How Barca should line up against Levante?

FC Barcelona are set to host Levante on Wednesday in Copa del Rey action after easing to a 4-1 victory in the first leg last week. The Catalans will be looking to book their place in the next round and all signs point to an easy encounter.

In the first meeting it was Cristian Tello who stole the show scoring three goals with Lionel Messi assisting each time. The outcome should be similar at the Camp Nou, but the personnel might be a bit different.
With that being said, let’s take a look at how Barcelona will line up against Levante on Wednesday.

Defense
As usual, fans should expect Jose Pinto to remain in goal as he always does in the Copa del Rey. The 38-year-old may not be Victor Valdes, but he still has what it takes to get the job done.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

With the tie seemingly already decided, it is likely that Tata Martino will opt to give as many starters a break as possible.
Martin Montoya should return the starting lineup in place as Dani Alves while Adriano will also likely get the nod over Jordi Alba. All four full-backs have been in great form recently, but Martino must continue will his rotational policy.
After sitting out of the club’s previous match, Marc Bartra should be back in the starting XI.
The 23-year-old has arguably been the club’s best defender this season and still needs time to grow. The real question is who will be featuring beside young Bartra.
In the first leg it was captain Carles Puyol who formed the second half of the duo. However, the club recently announced on their official website that he suffered bruising and could miss time.
Since then, the club has also announced that both he and Andres Iniesta have returned to regular training. It is likely that Puyol will be cleared to play, but the best decision would be to allow him more time to recover.
In the end the most likely outcome will be that Gerard Pique will feature alongside Marc Bartra. Their partnership continues to grow and this could be just another game for them to get to know each other even better.

Midfield

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

As stated earlier, Andres Iniesta has resumed regular training but it highly unlikely that he will be thrown straight back into action. The tie is basically decided already and the club cannot risk Iniesta at this point.
Sergio Busquets is likely to retain his place in the starting lineup to give the defense cover. Barcelona may have a three-goal advantage heading into the match, but the most important thing will be keeping a clean sheet.
Xavi could certainly use a rest having played a lot of minutes this month so he should start the game on the bench. In that case, Cesc Fabregas should feature in his place, with Sergi Roberto rounding out the Barcelona midfield.
The match against Levante will be once focused on having control. The visitors need to score a lot of goals to get to the next round and Barcelona will have to combat that by using midfielders who can break up play.
Busquets will be as important as ever, but the pace of Sergi Roberto could also prove invaluable.

Forwards
Having begun last match on the bench it seems only fitting that Cristian Tello will be back in the starting XI on Wednesday. His hat-trick in the first leg has given him plenty of reasons to play from the first whistle and that is exactly what fans should expect.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

The second winger spot will likely be a toss-up between Alexis Sanchez and Pedro. Both have been playing at a very high level, yet both could also use a day off.
With Alexis Sanchez arguably the more important of the two it is likely that he will be allowed to start the match on the bench. Pedro is still fighting for his place in the squad and could use minutes against Levante to keep his good run of form going.
Lastly, Lionel Messi will be in his customary false-nine role.
The best decision may be to let the Argentine have the night off, but it is no secret that Messi wants to play every minute of every match.
Messi hasn’t scored a goal for Barcelona since January 16. He has been giving plenty of assists, but he will be wanting to find the back of the net for himself soon. Playing in front of his own fans in a tie that is already decided will give him plenty of chances to put in a big night.

Barring a miracle, Barcelona will be in the next round of the Copa del Rey. They have four road goals in their favor and are protecting their lead at the Camp Nou.
Levante most likely realize that the tie is already over but they won’t go down without a fight. The match will have plenty of intense moments, yet in the end Barcelona will come away comfortable winners.
Expect Messi to find his name on the scoresheet at least once. Tello and Pedro could also provide goals for the Catalans, but Messi will be the headliner on Wednesday.

Xavi can ever be replaced??

Less than a fortnight ago, Xavi Hernandez took part in his 700th game in Barcelona colours at Getafe's Coliseum Alfonso Perez, some 15 years after Louis Van Gaal gave him his first-team debut.
Not only has he played the most times for his club, but he has also won the most titles: 22 in total. This includes seven domestic league's and three Champions League trophies, via the official Barcelona website.
Departing club president Sandro Rosell described him as "the best player in Spanish football history," via ESPN, declaring:

I have always said that Xavi, Andres (Iniesta) and Leo (Messi), with help from (Sergio) Busquets, were the inventors of tiki-taka.
Tiki-taka is not a philosophy that Barca have had since its foundation. Tiki-taka was invented by these three, plus Busquets. Tiki-taka is Xavi’s registered trademark. The day he is not here I do not know if we will be able to continue with it.

This could be equally viewed as a dig at Joan Laporta and Pep Guardiola, but it was still a powerful recommendation from the man who resigned last week.
Xavi still averages 11 passes per game more than anyone else in La Liga with more than 90, whilst only teammate Sergio Busquets and Rayo Vallecano's Robert Trashorras are within 25 passes per match of him.
His pass completion is only marginally second to Busquets and that could be attributed to attempting more through balls in the final third, statistics via Who Scored.
"Xavi is a player who has the Barcelona DNA: someone who has the taste for good football, someone who is humble and someone who has loyalty to this club," remarked Pep Guardiola when he was coach, per Fox Sports Asia.
The midfielder turned 34 on Saturday and is still integral to Barcelona's style, with few signs of this abating.
Just three other outfield players have started more La Liga matches than Xavi this term and he has played some part in all the European games.
When Cesc Fabregas returned home in the summer of 2011, he was seen by many as the natural heir to Xavi's playmaking throne. However, it has become abundantly clear that his characteristics aren't suited to being a direct replacement.
That's the problem—no one is. Xavi is unique; while many others can pass the ball with such ease and distinction, few can be so involved in a full match. If there were other players of his ilk, they would be nearer to him in the passing rankings.
Thiago certainly resembled some of the signs, as he did with Iniesta, before the club woefully mismanaged his contract.
In recent weeks we have seen Messi drop a little deeper, acting as a quarterback with diagonal through balls to the incoming wingers. Time will tell if this is part of Gerardo Martino's evolution of the side or the Argentine just finding his feet after injury.
There are a number of young players who have been schooled at La Masia, which could in the future offer something similar as the emergence of Sergi Roberto has shown, but none are going to be Xavi.
To succeed Xavi, Barcelona require a number of players with similar attributes rather than the exact carbon copy. The set-up of the team can't be manufactured in the same manner, so why bother disappointing by pretending that this can be achieved?
The Blaugrana aren't the first club that has to shift the dynamic of their team to cater as an ageing world-class star comes to end of his career. It's certainly highlighted more because this was arguably one of the best club sides of all time.

Messi is too hot to buy for PSG..

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) President Nasser Al-Khelaifi admitted that signing Argentina international and FC Barcelona (Spain) striker Lionel Messi is an unfeasible option for the French Ligue 1 champions.
“We have never spoken with Messi and his representatives. I have never spoken with Barcelona. Messi’s transfer is impossible at the moment,” citing L’Équipe magazine of France, Goal.com quotes Al-Khelaifi as saying.
A recent report suggested that PSG were ready to spend €250 million in order to lure the Argentina international away from Barça.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has stated Lionel Messi will never join the club because of "limits".

The wealthy French champions have brought the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore to the Parc des Princes in recent years and have also been linked with the Barcelona forward.
Despite overseeing a number of big-name signings since his takeover, Al-Khelaifi believes PSG cannot hope to bring in Messi.
"Is there a chance for Messi to join PSG? No, never. If there were no limits at PSG, then we would sign Messi," he told L'Equipe.
"If Messi doesn't join PSG, then that means that there are limits."
Al-Khelaifi also issued a warning to clubs interested in signing PSG players, highlighting reported links between Manchester City and midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
"Interest from Manchester City in Matuidi? I am not worried because they know that if they touch one of our players, then we will be in opposition to them, and we will go and contact their players too," he added.
"We respect all clubs, but if a club tries to buy one of our players, then it will have to face consequences.
"I don't aim this at Manchester City, as from what I know, they did not contact Matuidi."

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/psg-will-never-sign-messi-claims-president#q0Em16G7RL0F0K32.99

Martino wants Messi to replace Valdes!!! Really???!!!

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino insists he is not worried that star player Lionel Messi is less prolific in front of goal of late, saying the Argentinean contributes from all over the park.

Messi has not scored in a league match since coming back from injury at the beginning of January, and despite his double over Getafe in a Spanish Cup encounter, pressure is rising on the diminutive attacker.
Yet the Barca manager is not at all concerned, joking that his headline act would excel even as a goalkeeper.
"I’ve seen him play in all the positions in attack - one day he’ll play in goal and be great there too," Martino said at a press conference.
The reason for Messi’s lack of goals could perhaps be placed on the fact that Martino has played him in a deeper role on the pitch. Yet the Blaugrana tactician maintains the 26-year-old is effective in whatever position he plays.
"If he’s closer to the box, he’ll pull defenders around and if he’s deeper, he’ll give passes for goals,” said Martino. “That confuses our opponents.
"I really do not care that Messi isn’t scoring every match. Leo always produces match-changing moments.”
Martino emphasised the importance of the four-time Ballon d’Or winner to his team.
"He is capable of providing four assists in one game and on another day he could score a goal to eliminate a rival from a competition,” he said.
"He is an important player. I do not care if people are saying he has lost the scoring touch."

Eto'o foundation gems signed long term contracts

Barcelona youngsters Jean Marie Dongou and Macky Frank Bagnack have both agreed new long-term contracts with the club.

Cameroonian duo Dongou, a centre-forward, and Bagnack, a centre-back, both joined Barca's La Masia academy due to its links with the foundation established by former Barca star Samuel Eto’o and have progressed through the youth ranks to become regulars with the Barca B side this season, and have already featured for the senior side under coach Gerardo Martino.
The pair have now committed their futures to the club until June 2017, with each having a buy-out clause set at 12 million euros in their new deals.
Dongou, 18, who made his senior debut as a substitute against Celtic in the Champions League last December, told Barca’s official website that he was excited to be committing his future to the club.
“This is a very important day in my career,” he said. “I am very happy. When I came to La Masia and the day I made my debut at the Camp Nou are my two most memorable moments since I came here. I am very excited to stay at the club.”
Bagnack, also 18, who featured during Barca’s preseason friendlies in the summer, told the Barca website that he was delighted with the development.
“I am very pleased that I am renewing my contract with the best team in the world,” he said. “I am very happy. My favourite moment was my debut in the Joan Gamper Trophy and the Asia Tour with the first team. I will continue improving so that one day I can reach my full potential.”

Isaac Cuenca interests Arsenal? Not really!!!

Should Arsenal enquire about this Barca star’s availability?

Barcelona forward Isaac Cuenca could be set for the Nou Camp exit doors which could attract the attention of Arsenal.
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Ajax as first-team opportunities at Barcelona were hard to come by.
And after requiring knee surgery in June and only beginning full training in October last year, it appears his time at the Nou Camp could well be up, with the Spaniard falling further down the pecking order after the arrival of Neymar and yet to feature for the La Liga giants.
Although Gerardo Martino confirmed Cuenca is back in full training with the squad, the Barca manager is uncertain if he has a future at the club:

‘He is training. We will see if he stays here or gets the chance to play elsewhere.’

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a big money move for Schalke’s Julian Draxler as of late, but Arsene Wenger and co. may want to enquire about the availability of a player they were interested last season – especially after Martino throwing the Spaniard’s future in serious doubt.

Sanabria leaves Barca..

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Sassuolo for the transfer of teenage Paraguay striker Tonny Sanabria to the relegation-threatened Italian club. 

 

The Primera Division champions said the deal for the 17-year-old, who has not made a first-team appearance for the Catalan giants, could reach 12 million euros (£10million).
A Barca statement read: "Tonny Sanabria will join Sassuolo after reaching an agreement for 4.5million euros which could be 12 depending on the performance of the player and his future market value.
"The process to purchase the player started with Roma, but the transfer was closed with Sassuolo."
Sanabria made his debut for Barcelona B this season after joining the club's youth academy in 2010 and has played a total of 10 matches in Spain's Segunda Division for the reserve side, scoring three goals.
He made his international debut for Paraguay during qualification for this summer's World Cup.
Sassuolo are third from bottom in the Serie A standings with 17 points, one adrift of safety after 21 games played.