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OK, we know that Rakitic plays between the CBs when Busquets does not play. So, this will be a 3-5-2 sort of configuration. Maybe Barca will not score, but they might be able to stop Sevilla from ever advancing the ball past midfield.

Playing for Barca will be a big step up for this guy, there is no reason to think he will be able to just step right into the starting lineup. A year or two of integration/adaptation would be realistic. Vidal, Samper, Puig might be sent away, but not Rakitic, at least not as early as next...

I expect all the primarily defensive positions to have the first-choice starters, except Rakitic subbing for Busquets, and using the Copa keeper. The first-choice defense has been very effective recently. So, I do not fear Sevilla scoring too much. With Messi and Dembele out, who knows what...

With 4 games in 11 days, resting Messi and Busquets tomorrow won't be the last resting of the most-used players. Alba and Arthur are both due for games off, but it's hard to see them being left out tomorrow. Cillessen S. Roberto Pique Lenglet Alba Rakitic Vidal Athur Coutinho...

He's a clear upgrade from Munir. I'm sure he will fit in better than Paco. Of course, those are low bars. Let's hope for more.

He was lagging behind the play near the end of the last game, must be because of that knee. He always hustles so much, for him to miss plays, he must be hurting bad. Boatang might play a fair amount. If Suarez goes down, the attack is likely to suffer a lot.

L. Suarez is clearly struggling with his knee. I think he'll only play about half of the time for the rest of this season. Barca will bring in the best available backup CF before the end of the month, I just hope this emergency hire works out better than Song the CB. Remember when Afellay won...

Dembele responded to bad stretches and being benched by doing superb work as a sub, getting back into the starting lineup. Coutinho is not having a great year, but still perks up with man of the match type of performances sometimes. Vidal was completely out of favor, earned his way back into...

He's developing. I see more of an upside with him than with so many of the others who have been tried in midfield over the last few seasons. There is no reason to persist with a player just because he is young, the opportunities must go only to those who are most likely to thrive on this team...

Good to see this improvement in his play.

Regardless of where he is listed in the lineup, he tends to gravitate towards offensive midfielder. This does not mean he does not contribute, he just is not a real forward for this team. While Dembele is out, Barca will play with two forwards. Coutinho will play almost constantly, because...

Suarez and Messi have outscored every other team in La Liga.

The team played well, this was a good display of depth. Leganes has one of the better defenses in Liga, they were tough to crack until they got tired. The Leganes goal was beautiful, two passes that good will lead to a score against any team. Every Barca player played well. So many members...

Lots of rotation so far in 2019. I expect a fair amount of rotation to continue. The tough ones to rotate will be Alba, Lenglet, and Messi. Resting L. Suarez worked well last game, that should embolden Valverde to do this more often. I'd like to see Pique and Murillo pair up at CB in the...

3-4-3 Pass Map of last night's game Really interesting depiction. It's amazing that Rakitic played so far back. You can see how Vidal just does not move to where he can receive as many passes as you would expect for a Barca player at that position. I thought Dembele and Messi played together...

This game made me feel better about this team. Most importantly, this might have been Dembele's best game yet. He is looking more and more like a Barca player, to go along with all his talent. Although his passing is quite uneven still, he is looking to pass, and he is capable of making the...

Ya tenemos alineación del Barça confirmada. Saca Valverde a Cillessen; Semedo, Lenglet, Murillo, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Vidal, Arthur; Dembélé, Messi y Coutinho. ¡Descanso para Suárez! Good lineup. Rest a few of the older guys who play too much. If the offense is not good in the first half, L...

Some employee of the club has the responsibility of verifying player eligibility. This would not be a board member, nor the manager, nor the president, nor Chumi. Someone in management, probably at a director level or assistant coach, probably below Abidal. Regardless of whether Barca gets DQ'd...

If the game is not played today, I just can't believe that again this year a whole Camp Nou of fans will show up, then no game. Any disqualification should have been ruled no later than yesterday. Liga and Barca are incredibly incompetent with these last-minute game cancellations. This is an...

Practicing winning two legged matchups in Copa helps with CL. Barca is a two games a week club. Some of the players, like Messi, seem to play better twice a week than they do once a week. If Barca gets through this round, I think Valverde will continue to rotate quite a bit in the first Copa...