talkBARÇA

  Saturday comes the toughest match so far for Barça, the club have produced brilliant performances this season but have lacked consistency. No sole individual is to blame, no one expected this season to be bread and butter happiness. Barça and Ronald Koeman will be looking to make a big statement, a win against Atletico Madrid will be that.   At Thursday's training session, three players were rested by Koeman namely, Messi, Pjanic and de Jong. Of course they were the last to conclude the international break, however, if the coach beliefs that their rest is important and they should be starting on Saturday. They have returned to training on Friday.    We could also see the return of Coutinho to playing for Barça, the Brazilian has fully recovered from his injury. It would be best to not risk him and start him against a very physical team. At the defense, the obvious four back should be implemented. Sergi Roberto and Dest both had a great inter...

  FC Barcelona plays their first El Clásico of the season, coming off a sensational victory over Ferencvárosi TC on Tuesday. Despite Real Madrid facing some rough moments recently, they will not make it easy and it will surely be the most difficult match Barça has played so far.   Ronald Koeman's press conference clearly gives hints whether or not Antoine Griezmann will start, one thing is for sure though, he hasn't earned it yet. Trincão and Dembélé clearly play that RW role better than him. As Koeman had said, "Experience doesn't earn you games, good performances do"     BARÇA'S SQUAD LIST FOR THE EL CLÁSICO   Probably one of the best news ahead of the El Clásico is the return of Jordi Alba into the squad, he completed his second training session and will be available for the match. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is still out due to injury, and Samuel Umtiti still remains on the sideline.         POSSIBLE LIN...

  A deserved victory with all things considered. Barça were really in need of an uplift in the general atmosphere since their defeat against Getafe and needed a boost ahead of the El Clasico .    Although the team suffered early on, however, as soon as the first goal was tucked home by Lionel Messi, the team gained momentum. There is no doubt that the team looked youthful.   The young players impress the most, and they will definitely help a long way this season under a brave manager like Ronald Koeman. Players like Ansu Fati, who is already having a brilliant season showed why he is the future. Also Pedri who got his first goal in his first champions league match.    Even though injury has been the main issue with Dembélé, he is gradually showing how good he can be. He added pace and created a good assist for Pedri, later scoring his own goal. That shouldn't take credits off Trincão, what a player! He added a lot, gave M...

  It's matchday 1 for FC Barcelona in the champions league. Coming off a bitter defeat against Getafe FC last week Saturday, Barça will be hoping to produce a convincing win against Ferencvárosi TC today, an Hungarian team they have never played against.   From what the coach said yesterday at the press conference, certain changes are expected. Players like Pedri, Ansu Fati, Coutinho and Pjanic are favourites expected to start the match.   To think of everything that has happened last season, it is unthinkable to raise expectations for this season, it will be important to take these matches one at a time. A new chapter in what could be Lionel Messi's last champions league season at the club.            POSSIBLE LINE UPS FOR THE MATCH • 1 : Neto; Dest, Lenglet, Pique, Sergi Roberto; de Jong, Pjanic; Ansu Fati, Coutinho, Messi, Pedri. • 2 : Neto; Dest, Lenglet, Pique, Sergi Roberto; de Jong, Pjani...

  It is a game that was bound to be difficult, considering the players that started the match, players just coming back from the international break. Especially Lionel Messi who had played a match at great altitudes against Bolivia, yet played brilliantly against Getafe.   The match was filled with chances for Barça in the first half, chances that weren't buried. Griezmann missed a sitter, yeah you heard that right. Griezmann once again concluded a disappointing match, and that doesn't exclude the fact that the team could have done better.    Lionel Messi saw his shot hit the woodwork, it was a brilliant shot at that, however, luck wasn't on his side. If everything had gone right, Barça could have won, but that didn't happen. Koeman has done a great job since becoming coach, that should be applauded.   If there were positives to be drawn out from the match, they are as follows;  • Barca is still a brilliant side, they pre...

  Ronald Koeman's FC Barcelona are hoping to continue their unbeaten run in LaLiga, when they face Getafe FC  tonight. A almost forgotten hope in Barça have suddenly found it's way back into the club's atmosphere.   From Koeman's press conference yesterday, key points to take note of ahead of the match are: • Griezmann will remain in his right position, no free role(already taken by Messi). • Sergiño Dest could start tonight. • Messi could get a deserved rest tonight.         BARÇA'S SQUAD LIST FOR THE MATCH   The players are back from the international break, and have all been included in the squad list, with the exception of ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti and Jordi Alba, all out due to injury.     OUTS: ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti and Jordi Alba.   DOUBTS:  none.           POSSIBLE LINE UPS FOR THE MATCH  • 1: Neto; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Dest; Sergio Busquets, de Jon...