Preview: Barca v Mallorca, noon CT, GolTV; a.k.a. “It’s rest tiiiime,” a.k.a. “Two down, one to go.”

By: Kevin | May 16th, 2009

So. Isaiah is in Chicago, probably still at roller derby, where I left him for some much-needed beauty sleep.

And then it occurred to me: If he’s in Chicago, and I’m beauty sleeping, who, oh who, would write up the match preview?

Now I have to be all ugly and stuff, because I’m staying up late to do this. I hope you’re all happy.

And this won’t be much of a preview, because (everybody, repeat after me) this match doesn’t matter. I mean it does for those stat-hungry folks, right? We’re 5 goals away from setting a Liga record for scoring ‘em. But we won’t be able to crack the astounding 100-point barrier, though for a while it looked as if we would. Ah, those pesky stumbles.

But still, this match doesn’t matter, thanks to Villarreal handing the EE their just desserts. Would we all have rather have clinched it last week, when the Camp Nou would have been lifted from its moorings by the howling? Absolutely. Everybody except the Barcelona sanitation workers were hoping for such a thing, but it wasn’t to be.

And now it is. The Double. Copa and Liga, with Champions League next up, on May 27th.

First, however, there is the matter of Mallorca. They’re 10th in the table, and we have them at their (sharp-eyed Vj) home. But they about as much to play for at this point as we do, since they’re far from the relegation zone and also far from a European spot. There’s that pride business I suppose, if that stuff matters. But does it really, to professional athletes just trying to make it to the end of the season whole and healthy?

Good question.

Here’s the squad list, with the players who I don’t think should be anywhere near the pitch in bold: Valdes, Pinto, Oier (backup keeper from B), Alves, Puyol, Pique, Caceres, Abidal, Sylvinho, Xavi, Victor Sanchez, The Yaya, Busquets, Keita, Hleb, Gudjohnsen, Pedro!!!, Krkic, Messi, Eto’o.

Which means my starting XI would be: Pinto, Alves, Caceres, Victor Sanchez, Sylvinho, Keita, Busquets, Hleb, Gudjohnsen, Pedro!!!, Krkic.

Yes, we will need to get some pitch time for the big boys, so that they aren’t all stale for the Champions League final. So run them out for about a half-hour in the next match, them wrap ‘em in cotton wool and return them all to the prayer vigil over Thierry Henry’s knee.

Oh. Did I mention that WE ARE CHAMPIONS??!!

Whew.

Just checking.

Prediction? I predict that there will be a match played, and that I hope we will win. A lot depends on how serious Mallorca is.

Okay. 2-1 good guys. Happy now?

To make yourselves even happier, gaze in wonder at the Liga trophy, which is about to return to its rightful resting place, in the bosom of the Camp Nou.

Mmmm!

Some Related Barcelona Posts:

Category: Barcelona, La Liga, Lineups, Preview

« Barca 4, Athletic Club Bilbao 1, a.k.a. “One down, two to go.” | Home | Match comments post, Malloca v The Double Boys, noon CT, GolTV »

LIL CHARLIE

....!!!
Colin

Congrats (again) to Pep and the lads on a win well earned! As proud as we all are of the results, we have to be proud of the way the team worked to achieve them.

Gai is a really exciting talent, another great downhill runner. Amazing the way Barca keeps developing talent, and talent that fits the system perfectly. The present is great, the future is bright.
OhYes

They're offering Henry, which first of all makes me very sad because I love him, but that makes it more believable. Have you seen how old their players are? Haha.

But the thought of buying Pato.. ahh. He's so great.
gv

could this be true? guardiola wanting pato?

http://fcbtransfers.blogspot.c...
OhYes

Yay Jeffren! I like that guy, he's great.
Kxevin

So true, Hector. It's why I think the club is making sure that Assulin understands our desires, and why he will start pre-season with the A team, etc.

Although I've always seen more Messi than Ronaldinho in him. Either way, I'm excited.
Hector

Why such a man crush on Gai?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Keep in mind he was a freakin 16 year old playing against mostly 18-25 year old guys in most of these clips. Yeah, I'm excited. Tell me you don't see a little Ronaldinho (admittedly his idol along with Messi) in his style.
Kxevin

Oh, we can probably rule out Tevez:

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news...

Chief among his grievances, if we trust press reports (and we all know how dodgy journalists are :D ), is that he wasn't first-team. Which of course, makes you wonder how he'd be coming here and not being first team, right?
Kxevin

Whoops. That should have read at THEIR home, Vj. Sharp eye.

Looks like Xavi, The Yaya, Messi, Pique and Pinto (slight knock) will all be rested. Puyol and Eto'o are in the squad, in the case of Eto'o, probably to try to shake his funk.

Oh, and the celebrations were great, then turned ugly in the wee hours of the morning (as most things do), according to reports. A whole passel of arrests, etc. You know, the usual post-celebration hijinks.

Bummer.

@Josh. Ssssssh! Sylvinho might hear you. He's been turning back the clock with his performances this season, and probably won't be in the colors next season. Let's help him leave it all on the pitch. :D
Hector

Yeah, I'm disappointed Botia in particular didn't make this list (although he'll probably be in one if not the next two lists). I'm wondering if Gai is being held off because of the passport issue that is due to be resolved in the summer.... Hmm... If he can play, I'd love to see him get some first team action. The Barca B games I've seen him play, he's been a man among boys despite being the youngest player in Barca B alongside Thiago.
Ramzi

I was hoping to see Córcoles actually. One of the most Promising Barcelona Youth defenders. So as Botía.
Josh

Is anyone else worried about Sylvinho marking Ronaldo in the final???
jordi

OMG, Thiago, ive been waiting for this for years .
Ciaran

I want Fernando Torres this summer.
That is all
Hector

The new full list: Valdes, Oier (backup keeper from B), Alves, Caceres, Abidal, Sylvinho, Victor Sanchez, Keita, Hleb, Gudjohnsen, Pedro!!!, Krkic, Eto’o, Xavi Torres, Abraham, Thiago, Jeffren, and Fontás

How awesome would this be:

Alves-----Cáceres-------VicSan--------Abidal
--------------Xavi Torres-------------------
---------Thiago--------------Guddy----------
PEDRO!!---------Bojan-----------------Jeffren

That said, we'll probably see Hleb although I hope Keita gets some rest. I REALLY want to see my Brazilian/Italian/Spanish boy Thiago Alcántara.
team

joining the squad today: Abraham, Fontàs, Jeffren, Oier, Thiago i Xavi Torres.

I want to see Jeffren and Thiago playing.
eklavya

Lol henry:
http://goal.com/en/news/12/spa...

yeah!!! go henry for a speedy recovery
:D
eklavya

"While Guardiola had initially selected all his available players for the trip, he has now asked Gerard Pique, Yaya Toure, Xavi, Lionel Messi and Jose Manuel Pinto (who has a slight knock) to stay at home. They are all expected to be rested until the Champions League final. "

Well there you go.So whos gonna play at the Messiah position? I wanna give Bojan more time and see some Pedro...hmmmm!
Vj

Is it just me or have we already played Mallorca at home? Yup we have.. Its Mallorca who are hosting us, not the other way round.. not that it matters though as

We Are The Champions!!
eklavya

--------------VV-------------
--alves--puyol--caceres--slyvinho-
----guddy---xavi---busi/keita---
---Bojan---eto'o---hleb----

huh? Bring on Messi as a sub to terrorize the tired defense :D
JC

I hope the butcher from Uruguay plays tonight, i.e. Caceres!
Genis

One of the many new songs appearing these days. This one is becoming the most popular. It's like a mini "We Are the World", meaning that a group of catalan singers and musicians have joined to sing it.
"I carry Barça inside my heart" (I'll post later the translation of the lyrics):

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es...

Barça's best season and best play so far in my 35 years as soci... No, the best in the 55 years of my life! And, for me, the best memory, the symbol of this season, even if we win the CL, will be, forever, that 2-6...

Visca el Barça, Visca Catalunya, and congrats to you (us) all!

As always, from El Montseny
eklavya

CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!YESS!!!!!!!!! THE DOUBLE!!!YESYESYESYES!!!!!!!!
WE WINNNNNNNNNNN

haha poor isaiah ahhahaha...:D
gv

i know gai's sgoing to get his spanish passport this summer.

http://fcbtransfers.blogspot.c...

i want to see pedro and oier get minutes. from what i've read, oier has some potential, and i want to see if he is good enough.

i think eto'o will still get some minutes. it's obvious he really want to win the pichichi. but with his recent games, i think villa can still get it from him.
Jason

This is obviously our offcial-box crashing formation

---------Keita--Pique--YAYA----------
--Henry---------Messi------Iniesta---
-Abidal--------Xavi------------Alves-
----------------Puyol----------------
----------------Valdes---------------
Jason

We will win tomorrow.

Because Mallorca have nothing to play for, and because our fringe players want to show their worth... and because my prediction is always a Barcelona win (ive been right almost every single time ;-) )

I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST Yaya as a CB!!!
jazzy_messi

thanks kevin.
bout gai, i think its pretty much sure next year he will be in the first team squad. the spanish citizenship will be in the summer.

hey guys, want to ask, do you know websites that have a full match of BARCA? cuz i really want to have a recording for the copa and CL final.
thx.

and by the way.. WE ARE CHAMPIONS!!
jake

Good stuff Kxevin.

My lineup would be the same as yours, but with Valdes in for Pinto. Like Citizen said, keepers need to be in a rhythm, and we need VV to be in top form for the final.

Judging by the previous games, I'm assuming that Yaya will be playing CB come the 27th. Not sure I'm for it, because of the domineering presence he has in midfield. But in Pep we trust, I guess.

Does anyone know when Gai gets his Spanish passport? Once he gets it he can switch between the first and the B team.
Mr. M

if pedro scores a goal, i will run naked around my neighborhood. fine maybe i won't but ill be pretty damn happy. pedddrooooooo!!!!!!!
Hawk

You know what would be really awesome? If there was a Spain vs England tournament. EPL vs La Liga. La Liga nominates 6 or so of its best teams and plays agains 6 of EPL's best teams. That would shut the ELP supporters up once and for all. I know its very very unlikely but one can dream right?
IceMelFan

haha IceMel now thats the best think ive ever heard/read.Nice one mate.
IceMel

I would like to see the Puyol-Pique-Yaya-Sylvinho backline at some point before the 27th...and some Keita-Busi-Bojan minutes and magic too.
...other than that, maybe 3-6 goals a game, 10-20 shots on goal..you know the usual...and 90 minutes of keep-away-one-touch-pinball-style-extraterrestrial-beauty that will further ruin my ability to watch any other team on the planet for more than 10 minutes.
Citizen

I disagree about resting Valdés. A keeper needs to play regularly to keep his rhythm, so why not let him play once a week? He's shown himself to be pretty durable so far in his career, and our dominating style means there are rarely contested balls into the box on which he could get injured.
Kxevin

This is interesting from Arshavin:

http://fcbtransfers.blogspot.c...

He essentially talks a bit about his failed transfer, saying that still, he is happy to be playing, because given the quality of our side, he'd be sitting "like Hleb." :D

And to put it here as well, Isaiah and I will be at The Globe pub (Irving Park Road and Damen Avenues, essentially) watching this meaningless match, but still having a great time.

Look for the two guys yelling "Drink, drink, drink" at we anticipate John paying up on our bet about Gijon not staying up. :D