A preview of Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg clash with Valencia CF at the Camp Nou
FC Barcelona will be hoping to their recent run of good form continues into February tomorrow, as they get set to play their first game of the month against Gary Neville’s struggling Valencia CF at the Camp Nou. Fate conspired to pit these two Spanish giants against each other in the semi-finals of this season’s Copa del Rey in what should be a mouth-watering clash, although a cursory glance at the form guide would suggest this might not be the contest that many are expecting.
After getting off to an inauspicious start to 2016 with a goalless draw against city rivals, RCD Espanyol, the Blaugrana have gone on to win each of their last eight matches, averaging over three goals a game and just a shade over half a goal conceded. Contrast that against Valencia’s record under Gary Neville, who took over at the start of December, and well it’s not looking like Los Che have many reasons to be confident.
With just four wins in his first 14 matches, Neville has hardly been an improvement upon Nuno Espirito Santo, especially given that Valencia are yet to win in La Liga with him on the touchline. On the plus side, Neville will point out that he boasts a good record in the Copa del Rey, but forgive me if I’m not too concerned about the wins he has managed against Barakaldo, Granada and Las Palmas.
Early signs have suggested that Neville is simply out of his depth in Spain; whether it’s a lack of tactical acumen or simply the language and cultural barriers that are hindering the Mancunian in his first foray into management remains to be seen – but a trip to the Camp Nou is unlikely to be the cure for what ails him.
In fact, the juxtaposition of Neville against Luis Enrique makes for humorous reading if you’re a Barcelona fan. Tomorrow will represent Enrique’s 99th official match in charge of the Blaugrana; he’s won 78 of his 98 fixtures to date, including 14 of 15 in the Copa del Rey. Every knockout tie that we’ve played under Enrique has been won by a two-goal margin over the two legs as well; so how are you feeling Valencia?
TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
No new injury concerns, no suspensions – it’s pretty much been a perfect build-up for Luis Enrique who only has the positive kind of selection dilemmas ahead of kick-off tomorrow. With a weekend trip to struggling Levante UD on the horizon, there’s not really much need to rotate either which means that Enrique is free to do what he wants to do, selection-wise.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start in goal, and the fearsome trident of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez will lead the line, but everything in-between will be something of a mystery. We can make our best guesses though, and to start it off I think that Enrique will rotate a little in defense to bring in Aleix Vidal ahead of Dani Alves. I suspect that the remainder of the backline will remain unchanged, with any further changes likely to follow at the weekend against Levante.
In midfield, Sergio Busquets will start at pivote and I think that we will see a start for Sergi Roberto and Arda Turan in the two advanced roles. It would be a unique pairing, and one that I’d like Enrique to explore a little bit if he can; purely because both are hard-working, versatile and would likely provide an interesting match-up for the Valencia engine room. Could you outrun and outwork these guys? I’d like to see them try – even though chances are that only one of them gets the start tomorrow.
VALENCIA
Neville (or was it Jorge Mendes?) made a couple of moves to bolster the Valencia squad as the deadline came and go. In came Guilherme Siqueira on loan from Atletico Madrid, as did Denis Cheryshev from the white side of the capital. Ironically, while the Russian played earlier in this season’s Copa del Rey for Real Madrid, he remains eligible to play tomorrow because of the hilarious, catastrophic ramifications it had for Los Blancos.
Cheryshev as you might remember was suspended for Real’s win over Cadiz, so while he played and scored, he technically shouldn’t have and per the records, was disqualified alongside Real. Therefore as he theoretically couldn’t and shouldn’t have played that game, he isn’t cup-tied. It’s quite ironic that he of all people made it to the semi-finals while the rest of the Real squad will have to watch from home, but I’m sure Florentino Perez doesn’t see the humour in the situation.
Whatever, he might not play anyway, as Neville has named a 21 man squad for tomorrow’s match. There’s no room for Paco Alcacer, who remains sidelined through injury, while Neville might be wise to learn from the last match these two played against each other and not start Ruben Vezo at right-back against Neymar.
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona: WWWWWW
Valencia: WDDDWL
LAST MEETING
Valencia CF 1-1 FC Barcelona – 5th December 2015 – La Liga
With an interim coach in charge and Neville watching on from the stands, Valencia secured a surprise point against the reigning champions courtesy of a late goal from Santi Mina.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
Barcelona (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Vidal, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Arda; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Valencia (4-3-3): Ryan; Barragan, Mustafi, Santos, Gaya; Gomes, Danilo, Parejo; Rodrigo, Negredo, Piatti
MATCH PREDICTION
Barcelona haven’t lost in 28 games, and I don’t think tomorrow will see that streak end. We will win, and win by at least a couple of goals. 4-0 to the home team.
from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/1QYVyNN
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق