FC Barcelona News: 28 October 2018

Clásico Preview: FC Barcelona v Real Madrid | FC Barcelona
Liga leaders FC Barcelona entertain a Real Madrid team that’s got off to an uncharacteristically poor start to their first season without Cristiano Ronaldo. But Barça also have a key absence to mourn – Leo Messi misses the game with a fractured arm.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo missing Clasico doesn’t dampen game’s appeal - Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde | ESPN
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said the absence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a Clasico for the first time in 11 years takes none of the gloss away from Sunday’s match. Ronaldo left Madrid in the summer to join Juventus, and Messi fractured a bone in his arm last weekend against Sevilla, ruling him out for three weeks.

Real Madrid call up Vinicius Junior for Clasico | Football Espana
Vinicius was initially ruled out of the clash at Camp Nou after he was given a one-match ban for two yellow cards while playing for Madrid Castilla. However, his suspension has since been lifted and he joins Mariano Diaz, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez in Los Blancos’ attack.

‘Real Madrid crisis over if they beat Barcelona’ | Goal
Real Madrid’s crisis will end if they beat Barcelona on Sunday, according to former Spain striker Alvaro Negredo. The ex-Manchester City and Middlesbrough striker played for Real Madrid’s B team between 2005 and 2007, but he failed to make a senior appearance for the club.

Report: La Liga to take FIFA to court over Girona-Barcelona | Football Espana
La Liga will reportedly take FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after it declared Girona-Barcelona could not be played in the US. FIFA President Gianni Infantino ‘denied any permit’ for Miami to host the January 26 fixture, but AS claims Liga counterpart Javier Tebas will go to CAS once FIFA discloses its decision on the matter formally.

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Three talking points ahead of El Clasico

The big match is almost upon us

A confident Barcelona enter the fray once again in El Clasico. It has been a hectic week for the home side with important fixtures and injury to Lionel Messi, but the Blaugranes have coped well. El Clasico is obviously one of the greatest footballing rivalries in the world and easily the most popular fixture of the season. Such a classic rivalry with an interesting league stat: No team has defeated Real Madrid more than Barcelona (70) and the converse holds true as well (72). A win can secure top spot for Barcelona - so let’s have a look at some talking points ahead of the big match.

Barcelona can’t take Real lightly despite their dip in form

After Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and Real’s decision not to sign a marquee attacker, they haven’t been able to score as many goals (a paltry 13 in nine games). But it’s no indication that Real should be taken lightly. With the likes of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema teaming up, a spark can turn into fire in no time. Also, Marcelo has been electric and has scored vital goals to keep Madrid’s hopes of revival alive which puts pressure on the Barca right-back to perform well. Barca have also found it difficult to stop opponents from creating chances and Madrid boast a midfield with the likes of Modric, Isco and Kroos who are exceptional playmakers. With Los Blancos desperately looking to change their fortunes, their hunger to prove their supremacy may prove key. Expect plenty of individual brilliance from the men in white.

Statistics offer clues

The league stats say that Real Madrid have become much more solid during the second half of games and when they gain their solidity, they begin scoring. The majority of their 13 goals have come in the latter stages of the first half and also in the second. On the other hand, Barcelona have conceded the majority of their goals in the second half. So Barcelona must maintain their focus, particularly in the second half if they want to win this fixture. Stats also show that Real Madrid have conceded the majority of their nine goals within the first 40 minutes of matches which indicates that if Barcelona start fast they may be rewarded.

In terms of playing style, Real have lost their penchant for counter-attacks and instead find it difficult to defend against the same tactic. They haven’t scored a goal from a set-piece yet this season in the league which speaks volumes. Barcelona on the other hand, have scored four from set-pieces but their chances have been reduced with Messi out injured. Real attackers are also prone to being caught offside, but the team averages a tally of 18 to 19 shots per game this season (via (whoscored.com) which calls for Pique and Lenglet to give their A game.

Time to move on from Messi against Ronaldo

If you thought the main Clasico attraction was the epic rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, you weren’t completely wrong. However, for the first time in over a decade the world will witness a Clasico without these stars and maybe many football fans are not ready to accept that. Football has moved on and fans should, too. The important thing to be considered is that CR7 has left the club, Real are trying to march forward and they have missed the injured Carvajal, Marcelo and Isco as well as Ronaldo. El Clasico will not be the same without Messi and Ronaldo but nonetheless, it is the Clasico and will be of the highest quality like it has always been before.

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El Clásico: LIVE BLOG!

Follow along as Barça play the biggest game in sports!

IT’S TIME FOR El Clásico!!!!!!!!! The biggest game in sports has arrived for the first time this season as Barcelona and Real Madrid clash at Camp Nou, and this should be a lot of fun. Can Barça win the biggest of big games without Lionel Messi? Will Madrid stop being a mess and play a great game when it counts? Let’s find out the answers as we follow along in a special LIVE BLOG!!!

(Note: the comments will be open only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)

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MATCH INFO

Competition/Round: 2018-19 La Liga, Matchday 10

Date/Time: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 4.15pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 3.15pm BST (UK), 11.15am ET, 8.15am PT (USA), 8.45pm IST (India)

Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez

HOW TO WATCH, STREAM EL CLÁSICO

How to watch on TV: beIN SPORTS (USA & Canada), Eleven Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport 7 (Nigeria), SONY TEN 2 (India), others

How to stream: beIN SPORTS CONNECT (USA & Canada), others

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Matchday Thread Rules

We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:

Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, no swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.

Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!

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Barça squad named for El Clásico

Ernesto Valverde has called up 19 players for Sunday’s big game

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The biggest game of the season so far has arrived as the leaders of La Liga welcome Real Madrid for the first El Clásico of 2018-19 at Camp Nou, and Ernesto Valverde has called upon the following 19 players to be part of the squad for this one*:

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Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-André ter Stegen 13. Jasper Cillessen

Defenders: 2. Nélson Semedo, 3. Gerard Piqué, 15. Clément Lenglet, 18. Jordi Alba, 36. Chumi

Midfielders: 4. Ivan Rakitic, 5. Sergio Busquets, 6. Denis Suarez, 7. Philippe Coutinho, 8. Arthur, 12. Rafinha, 20. Sergi Roberto, 22. Arturo Vidal

Forwards: 9. Luis Suárez, 11. Ousmane Dembélé, 14. Malcom, 19. Munir

*Because only 18 players can be in uniform, one of these 19 will be cut from the final squad. The favorites: Denis, Malcom, Chumi.

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Lionel Messi, Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen miss out with injury once again, while Carles Aleñá and Sergi Samper are not in the squad per the manager’s choice.

Predicted starting XI (4-3-3):

Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Rafinha, Suárez, Coutinho

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The game kicks off at 4.15pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 3.15pm BST (UK), 11.15am ET, 8.15am PT (USA), 8.45pm IST (India), and you can join us to follow and comment all the action.

VISCA EL BARÇA!!!

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Barça vs Madrid: Preview

Barça look to complete a dream week with a win in El Clásico

FC Barcelona (1st, 18pts) vs Real Madrid (8th, 14pts)*

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*Positions and points at the time of writing on Saturday

Competition/Round: 2018-19 La Liga, Matchday 10

Barcelona Outs and Doubts: Lionel Messi, Samuel Umtiti, Thomas Vermaelen, Sergi Samper, Carles Aleñá (out)

Real Madrid Outs and Doubts: Daniel Carvajal (out)

Date/Time: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 4.15pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 3.15pm BST (UK), 11.15am ET, 8.15am PT (USA), 8.45pm IST (India)

Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez

How to watch on TV: beIN SPORTS (USA & Canada), Eleven Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport 7 (Nigeria), SONY TEN 2 (India), others

How to stream: beIN SPORTS CONNECT (USA & Canada), others

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El Clásico is here!!!! The best and most famous rivalry in the best and most famous sport in the world is renewed this Sunday at the greatest stadium in sports. Regardless of form, stars missing, coaches under pressure, this is a crazy good game to watch. It always has been, it always will be. Including on Sunday.

This will be the first Clásico without both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch for a very long time, but it’s still Barça vs Madrid. Catalonia vs. Capital. The two biggest clubs in the sport fighting for domestic and European supremacy. This has all the ingredients of a classic, and every game seems to be that in recent times.

This time, though, it’s a little bit hard to expect a true classic. Barça will be without the injured Messi, and Julen Lopetegui’s Real Madrid are just a mess. But we do know both teams will turn up and look to be at their absolute peak. We’ll find out who can reach it, and who can win the biggest of big games. Man, this will be fun!

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POSSIBLE LINEUPS

Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Rafinha, Suárez, Coutinho

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Nacho, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Asensio

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PREDICTION

Barça looked good without Messi against Inter Milan, and they also beat Sevilla without 60 minutes of Leo. If they can replicate those performances against this strange Madrid team, they’ll win at home: 3-1 Barça.

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Pep gives his Clasico verdict

He’s expecting a special game at the Camp Nou

Pep Guardiola has offered his view on Sunday’s Clasico at the Camp Nou and is expecting a tasty match between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The former Barca boss reckons neither team is favourite for the game, but he does think home advantage could help his former club.

“Madrid started the season well,” he said. “They’ve fallen off recently, but they’ll still be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“Spanish football has been lucky enough to enjoy two incredible players [Ronaldo and Messi] for the past decade, and it’s helped Spanish football grow.

“A derby like this is special, there are no favourites. In any case, Barcelona are playing at home and that always carries a weight.

“With or without Ronaldo, Real Madrid are a top team, but they’ve lost a lot, 50 or 60 goals.

“He’s an incredible player, not only for his goals but also his assists at important moments. He’s irreplaceable.”

Source | Football Espana

That’s what Pep thinks, but now it’s time to hear from you. Let us know your predictions (scores, red cards!) for tomorrow’s game in the comments below.

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Suarez talks El Clasico: ‘It’s time to win’

The Barcelona striker has been talking Real Madrid

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has been talking about Sunday’s El Clasico with Real Madrid and underlined just how determined the team are to win.

Victory for Ernesto Valverde’s side would hand Real Madrid a fourth La Liga defeat of the season already and see them move seven points clear of their rivals.

Suarez spoke about the intensity of the matches with Los Blancos and how form goes out of the window in such a big game.

“El Clasico is always El Clasico. Look at El Clasico last year, we were practically champions already but the intensity was the same as in any Clasico. It’s like that.

“You’re always up for it. You do have to look at the teams’ most recent results but the Clasico is the Clasico and nobody thinks about the other team’s morale or if they’ve been playing badly or better.

“We have to play our game, take our approach, and not worry what players will be there for the opposition, in this case Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Obviously it’s what we want for the fans and ourselves, to stay top of the Liga. I think it’s time to win and hopefully that time is now.”

Source | FC Barcelona

With Lionel Messi missing due to injury there will be added pressure on Suarez to supply the goals on Sunday.

The Uruguayan has a pretty good Clasico record, with six goals in his last 10 outings against Real Madrid.

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