FC Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao

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Date: Saturday the 13th of September

Week 3 of La Liga

Referee: Fernández Borbalán

Barcelona confirm that they will play with the third kit (yellow-red, 'senyera') on Saturday, to celebrate Catalan National Day

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1. MaTS has been back in training but we'll probably pick Bravo ahead of him

2. Douglas has been training with the team for a week and a half now so probably still too early to see him

3. Mathieu got a small ankle injury so he's a doubt

4. Verm just started training back with the first team but it might be too early for him to play

5. Adriano also started training recently with the team after his heart problems

6. Iniesta has been fit so expecting to see him..

7. Messi has had two weeks vacation

(my predicted lineup)


-----------------Bravo
--Alves-----Pique------Mascherano----Alba
----------------Buscuit
--------Rakitic----------Iniesta
----------------Messi
-----Munir----------------Neymar

think we should reward munir for his latest form and not give pedro a chance after being utter shit
 as i said about mathieu is slightly injured and verm JUST came back to training.. one real interesting part of this match is to see if Luis Enrique trusts Bartra to start or will he stick to the experienced Mascherano, my money is on mascherano but i hope otherwise.

FIFA virus makes me think that we'll be dropping points here, even though it's at the Camp Nou.

Would be cool to have Xavi start since it's a big Catalan game with the national day and all. Plus he has yet to start and is probably rested as hell right now. Has played like 10 mins since the end of the group stages of the World Cup

Luis Enrique: "My hat-trick against Athletic? I remember I scored a fourth goal too, that was disallowed although it was legal..."

Would be happy if Barcelona snatch all three points. Even if Mascherano plays at back with Busquet at DMF , it will be ok. As Donuts already said , the international break might hurt.

Donuts wrote:(my predicted lineup)
-----------------Bravo

So is MAtS still not fit or did Claudio Bravo successfully usurp the Nr.1 spot?

Only 3 games in, lol. It's been pretty clear MaTs will be our guy, and thats only Donuts predicted line-up

rwo power wrote:

Donuts wrote:(my predicted lineup)
-----------------Bravo

So is MAtS still not fit or did Claudio Bravo successfully usurp the Nr.1 spot?

MAtS is fit now but it's a bit awkward to drop Bravo right now. He started the first 2 games, kept 2 clean sheets (although he didn't do anything for it, 0 shots on target conceded in both games ), asked to be released early from his national team and didn't participate in their last friendly so he could come back early and train with Barca. So it's really a bit awkward to drop him right away. My guess is MAtS will start in the CL against APOEL and then remain #1 from then on.

I'd be ecstatic with 3 points. Wouldn't be happy with 1 because dropping points is never good, but it would be better than 0.

I can't say it will be comfortable, but I think we'll snatch a win.

Fifa virus shouldn't hit too hard this time, should it? Messi, Iniesta, Alves, Pique all stayed in Barcelona. Rakitic only played 1 game in Croatia against 10 men Malta. Xavi is fully rested and could participate.

I expect some drama nevertheless. Athletic under Valverde are legit.

Mathieu, Iniesta, Messi get the green light for todays game

Alves apparently out with knee injury.. time for douglas/montoya to shine??

Douglas not in the squad. Time for Montoya to shine.

Bartra not even in the squad and this is with Vermaelen still injured.

Is Bartra injured?

Lucho has his favorites. I don't know, I have to admit he is starting to make me nervous.

Not too sure I am crazy about him sticking with Mascherano at the back and not even giving Bartra a sniff. Wouldn't be surprised if he pulls a Thiago on us and leaves next summer with the treatment we give him.

And Munir is deff special, but how did Neymar get benched by Munir and Pedro?

Neymar is just back from Brazil after playing 180 minutes.

Munir should have scored 2 tbh.

Montoya having a poor game, unsurprisingly.

We lack all kind of creativity and penetration in the final third... Have no idea what to do with the ball. It's almost like we're waiting for the final whistle to blow...
Have no idea why Masch is still playing at the back and Montoya and Pedro and unsurpirsingly uninspiring which is making this game boring as hell to watch. Rakitic is has no presence on the ball like Xavi or Thiago. Doesn't seem to flow in our system both in finding and recieving of the ball.

If Munir took half the chances he got, we'd be sailing this game.

I was wrong about Montoya. He should be sold.

Munir showing that it's impossible finish a chance if you play at Barca, if you're not a Messi. Could have had 4 goals and a penalty by now.

Also third game in a row referee is clearly favouring opposition, is this going to be like the 11-12 where refs handed the win for Real Refdrid? Goalie pushes Munir and it's Munir's foul, defender pushes Munir and it's not a penalty, Messi tackles ball cleanly off and it's a foul, mean while you can hold Messi's shirt all you like.

Alba been the sock of the game.

Harmonica i have the same feeling that it will be 11/12 all over again.

I guess Munir is inexperienced and still a kid. Could have scored 3, and maybe he will put all those chances in a years time. But Barcelona should have really been up by a goal at least. Might come back to haunt although I doubt it.

Messi and Rakitic both playing in between the lines and creating for Pedro n Munir. Neymar will help score later on. Or Messi should just move up.

Awful referee so far. Has denied both teams strong penalty calls so far and wrongly called in a foul on Iraizoz by El Haddadi which would have resulted in a goal.

Pedro absolutely awful. Guy has zero confidence. Although I'm sure a certain individual will still be happy Barcelona got rid of Sánchez instead of him...

Montoya still showing the same flaws. As with Alba.

I would of rather kept Alexis than Pedro, but didnt Alexis make allot more and at this point of his career would demand to start while Pedro makes less and is ok rotating? Plus they were probably tryng to balance the books after getting Suarez and Alexis would of got us more money. I think that had allot to do why the club didn't decide to have a player of Alexis's caliber on the bench once Suarez returns.

Plus come on....what are Real Madrid? We don't need super start players on the bench. Adama and Munir can come in and run around like a chicken, miss sitters, look amazing only every other 4 games and pass back like Alexis and Pedro do (Pedro actually doesn't even look amazing at all anymore...).

Shit at this point I am happy with Munir developing and him becoming the automatic 4rth forward on the bench with Messi/Neymar/Suarez being the first 3 to start. This would leave Pedro the 5th option. The only reason we are seeing Pedro so much is because Suarez is suspended and Neymar has been picking up knocks. Plus Deulofeu will return next season and we can sell Pedro then. Leaving our forward line being Suarez/Messi/Neymar/Munir/Deulofeu/Adama

Not bad

Jesus this is too games straight Lucho decides to use Neymar as a super sub...and he immediately makes a difference. whats with Lucho and Pedro? I'm telling ya, I hope Lucho is just making these starting 11s because of certain players not being healthy because so far I think he could have a better team out there.

my god Messi

Gotta say money well spent by Florentino though. Fernández Borbalán did well to rub Barcelona 2, 3 goals up until the 79th minute