Barça go into tomorrow night’s game at Espanyol (kick off 10pm) without eight first team players. Lilian Thuram today joined Deco, Edmilson, Eto’o, Giovani, Sylvinho, Oleguer and Thierry Henry on the injured list. Frank Rijkaard has been forced to call up two untried youngsters, 18-year-old defender Alberto Botia and 20-year-old midfielder Victor Sanchez.
Espanyol are just two points below Barça in the table so a victory would see them move above Barça into third place. Manager Ernesto Valverde will be hoping to put one over on his old club and extend Espanyol’s nine-match unbeaten run. In that time they have beaten Sevilla, Valencia and Real Madrid and they will certainly be no pushover for Barça. Ivan de la Peña will miss the game but Espanyol will be looking to Raul Tamudo and the excellent Albert Riera to make the difference.
This is a vital game in Barça’s season. Victory will put an end to the questions and doubts about the form away from home, it will also provide a huge dose of confidence for up-and-coming games with Depor, Valencia and Madrid. Defeat on the other hand will bring up all the old criticism regarding Rijkaard and the players’ attitudes. Last season Espanyol crushed Barça 3-1 in the corresponding fixture, in probably the worst Barça performance of the season. Barça will need to show that their desire to win is still intact and will need to match Espanyol for workrate if they want to take anything from this game.
I am confident that the attitude will be good, on Tuesday night there were some positive signs despite some defensive mistakes. It will be interesting to see if Ronaldinho will start and how he will react to being made substitute at Lyon. Let’s hope he can shut a few people up again.
Rijkaard has chosen the following eighteen for the game: Valdés, Jorquera, Zambrotta, Puyol, Marquez, Alberto Botia, Milito, Abidal, Xavi, Toure, Marc Crosas, Victor Sanchez, Iniesta, Gudjohnsen, Messi, Bojan, Ronaldinho and Ezquerro.
Possible Starting Line-up: Valdés; Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Iniesta, Messi, Bojan, Ronaldinho.
My Prediction: Espanyol 1 Barça 2
Please feel free to send your predictions, win free kudos!
11 responses so far ↓
Siim // Nov 30, 2007 at 17:32
I’m afraid there won’t be anything glamorous for Barca.
2-1 to Espanyol I predict.
FCB - Canada // Nov 30, 2007 at 17:58
If Barca decide to show up 3-2.
Otherwise my gut tells me it will end in a tie.
ELOP // Nov 30, 2007 at 18:46
I think barca would lose this one…
espanyol wins 3-2
Nic // Nov 30, 2007 at 21:31
What a bunch of pessimists we are today!
Fofo // Nov 30, 2007 at 21:48
2-1 Espanyol
blaugrana // Nov 30, 2007 at 23:21
no way espanyol 1-2 barca
Nick // Dec 1, 2007 at 12:01
I was going to go for blaugrana’s 1-2, but to be different I’ll go for 1-3 to Barça.
joan amenos // Dec 1, 2007 at 19:14
My prediction is 2-2. Yes, I would want to be more optimistic, but Español has a good team. I agree that the more important is the attitude, because Barça has a lot of stars and more quality.
I hope all the Barça fans have had good negotiations with wives, because the hour of the kick off is uncomfortable in Spain (for families, girlfriends, children…)
Nic // Dec 1, 2007 at 21:18
Ronaldinho’s starting on the bench again! Starting XI: Valdés, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Xavi, Toure, Gudjohnsen, Messi, Bojan, Iniesta.
Nic // Dec 2, 2007 at 0:52
Oh well. No winners today. Better luck next time.
Nick // Dec 2, 2007 at 20:12
Though joan amenos is the only one who predicted a draw
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