La Liga Jornada 23

MURCIA Sab-20:00 VILLARREAL
DEPORTIVO Sab-20:00 GETAFE
SEVILLA Sab-22:00 BARCELONA
RACING Dom-17:00 ATLÉTICO
OSASUNA Dom-17:00 ZARAGOZA
ATHLETIC Dom-17:00 LEVANTE
MALLORCA Dom-17:00 ALMERÍA
ESPANYOL Dom-17:00 RECREATIVO
R. MADRID Dom-19:00 VALLADOLID
VALENCIA Dom-21:00 BETIS

Pick of the matches this weekend is obviously Barça's trip to Sevilla, where we'll see whether our comeback is for real. My initial high after Xavi's winner last weekend has been dampened a bit by the overly enthusiastic hype from SPORT and MD in the past few days, and the injury situation. The FIFA virus has struck, because both Madrid and Barça have major injury problems this weekend - Madrid are definitely missing Metzelder, Heinze, and Torres; Guti, Gago, and van Nistelrooy are doubts; Sneijder is suspended.

We will be without Zambrotta, Puyol, Bojan, and Deco (he got injured in training today); Marquez and Giovani only return later today, so their fitness is unknown. And of course both Etoo and Yaya are away at the ACN. It's a ridiculous situation, because now a barely-fit Ronaldinho will have to start, along with a midfield of Iniesta-Xavi-Gudjohnsen/Edmilson. The back 4 will also be decidedly makeshift, with no RB bar Oleguer in the squad. He's lacking match fitness too, so I'd play a defense of:
Thuram---Milito---Abidal---Sylvinho
(that means no attacks whatsoever down the right flank, but what can we do)

And the worst part of all this is that Sevilla have Kanoute and Keita back from Africa, and are mostly at full-strength. Even Dani Alves' yellow card has been rescinded.

You'd play Thuram at RB against Capel that would be suicide

Messiah wrote:You'd play Thuram at RB against Capel that would be suicide

He'd be about as bad as Oleguer...the other option is Abidal, and maybe that would be better since he'll at least be more athletic even though he's on his wrong side. I went with Thuram because he's played RB before.

kas wrote:

Messiah wrote:You'd play Thuram at RB against Capel that would be suicide

He'd be about as bad as Oleguer...the other option is Abidal, and maybe that would be better since he'll at least be more athletic even though he's on his wrong side. I went with Thuram because he's played RB before.

Yeah i would go with Abidal at RB, but i fear Rijkaard will start Ole/Thuram.

This is the team I'd play

VV

Abidal
Thuram
Milito
Slyvinho

Xavi
Marquez(he has to start)
Iniesta

Messi
Henry
Gio(lets see how he does play on his preferred side)

Gago, Guti, and Torres are progressing and they have reasonable chances to play on Sunday. van Nistelrooy, probably not.

I'll take the place of Frank this week

away to racing will be a tough game and with Aguero out, the others will have to pull their heads out their asses. also our defence needs to get a grip, or in the case of Pernia, released.

hopefully the scum will drop points against an adventurous valladolid.

Calidad wrote:I'll take the place of Frank this week

away to racing will be a tough game and with Aguero out, the others will have to pull their heads out their asses. also our defence needs to get a grip, or in the case of Pernia, released.

hopefully the scum will drop points against an adventurous valladolid.

Easy isnt it.

In other news, Levante players give the club an ultimatum over their wages not being paid:
http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/levante/es/desarrollo/1087751.html

RUUD out for the game, which leaves Raul upfront

that's half of the team gone..

Still we are in a much worse situation regarding injuries

Apparently Schuster will play Raul as a lone striker, with Higuain and Robinho supporting him in some kind of 4-5-1 formation

Saviola and Soldado must be really $h!t in training.

Barca Starting XI

Valdés; Oleguer, Thuram, Milito, Abidal, Xavi, Edmílson, Iniesta, Giovani, Henry y Messi.

That doesn't sound so good from a Madrid perspective. Robinho is starting to look a proper player again so no doubt they will be relying on him tomorrow. It's a shame how Javier Saviola's career has turned out, the guy was simply awesome at River Plate. Maybe it was a case of moving over too early. Still, he will retire with an absolute bankload of money.

Deportivo are currently leading Getafe 1-0. Slowly buy surely they are climbing out of the relegation area.

Arsenal have been linked with Diego Capel again, is there anything in Spain about this?

No Dinho and Oleguer plays! Frank Rijkaard the tactical genius!

Cesc wrote:That doesn't sound so good from a Madrid perspective. Robinho is starting to look a proper player again so no doubt they will be relying on him tomorrow. It's a shame how Javier Saviola's career has turned out, the guy was simply awesome at River Plate. Maybe it was a case of moving over too early. Still, he will retire with an absolute bankload of money.

Deportivo are currently leading Getafe 1-0. Slowly buy surely they are climbing out of the relegation area.

Arsenal have been linked with Diego Capel again, is there anything in Spain about this?

Nothing that I have read.. In any case he will be very very expensive.

late late goal for Villareal.

Did Rossi play today?

If rijkaard is going to give messi a free role, why not start Gio on the left

1) ist is best position
2) it would give alves something to think about everytime he makes one of his runs.

Gio went out with an injury

Why are you crying?

Dude, he is one of my favourite players!!

1-0 Sevilla

Capel with the goal and fully deserved really. Barca have looked woeful - slow, predictable and utterly devoid of any creativity.

Sevilla have been the exact opposite, and if not for Valdez may have been 2-3 up. Capel is predictable, but he's been terrorising Barca's right flank, and his delivery is fantastic.

3zycupid wrote:Did Rossi play today?

Ya, not one of his best games.

_____________________

Sevilla have been great, all over Barca. This game reminds me of the game against Madrid earlier in the season when they won 2-0 but it could have been 5 or 6 that day also. Capel has looked pretty good, one thing he did reminded me of Giggs 94-2000. Sevilla keep producing these kids, Ramos, Reyes, Puerta, Navas. Valdes has made some good saves also.

barca will prob win this now thanks to this great ref

Ronaldinho is wank

messi dives more than ronaldo

great game until the stupid red card

All la liga refs are $h!t.

what was the final score?

Puerta

rosicky wrote:what was the final score?

1-1 (Capel and Xavi the scorers)