Frank Rijkaard has named an 18 man squad for tomorrow evening’s match at Mallorca (kick off 8pm local time). For the first time in this season’s league Edmilson and Oier Olazabal are on the list, there is also a place for Thierry Henry and Gianluca Zambrotta who are both fully fit again.
As expected Ronaldinho is out with a knee problem while Leo Messi and Oleguer are still recovering from injury. Santi Ezquerro has been rewarded for his two goals on Wednesday with a weekend off, and there is also no place for Sylvinho Mendes.
Mallorca will be in a confident mood after beating Osasuna 4-0 in the cup on Wednesday. They are currently 10th in the league on 21 points. Barça’s defence will have to watch out for the dangerous Dani Güiza who is supported well by Ibagaza and the Venezualan star Juan Fernando Arango.
Barça have an excellent recent record in matches at Son Moix, having won in the last five seasons by 0-4, 1-3, 1-3, 0-3 and 1-4. In last season’s match Barça’s goals were scored by Eidur Gudjohnsen (2), Andres Iniesta and Santi Ezquerro.
With Ronaldinho and Messi missing, this will probably be a rare chance to see Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry team up in attack, I wonder who will play in the middle. The problem will be, as against Madrid, who plays on the right side of attack; I expect the job will once again fall to Iniesta. It will also be interesting to see if Zambrotta gets a start which would see Puyol move back to central defence, but I have a feeling Rijkaard will stick with the same back four that started against Madrid.
The 18 named for the match are: Valdés, Oier, Zambrotta, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Thuram, Abidal, Edmilson, Xavi, Toure, Deco, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Giovani, Henry, Eto’o, Bojan.
Possible Starting Lineup: Valdés; Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Deco; Iniesta, Henry, Eto’o.
My Prediction: Mallorca 1 Barça 2
Send in your predictions, the best predictor title is still wide open. (Nobody’s got more than one right all season!!!)
10 responses so far ↓
Nick // Jan 4, 2008 at 19:42
I think it will be a draw - Mallorca 2 Barça 2
Goals from Eto’o and Iniesta
june16_1904 // Jan 5, 2008 at 2:36
I just simulated the match on FIFA 08 for the wii and got a score of 5-0 Barça with a red card for Toure. Sounds optimistic, but I guess that’s the best I can do for a prediction.
e10 // Jan 5, 2008 at 3:17
Let’s hope we see Eto’o and Henry pair up for the first time this season and lets also hope that they gel well.
I think Barca 2-0
Siim // Jan 5, 2008 at 9:51
0-3 for Barca. Great comeback by Henry.
Blaugrana // Jan 5, 2008 at 10:51
Rijkaard shud play a front three of henry left,eto’o middle and bojan on the right with iniesta,toure and xavi controlling the midfield.0-3 to us i can feel this one.
Youssef Gazia // Jan 5, 2008 at 11:58
3-2 to barcelona… i hope
FCB - Canada // Jan 5, 2008 at 14:16
3-0 for Barca.
Nic // Jan 5, 2008 at 19:07
Team just announced: Valdés, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Gudjohnsen; Giovani, Eto’o, Iniesta
Nic // Jan 5, 2008 at 23:23
Second correct prediction of the season for e10!!!
e10 leads our prediction league followed by Chris, Nick and FCB Canada who all have one right. I continue my miserable record of zero correct predictions. Lucky I don’t gamble
nicu // Jan 6, 2008 at 11:55
barcelona-0 mallorca-barca-0-2
real madrid-1 real-zaragosa-3-0
nicu din madaras, romania ,jud. satu- mare, nr. 185
venim din toata tara
sa o sustinem pe steaua
cantam pana ragusim
steaua ce mult te iubi
avem un singur scop
un ideal in viata
sa fim mereu prezenti
sa fim mereu in fata
suflet de invingator inima ros-albastra
luptam pentru culori si pentru echipa noastra.
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