Espanyol – Barcelona: Derby Preview (Saturday, 4pm EST)
By: Isaiah | November 30th, 2007Well, folks, it’s Derby Day and it’s going to be a hoot, I think. Espanyol are 4th in the table, 2 points behind Barcelona, who are third. Ruh-roh, as they say. This derby doesn’t need much to ignite it, but fighting for a Champions League spot could definitely add some spice to the cauldron, as they don’t say. The big news at the moment is the injury list, which still includes Samuel Eto’o, despite his ability to train over the previous week. Henry, Deco, Gio Dos Santos, Thuram, Eto’o, Sylvinho, Oleguer, and Edmilson will all miss out, which is basically most of a pretty solid team, if you think about it.
This does open the door for Marc Crosas, Alberto Botía, and Víctor Sánchez to join the first team squad, but they almost definitely will not play. The full squad list is:
Valdés, Jorquera, Puyol, Zambrotta, Abidal, Botía, Márquez, Milito, Crosas, Xavi, Iniesta, Touré, Víctor Sánchez, Gudjohnsen, Messi, Bojan, Ronaldinho, and Ezquerro.
The starting lineup I expect to see is:
Valdés, Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Abidal, Toure, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldinho, and Bojan
That just happens to be the squad I said would start against Lyon, but didn’t because Ronaldinho was replaced by Gudjohnsen in the starting eleven. But I think that Ronnie will return because, well, there’s no one else. Guddie gave a couple of non-performances in the last couple of games (though there are those who have commented on how he wasn’t playing flashy positions, but I’d prefer Iniesta to do that), so it’d be nice if he doesn’t start.
Unfortunately, that’s all the time I have for this lame-o preview, but rest assured I’ll be watching and I’ll come back on Sunday or Monday with a killer review. Yeah, you know you’re already looking forward to it…
Official prediction: 1-2 Barcelona. We gonna rock some bluenwhite socks off! Venganza! Revenge for last year’s 2-2 draw! Goals by Messi and Bojan. And someone named Luis Garcia.
The game will be played live on GolTV, 4pm EST, fyi.
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Comments
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I’m worried. Espanyol has always been a thorn, and they’re playing really well right now. I hope the ball movement is there, and that the lads get an early tally. That will help. The longer the match goes on 0-0, the more dangerous things will become.
You’re right. That list of the injured is a pretty awesome lineup. Can’t wait to see them at full strength.
Did everyone see that AS is saying that Rijkaard is saying to his assistants that he’ll be leaving at the end of the season, and that they should fend for themselves? Too funny. Even if it were true, it’s AS, after all.
Posted from
United States
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I think Guddy played instead of Ronnie because that gives us greater ability to actually put pressure on the opposition. Not that I don’t love Ronnie, but he’s not known for hard work, and although Guddy’s not the world’s most technical player, playing him with Xavi and Toure meant that the midfield doesn’t get bossed around by the opposition.
But man, look at that injury list. Hopefully Eto’o will be fit soon, given the way things are going with Henry. And Deco back would be nice too.
Posted from
Australia -
Deco is the missing piece of the puzze. when Deco is there we can move anyone around with ease. Even Iniesta can move further forward
Posted from
Ireland -
yeah guddy does have a great work rate, despite having such a smaller reputation than ronnie, so although i was disappointed to see ronnie on the bench, it may have been for the best. i would love to see ronnie get a goal, just to lift some spirits.
Posted from
Australia -
I suppose you guys have a point about Guddie’s work rate, but I think that if Ronnie put in more effort, like he did during the 05-06 season, he’d easily outmatch enough of the opposition’s defenders, that a midfield triumvirate of Iniesta, Xavi, and Toure would have the run of the midfield, regardless of Deco’s presence or not. Still, Deco would be a fantastic addition to the lineup and he, Iniesta, and Ronaldinho would make a really amazing set of interchangeable places. Rijkaard hasn’t really ever had to make tough decisions about who to place in the starting lineup because there hasn’t been a moment when everyone was fully fit, but that time will come soon and the players are going to have to step up if they want a place in the first team. And that includes Ronnie.
The thing I’m worried about is Rijkaard caving to pressure to put Bojan into too many games. He’s a 17-year old kid and no matter how mature he looks on the field, he’s still 17. He’s an amazing player, but he needs to learn the ropes before he’ll be able to become what Messi has become, which is a star of stars. Being surrounded by players like Eto’o and Henry (whose joy at Bojan’s goal against Recre was touching) can only make him a better player, so long as he gets his ego from Messi and not Eto’o or Deco…
I’m excited for this game, to be perfectly honest. I think we’ll break our away jinx and our Espanyol jinx because the team is realizing how much effort they need to put in. Bojan’s energy is infectious (not that the defense really needed energy, what with Abidal, Milito, and Puyol all playing at 110%) and I can’t imagine this game will have the same lazy, uninterested feelings that the previous few league away matches did…
I still think Ronaldinho gets the start.
Posted from
United States -
I’m wrong about Ronaldinho. Starting lineups:
Espanyol: Kameni; Zabaleta, Jarque, Torrejón, Clemente; Moisés, Angel; Riera, Valdo, Luis García; Tamudo.
FC Barcelona: Valdés; Puyol, Márquez, Milito, Abidal; Touré, Xavi, Gudjohnsen; Iniesta, Messi and Bojan.
Same lineup as the Lyon game except Marquez starts in the middle and Puyol starts on the right instead of Zambrotta. Tamudo is the lone striker at the top of a 4-2-3-1. Espanyol will attempt to clog the midfield as does everyone against Barca…
Posted from
United States -
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL DEL BARCA! GOL DE INIESTA! What a run by Messi! 7th minute! 0-1 Barca!
Posted from
United States -
MESSI IS A HERO! youre right about ronnie and bojan. a few years ago he was always running. now we’re lucky to see a slow jog. and yes, all talent aside, bojan IS just 17. give the kid a break, rijkaard.
Posted from
Australia -
Oh my god how many chances do we need!? Wow, what a second half. That’s football. That’s a game. That’s what I watch for, to be honest. Wow. More later.
Posted from
United States -
we could have easily got a win, but still, that was an amazing game. very even. that has to be one of the best games of the year. a true derby.
Posted from
Australia -
A draw. What a surprise. They really took their foot off the gas in the second half. Gudjohnsen is crap, by the by. This game also shows what happens when you don’t put chances away. Xavi had one, Krkic had two. It should easily have been 3-0 at the half, then it’s a completely different match.
I’m pretty disappointed in the second half showing. You could just feel the equalizer coming, and it didn’t have to be that way.
Messi’s setup of Iniesta was great, then he spent too much time looking for more runs, instead of keeping the ball moving, as I kept screaming at my television. Ultimately it’s another desultory away draw that could have easily been a thrashing.
And I realize I haven’t said it in a while, so here goes:
Sell Ronaldinho. (Ah, that feels better.)
Posted from
United States -
I think I’m okay with the draw, given the performance, especially when taken together with the performance against Lyon.
(And we get Deco and Eto’o back soon, so Bojan will get to have a break.
)Posted from
Australia -
i was reading today that eto’o is further ahead on recovery than deco, and could be in the squad for next game. probably not true, but a sub appearance could be good for him, but he shouldn’t be rushed. god knows we need him.
Posted from
Australia -
Jake, I’ve read the same thing and I’m fairly convinced both will be subs for the Depor game this weekend. We need to ease them both back into the squad, but we also need to give Bojan a break. It might be worth starting without either Bojan or Eto’o on the field, but that depends on Eto’o’s current fitness level. I’m afraid that Bojan will tire too quickly since he’s already played 15 games and I still have faith in Ronaldinho to provide a few goals, especially if Messi plays the way he did against Espaynol. Perhaps my faith is misplaced, I don’t know.
Getting Eto’o and Deco back will be HUGE. Deco’s influence in midfield is currently missed more than anything else, I think. And adding a striker who plays so well with Ronnie and Deco will only make it that much more fun to watch.
El Clasico is ever closer!
Posted from
United States -
true. i think bojan is too young to handle the pressure of being the man to be on instead of ronnie. deco is always instrumental in setting up lots of goals, and seems to play very well with the team. eto’o’s talent just goes without saying.
Posted from
Australia
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