FC Barcelona News: 2 January 2020

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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and transfer rumors

Packed January fixture list - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona will potentially play nine games in the space of a month, across LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa

First training session of the year - FC Barcelona
After two days' break, the first team got back to work on Friday at the Ciutat Esportiva with their first session of 2021. All the available players took part which included Leo Messi, back after missing the game against Eibar earlier in the week.

Coutinho to undergo surgery this Saturday - FC Barcelona
Philippe Coutinho will be operated on this Saturday to treat the injury to the lateral meniscus of his left knee. The procedure will be performed by doctor Joan Carles Monllau, under the supervision of the FC Barcelona medical services.

Mino Raiola claims Haaland to Barca is fake news - SPORT
Josep Maria Minguella said that Erling Haaland was going to come to Barcelona if he and Emili Rosaud’s ticket won the Barca election but the Norwegian striker’s agent Mino Raiola did not agree. He spoke to SPORT1 and gave his version of events.

Laporta: Koeman deserves a margin of confidence - SPORT
Joan Laporta, a Barca pre-candidate for the presidential elections, says Ronald Koeman deserves “a margin of confidence” despite the bad start to the season.

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How will Barcelona line up against Huesca?

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Ronald Koeman’s men are back in action on Sunday

Barcelona kick off 2021 on Sunday with a trip to Huesca in La Liga and will want to start off the new year in the right way by taking home all three points.

Captain Lionel Messi is expected to return after missing the draw at home to Eibar, while Barcelona will be without Philippe Coutinho who is set to undergo knee surgery.

Let’s look at how they might line up:

Defense

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Koeman has started with three central defenders in Barca’s last two games but it’s not clear if he will continue with that formation against Huesca.

The Catalan giants have no new injury problems at the back and will be able to welcome left-back Jordi Alba back from a one-match suspension.

Junior Firpo came in for Alba against Eibar and put in one of his better performances in a Barcelona shirt but is likely to drop back down to the bench for this one.

Midfield

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Sergio Busquets has dropped out of the team in Barca’s last couple of games and may have to be content with a place on the bench once again for this once.

Pedri and Frenkie de Jong look like guaranteed starters, while Miralem Pjanic seems to be slowly winning Koeman around after a slow start to his Barcelona career.

Attack

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Messi should go straight back into the team after a brief spell out where he received treatment on an ankle injury over the Christmas break.

Ousmane Dembele could also come into the starting XI after coming off the bench and scoring the equalizer against Eibar.

Martin Braithwaite and Antoine Griezmann will also be hoping to get the nod and will fancy their chances of scoring against a team bottom of the league table.

Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, Lenglet, Alba; Pjanic, De Jong; Dembele, Messi, Pedri, Griezmann.

How do you think Barcelona should line up against Huesca? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!

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Barcelona offer update on Philippe Coutinho

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The Brazilian is set to undergo knee surgery on Saturday

Barcelona have confirmed that Philippe Coutinho will undergo knee surgery on Saturday.

The Brazil international picked up a serious injury late on in Barca’s 1-1 draw against Eibar and is now set for a significant spell on the sidelines.

MEDICAL UPDATE | @Phil_Coutinho will be operated on tomorrow for the injury to his left meniscus. pic.twitter.com/gujDi2iEaQ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 1, 2021

Barcelona are likely to confirm after the operation how much time Coutinho will miss, but it certainly seems as though it will be months before we see the 28-year-old back in action.

The best case scenario for Coutinho is reportedly 2-3 months on the sidelines, but he could be out for up to four months if his damaged mensicus requires suturing, according to AS.

Coutinho is the third Barca player to suffer a serious knee injury this season. Ansu Fati was ruled out for four months in November after surgery, while Gerard Pique is also out and not expected back until March with a knee problem.

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Messi back in training as Barcelona get back to work

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The team play Huesca on Sunday

Lionel Messi was back with the group on Friday as Barcelona returned to training to prepare for Sunday’s game against Huesca.

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The captain has been out of action with an ankle issue but was back at the Ciutat Esportiva on New Year’s Day as scheduled and is expected to be named in the travelling squad.

Ronald Koeman’s side are due to train again in the morning in what is their final session before the trip to Huesca.

New Year.
Back to Work.#ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/avWnUmFfdF

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 1, 2021

It’s not clear if Messi will start at Huesca after having treatment on an ankle issue over the Christmas period, but the injury certainly doesn’t seem to be too serious.

Koeman is likely to offer an update on his captain in tomorrow’s press conference ahead of his team’s first game of 2021 against a Huesca team currently bottom of the table in Spain.

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Alena to leave, Riqui Puig to stay at Barcelona?

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What next for the two youngsters?

It’s been another frustrating season for young midfielders Carles Alena and Riqui Puig at Barcelona with both players having seen precious few chances to impress in the first team so far in 2020-21.

Ronald Koeman did advise the club’s young stars to go out on loan at the start of the season and offers for the duo are likely to come in now the January transfer window has opened.

Alena had a temporary spell with Betis last season and looks the most likely to depart after managing just two substitute appearances in La Liga. A move to Getafe looks to be on the cards after club president Angel Torres admitted his team were keen.

The latest update suggests a deal is “close.” Marca report that Alena “intends to leave” in order to play more regularly. Getafe are in pole position to land the midfielder in a move that would see him link up with Marc Cucurella.

And then there’s Riqui Puig who has managed marginally more minutes than Alena but sadly still looks a long way off convincing Koeman he can be a key part of his team.

Indeed the Dutchman took a bit of a swipe at Puig recently, suggesting the youngster’s lack of game time was because he was not doing enough in training to warrant more minutes.

There have been rumors of interest in Puig but the latest update suggests he’ll stay and could even see his contract, which expires at the end of the season, extended for another two years.

Barcelona - at the moment - are not planning to loan out Riqui Puig in January. And his contract will be extended until June 2023 with clause set to be triggered. He’s not leaving as a free agent in Barça plans. #FCB #Barça @MatteMoretto

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2020

Certainly it would not be a surprise to see Alena and/or Puig leave in January and it would definitely be preferential to see both players playing regularly, even if not in a Barcelona shirt, than sitting on the bench at the Camp Nou week after week.

Koeman’s unwillingness to hand Puig a chance, despite his team’s continued struggles, continues to baffle but so far does not appear to have diminished the youngster’s desire to succeed at the Camp Nou.

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Barcelona set for hectic start to 2021

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A crowded fixture list and presidential elections are on the way

Like most of us Barcelona will have been relieved to see the back of 2020 but head into a new year facing a hectic fixture list and the intriguing prospect of presidential elections at the end of the month.

Barca play five La Liga games in January, four of which are away from home, and will not be back at the Camp Nou until Athletic come to visit on January 31.

Before then Ronald Koeman’s side head to Huesca, Athletic, Granada and Elche.

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In between there’s also a trip to Andalusia for a Spanish Cup semi-final against Real Sociedad on January 13. Win that and Barca get to play again versus either Real Madrid or Athletic.

Barca’s away form has been less then impressive again this season. The team have won two and lost three from six on their travels in La Liga, managing just eight goals along the way.

Three of those game in a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid in Barca’s last away match which offered some encouragement, but unless Koeman’s men can improve their away form quickly it could end up being yet another long month.

Of course the transfer window is open but reinforcements look unlikely due to the club’s financial difficulties and with a new president on the way. The late scheduling of the elections means the new man in charge will have just a week of the window with which to work.

Long-term injury victims Gerard Pique, Ansu Fati, and Philippe Coutinho won’t be back anytime soon, although Sergi Roberto is due back in January after suffering a thigh injury in November.

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And then there’s the elections where Barca will finally appoint a new president to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu. The candidates have been busy promising all sorts in the build-up to the main event and the new man in charge will certainly have plenty to sort out.

Resolving key issues such as whether Lionel Messi will continue after this season, the club’s recruitment plans and Ronald Koeman’s future will all be near the top of the new president’s to-do list which should make for yet more drama at the Camp Nou.

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FC Barcelona News: 1 January 2021

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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and transfer rumors

2021: A lot to look forward to - FC Barcelona
These are still uncertain times for football. We don’t know when fans will be allowed back into stadiums, and we can only hope that there will no further interruptions to the schedule. But if all goes to plan, 2021 is going to be a non-stop year of footy action.

Real Madrid not unduly worried by Barcelona interest in Erling Haaland - Football Espana
Real Madrid are keeping an eye on what’s happening at Barcelona regarding their transfer promises this presidential election, but it’s not something unduly worrying them according to Diario AS.

Liverpool fear missing out on €20m due to Philippe Coutinho injury - Football Espana
Not only does this hurt Barcelona’s on-field options, but it also compromises the completion of a variable included in the deal to bring Coutinho to Barcelona from Liverpool back in 2018. The Carioca signed for the Blaugrana for a fixed fee of €120m with €40m contingent on the fulfilment of several variables.

Barcelona the team most impacted by no fans in stadiums - Football Espana
The Catalan club have played 18 games at the Camp Nou since the outbreak of the pandemic with a home record of 11 wins, four draws and three defeats – damaging form that began under Quique Setien last season and has continued into this campaign with Ronald Koeman, in concerning Barcelona news.

Eric Garcia deal thought to be close for Barcelona - Football Espana
With the January transfer window rapidly approaching, thoughts in Catalonia have understandably turned to the likelihood of Barcelona bringing in some winter reinforcements.

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