Preseason Preview: 10 Players to Look Out For as Barcelona Begin New Season

By: Swastik Rath

After an agonizingly disappointing end to the 2018/19 campaign, it’s time for FC Barcelona to start the new season afresh. Lead by coach Ernesto Valverde, whose continuation at the club still irks the Barcelona fans to this very day, the Barcelona squad is looking forward to starting the season strongly, starting with the preseason friendlies. The team has been greatly strengthened by big name signings like Frenkie De Jong and Antoine Griezmann, who will be looking to make an instant impact at their new club; but don’t forget some of the current first team members as well as reserve players, who will be looking to impress the boss and claim more minutes in the first team colors in the 2019/20 season. Here is a list of 10 players to watch out for in the preseason as it holds a lot of importance to their careers at Barcelona-

Honorable mention: Alex Collado, Oriol Busquets, Monchu.

10) Inaki Pena:

Inaki Pena, the Barca B Goalkeeper, has been a standout in the youth teams of FC Barcelona over the years. While Barca B couldn’t gain promotion to Segunda A last season, the 20-year-old had excellent performances consistently between the posts. While there were shouts for him to be promoted once Cillessen left, the board ultimately went for the experienced Neto, thus slimming Pena’s chances to get first team minutes. Also, the inclusion of both Ter Stegen and Neto in the preseason squad probably means he won’t get much time as he might have hoped. However, if he somehow gets some minutes to show his reflexes, prepare yourself to get surprised to see a younger version of Ter Stegen in Inaki Pena.

9) Nelson Semedo:

Having arrived in the summer of 2017, Nelson Semedo must be exclaiming how he hasn’t been the first choice Right Back yet despite being the only proper RB in the first team. Preferred over him is Sergi Roberto, a converted RB, who has rather been average in that role and often struggles defensively. While there is a lot more to be desired from Semedo offensively, it’s clear that he should be having more consistent game time than he has so far. Thus, this preseason holds a lot of importance for Nelsinho, whose primary target will be to impress Valverde and make the Right Back spot his own.

8) Jean-Clair Todibo:

A future prospect, JC Todibo has seen minutes hard to come by in his 1^st season after his arrival in the Winter Transfer Window, with his future in the Catalan capital looking rather bleak. However, things now look much more exciting for the 19-year-old Frenchman as Barca were unable to bring Dutch sensation Matthijs De Ligt to the club. Todibo now will be looking to make a big mark in this preseason, with minutes bound to come in the first team the upcoming season as the only other right footed CB after the aging Gerard Pique. Clutch this chance, Todibeast!

7) Carles Alena:

Although he had been knocking at the doorsteps for quite some time, Carles Alena really took a step forward last season, grabbing almost every chance he could get. The La Masia star certainly got more minutes than he might have hoped at the beginning, however they seemed much less than what his performances and form merited. With the arrival of De Jong to the stacked midfield of Barcelona, it becomes more difficult for Alena to become a regular in the first team; but he certainly would be very keen to show the quality he possesses and the preseason would be the perfect platform to show that he is no less than anyone.

6) Malcom:

Barcelona snatched Malcom, one of the highly rated youngsters in the world, from Roma’s hands last summer. But it soon became clear that he was the board’s signing, not the coach’s, with Ernesto Valverde rarely giving him chances. With Griezmann’s arrival, his chance to get minutes is even slimmer. Although a transfer seems logical this summer, Malcom is keen to succeed at Barca and will be hoping to earn Valverde’s trust with top-level performances in the preseason games.

5) Samuel Umtiti:

Umtiti had established himself as one of the best defenders in the world and an undisputed starter at Barcelona. However last season saw him dealing with consistent knee injuries, thus resulting in another French CB and new signing Clement Lenglet replacing him, eventually earning Valverde’s full trust with tremendous displays. As a result, when Umtiti returned, he was no longer the undisputed starter he once was with Valverde preferring Lenglet for the remainder of the season. This season, however, everything starts afresh, with a clash between the two for one spot inevitable. Umtiti must be eager to show everyone again what he is capable of in the preseason games coming up, thus it holds very high importance for him.

4) Antoine Griezmann:

The recent big name signing and the world cup winner Frenchman is already known as one of the best footballers in the world and has nothing much to prove to anyone about his qualities. However, playing at any other club and playing at Barcelona are two completely different things, with the style of his former club vastly opposite of the famous Barca style. So Griezmann will be looking to adapt to the coach’s tactics quickly and cement his almost guaranteed starting spot even more. Also, some of the Barcelona fans may still be irked with the “La Decision” documentary last summer, so starting strongly in the preseason will sweeten the deal between Griezmann and the Cules.

3) Riqui Puig:

Riqui Puig has been named the crown jewel of La Masia, especially since his excellent displays against Spurs and Milan last summer, and rightly so. Riqui is perhaps the best player to have come out of La Masia in recent years. Despite of his young age and boyish looks, he is much more mature beyond his age and that clearly shows in his game. He seems destined for greatness in Barca’s midfield and it is just a matter of when he will have the breakthrough, which looks tough at the moment with De Jong, Arthur, Alena alongside the veterans in a stacked Barcelona midfield. However, Riqui will be keen to show that ability-wise he is second to none and he is ready for a deserved first team spot, with the upcoming preseason a golden platform for that.

2) Ousmane Dembele:

After an injury-riddled first season at Barcelona, it seemed Ousmane Dembele was showing all the things that Barca could’ve hoped for. However, an injury came at the worst possible time and Dembele’s momentum was halted. Even though he had a very good season overall, the one thing he would be remembered for the most is him missing a golden opportunity against Liverpool to take a 4-goal 1^st leg lead; despite the defending in the second leg being the reason for the loss. Now, doubts have resurfaced again with questions being asked about his injuries, consistency and commitment to the club. Moreover, recent rumors of Barcelona again signing Neymar have split the whole fanbase regarding Dembele’s stay at Barca. Therefore, Dembele must be eager to be back on the pitch in the preseason games to get to his absolute best form as quickly as possible and to show that he is the right man to create terror down the wings for Barcelona.

1) Frenkie De Jong:

There are only a few players in the world who will make you say, “This is a Barcelona player”. Frenkie De Jong is one such rare breed player. Not just technically gifted, Frenkie is also a really versatile player, who can play in all three midfield positions and play equally well in all of them. He has already shown the entire world what he is capable of with an impeccable final season with Ajax. However, playing at Barcelona means responsibility of the highest order and Frenkie has to show he is ready to take that responsibility. Also, while Ajax and Barca play with the similar philosophy, Valverde’s tactics are a lot different from the tactics of Frenkie’s last coach Erik Ten Hag. Therefore, Frenkie has to adapt to the team’s gameplay quickly and the preseason would be a great medium to achieve that. Building a good partnership with the other Barcelona midfielders would be another challenge for him. Finally, the hype around his signing and his potential has been unreal and he has to match up to those expectations. And he will!

Barcelona have travelled to Japan to start the preseason and will face Chelsea on Tuesday to begin the season. All the best to the lads!

La Liga: Semedo and Messi seal 0-2 victory for Barcelona vs 10-man Girona

By: Swastik Rath

(This win was the 8th consecutive victory for Barcelona in La Liga)

FC Barcelona have scored yet another important 3 points in a crucial away game vs Girona on their quest to retain the La Liga title. The game was very competitive from the start, but tilted towards Barcelona in the second half as defender Bernardo Espinosa was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. In the end, goals from Nelson Semedo and Lionel Messi as well as a crucial goal-line clearance from Gerard Pique ensured that Barça extended their lead to 5 points over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid, who earlier scored a 2-0 win over Getafe.

After the 2-0 loss against Sevilla in the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final first leg, the La Liga champions travelled to Girona with the mission of strengthening their hold on the championship. Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets returned to the side as Valverde named a strong starting XI for this important fixture at Montilivi. The only surprise was perhaps Nelson Semedo who started in place of Sergi Roberto, who has been struggling this season.

(Semedo scored his first goal in a Barça shirt and gave a good performance)

The game started off in a very competitive manner as expected with both sides looking to create chances. But it was Barcelona who drew first blood in the 9th minute to take the lead after some shoddy defending from the home side. The Girona defenders failed to clear their line and the ball fell to the Barcelona right back Semedo, who hammered home with his weaker left foot for his first ever goal with the club. After the goal, Girona pressed high up the pitch and created many chances with Stuani looking dangerous. Barça also created chances of their own with an off-form Coutinho hitting the most notable one straight at Bounou. Perhaps the biggest moment for Barcelona came shortly before half-time, as Stuani shot straight at Ter Stegen and the rebound shot from Portu was fantastically saved off the goal-line by Gerard Pique, who had a fantastic performance against the Catalan rivals.

(Messi with a familiar finish for his 19th league goal of the season)

The home side showed the same intensity in the second half as well, as Stuani forced a save from Ter Stegen early on. The turning moment came not long after when Bernardo Espinosa, having gotten a yellow card in the first half, got a second yellow for clipping Suarez’s heels and was sent off. This tilted the game in Barça’s favor, who opted for more control of the ball with the introduction of Arthur Melo. Even though Girona showed signs of danger, Lionel Messi scored the second goal for Barça in the 68th minute to kill the game. The Argentinean genius, completely free of any marking, finished a simple pass from Jordi Alba by chipping the ball over the Girona keeper Bounou. The scoreline remained agonizingly unchanged till the end as the attacking trio Coutinho, Suarez and Messi all missed numerous glorious chances in the game.

(Coutinho is going through a rough period in Barcelona)

Even with the important victory, Barça would be concerned with the form of the Brazilian Philippe Coutinho, who looked out of confidence in the game and missed some great chances to score. Also the lack of precision in front of goal may come back to haunt Barcelona in the decisive end of the season. On a positive note, the performance of Arthur off the bench and the first goal of Semedo should give them a lot of confidence going forward.

(Arthur made an instant impact off the bench and gave Barça the control they had lost in the game)

The win against Girona was Barcelona’s 8th consecutive victory in the league. Now the Catalans will shift their focus to overturn a 0-2 first leg deficit in the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final return leg match against Sevilla at the Camp Nou, where a strong side is expected to be named by Ernesto Valverde.

Copa Del Rey: Lack of Cutting Edge costs Barcelona as Sevilla put one foot in the Semi-Finals

By: Swastik Rath

(It was a disappointing night for Barcelona)

While much of the fanfare revolved around the confirmation of Frenkie De Jong’s arrival in the summer, it was a disappointing night for FC Barcelona on the Football pitch as they lost to Sevilla 2-0 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Second half goals from Pablo Sarabia and Wissam Ben Yedder sealed the game after an even first half. In the end, it was a deserved victory for Sevilla who will hope that Barcelona doesn’t make a comeback in the return leg at Camp Nou probably with Lionel Messi returning to lead the team.

(Carles Aleña took responsibility in a promising performance)

It was a surprise to many that Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets were excluded from the 18-man squad. Even more baffling was the exclusion of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho from the starting lineup. New signing Kevin-Prince Boateng was handed a start straightaway as young prodigy Carles Aleña started for a second consecutive game. There were some experiments as Nelson Semedo, naturally a right-back started at left-back while Carles Aleña started as left winger with a free role even though he is a midfielder.

(Kevin-Prince Boateng was handed his debut in a tough fixture)

Barcelona started the game well and enjoyed a lot of possession as Sevilla looked to counter on the break. Arthur and Aleña helped Barça keep the ball in midfield with Rakitic in the deep lying midfielder role. While the overall play was good, the lack of chemistry between the players and the lack of cutting edge clearly showed as Barça couldn’t create any big chance. Sevilla too couldn’t create many chances until the 36th minute when Ben Yedder, in a magnificent show of skill, beat Pique, Roberto and Arthur with amazing footwork before shooting wide of the post. 5 minutes later, Barcelona squandered their biggest chance of the game as Arthur found Malcom with a perfect pass who rounded the keeper perfectly before hitting side netting. The first half ended in stalemate after Jasper Cillessen saved a Ben Yedder shot.

(Scenes of celebration after Sarabia scored)

Sevilla upped their attack in the second half and created many chances. Just after Amadou missed an easy chance with terrible shooting, Sevilla got their opener through Pablo Sarabia who latched onto a Quincy Promes cross and arrowed a shot past Cillessen to the corner. The instant introduction of Coutinho and Suarez almost found the equalizer as Suarez robbed the ball near the box before Coutinho shot just above the crossbar. From there it was all Sevilla as Barça didn’t look like finding their way back. The pressure paid off as Ben Yedder got a deserved goal for the home side after Banega’s left footed shot found its way near the far post after a small deflection where the former Toulouse man nodded it home. All in all, it was a great display from the home side who exhibited great counter attacking display for the win.

(Arthur had a great display in a losing effort)

Even with the loss, Barça fans will be happy with positive displays from youngsters Arthur and Aleña as well as some rest for many key players like Messi, Busquets and Alba which will hopefully help them in the long run.

Barcelona will next look forward to the away game against Girona on Sunday with an eye towards the return leg clash against Sevilla.

Haunted by Dembele, Finished off by Messi: Leganes beaten as Barça maintain lead at the top

By: Swastik Rath

(Messi was the difference maker after Dembele went out injured)

FC Barcelona have beaten CD Leganes 3-1 at Camp Nou with goals from Ousmane Dembele, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi to exact revenge after the Madrid-based team had defeated the Blaugranas earlier in the season. It was a game in which Barça dominated from start to end owing to the dominant display from the midfield and a sensational display from Ousmane Dembele; but still had to depend on a Lionel Messi cameo for the victory after Martin Braithwaite equalized for the away side. While the game was full of positives for the home side, the injury to Ousmane Dembele will concern all the Barça supporters considering the great form the Frenchman was in.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde opted for a new-look lineup keeping in mind the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final tie against Sevilla. La Masia starlet Carles Aleña got his full LaLiga Debut as Arthur accompanied him in midfield. Thomas Vermaelen got a rare start in defence. But the biggest news was Lionel Messi being rested alongside Ivan Rakitic while Suarez returned to lead the line.

(Carles Aleña was a standout vs Leganes)

Valverde’s choices didn’t disappoint as Barcelona dominated from the get go. Carles Aleña was very impressive in the midfield as Arthur and Busquets controlled the midfield. But it was Ousmane Dembele who proved to be a nightmare for the Leganes defenders with a showcase of skills, runs and dribbles. It was only fitting that he scored the first goal for the home side after a Messi-esque combination with Jordi Alba, who provided the assist. Aside from that, Barça created a lot of chances but the lack of precision in the final third, especially from Philippe Coutinho, kept the score 1-0 at half time.

(Dembele was terrorising defence with 11 successful dribbles before he sprained his ankle)

The second half was no different as Barcelona controlled proceeding until the away side scored against the run of play through Martin Braithwaite who latched onto the En-Nesyri cross from the flank. The goal prompted Valverde to bring on Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic at the expenses of Carles Aleña and Arthur Melo, who both had great games. The biggest blow for Barça came when Dembele, who was having one of his performances in a Barcelona shirt, had to be subbed off after he unfortunately sprained his ankle.

(Suarez netted the winner for Barcelona)

However, the substitution of Messi paid dividends whose smashing shot from outside of the box was brilliantly saved by Cuellar, who couldn’t save the rebound shot from Suarez. There was controversy as Suarez hit Cuellar in the head in the follow-up of the shot, but it seemed clean and the goal stood with just above 15 minutes remaining. While the 7-minute extra time irked the home fans, it was Lionel Messi who sensationally scored with his right foot to finish the game after a brilliant one-two with Alba, who had his second assist of the day.

(The Messi-Alba combination yet again produced a goal)

The Barcelona fans will be encouraged by the excellent displays of Dembele and Aleña, but the bad form of Coutinho will be a big concern now that the French youngster is injured.

With this win, Barça sit atop LaLiga with 46 pts, 5 more than second placed Atletico and 10 more than their main rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona will now look towards the away-leg game against Sevilla in the Quarter Finals of the Copa Del Rey in the hunt of their 5th consecutive win of the competition.

Super-sub Shaqiri Hits Two to Beat Dismal Manchester United as Liverpool Go Back to Top (And Player Ratings)

By: Swastik Rath

(Shaqiri was the hero for Liverpool and turned the game around)

Liverpool have beaten bitter rivals Manchester United 3-1 at Anfield on the back of a double from the substitute Xherdan Shaqiri and a fantastic performance from Fabinho. It was yet another woeful performance from Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, who seemed uninspired and out of any hope and desire throughout the game. With the win, the Reds have again moved to the top above the champions Manchester City, who had defeated Everton the day before to stay at the top temporarily.

Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne started for Liverpool in the defence for the big game. Naby Keita also started while Shaqiri started on the bench. For the away side, unsurprisingly Paul Pogba was left out of the lineup while Juan Mata and Anthony Martial also didn’t get the nod. Victor Lindelof started in place of the injured Chris Smalling. Diego Dalot and Matteo Darmian also started for the Red Devils.

Liverpool dominated the game from the get-go, but chances were hard to create against a compact United defence. Roberto Firmino forced a save from De gea early in the game while a United goal was ruled offside. Liverpool put pressure on United attacking relentlessly which finally paid off when Mane opened the scoring in the 24th minute, chesting down a fantastic lofted ball from Fabinho and volleying the ball past David De Gea who was left exposed by the miserable defending from Manchester United.

The away side showed no spirit while the Reds continued to dominate in such a manner that it seemed they would win the game comfortably. Lovren missed a great chance to make it 2-0. Liverpool continued to maintain their high tempo but suddenly a huge blunder from Alisson gave United a lifeline. The Brazilian spilled Lukaku’s low cross, which should have been caught comfortably, towards Jesse Lingard who grabbed the chance to equalize. It was a horror for the goalkeeper, who had sent Liverpool to the knockout stage of the UCL with a great save in extra time earlier in the week.

(Alisson’s blunder awarded United the equalizer)

Even after Lingard’s goal, United were miserable till the end of the game. It was all Liverpool from that point, but they couldn’t convert possession into goals as they seemingly ran out of ideas. Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firmino, the two main threats were not at their best and that showed as the score stayed level till the 73rd minute against the balance of play. Fabinho was the brightest spot for Liverpool as the Brazilian Midfielder dominated the game, keeping Manchester United at bay. But it was Xherdan Shaqiri, the Swiss international who stole the limelight after coming on from the bench. The substitute made an instant impact and gave the hosts the much-deserved lead. Mane showed fantastic skill down the left and crossed the ball which was deflected and then saved by De Gea, but it fell perfectly for Shaqiri who scored the winner via a deflection and the crossbar. In the 81st minute, he put the game to bed after he got the ball at the edge of the box and fired into the corner via another huge deflection, this time off Bailly, which left the Spaniard Goalkeeper with no chance. United’s miserable showing was summed up by a late Fellaini strike, which flew towards the corner flag.

(Shaqiri scoring his second of the night)

The win by Liverpool means the Reds are still undefeated in their current Premier League campaign. Despite the loss, Manchester United are still sixth in the Premier League table. Most certainly, Alisson Becker will be highly grateful to Shaqiri who saved the Goalkeeper’s blushes.

Player Ratings:

(Fabinho was the best player on the pitch for most of the game)

Liverpool: Alisson (5.5), Clyne (7), Lovren (7), Van Dijk (7.5), Robertson (7), Wijnaldum (7), Fabinho (8.5), Keita (7), Salah (6.5), Firmino (7), Mane (8)

Subs: Shaqiri (9), Henderson (NR)

(Lingard scored the equalizer and was the only bright spot for a miserable United side)

Manchester United: De Gea (5.5), Dalot (4), Darmian (5), Lindelof (4), Bailly (5), Young (5), Matic (4), Herrera (4), Lingard (6.5), Lukaku (3), Rashford (4)

Subs: Fellaini (5.5), Martial (NR), Mata (NR)

FC Barcelona 1-1 tottenham: Lucas late goal denies Barça Victory, Spurs go through the last 16 as Inter crash out with draw against PSV

By: Shritam Selma

(Spurs managed to qualify to the knockout phase after a bad start in the group stage)

Tottenham have qualified for the knockout stage of the champions league for the third time in the most dramatic styles, stealing an equalizing goal through the boot of Lucas in the 85th minute to earn the point that they needed as Inter drew against PSV. Spurs were worthy of their draw, creating plenty of chances in the second half and could easily have won the match and taken all three points if there were not some exceptional saves from Cillessen who was undoubtedly the man of the match to deny Son, Eriksen and Lucas. This was not a full strength Barcelona team but any positive result at Camp Nou is an achievement.

Spurs were headed to Camp Nou to do the unthinkable as they needed at least a similar result as Inter Milan on the final match of the group stage to qualify to the next phase with one surprising name in their side as young Kyle Walker-Peters in place of injured Aurier and Trippier. Barcelona made seven changes from the side that had beaten Espanyol at the weekend including Messi who also dropped to the bench. Cillessen got a chance in the starting XI and also young Left back Juan Miranda and highly rated Central Midfielder Carles Aleña made their debut in a Champions League match. Arthur made his return in midfield following a hamstring injury.

Line ups:

FC Barcelona: Cillessen, N.Semedo, Lenglet, Vermaelen, Miranda, Rakitic, Arthur, Aleña, O.Dembele, Coutinho, Munir

Subs: M.ter Stegen, Pique, Busquets, D.Suarez, Messi, J.Alba, A.Vidal

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker-peters, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Rose, Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Dele Alli, Son, Kane

Subs: E.Lamela, E.Dier, F.Llorente, P.Gazzaniga, Lucas, B.Davies, O.Skipp

Coach: Mauricio Pochettino

(Ousmane Dembele scored a fantastic solo goal using his electric pace and skills)

Even though Barcelona were playing with their reserves, the Catalans still controlled the ball against a strong Tottenham side. It didn’t take long for the hosts to take the lead after the individual brilliance exhibited by Dembele. The Frenchman robbed young Walker-Peters of possession, took the ball from the mid-line and sprinted right past the right back. He then showed great skill and composure to convert past France teammate Hugo Lloris in the 7th minute. The visitors needed a win to be sure of advancing to the next round but yet struggled to get anything going. The visitors got their first dangerous chance when Danny Rose sent a good low cross to Son who just crossed his mark. Again some minutes before the first half Cillessen stuck out his leg and made a great save to deny Son.

The early minutes of the second half did not start the way Barcelona had hoped and tottenham were constantly buzzing around Cillessen’s area. Two minutes later Eriksen and Dele Alli tried their luck from inside the area but both shots were blocked by Barcelona defenders. Barcelona appeared to have doubled their lead through Munir who made a lovely run to reach coutinho’s pass, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Then Lionel Messi joined play in place of Munir. As the visitors desperately needed a goal to secure a spot a round of 16, they continued to dominate the match even in the presence of Messi on the pitch. Finally Tottenham managed to find the equalizer in the 85th minute after Lucas converted Harry Kane’s low cross.

(Lucas Moura managed to clinch a spot in the Round of 16 for Tottenham)

With this result FC Barcelona topped the group for the 12th consecutive time and continued their unbeaten run in home games of champions league in champions league (29 games) equaling Bayern Munich. Spurs continued their unbeaten streak in the sixth matchday of group stage in Champions League. Both teams will play their respective round of 16 matches in February.

UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 Preview: , Liverpool-Napoli, Barça-Spurs

By: Swastik Rath

It’s the last matchday of UEFA Champions League Group Stage and as always some exciting matches are set to take place. Let’s take a look at the two biggest matches.

Liverpool vs Napoli – This is perhaps the most exciting game of matchday 6 considering that the qualification of both of these teams is at stake here. Napoli is currently at top of group C, still it doesn’t make their qualification secure, that’s how close and interesting this group is.

(Salah in action for Liverpool against Napoli, how vital will he be tonight? )

For Liverpool, no result other than a win is desirable. Only at least a two-goal marginal win or a 1-0 win will get them through to the Round of 16. Any other win with a one-goal lead will keep their hope dependent on the Red Star vs PSG match where PSG are expected to win.
On the other hand, Napoli just need a draw to qualify. A draw or a win for Napoli will result in Liverpool getting eliminated and PSG qualifying. So Napoli will be looking to avoid losing to secure their place in the Round of 16.

(The best attacking trio in Europe according to Tuchel)

Liverpool will Turn to their star studded Front 3 consisting of Mohammad Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane to deliver the goods in front of goal while Virgil Van Dijk will lead the defence. Joel Matip is expected to replace the injured Joe Gomez in defence while Shaqiri will hope to start in an attacking lineup.
Napoli will hope their defence led by Koulibaly will stay Rock solid throughout the game while Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens will be the main attacking threats for them.

In their previous encounter, Napoli beat Liverpool 1-0 with a late winner by Insigne.

Prediction: 3-2 in favor of Liverpool

Barcelona vs Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur are travelling to the Camp Nou for the first time in 36 years for their most important match of the season to take on FC Barcelona. The home side have already secured their place in the round of 16 as the toppers of Group B while the second place is fiercely contested by Tottenham and Inter Milan who will be favourites in their home game against PSV.

(Spurs need to keep Messi in check if they want to get away with anything from this fixture)

For Barça, this match is relatively unimportant as the result won’t affect their place in the group. The home side will be looking to rest some of the first-team starters even though the Manager Ernesto Valverde has said in the pre-match Press Conference that his side will be going for the win. This should lead to a chance for some of the fringe players to feature against a great side like Tottenham.

For Spurs, this game is of Paramount importance as their current Champions League campaign rests on the outcome of this match. They need to produce at least a similar result against Barça as Inter Milan does against PSV, as both Tottenham and Inter Milan are on 7 points with the English side holding a better head-to-head record on the basis of away goals scored. As Inter are strong favorites in their match, this game becomes a must-win one for Tottenham. But winning against Barcelona at the Camp Nou is a very tough task, no doubt.

A significant number of rotations is expected in the home side, with a few starters expected to be given a rest. Striker Luis Suarez is expected to sit out even though he is in the 19-man squad while Lionel Messi’s participation is also in doubt. Arthur Melo has returned from injury and should feature in the midfield along with youngster Carles Aleña while Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Ter Stegen should get a rest. This game could have been a good chance for Malcom who is out injured.

(All eyes will be on these 2 in this clash)

On the other hand, Tottenham will be heavily dependent on star striker Harry Kane to score against Barcelona while Son Heung-min will be a threat in the wing. Midfielders Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, both of whom missed out the reverse fixture owing to Injuries, will shoulder the creative burden of the team. Spurs have travelled to Barcelona without some starters like Davinson Sanchez, Kieran Trippier and Moussa Dembele who have been Injured. Young right back Kyle Walker-Peters will be handed a huge start against Barça in the absence of both Trippier and Aurier.
The last fixture between these two teams ended in a 4-2 win for Barcelona at Wembley with Lionel Messi hitting a brace.

Prediction: 1-1 draw

Real Madrid slide past Huesca scare as Bale breaks his goal draught

By: Shritam Selma

Real Madrid managed to escape, from a visit to Huesca, with a narrow 1-0 win in what can be called as a typical Real Madrid display of this season. Bale’s goal in the first half was enough for Real Madrid to secure a hard fought victory against the newly promoted side.

(Los Blancos celebrating the only goal of the match)

The Sunday evening visit of Real Madrid to Huesca wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near a close contest but as it turned out, it was. Real Madrid started the game with lots of pace on either of flanks and Huesca wasn’t anywhere near threat in the first few minutes. The gameplay reflected in the scoreline soon as Bale scored on the 8th minute with a sweet side footed volley after Llorente released Odriozola free in the right wing, the cross from Odriozola landed perfectly fo Bale to strike first time andresulted in a perfect team goal. As the game progressed Huesca gained more and more confidence and thei persistence almost paid off just before the half time if not for a fantastic save by Courtois.
Huesca started the second half rather strongly and almost score on the 47th minute from a header which caught Courtois wrong footed but the ball flew inches past from the post. It was as sloppy as it gets from Real Madrid in the second half, be it in Defense, build-up or even attack. Solari’s man looked out of sorts in most of the parts in the second half. Courtois further came in to the rescue of Real with 2 fantastic and equally vital saves. The sloppy or pathetic display, whatever you may call it, from the Vikings came to an end finally as the referee finally blew the whistle for a last time.
Take Overs
There were only a handful of positives for Los Blancos in a rather embarrassing display against the bottom ranked team of the league.

(Llorente has been flying high ever since he got a starting place in Solari’s reign)

Marcos Llorente! This lad has been a personal favorite of mine ever since he came back from Deportivo Alaves. However with all the potential he only started getting game times after Casemiro was injured. And since then he hasn’t disappointed one bit. He might not be physically as strong as Casemiro but he brings a lot more to the game in other aspects of the game. Against Huesca his positioning and tackling well spot on and as precise. Along with that he has a pretty impressive passing range and he brought all of it against the opponent in the Sunday evening and undoubtedly was the best among the outfield players for the royal whites.

(Bale had a decent outing against Huesca)

Gareth Bale! The Cardiff express had a great start to the La Liga campaign but it faded as the season progressed which has been a typical say for him from the past 2-3 seasons. However he had gone without a goal for over 100 day, his longest draught in La Liga. All of that came to an end against Huesca with a sweet volley, which surely would’ve done a world of good to his confidence. Although he was relatively quite at most of the times, he tried to work something out whenever he had the ball.

(Courtois’ Dropped a 10/10 performance)

Thibaut Courtois! Undoubtedly the man of the match last night, had probably his best game in a Real Madrid jersey and kept an all important clean sheet. His 2 saves in the second half was match defining and saved a rather vulnerable Santiago Solari’s side. The scoreline would have been different if it wasn’t for the newest addition to the never ending match winners for Real Madrid.

Santiago Solari’s men narrowly escaped a scare against the 20th ranked team in La Liga thanks to some individual brilliance from a few players. As a team Los Blancos looked out of sort at most of the times, however they still managed to come out with a 1-0 victory. It certainly wasn’t convincing but is always good ending up in the winning side.Up next for Real Madrid is the upcoming Champions League tie against CSKA Moscow where they would seek to get the revenge for the away defeat in matchday 2.

Barcelona Player Ratings: Masterclass From Messi helps Barcelona beat Espanyol 4-0 as Luis Suarez returns to action

It was vintage Barcelona on Saturday night as the reigning champions hit four against Espanyol in one of the team’s best performances this season.

(Messi celebrating his second free kick of the night)

It was Lionel Messi who again produced a sensational performance against the local rivals, opening and closing the scoreline with two sublime free-kick goals, taking his tally to NINE free-kick goals in 2018.
The talismanic Argentinean also set up Ousmane Dembele who continued his hot form, scoring a great goal for Barcelona’s second. The French winger also set up the returning Luis Suarez, who scored from a tight angle.

Here is how the Barcelona players performed again Espanyol-
Marc Andre Ter Stegen – 7 – The German shot-stopper had a comfortable night as he was not troubled much by the home side. Made some routine saves and was calm and confident on the ball. Was beaten by Duarte because of bad set-piece defending, but the goal was ruled out by VAR, saving his clean sheet.
Nelson Semedo – 7 – The right back had a good game again. Was very good defensively and also stopped some counters using his pace. He also made some attacking runs on the right side. Just needs to improve his passing and awareness. He will be disappointed if he has to give up his spot when Roberto returns.
Gerard Pique – 7 – The Catalan has put his bad start to the season behind him, it seems. Was solid defensively and there was no error from his side. Even wanted to score a fifth goal as he looked to go forward in the later stages of the match. The jeering from the rival fans seems to make him better.
Clement Lenglet – 6.5 – The Frenchman was solid again as he has been for Barcelona this season. Now an undisputed starter in Umtiti’s absence, he again showed strong defensive qualities. But, he misplaced some passes here and there which could have ended dangerously for his team.
Jordi Alba – 7.5 – The left back couldn’t get forward as often as he does, due to Dembele playing ahead of him in the left wing. But he showed great characteristics in defence, winning a number of duels, tackles and made a number of interceptions. Quite steady in possession too.
Sergio Busquets – 6.5 – Kept things simple as he always does. Made many crucial interceptions but was a bit untidy in possession as he lost the ball uncharacteristically a few times. Not one of this better outings, but with him the team is stable.
Arturo Vidal – 7 – The Chilean was an absolute warrior on the pitch. Fought for every ball, always went forwards looking to create danger and tracked back hungrily to stop Espanyol attacks. Has become an asset for Barcelona in recent games.
Ivan Rakitic – 6 – Hasn’t been at his best this season and this game continued that trend. Made a few sloppy passes in dangerous area and untidy in possession too. Missed an easy chance to score from 5 yards when his header was saved by Diego Lopez.

(Dembele in action against Espanyol)

Ousmane Dembele – 8 – A few weeks ago, he had to face unfair criticism from Media and Press but he has shut the critics with his superb form. Was outstanding in this game too, scoring a top notch goal and creating many chances. Grabbed an assist for Suarez’s goal and created great goalscoring chances for Rakitic and Messi. His decision making has improved significantly.

(Suarez managed to score past Lopez from that much of a tight angle)

Luis Suarez – 7 – The Uruguayan returned to action for the derby and worked hard. Got his reward at the end of the first half when he latched onto Dembele’s through pass, beat David Lopez with his physicality and finished through the legs of Diego Lopez from a tight angle. Wasn’t at his best though. Missed easier chances Messi created for him and was a bit sloppy sometimes with his passes.

(we all know where that free kick is ending)

Lionel Messi – 10 – A performance that only Messi could have produced. The headlines would be his two exquisite free-kicks but he did a lot more than that. Was a terror for the Espanyol defenders throughout the game. Impossibly held onto the ball amid a sea of defenders before setting up Dembele for his goal. Created chances for Suarez and Dembele. Would be disappointed as he couldn’t get his hattrick, but that doesn’t affect this gem of a performance.

Substitutes
Philippe Coutinho – 5.5 – The Brazilian has been underwhelming recently and didn’t do much here. Had a shot saved by Lopez.
Munir El Haddadi – 6 – Got some minutes here replacing Suarez and shot a late chance straight at Lopez.
Denis Suarez – 6 – His double in the Copa Del Rey midweek earned him some minutes here, but had little time to make an impact.

Lionel Messi Stars, Dembele Shines as Barcelona thrash Espanyol 4-0

By: Swastik Rath

Barcelona have beaten Catalan rivals Espanyol 4-0 in an exciting but rather one-sided derby in the RCDE stadium owing to a first-half masterclass from the Laliga champions and a fantastic performance from Messi, who scored not one, but two free-kicks both of which would surely rank among his best ones. The other two forwards Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele scored once each in what was one of the best performances of Barcelona this season.

(Messi celebrating after his incredible free kick, source: FC Barcelona)

Barcelona travelled to Cornella to face RCD Espanyol in a must-win away game which was expected to be a close encounter considering Espanyol’s form this season under Rubi. Luis Suarez returned to the starting lineup after being out for two weeks. Ousmane Dembele, who has been in great form after he was heavily but unfairly criticised for off-field issues, was preferred over Philippe Coutinho, who has been struggling recently. Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo continued in the absence of Arthur and Sergi Roberto respectively.
Espanyol started the game well defensively, not letting Barça settle in possession. Messi was marked heavily by a host of defenders, who didn’t let him create any danger in the early beginning. However, Messi looked motivated and you can’t contain Messi forever. He was fouled eventually in a dangerous spot and was awarded a free-kick 24 yards from goal, which he expertly curled above the wall into the top corner in the 17th minute. Diego Lopez’s fingertips couldn’t save the goal as Barcelona went ahead.

(There’s no stopping this man’s genius)

From there, it was all Barcelona in the first half. It didn’t took long to find the second as Messi toyed with a number of defenders and held onto the ball in impossible manner, setting up Dembele in the process, who produced a fantastic curling finish with his right foot to beat Lopez in the 24th minute. This essentially killed the match as Espanyol never got into the game. Barça continued to attack, testing Diego Lopez time to time, who denied a Rakitic header from 5 yards and Messi followed up with a header which hit the post. Barcelona eventually made it 3-0 in the 45th minute when Suarez latched onto a nicely weighted through ball from Dembele and used his physical power to beat a defender and found a finish through the legs of Lopez from a tight angle.

(yes, Suarez scored from there! Image courtesy: La Liga Twitter)

Barça went into defensive mode in the second half with Espanyol having much of the ball, but they didn’t trouble Ter Stegen enough, who had a fairly comfortable night in the goal. The defence and midfield, led by Pique, didn’t let the hosts create any great danger while Messi and Dembele looked to attack on counter. Messi picked Dembele with a great through ball who was closed down before he could shoot. He then set Messi with a smart pass, who beat Sergi Darder brilliantly but was denied by Diego Lopez. Messi got his second eventually with another brilliant free-kick to make it 4-0 in the 65th minute. This was Messi’s 9th free-kick goal in 2018, which he fired into the top left corner from 29 yards out, giving another instance of his genius and showing why he is considered by many the greatest footballer of all time.
Espanyol grabbed a consolation goal in the 72nd minute when Duarte scored from a set-piece brilliantly delivered by Sergio Garcia and badly defended by Barcelona, but the goal was ruled offside after a lengthy consultation with VAR, keeping Barça’s clean sheet intact.
With this astounding win, Barça have solidified their position as the league leaders with a 3-point lead as their closest rivals Sevilla drew at Mestalla. This win comes at a crucial time as Barcelona have now won back to back matches after losing to Betis and drawing with Atletico Madrid.

(La Liga table, as it stands after Barca’s match)

Barcelona will now look forward to facing Tottenham Hotspur at the Camp Nou on Tuesday in their final Champions League Group Stage match which happens to be a relatively unimportant game as Barça have already qualified as group leaders, so expect seeing many of the bench players get a chance.

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