Frank Rijkaard has decided to rest Xavi, Messi and Eto’o for tomorrow night’s game at Deportivo and they have been left out of the squad along with Iniesta and Milito who are both suspended. This means a return to the squad for Oleguer, Ezquerro and Pedrito. Rijkaard is quite rightly giving preference to the Champions League though of course Barça still need the points in their fight for second place with Villarreal.
Deportivo are the most in form team in La Liga. Their recent run of 22 points from 9 games has moved them well clear of the relegation zone where they struggled for a lot of the season, and they now have an outside chance of winning a Uefa Cup place. The good run has a lot to do with coach Miguel Angel Lotina’s decision to bring in Angel Lafita and Christian Wilhelmsson as wingers to the 5-4-1 formation and also the restoration of Dudu Aouate in goal. In those nine games Depor have scored 17 goals and only conceded 6. Xisco is Depor’s centre forward and he has scored 9 goals this season in 21 appearances. Lotina will have to find a replacement in midfield for Sergio who is suspended.
Rijkaard could well decide to leave other first choice players on the substitutes bench so the team is anyone’s guess. Deco should certainly play for some of the game as he needs match practice, and Thierry Henry should play and try to earn a place in the starting lineup at Old Trafford. Rafa Marquez will also probably play as he will miss the United game through suspension, hopefully Rijkaard will put him in midfield and give Toure a rest. Last season Barça got a 1-1 draw at Riazor with Ronaldinho scoring from the penalty spot. In December Barça beat Depor 2-1 at Camp Nou with goals from a Ronaldinho penalty and Xavi.
Barça’s 18-man squad: Valdés, Pinto, Oleguer, Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Márquez, Sylvinho, Abidal, Toure, Deco, Gudjohnsen, Edmilson Giovani, Bojan, Henry, Ezquerro, Pedrito.
Possible starting XI: Valdés, Oleguer, Thuram, Puyol, Sylvinho; Deco, Marquez, Gudjohnsen; Giovani, Bojan, Henry.
My Prediction: Deportivo 2 Barça 1
20 responses so far ↓
El // Apr 25, 2008 at 13:18
No, i don’t expect them to fail.. but draw would be quite reasonable. Let’s hope for Henry’s and kid’s chances! My prediction 1-2, Barca win!
Taras // Apr 25, 2008 at 13:33
Barca 1-1 Deportivo.
Blaugrana // Apr 25, 2008 at 14:22
1-1,wow nic is this the 1st tyme ur predicting a loss?
dayib-sm // Apr 25, 2008 at 14:45
My prediction : Deportivo 1 - Barcelona 2
at the moment we are very power full and our moral amd mentely and physical all come back.
Dr.Osmo // Apr 25, 2008 at 17:50
Deportivo 2 Barça 3
Jay // Apr 25, 2008 at 17:59
Deportivo 1-2 Barcelona….
BARCA 4 LYF // Apr 25, 2008 at 20:12
BARCA TO WIN 2-1!!!
Andrew // Apr 25, 2008 at 22:12
i’m glad to see messi will be resting. hopefully that will make him twice as anxious to play on tuesday and he’ll rock man u!
FCB - Canada // Apr 25, 2008 at 22:45
I like Deportivo since they are a hard working team and have been in the bottom cellar for a long time. So they deserve the success they are getting. Plus they have a Canadian in Julian de Guzman who really is a workhorse. If only Barca players had his type of work ethic.
I would like to see Depo win but I think it might be 2-2.
layi // Apr 26, 2008 at 2:02
i tink we can win, but olegeur is a very powerful factor…lol
i miss ronaldinho
Davor // Apr 26, 2008 at 3:10
i agree 100% with your starting line -up Nic
i belive Rijkaard should use your advice
i also belive edmilson and ezquerro should come on for some game time
id say for pinto to start however i believe valdes needs match practise and to have confiddence before should an important game
sadly 1-0 for deportivo is my guess
Morzzan // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:07
4-0 to Barca!!!
After seeing their last performance, without a doubt, 4-0
Varughese // Apr 26, 2008 at 9:27
Resting Messi would be a mistake. He needed more match time.
Mike M // Apr 26, 2008 at 10:45
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=673126
Joe Henry // Apr 26, 2008 at 11:12
Believe it or not I am with Frank. Rest the team. I think it will end in a draw
Titi186 // Apr 26, 2008 at 13:30
@ Varughese - I agree - Messi should get at least 45mins under his belt as the more match practise he gets the better.
@ Nic - I need your help! I really want to go to the Real Madrid vs. Barca game in a couple weeks but havent the slightest clue how to buy tickets!! I am a member and bought tickets for Barca home games via the internet but I am at a loss about how to buy away games
I phone Barca yesterday (on their English speaking number) and was given the run around. Is there anyway if you could phone them and talk in spanish to them and just find out the basics for me or do you know anyone who is familiar with the process of buying away game tickets?
Any help is appreciated!!
Deportivo game - Henry will play crap as Gio aka I CANT PASS aka overrated ‘n’ ugly will probably play lol! My prediction is 0-1 to Barca.
FCB // Apr 26, 2008 at 18:10
2-0 barca
Dr.Osmo // Apr 26, 2008 at 18:52
Pinto, Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Sylvinho, Marquez, Toure, Gudjohnsen; Giovani, Bojan Henry
Dr.Osmo // Apr 26, 2008 at 20:59
Deportivo 2-0 Barcelona
Nic // Apr 27, 2008 at 14:59
Titi - forgive my delay in replying. I hope you understand I don’t really have time to do favours like this. All I can suggest is the club’s webpage which I imagine you already know - http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_07-08/entrades/lliga_fora.html
The other alternative is the “tickets” agency link at the top of the page of this blog (above the header banner). The tickets are more expensive but I understand they are guaranteed.
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