00 GMT | 20:00 CET

Rumored team (MD):

Pinto
Montoya - Pique - Bartra - Alba
Fabregas - Busquets - Iniesta
Alexis - Neymar - Pedro

In my opinion this is the best team we can line up right now, so I doubt Tata will play it. Probably Mascherano will start and Xavi.

Dont see how Alba is better than Adriano.
Also dont see Busquets being in better form than Song. Or Iniesta being in better form than Xavi.
if we are going by this season,Adriano should start over Alba.And our midfield three should be Xavi,Fabregas and Song.
Its close between Song and Busquets but Busquets has been uncharacteristically shaky for me this season.

Can't wait for this one. Wish it was in El Madrigal though. Would have been a bigger test for Barça.

Barcelona line-up (official): Pinto - Montoya Bartra Pique Alba - Iniesta Busquets Song - Alexis Cesc Neymar

If it is 4-2-3-1 with Fabregas AM, Iniesta LW, Nerman CF - nice idea.

If it is 4-3-3 with Fabregas false 9 and Busquets, Song, Iniesta in midfield - I'm deceived.

Hmmm, interesting line up.

Still not Cesc's biggest fan but I think this is a game he could enjoy. That's assuming he's not a f*cking false 9. Sick of him playing in that role.

Except Cesc is playing True Invisible again.Wiuld have started Pedro personally,not impressed with Alexis's pressing.

vivabarca38 wrote:Except Cesc is playing True Invisible again.Wiuld have started Pedro personally,not impressed with Alexis's pressing.

Not impressed with Alexis's pressing...?

What?

Ah, looks like Cesc in a false 9.

wtf

That was a soft penalty to call...

We need to buy Hernan Perez before his price goes up,Next Xavi/Thiago.

vivabarca38 wrote:We need to buy Hernan Perez before his price goes up,Next Xavi/Thiago.

Xavi?! They got nothing in common

Meant Trigueros not Hernan Perez.

We don't know wtf we're doing out there.

We look awful.

I don't know why Cesc is false 9. He's not one, he won't be, stop playing him there. I'm not sure what is up with Song playing CM and why he is playing just as high up or higher than Iniesta. There was a stretch of 2-3 minutes in the half where Song was playing as forward and Cesc was in the midfield...

Iniesta's bad form has continued into this game as well. Doesn't look good at all. Busquets has been fine, defense has mostly been fine. Montoya is someone I'm not sure is good enough to play as a back up to Dani Alves.

Still, I guess we're leading, and Villareal don't look threatening at all. Have they had a shot on target?

*bleep*

Musacchio you beast

GET THE *bleep* INNNNNNNNNNNNN

Was Cesc getting booed as he came off?

Montoya is very wasteful. I'm not being harsh on him for this match only.

montoya has ruined several situations where he could have set up a goal

also, neymar is still very rough round the edges

Nerman

Neymar

I have many doubts about the ability of Montoya. Just not sure at all about him.

danyjr wrote:Was Cesc getting booed as he came off?

Did he? I don't recall hearing it.

Musacchio was a beast at the heart of defence for Villarreal. I hope Sabella is watching. Trigueros also looks like a good prospect, but he certainly didn't see much of the ball today.

Barcelona's pressing was very good. Regarding playing from the back, with Pinto I think he is more comfortable with his feet and likes to play from the back. But I have to say he is very shaky on long balls.

Sánchez was very good given that he had Montoya behind him, but he missed a good chance. Played with confidence, dribbling, tracking back, pressing and playing some slick passes.

Fàbregas had a horrendous display, but in the end his exquisite pass gave Barcelona the 3 points.

Iniesta did very well in defence, very aggressive and didn't mind getting a bit physical.

Personally think the reason for Martino sending Song up front is to press. He is not concentrated when he is pressing in midfield so in order to utilise him for pressing it is best to have him up front where you can just be a headless chicken and still do your job Further back you need players pressing/marking with more intelligence and he's just incapable of that. Just my two cents.