La Liga Round 18: FC Barcelona vs Espanyol

Date: Sunday, 01/06/2013 19:00

Competition: League

Stadium: Camp Nou

Referee: Gil Manzano

Cesc Fabregas, Adriano and Alex Song have all been declared fit for the catalan derby.
Tito returns to training after cancer scare...

------------Valdes--------------
Alves--Pique--Mascherano--Alba-
------------Busquests-----------
------Xavi-------------Iniesta---
---Pedro-------Messi-----Villa---

Fab may start though after returning to injury, its best for him, Adriano and Song to stay on the bench. A strong line up that should win against Espanyol.

Will Villa play? I doubt it...

Maybe with the recent speculation Tito will start Villa to cool things down despite whether they are true or not.

It would be nice, but Tito has been proving that he is so much no-nonsense and little diplomatic... that perhaps he will bench him again.

Our poor ostracized one.

Statistically, Espanyol are the dirtiest team in Europe I believe. Commit the most fouls and I think have the most cards.

Gil Manzano will be important im sure.

Pedro had a wonderful first half, although first goal was luck I think it gave him much needed confidence
second goal was amazing pass from the buscuit

Dat pass, Bussi is slowly entering my list of favorite players that i would consider buying a shirt with his name. I just hope he does not spoil all that with a shameful dive.

That wasn't a penalty, otherwise Barcelona have been walking on Espanyol in the derbi.

Donuts wrote:Pedro had a wonderful first half, although first goal was luck I think it gave him much needed confidence
second goal was amazing pass from the buscuit

He's still got it, that Pedro

We're destroying the scum.

Hahahahahaha

Alexjanosik with an amazing pass for that 2nd Pedro goal.

wrongly dissallowed ofside goal for us and a non penalty for them.
other than that we are on fire.
Cesc being great too

Valdes 1vs1
Messi free cick

and a closing comment... Dani Alves has so many missplaced crosses it's painful

WHat were the crowd chanting when Alexis had the ball?

Didn't watch the second half. Boring match to be fair. Barcelona were just too good for Espanyol.

Iniesta's dribbles and touches

Thiago and Iniesta link up is amazing Alves had one of his worst games or atleast I have ever seen from him in a Barcelona shirt.

How can anybody say that was boring? I don't care whether Barca are playing Real Madrid or Getafe when we are winning 5 - 0.The football is always good to watch,some of the football today spectacular.Some of those flicks of Iniesta,Alba etc Pass of Busquets

Cesc's pass to Iniest in the first half

worms wrote:How can anybody say that was boring? I don't care whether Barca are playing Real Madrid or Getafe when we are winning 5 - 0.The football is always good to watch,some of the football today spectacular.Some of those flicks of Iniesta,Alba etc Pass of Busquets

Indeed, sometimes when Barca score 4 goals in the first half they tend to lower their level in the 2nd half but not today! The only reason why Barca didnt score more today was because of the linesmen, but otherwise some of the football that was played at times

Ehhh I agree Barcelona will always be attractive just for how they play but the second half I can understand if the neutral fans wouldn't appreciate it as much as us
We did take the foot off the accelerator, our only real chance was pedros third which should of counted, but overall that's the best match we could ask for the game was over and we could take it easy and play thiago villa and sanchez.

Unbelievable piece of football. I don't think anyone had a bad game... Alves misplaced a few crosses but his link up play with everyone was simply superb. Iniesta and Fab. Thiago and Iniesta. Villa and Alba. Iniesta and Alba. Alves and Messi. All these link uplays were beautiful to watch. Iniesta really impressed me. Plays in the middle after Fab goes off and plays so well. Dribble after dribble beati player after player. Joy to watch. Dat pass from Busi

Donuts wrote:Thiago and Iniesta link up is amazing Alves had one of his worst games or atleast I have ever seen from him in a Barcelona shirt.

Not even close. Alves had an ok game. Only thing he did wrong was crossing (all of them bar one). However, he was defensively solid and showed intensity, which were his failures at the terrible beginning of the season.

Great game from everyone, I'm starting to like iniesta on the wing if alba plays, though it's to be seen if it will work in big games (didn't work vs Madrid).

Dont understand the Alves criticism.

He had a normal game, nothing special and nothing bad. Not good crosses..but since when did he ever have that?

I actually think he showed improvement.
However, Alves did have a good cross at Seville and his first season with us. Why should he lose it? perhaps he doesn't train it? Watch Alba losing his cross then...