FC Barcelona vs Gijon Preview

Luis Enrique will be facing his former club and former teammate as a Barça manager the third time since February 17th as Gijón host Fc Barcelona on the 6th round of La Liga.
While an in form Barca has somehow lost one and drawn one so far Gijon had a poor start to the league season.



Barcelona plays its 1st of the possible four games that Messi will miss due to injury.

Sporting is placed at 12th after 5 games ( 2W 1D 2L)
And Barcelona at 3rd with (3W 1D 1L)


Sporting lost against Celta as well as Atletico Madrid.
Whereas Barça defeat came against the newly promoted La Liga side Alaves since when Aleix Vidal has been sidelined for the 4th consecutive game.

Squad that has travelled to Gijón is as follows-

Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Piqué, Rakitic, Sergio, Denis, Arda, Iniesta, Suárez, Neymar Jr, Rafinha, Mascherano, Paco Alcácer, Jordi Alba, Digne, Sergi Roberto, André Gomes and Mathieu.

Rafinha is the only new addition from the last game that faced Atletico with Messi and Umtiti out injured. Aleix Vidal too is left out and continues to remain 'unchosen' by Luis Enrique.

Of the ten most recent meetings between the two teams, Barça have never lost. Proving its dominance on the Gijón side, winning nine and drawing once.

Still given there's no Messi at one end....let's see how action will unfold at the El Molinon.

The strange case of Douglas: The 'Bobo' of Spain.

Barcelona loanee Douglas has been quite a news for sometime now. Let's see what Bobo suffered recently.


After being bought for 5 million from Sao Polo in 2014 which not only surprised La Liga pundits but the man himself "I though it was a joke" he expressed. Douglas Pereira remained a mysterious case for Culers.

From 2014 to 2016 he just appeared for like 8 times. 320 minutes it counts to. He expectedly failed to impress. While the likes of Aleix Vidal and Montonya too could never replace Dani Alves ..Douglas never looked like a solution.

The loan of Douglas

And after a lot of struggle from thereon Barca found a place for him(that too not permanent!) as Liga clubs repeatedly said no to his offer and wage demands.  Sporting gijon came to his rescue but no the man refused to sign papers as the people present at the Barca officials on his paper signing day revealed that he looked dejected. He didn't wanted to leave the best club in Spain and was neither signing his papers nor was leaving the offices.
Some officials finally convinced him to sign and move on for his own good.

An injury to lord

Lord is what social media called him(Zlatanic appearance,dismal performance).

Coming to our point. On Friday media reports circulated that Douglas has got an injury. But he's Douglas and nothing is usual with him...the injury to his back came after he slept in an awkward position during the team's bus trip. Yes you heard it right.

Today he told media "I'll be playing, I'm fine". We hope he does against his parent club on Saturday afternoon...See you at El molinon.

The Vietto Saga

Luis Enrique’s 2016-17 team planning is all done but completed with the 4^th Striker situation still very much in the air.

In the last three days Barca fans have gone dramatically in a meltdown with the excitement of expected announcement of Atletico Madrid Striker Luciano Vietto’s signing. Despite MD and Sport reporting an agreement between FCB and Atletico Madrid it looks like the Argentinean still hasn’t decided his destination.

Barca has sought many players this summer for their 4^th striker position and to be a backup to the glorious front-line of MSN but slowly slowly Robert Fernandez’s options are depleting.

After being snubbed by Gabriel Jesus who looks headed to England(Man City),Gamiero who is expensive and unfeasible at this moment ,Barca looked towards possible move of Vietto who was not only fitting “22 year old” profile but was also economical. There were also reports of Messi having given suggestion of his name to the Barca board.

Now it is in the hands of Vietto who fears he won’t get the desired playing time as he doesn’t wants to have another shady season like he had with Atletico.

For him it will either a period of development and growth under the best players in his position or as a starter in a club that can value him even more that is Sevilla.