CL game 5: Chelsea - Barca

[Birdy]

Hopefully Raphinha is starting

He won't pal. He just returned

 

[Birdy]

Chelsea's best player and Barca's best player are both out. Makes it even.
Maresca scares me, he has a tactical knack of delivering great performances in big games.

Think the XI picks iteslf (according to Flick's perferences):
-------------Joan
Kounde - Cubarsi - Eric - Balde
--------FDJ---Casado
Yamal-------Fermin------Rashy
------------ Ferran------------

Rapha, Olmo, Lewa will be attacking subs.

I think it is a crime NOT to play ARaujo in this game, especially against someone like Delap,
but Flick has shown many times already this season that his first choice CB pair when everyone is fit is Cuba-Eric

 

[ZenI]

Chelsea's best player and Barca's best player are both out. Makes it even.
Maresca scares me, he has a tactical knack of delivering great performances in big games.

Think the XI picks iteslf (according to Flick's perferences):
-------------Joan
Kounde - Cubarsi - Eric - Balde
--------FDJ---Casado
Yamal-------Fermin------Rashy
------------ Ferran------------

Rapha, Olmo, Lewa will be attacking subs.

I think it is a crime NOT to play ARaujo in this game, especially against someone like Delap,
but Flick has shown many times already this season that his first choice CB pair when everyone is fit is Cuba-Eric

No way Casado starts over Olmo... also, Balde sucks - I'd start Martin.

 

[TheStig]

Joan
Kounde Araujo Cubarsi Balde
FDJ Eric
Yamal Fermin Rashford
Ferran

I don't think Rapha is fit enough to start. Hope Flick doesn't go into this game with FDJ + Fermin and Olmo, that just too risky and it's not worth it. FDJ and Eric double pivot would bring some stability.

 

[Porque]

Joan
Kounde Araujo Cubarsi Balde
FDJ Eric
Yamal Fermin Rashford
Ferran

I don't think Rapha is fit enough to start. Hope Flick doesn't go into this game with FDJ + Fermin and Olmo, that just too risky and it's not worth it. FDJ and Eric double pivot would bring some stability.

It's worth the risk. We will still qualify with a loss for playoffs at worst. Which would be extra CN revenue anyways.

Let's see what this lightweight combination can do against a proper team away.

 

[Loki]

Lewandowski should obviously start. He is in a great form the last 2 games, he got subbed by Flick after 60 minutes and we won't have many chances in London do score, meaning we need the best finish. Doesn't mean he'll score, but the chances will be higher than with Ferran, who is better as a sub anyways.

Raphinha's injury is prone to relapse, the club won't risk anything. He played 10 minutes against Bilbao, meaning he'll get around 20 minutes this time around. I just hope Rashford's flu didn't throw back his fitness too much. Maybe it's better to start Ferran there for a more compact pressing. With Rashford, Lewa and Lamine in front, our pressing will suck.

Other than that, Frenkie will return for Casado and I think Martin earned enough trust to try him out as LCB in a big game.

 

[TheStig]

Maybe Ferran at LW and Lewa ST is really the way to go. Rapha can sub Lewa with 30 minutes to go and Ferran moves to 9.

 

[JohnN]

Maybe Ferran at LW and Lewa ST is really the way to go. Rapha can sub Lewa with 30 minutes to go and Ferran moves to 9.

This. we need Ferrran's legs for pressing. He is more commted than Rashford who could be used later depending on how game evolves if we don't need Rafa.

 

[TrueCule]

Ferran is in great form and imo deserves to start against Chelsea at LW and Lewa at ST. Maresca's setup will be to sit back, absorb pressure and play on the counter attack where they will be very dangerous. Our defence will need to be maximally focused from the start to the end of the match. I believe we can get a favorable result at this tough away stadium. It's going to be another classic, I'm looking forward to the match.

After this match we have 3 easy matches in the CL (Frankfurt, Slavia Prague and Copenhagen) where I expect us to grab 9/9 points. If we get at least a point against Chelsea and win all the remaining matches, we should be in top 8 imo.

 

[Birdy]

No way Casado starts over Olmo... also, Balde sucks - I'd start Martin.

No way Martin starts such demanding game

No way Olmo starts such game as well.

If Casado doesn't start, it will be Eric-FDJ in the pivots with Araujo CB

 

[soul24rage]

My XI

Raphinha------Niño Torres-------Nicole's ex
-----------------Fermin
------------FDJ--------Eric G
Balde----Mardini----Cubarsi------Kounde
------------------Joan G.