The return of Samuel Eto’o has meant Frank Rijkaard has left Bojan Krkic out of the 18-man squad for tomorrow night’s Champions League match at Celtic Park. Bojan will have just one more chance in the return game in two weeks’ time to become the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history. The good news is that for the first time in the entire season Barça are in a position to put out a full strength team.
In my article from three weeks ago, Can Barça win the Champions League I talked about nine players (Valdés, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Toure, Iniesta, Messi and Eto’o) as being in good enough on this season’s form to be compared with any of the top players in Europe. They are all fit to play tomorrow. Admittedly, Messi, Iniesta and Abidal have not been at their best in the last few weeks, but against that Milito and Valdes are playing superbly. Hopefully Eto’o and Toure can fit straight back into the team after their absences due to the African Cup.
It has been reported that in Barça’s last training session before leaving for Scotland Frank Rijkaard experimented with a 4-4-2 formation without Leo Messi in the team. It might give Messi a message that he needs to pull his socks up a bit as we don’t want another one going down the Ronaldinho road. Personally, I think he may just need a goal as he hasn’t scored since November. I must say I will be very surprised if Messi doesn’t start, and I don’t think the last 16 of the Champions League is the time to start trying out new things. Hopefully it is just an attempt to put doubts into Celtic manager Gordon Strachan’s mind, but I really see no need for Barça to play these games as they tend to only confuse our own players more. Remember before the Madrid game, Barça trained with Ronaldinho and Deco playing with the reserves but in the end they were both picked in the starting XI. If Rijkaard does go for 4-4-2, it will be fascinating to see how Eto’o and Henry pair up. In midfield we could see Xavi-Toure-Deco-Iniesta although I would quite like to see Gudjohnsen given another chance as he seems to have been forgotten in recent games. The defence will almost certainly be the same as for the Zaragoza match with Puyol continuing at right-back. The only possible surprise would be a return to the team for Sylvinho in place of Abidal, or Thuram in place of Marquez.
I wrote a bit about Celtic in yesterday’s article Can Celtic upset Barça? and now it just remains to be seen whether Strachan throws in a surprise. He could always choose to play striker Georgious Samaras instead of the big Dutchman Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink as Samaras is more mobile and difficult to mark, or he could even adopt a 4-5-1 formation with Scott McDonald as a lone striker and a midfield five of Nakamura-Hartley-Donati-Robson-McGeady. Tomorrow we will find out what both managers have up their sleeves; let’s hope the game lives up to its expectations as I’m getting a bit worried that it may turn into a packed midfield battle with few chances at either end. Frank Rijkaard is suspended for the game and will not be allowed to communicate with the team or any of his assistants throughout the match. Celtic are going to be really tough on their own pitch but I just have a feeling that things are going to go Barça’s way.
Barça’s squad for the game: Valdés, Pinto, Puyol, Marquez, Thuram, Milito, Abidal, Sylvinho, Xavi, Toure, Gudjohnsen, Deco, Iniesta, Giovani, Messi, Eto’o, Henry, Ronaldinho.
Possible starting lineups:
Celtic: Boruc; Caddis, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Hartley, Donati, McGeady; McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Barça: Valdés; Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal; Gudjohnsen, Toure, Iniesta; Messi, Eto’o, Henry.
My Prediction: Celtic 0 Barça 1
All predictions sent in the comments section of yesterday’s article will be included in our who is the best predicton maker competition. Huge chunks of kudos to be won.
24 responses so far ↓
Youssef Gazia // Feb 19, 2008 at 16:47
1-2 Barca…
Visca el Barca…
Hail Hail…
Blaugrana // Feb 19, 2008 at 17:03
Celtic 2-3 barcelona eto’o goal fest, i don’t think bojan’s gona break the record
Andybhoy // Feb 19, 2008 at 18:28
As a Celtic fan, I have been reading your comments with interest over the past few weeks. I will be at the game tomorrow night and look forward to seeing a great match between two famous teams. To be honest, I had hoped that Barca may be missing some of the star players but Eto’o and Puyol both made a quick recovery. My feeling is that Celtic will not want to lose an early goal and will defend and try to keep the ball. If it is level at half time, you will see Celtic being more attack minded. I look forward to seeing Los quatro fantasticos !! tomorrow night.
ulizinho // Feb 19, 2008 at 19:40
I hope that match in Glasgow will be much more entertaining than the match in the Ibrox Stadium on october 23rd.
Messi // Feb 19, 2008 at 20:11
My Prediction: 0-3
Merv // Feb 19, 2008 at 20:25
Ooooh 4-4-2? I’m excited already. I will agree that I don’t know if the CL is the best place to start tinkering with the formation, however I think it would be interesting to see!
I’ll be an optimist and predict 2-1 in favor of Barca. If we can just get the first goal I think it would open Celtic up for a second. I guess it depends on their tactics of keeping 10 men behind the ball and if they are willing to continue that after conceding a goal. Given it’s their home advantage I’ll be nice and say they’ll even score. lol
Can’t wait until tomorrow!!
Dr.Osmo // Feb 19, 2008 at 21:36
Barça: Valdés; Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal; Gudjohnsen, Toure, Iniesta; Messi, Eto’o, Henry
what !!!
Xavi, Deco ???
Nick // Feb 20, 2008 at 0:47
My prediction
1-3
Rafael // Feb 20, 2008 at 4:49
Barca 2 - 1 Celtic.
I think R10 and Messi of the bench will be amazing.
Barca has a full squad now. No excuses!
Varughese // Feb 20, 2008 at 5:14
A 4-4-2 formation may be a good try. But i still insist keep deco out of starting eleven. He might have created the henry goal, but his passing now is pathetic. I have said earlier Messi needs to be given a small wake up call and if he starts in bench thats good for team. I expect Ronnie to get more time this match as he looked pretty good against Zaragoza. A 4-4-2 needs a player like Gudjonsen in middle who is not quick but clever to provide the space. The player to watch out is Nakamura and McGeady.
FCB - Canada // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:19
1-0 Barca! Yes we can!
pep // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:38
Is that the line-up you hope to see, Nic, or the one you think to see? Cause I really can’t see Gudjohnsen start all of sudden. Although I might remember he started against Rangers too (and did quite good)…
And indeed, this really isn’t the time for experimenting. If you want to play with Touré, Deco, Xavi and Iniesta, you can perfectly keep the 4-3-3 and put Iniesta at the left (he played that position several times this season and did well). And this games are really messi games, so if he’s totally fit, Messi just should start. Henry or Eto’o up front, that would be my doubt. With Eto’o, if recovered, being my favourite for that spot.
A one goal win, or a draw (except 0-0), would be a great result.
Cruijff to Ajax (well, kind of). More on my blog.
Nic // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:13
The lineup I put is more an attempt to get inside Rijkaard’s head. Of course it is purely guesswork. Today’s papers have all gone for the same defence but many changes in midfield and forwards.
El Sport have gone with 4-4-2
Xavi-Toure-Gudjohnsen-Iniesta
—–Eto’o—-Henry———–
El Mundo Deportivo go 4-3-3
–Xavi—-Toure—Deco—–
-Messi–Eto’o or Henry–Iniesta
Marca go with-
–Deco–Toure–Iniesta–
–Messi–Eto’o–Henry–
My choice would depend on Eto’o’s fitness but if he is ok I’d go with:
–Xavi—Toure—Gudjohnsen–
–Messi—Eto’o—-Iniesta—
Vorksi // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:27
Hmmmm i reckon it’ll be a tight game. Barca may play more on the defensive side and we won’t want to concede. 0-0 or 1-1?
Dr.Osmo // Feb 20, 2008 at 13:36
goal.com
——————————-Valdes—————————
——————–R.Marquez—–G.Milito——————-
–Puyol——————————————–Abidal——
—————————-Yaya Toure————————
——————-Xavi——————-Deco—————-
——Messi—————T.Henry————–Eto’o——–
Speeka // Feb 20, 2008 at 13:50
0-2.
Titi186 // Feb 20, 2008 at 15:10
Nic I know I have a baised opinion toward Henry but you seem to have one against hime sometimes. In your ratings he scores a goal and gets rated the same as Messi who is anonomous and gives the ball away the whole game which bewilders me it really does.
If barca fans have learnt one thing about Henry is that when he gets a chance he scores. Derco gave him one chance the whole game, brilliant control and cool finish. In barca Henry doesnt get service like he would in Arsenal as Barcas team isnt based around just him (and rightfully so in a 4-3-3). In a 4-4-2 I think because the play will centered around TH14 and E9 he should have more service and score more,; and Messi needs a rest he carried barca for too many early season games so give him a break.
Barca 2-0 tonight mark it down,
Nic // Feb 20, 2008 at 15:26
Titi- I try to base my ratings on much more than just who scored the goal or who gave the pass for the goal. If you are talking about the Zaragoza game Henry did very little apart from his goal when his “brilliant control” was with his arm. I try very hard not to be biased but I admit I think Henry’s signing was a mistake and he has been a bit disappointing. Where’s the old va-va-voom?
As for resting Messi, fine. But not today for heaven’s sake. We have a home game with Levante on Sunday if you want to rest players.
Hilal // Feb 20, 2008 at 15:34
The only good reason Rijkaard would have not to play Messi is if he decides to play 4-4-2. With Eto’o and Henry up front you want players with a bit more strength and height in the midfield because Celtic are going to be VERY aggressive. Yaya, Xavi, Guddy and Iniesta with Eto’o and Henry up front IF he goes for 4-4-2. Otherwise if he sticks to 4-3-3 then i dont see how he can bench Messi. IF Rijkaard decides to play Deco in this game I think I will kill my tv. I am already shocked at how much play time he has given him considering his performances so far this season.
pep // Feb 20, 2008 at 15:35
Quick one on Henry: he’s just not a player for a 4-3-3, the guy needs space and you just don’t get that playing for this team. Although it has to be said that (despite of not playing well at all) he scores his goals and in the end that’s what we ask. But maybe from Henry we can ask something more.
Too late but still: we should have got Klose to be the substitute of Eto’o (half the price).
jonny // Feb 20, 2008 at 17:08
A tuff game for Celtic tonight I think, and with Celtic only 7/2 on my sports betting site bet365, I shows how hard a task they have in store. The bookie is rarely wrong.
Nic // Feb 20, 2008 at 19:47
Team announced:
Valdés, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Deco, Toure, Iniesta, Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho
So Eto’o not ready for 90 minutes
Dr.Osmo // Feb 20, 2008 at 20:31
——————————-VALDES——————————-
———————–MARQUEZ–MILITO————————–
–PUYOL————————————————–ABIDAL–
—————————YAYA TOURE—————————–
—————–DECO——————-INIESTA——————-
—MESSI——————HENRY——————-RONALDINHO-
Dr.Osmo // Feb 20, 2008 at 22:47
Celtic 2-3 Barcelona
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (15′) - Barry Robson (37′)
Lionel Andrés Messi (18′) - Thierry Henry (53′) - Lionel Andrés Messi (78′)
Leave a Comment