Venue: Emirates Stadium, London Date: 23/02/2016 Kick-off: 07:45 PM GMT / 2:45 PM EST Match Arsenal News Arsenal have enjoyed a decent season so far and remain in the hunt for honours in the Premier League, FA Cup as well as the Champions League. However as recent history tells us, Arsenal tend to struggle during this particular stage of the campaign and it will be interesting to see how the Gunners acquit themselves this season. In arguably the biggest game for Arsenal during the current campaign so far, they prepare to square off against Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium in the … [Read more...]
Probable Barcelona Lineup vs Las Palmas: Vermaelen and Roberto to start
Venue: Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas Date: 20/02/2016 Kick-off: 03:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is unlikely to be featuring in the upcoming Champions League encounter against Arsenal and as a result, the Chilean is certain to start against Las Palmas this weekend. Bravo did not have much to do against Sporting Gijon in midweek but he did make a couple of decent saves and the goalkeeper should expect another similar encounter with Las Palmas. Defence Fringe players Jeremy Mathieu, Adriano and Aleix Vidal were handed a start during the clash against Sporting but the … [Read more...]
Las Palmas vs Barcelona: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas Date: 20/02/2016 Kick-off: 03:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST Match Las Palmas News Las Palmas looked liked they would be able to comfortably avoid relegation this season following a positive start in La Liga but a run of four defeats in their last five matches has seen Quique Setien’s men slip into the drop zone. Now Las Palmas need a victory from somewhere in order to be able to get themselves out of the dreaded relegation places but with a clash against the rampant Barcelona up next, Los Amarillos will need to put in a herculean effort to claim anything … [Read more...]
Are FC Barcelona unstoppable this season?
FC Barcelona's 6-1 thumping of Celta Vigo over the weekend was emphatic. Ruthless and a warning to Barca's primera liga title rivals.....they're not relinquishing it soon. But the most telling was Messi and Suarez play-up from the 6-yard. We all know it was a Johan Cryuff trick pulled off in the 80's which Henry and Pires failed to execute against Manchester City for Arsenal a while back. But that's beside the point. MSN are on fire. Very confident. And that incident showed they're having fun. And being lethal while at it. It doesn't get any scarier than when you find out Messi and Suarez … [Read more...]
Barcelona Probable Lineup vs Sporting Gijon: Turan and Rakitic to start
Venue: Estadio Municipal El Molinón, Gijon Date: 17/02/2016 Kick-off: 05:30 PM GMT / 12:30 PM EST Match Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo did not have much to do during the 6-1 victory over Celta Vigo last time out but he did concede through a John Guidetti penalty. As a result, Bravo will be intent on keeping a clean sheet against Sporting Gijon this time around but it will not be as straightforward as people think due to the fact that the minnows have been showing a bit of attacking flair in recent time. Defence The Barcelona defence consisting of Jordi Alva, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique and … [Read more...]
Sporting Gijon vs Barcelona: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Estadio Municipal El Molinón, Gijon Date: 17/02/2016 Kick-off: 05:30 PM GMT / 12:30 PM EST Match Sporting Gijon News After looking doomed and gloomed earlier on in the season, Sporting Gijon have managed to give themselves a great chance of avoiding the drop following a run of four matches without a single defeat in La Liga. The run has certainly given Gijon a lot of confidence but things remain very tight at the bottom of the Premier League table and manager Abelardo will not be allowing his players to get complacent anytime soon. Now Sporting prepare for a huge test when they … [Read more...]
Valencia v Barcelona: Reasons to be Optimistic (at least, a little)
It looked like a pre-season friendly, a game of little or no relevance, with both coaches opting to rest most of their senior players and give their second-tier players some game time. But, as a Valencia supporter I have to admit that the return leg of the Valencia v Barca cup tie was far more interesting and entertaining than I had expected. No, los che didn’t win, and certainly should have. But the game had a number of positives, and in this season, the worst I can remember, we have to seize the positives whenever they appear. … [Read more...]
Probable Barcelona Lineup vs Celta Vigo: Messi likely to miss out
Venue: Nou Camp, Barcelona Date: 14/02/2016 Kick-off: 08:00 PM GMT / 03:00 PM EST (4-3-3) Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made a couple of good saves in the clash against Levante last time out and his contribution certainly proved to be very important in helping Barcelona to the three points following a sub standard performance from the team. Now Bravo will be up against the dangerous Celta Vigo attack and the Chilean superstar will most certainly have to be at his best to keep another clean sheet on the night. Defence The likes of Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves were … [Read more...]
Barcelona vs Celta Vigo: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Nou Camp, Barcelona Date: 14/02/2016 Kick-off: 08:00 PM GMT / 03:00 PM EST Match Barcelona News Barcelona safely sealed their place into the final of the Copa Del Rey with a comfortable 1-1 draw against Valencia at the Mestalla on Wednesday night and manager Luis Enrique would have been pleased with the result as he had fielded basically his second string team on the night. Now Enrique is sure to revert back to his strongest side as a dangerous Celta Vigo pay a visit to the Nou Camp on Sunday night and it will be of paramount importance for the Catalans to continue their winning run in … [Read more...]
Barcelona Probable Lineup vs Valencia: Munir and Bartra to start
Venue: Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia Date: 10/02/2016 Kick-off: 08:00 PM GMT / 03:00 PM EST Match Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen did not have much to do in the first leg against Valencia and with Barcelona currently holding a whopping seven goal advantage; the German goalkeeper can head into the return leg without any pressure whatsoever. Nonetheless, ter Stegen is keen on impressing in each game as he looks to become the number one choice in La Liga as well and the 23-year old will undoubtedly want to keep a clean sheet on the night. Defence At the back, regulars Jordi Alba, Gerard … [Read more...]