Friday, October 14, 2011

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15.10. (Sat) 20:00 Barcelona - Racing Santander

UEFA Champions League: FC Barcelona
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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

BARCELONA

ValdesAlves, Pique, Puyol, AbidalXavi, Mascherano, BusquetsPedro, Messi, Villa
RACING SANTANDER

Tono
Frances, Gonzalez, Bernardo, Christian
Diop, Tziolis
Jairo, Munitis, Serrano
Nahuelpan
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola still has a number of first team squad players out with injury. Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez are still shelved with hamstring injuries and Ibrahim Afellay recently underwent surgery on his knee and will be out of action for six months.

However, the Catalan club will be buoyed by the return of Andres Iniesta who has resumed training after recovering from his hamstring tear. It is likely the Spaniard will be in the squad but the Barca coach may opt to ease the midfield maestro back into action with a substitute appearance.


Racing coach Hector Cuper will be without loanee Lautaro Acosta, who will be sidelined for around two months after injuring his knee against Sporting Gijon. Defender Osmar will also miss the Liga clash with the champions after spraining a knee ligament in training. 

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Barcelona won this fixture 3-0 last season, with Pedro, Messi, and Iniesta grabbing the goals for the home side.
  • The starting line-up of Spain in the 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday included no less than seven Barcelona players.
  • Pep Guardiola's side have scored 19 more goals than Racing this season in La Liga so far, netting 23 goals to 4 in just six games.
  • Racing have not won a game so far in La Liga this season, notching up four draws and two losses.
  • Half of Racing's goals in La Liga this season have came in the first fifteen minutes.
  • Racing's last La Liga win came in May when they defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 at El Sardinero.
Prediction
Eight Barcelona players featured midweek for Spain against Scotland so the slight fatigue of some players may spare Hector Cuper's side from losing by a deficit of five or higher. Racing have only scored four goals in La Liga so expect the visitors to park the bus and hope for the best. You cant see anything else but a comfortable Barcelona victory.
Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Racing