The curtain rises….what will we see? Barca v Numancia, Sunday at noon CT, GolTV

By: Kevin | August 30th, 2008

Numancia is the first lamb to the slaughter. This season is an odd one. Many Blaugrana are saying that the league wants to guarantee another trophy for the Evil Empire by assuring that they play the sides that we play the week before. This holds throughout the season.

The theory is that there are two sides that every other side wants to beat in La Liga: Us and Them. And to beat one, you have to play the game of your life. Which means that when you play the other one, you’re tired and a little wrung out.

So it’s simple. We can’t lose a match this season, including to those white-clad blokes in the Spanish governmental seat. And what better way to start than with fresh meat, Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria. This side is newly promoted, and many are saying that the hope is that they’ve purchased round-trip tickets.

Dunno ’bout that. They were saying that about Wigan in the Premiership, and look what that side did. This year is different. We learned last year that every. last. opponent. has to be taken seriously. We thought, on too many matches last season, that we could show up, unfurl the colors and watch the other side run.

This season is different. The new coach, Josep “Pep” Guardiola, is calling bullshit on that one, and this match will be critical in establishing how the season is going to go. We have to come out and put these guys to the sword right quick like. No screwing around, or playing half the match as we did last season, because everyone will be watching.

The player selection is primo: Valdes, Pinto, Caceres, Alves, Abidal, Puyol, Pique, Marquez, Yaya, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Xavi, Iniesta, Hleb, Messi, Henry, Eto’o, Krkic.

So who the hell starts, right? Here’s how I’m figuring, given the essential quality of a great start:

Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Marquez, Abidal, Yaya, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Eto’o, Messi.

That is one serious-ass lineup. Numancia isn’t exactly an offensive powerhouse. Their top scorer, Gorka Brit, talled 8 goals last season. They were 9th place the season before, then kicked out the jams last season to win promotion. It’s worth noting that scoring was well-distributed for them last season. Quite a few guys with 6-8 goals each. They tallied 59 goals in 42 matches, conceding 38 times for an overall record of 22-11-9.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the side’s plan: leave with what they came in with. A draw. Because they will also be at home, look for Numancia to start the season playing with fire and backbone, to show right away that they deserve to be in the Primera Division.

Ain’t gonna happen. Not against us. I’m figuring a 3-1 final scoreline. I’m giving them a goal because they will be playing out of their minds, will be at home, and will have earned it. It will probably come early, or they’ll have absolutely no chance of scoring.

Our goals will come from Eto’o, Henry and Messi, one each for our dynamic front line.

And that’s what I know.

[Added: As always, the Where to Watch list for you who don't necessarily have GolTV or just want to go share a pint with some buddies in a pub]