Returning in high-spirited triumph from their 5-1 trouncing of Panathinaikos in the Champions League, Barca now heads out to the Spanish capital to face Liga contenders Athletico Madrid, in a meet that's set to be anything but easy.
Barca hasn't had the best of luck on the Vicente Calderon in the past, not having been able to win a match there in years. Last season, the away match that Barca played against Atheltico Madrid was their only loss in the Liga; so that this time around, everyone's looking to break the curse and finally grab a win on said stadium.
Squad-wise, leftback Eric Abidal won't be travelling to Madrid with the team, having been excused to go and be with his dying grandfather on the Martinique island in the Caribbean. He is left out along with the injured Jeffren, while Pep takes along an 18-man squad composed of Valdés, Pinto, Maxwell, Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Milito, Adriano, Sergio, Mascherano, Xavi, Iniesta, Keita, Messi, Pedro, Villa and Bojan, as well as B-teamer Thiago Alcantara.
Showing posts with label Match Preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Match Preview. Show all posts
September 19, 2010
September 14, 2010
Champions League: FC Barcelona vs. Panathinaikos, Camp Nou, Tuesday, September 14 2010, 20:45 CET
Eager to shake off the loss to Hercules suffered a couple of days ago, the team prepares to face Panathinaikos tonight in their Champions League opener and everyone's looking for a strong win.
Barca have the home advantage, but as Pep explained in his latest press conference, it might not be that much of an advantage seeing as the pitch is in bad condition. They're trying to get it in as best shape as possible for tonight, while the team refrain from training there.
As for our opponents, I don't know much about the Greek side but Barca as well as a several other top-notch clubs are said to be interested in their captain, 20-year-old Sotiris Ninis, so I'll be watching him. Another thing to look out for is that for the first time tonight UEFA will be using two extra officials on the pitch - one at each goal to help monitor play within the penalty area.
Jeffren alone misses out on this one, still injured, with Jonathan Dos Santos called up in his stead. Hopefully this match will be a spirit lifter for everyone.
Barca have the home advantage, but as Pep explained in his latest press conference, it might not be that much of an advantage seeing as the pitch is in bad condition. They're trying to get it in as best shape as possible for tonight, while the team refrain from training there.
As for our opponents, I don't know much about the Greek side but Barca as well as a several other top-notch clubs are said to be interested in their captain, 20-year-old Sotiris Ninis, so I'll be watching him. Another thing to look out for is that for the first time tonight UEFA will be using two extra officials on the pitch - one at each goal to help monitor play within the penalty area.
Jeffren alone misses out on this one, still injured, with Jonathan Dos Santos called up in his stead. Hopefully this match will be a spirit lifter for everyone.
September 11, 2010
La Liga: FC Barcelona vs. Hercules FC, Camp Nou, Saturday, September 11 2010, 18:00 CET
I'm hurried and barely getting this match preview up in time, so please excuse - Barca return from the international break to face Hercules FC for the first home match of the season, with only Jeffren set to miss out on this one. Puyol has been surprisingly cleared of his injury and called up to the game, while newest signing Mascherano is set to make his debut for the club tonight.
Hercules FC are newly promoted from the second division, but Pep reckons the match could be challenging, especially since Hercules have strengthened their squad over the summer with well-known such as Drenthe and Trezeguet - altogether set to be a very interesting meet!
Hercules FC are newly promoted from the second division, but Pep reckons the match could be challenging, especially since Hercules have strengthened their squad over the summer with well-known such as Drenthe and Trezeguet - altogether set to be a very interesting meet!
August 29, 2010
La Liga: FC Barcelona vs Racing Santander, El Sardinero, Sunday, August 29 2010, 19:00 CET
I don't think I've ever seen a crazier final week of summer transfers, but now it's time to put all the drama behind us and focus on the task at hand: the season is finally kicking off!
Barca are set to begin their Liga title defense campaign away against Racing Santander, which is pretty cool. It's a great challenge because Barca have had a challenging time against on El Sardinero in the past, and there've also been some pretty great memories, like Messi scoring the club's 5000th goal in that stadium during the second leg of the Liga in 2009.
As mentioned on the official site, playing the opening match on the Sardinero is a recurring experience for Barca, with the likes of Eto’o, Deco, Giuly, Larsson, Henry and Yaya Toure all having made their league debuts for the club there. Tonight, Villa and Adriano will probably be added to that list.
With Hleb and Caceres facing loan-outs, Pep has left them out of the squad and takes eighteen men with him to Santander: Valdés, Pinto, Abidal, Alves, Milito, Piqué, Puyol, Maxwell, Adriano, Busquets, Keita, Xavi, Iniesta, Jeffren, Bojan, Messi, Pedro, Villa.
Here's looking forward to what will hopefully be a fabulous start to a fabulous season!
Barca are set to begin their Liga title defense campaign away against Racing Santander, which is pretty cool. It's a great challenge because Barca have had a challenging time against on El Sardinero in the past, and there've also been some pretty great memories, like Messi scoring the club's 5000th goal in that stadium during the second leg of the Liga in 2009.
As mentioned on the official site, playing the opening match on the Sardinero is a recurring experience for Barca, with the likes of Eto’o, Deco, Giuly, Larsson, Henry and Yaya Toure all having made their league debuts for the club there. Tonight, Villa and Adriano will probably be added to that list.
With Hleb and Caceres facing loan-outs, Pep has left them out of the squad and takes eighteen men with him to Santander: Valdés, Pinto, Abidal, Alves, Milito, Piqué, Puyol, Maxwell, Adriano, Busquets, Keita, Xavi, Iniesta, Jeffren, Bojan, Messi, Pedro, Villa.
Here's looking forward to what will hopefully be a fabulous start to a fabulous season!
August 25, 2010
Gamper Cup: FC Barcelona vs AC Milan, Camp Nou, Wednesday, August 25 2010, 19:45 CET
The Gamper Cup... a friendly cup Barca plays on Camp Nou every year before the Liga kicks off, against a random opponent, in honor of the club's founder Joan Gamper. It's always great fun since both teams (are supposed to) play nice and some one gets to take home a bright shiny trophy at the end.
The fact that Barca's Gamper opponent is AC Milan this time makes it even cooler - in part because they're a big club and facing their players is an exciting prospect, in no part because of the web of transfer talk that's heavily linking us and them at the moment, and in large part because it's Ronaldinho's first return to Camp Nou since he left two years ago.
Ronnie, who has issued an open letter to all culés for the occasion, is to be welcomed back with a tribute video by the club. That's awesome of them, and playing against such a huge legend of Barca will certainly be very interesting.
As to how Pep will approach this match, I say substitute participation since it'a friendly, with Bojan starting over Villa/Ibra and then one of the two subbed in in the second half. As for me, I'm counting down the minutes till the Ronnie reunion...
The fact that Barca's Gamper opponent is AC Milan this time makes it even cooler - in part because they're a big club and facing their players is an exciting prospect, in no part because of the web of transfer talk that's heavily linking us and them at the moment, and in large part because it's Ronaldinho's first return to Camp Nou since he left two years ago.
Ronnie, who has issued an open letter to all culés for the occasion, is to be welcomed back with a tribute video by the club. That's awesome of them, and playing against such a huge legend of Barca will certainly be very interesting.
As to how Pep will approach this match, I say substitute participation since it'a friendly, with Bojan starting over Villa/Ibra and then one of the two subbed in in the second half. As for me, I'm counting down the minutes till the Ronnie reunion...
July 29, 2010
Preseason: FC Barcelona vs Valerenga, Ullevaal Stadium, Thursday, July 29, 19:00 CET
Finally, culés have something to talk about other than Pique's antics in Ibiza and the probability of Cesc joining Barca: it's match time! That's right, for the first time since the night the club celebrated their 2010 Liga championship, Barca are playing again.
I've always been a fan of the preseason: it's a fresh start and new beginnings, we get to see the team in action after months of off-season, and there are new signings and youth players to watch and judge.
I don't know much about tonight's opponents, Valerenga, other than the fact that they're a Norwegian club. Playing in their stadium might be colder than what our boys are used to, but it's the first preseason game so I'm sure everyone is totally pumped for it.
Last summer Pep took full advantage of the no limit on substitutions in friendlies, changing the entire eleven at halftime in all Barca's games. That way everyone got playing time, and what with the hoards of youth lads who are called up now, I imagine he'll be doing much the same thing. In any case, the 22 man squad has been selected: Pinto, Adriano, Bojan, Ibrahimovic, Keita, Maxwell, Milito, Victor Sanchez, Miño, Armando, Benja, Dalmau, Edu Oriol, Ilie, Jonathan dos Santos, Jonathan Soriano, Martí Riverola, Muniesa, Nolito, Sergi Gomez, Sergi Roberto, Tello.
I can barely wait for it!
I've always been a fan of the preseason: it's a fresh start and new beginnings, we get to see the team in action after months of off-season, and there are new signings and youth players to watch and judge.
I don't know much about tonight's opponents, Valerenga, other than the fact that they're a Norwegian club. Playing in their stadium might be colder than what our boys are used to, but it's the first preseason game so I'm sure everyone is totally pumped for it.
Last summer Pep took full advantage of the no limit on substitutions in friendlies, changing the entire eleven at halftime in all Barca's games. That way everyone got playing time, and what with the hoards of youth lads who are called up now, I imagine he'll be doing much the same thing. In any case, the 22 man squad has been selected: Pinto, Adriano, Bojan, Ibrahimovic, Keita, Maxwell, Milito, Victor Sanchez, Miño, Armando, Benja, Dalmau, Edu Oriol, Ilie, Jonathan dos Santos, Jonathan Soriano, Martí Riverola, Muniesa, Nolito, Sergi Gomez, Sergi Roberto, Tello.
I can barely wait for it!
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