La Liga | Round 12: Cadiz - FC Barcelona 2-1

Won't be an easy game. Cadiz don't have many recognizable players (except a 35 years old Negredo) so people will underestimate them but make no mistake they are a good team. Alvaro Cervera knows what he's doing and most of the players were already in a side that was promoted last season so they've played together for a while. They fit that profile of the teams we usually struggle against by defending very deep eventhough they don't commit as many fouls as Getafe for example. They also don't care about the ball so we could have 75-80% of possesion but they can be very dangerous with a quick transition forward mostly through both wings so Dest/Alba and whoever will play as wingers will need to track back on those few occasions they'll go forward.

We should still win but we'll need to actually do something with all the possesion we'll get and not just pass the ball around. Play faster and move around more. It's important to score first (and soon if possible) as they don't have quality to attack consistently (as long as we don't give them away easy chances) so they won't do that except for maybe 5-10 minutes but if they score first we're in for a very long day.

Messi983 said:

Won't be an easy game. Cadiz don't have many recognizable players (except a 35 years old Negredo) so people will underestimate them but make no mistake they are a good team.

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Don't forget ex Barca B player Choco Lozano who gave Cadiz the 0-1 victory against Madrid.

Could easily be an Alaves type game with Cadiz parking a double-decker bus. An early goal is key. If we don't score in the first half, there is an 80% chance (I conjured this number out of my ass like BBZ) this ends in a draw. If we concede first, we might even lose.

Agreed. They will "pull the Mou tactics".
If there is no early goal this could even end in a counter and disaster

Must win.

If us and all the teams above win all games in hand (unlikely) it would put us 3rd/4th and on the way back to battle for the title.

Nice to see Araujo back, hope he'll get some minutes in 2nd half.

Black and gold kits here we go

Very predictable XI, right? Messi and Coutinho rested so guaranteed to start.
Griezmann and Braithwaite on fire, can't be benched.
Pedri to be subbed on first.

Pedri will start, wouldn't surprise me if he'd again play alongside FDJ.

Messi983 said:

Pedri will start, wouldn't surprise me if he'd again play alongside FDJ.

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But then why was Busi subbed at half time?

Messi983 said:

Pedri will start, wouldn't surprise me if he'd again play alongside FDJ.

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Would be very surprised if it wasn't FDJ-Busi or FDJ-Pjanic there to be honest.

I think this will be the lineup

MATS---Dest, Mingueza, Lenglet, Alba---Pedri, DJ---Messi, Griezmann, Coutinho---Goat

Andresito said:

Black and gold kits here we go

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Got 2 of "stadium LaL" versions on 30% cybermonday deal.

The kits are worthy.