CL | Round 2: Sporting CP - FC Barcelona 0-1

[Messi983]

Why the hell is Valverde taking 3 goalkeepers with him? Is he going to rest Busi in the 2nd half and give a chance to Ter Stegen at CDM, since Rakitić has been so shit in the last few games?

On a more serious note, I think it's possible that we found a club for Paco in January and the deal is already agreed, so Valverde doesn't count on him anymore.

Maybe Cillessen or even MATS are carrying some minor injury we don't know about and he's not sure they'll be available for the game.

 

[Devils]

It's my birthday and all I wish for is a win and Messi hattrick.

 

[Meatball]

It's my birthday and all I wish for is a win and Messi hattrick.

Happy birthday, dude! Messi hattrick s incoming

 

[serghei]

It's much more important for Suarez to score than Messi. So hoping for a win with at least a Suarez goal. We need to be careful at Gelson Martins, and Acuna can be very dangerous if given space as well. This will be a good test to see how Alba and Semedo can deal with pacey wingers who have technique and are top threats in 1 vs 1. If we allow them to get into good positions, they can put a perfect delivery for Bas Dost. If we don't, Dost will be easily handled. There's another top player in Sporting named Bruno Fernandes. He can be trouble too, need to track him and don't allow him time to shoot. He has James' ability to score golazos out of the blue.

It's a pretty difficult game, but Sporting is pretty bad at the back. Slow and everything. Need to treat this seriously. Sporting outplayed Madrid for large portions in both games vs them last season.

 

[Barcaman]

It's my birthday and all I wish for is a win and Messi hattrick.

Happy birthday! He had a night off in Girona, I am sure he'll deliver

 

[LordLichtenstein]

Against Sporting:

----------Suárez----------Messi----------Deulofeu----------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
----------Iniesta--------Busquets--------Paulinho----------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
-------Alba---------Umtiti------Piqué---------Semedo------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------ter Stegen--------------------------

1) I wouldn't rest Iniesta, as he "only" has played 504 minutes this season.

2) Deulofeu, Busquets, Piqué and Semedo got rested against Girona and should start tomorrow.

 

[Devils]

Happy birthday, dude! Messi hattrick s incoming

Happy birthday! He had a night off in Girona, I am sure he'll deliver

Thanks! Cheers lads.

That Sporting defense is just calling to get annihilated by the GOAT.

 

[jairzinho]

Nelsinho starring.

 

[Neymessi]

Semedo and denis are a must start.

 

[jairzinho]

We need to be careful with them on the counter. They can hurt us in different ways. On the counter and at set pieces. Lots of speed up front with Doumbia and that guy Das Bost is a handful.

 

[Horatio]

We need to be careful with them on the counter. They can hurt us in different ways. On the counter and at set pieces. Lots of speed up front with Doumbia and that guy Das Bost is a handful.

Das Bost...lol

 

[jairzinho]

Das Bost...lol

Bas Dost. Das Bost, what the hell....

 

[Barcaman]

It's Das Boot

 

[Albo]

Das Beer Boot*

 

[Neeraj]

Wouldn't start Paulinho in this one; I know he's doing well, but you want to ease him into the team (like Valverde is apparently doing with Semedo?) and not expose him yet to a stiff away leg in Europe. I'd play Iniesta till the point he's needed (or fatigued) and only then bring on Paulinho.

A bit disappointed Denis Suarez hasn't been given the opportunity to continue a run of games, especially when he has shown good form when he has played. Such stop-start playing time will surely not get the best out of him. Not sure about how versatile Suarez is; if he could slot in at RW or RM, he could see a lot more playing time.