CL | 1/8 Final: FC Barcelona - SSC Napoli 4-2 (agg.)

[soul24rage]

MD and Sport claims on the lineup.

Sport claims Seiten is considering to play a 3-5-2, with a back three of Semedo-Pique-Lenglet. A midfield of Puig-De Jong-Rakitic with Alba and Bob as Wing backs and a front two of Suarez-Messi.

MD However says we will go with a 4-3-3 with the Usual backline, but Roberto-Rakitic-FDJ Midfield with MSG up front.

I would be very disappointed if we go for both of those lineup.

 

[Birdy]

3-5-2 is a good idea, and one of the initial plans of Setien when he arrived.
It's a great system to face a deep and narrow 4-4-2, both in order to break it down, and to protect yourself on the counter.
He should play Semedo as wingback though, and Roberto at the back, that's obvious.
It's also obvious Suarez should not be anywhere near the starting line-up

 

[Hardy]

playing those lineups and if napoli scores a goal (which is likely) good luck

 

[Richard.H]

There's no need to play 3-5-2, we are ahead on the aggregate and in Camp Nou.

 

[Andresito]

3-5-2 isn't a reliable formation. Only useful in extraordinary situations.
Time for Setien to stop experimenting and use whatever has worked best until now. He can experiment in pre-season.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

3-5-2 isn't a reliable formation. Only useful in extraordinary situations.
Time for Setien to stop experimenting and use whatever has worked best until now. He can experiment in pre-season.

What formations was the best under Setien? The best game we played(w Setien) was vs Villarreal I think but they played wide open game so it was easy.

 

[Andresito]

What formations was the best under Setien? The best game we played(w Setien) was vs Villarreal I think but they played wide open game so it was easy.

Yeah that game is the one that comes to mind. 4-3-1-2 was effective then but not so much the game after where we barely beat Espanyol at home. But there haven't been any good alternative formations.

Personally I think that's the formation we should aim for in the remaining game(s). Can easily switch to a 4-3-3 too.

 

[serghei]

3-5-2 is a worse offensive formation than 4-3-3. Because on possession, 4-3-3 is effectively a 2-5-3 with both fullbacks occupying advanced positions and allowing the midfield 3 to play narrow.

It's just stupid to try these experiments. Just play 4-3-3 and work your but trying to convince Messi and Suarez to do their part off the ball and keep their positions to not mess up the shape. Or else we're fucked, 3-5-2 or not.

 

[xXKonan]

Not a fan of the 4-3-3 Midfield.

I would have to stick Puig in it myself as that Midfield seems way to conservative against a team that no doubt will be deploy a deep defensive block.

 

[Porque]

With no fans there is less pressure for young players like Puig and Fati. I think they proved themselves enough in the Covid period to get their chance in this mini-CL tournament.

I just don't see how or where Griezmann and Roberto done enough to earn their starting roles- bar one game versus Villareal. But that's just me.

EDIT:

I just feel it is better to have a lineup which can offensively exploit Napoli needing a goal from the start rather than leaving the offensive midfield+Ansu on the bench until needed in the second half.

 

[serghei]

Are there people here who expect a sort of ego reaction from our veterans making the Bayern match a really close one? Or it's more likely we don't even make it past Napoli?

Do Messi, Suarez, Pique, Busi, Alba have it in them to turn up the intensity and push Bayern? I doubt it very much.

 

[gasgas]

Are there people here who expect a sort of ego reaction from our veterans making the Bayern match a really close one? Or it's more likely we don't even make it past Napoli?

Do Messi, Suarez, Pique, Busi, Alba have it in them to turn up the intensity and push Bayern? I doubt it very much.

They may push hard in the first half and keep the score goaless or at least 1-1 before the floodgates open in the second half and we concede in numbers

 

[mc_lovin]

Are there people here who expect a sort of ego reaction from our veterans making the Bayern match a really close one? Or it's more likely we don't even make it past Napoli?

Do Messi, Suarez, Pique, Busi, Alba have it in them to turn up the intensity and push Bayern? I doubt it very much.

I think Lewandowski is an excellent fit for Pique and Lenglet. Not worried there. Davies will be interesting to see. Midfield looks about equal. And I am not terrified of their wingers, I guess it will be a lot more equal (and low quality) than people expect here.

 

[serghei]

We have some things going in our favor. Their defense is really far from being one of the best in Europe. We will have chances I feel.

 

[PhilS]

Barca has not been looking good recently against decent-level competition. Getting past Napoli would be quite an achievement for this year's squad, so I would recommend against spending any energy thinking about Bayern.