What a stunner we had last Friday?!  In the shadows of New York City’s stunning skyline, the United States were flying high coming into the Hexagonal fixture against Costa Rica.  But, the Ticos, who actually had a favorable supporting contingent, ended the Americans 14 game unbeaten streak in decisive fashion.  It started by knocking Christian Pulisic off his game with continued physicality and subsequent fouls.  It ended via sublime counter attacking football, leading to a 3-0 finish.  Now, the US Men’s National Team is in for a dog fight down the stretch of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers.  As for the CONMEBOL match of the week, Argentina dominated possession, but simply couldn’t break down the Uruguayan backline.  Leo Messi did all he could, with his box to box run. Although it ended in a pulldown, shirt tear, summing things up in the 0-0 draw.

This week, it’s back to club football.  One match in particular stands out, and that’s El Derbi!  Barcelona versus Espanyol!  I’ll get you primed for this Saturday’s fixture highlighting the current state of Barcelona’s club, key players set to take the pitch, and Lewnau Sports Bureau’s match prediction.

El Derbi Barceloni
FC Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol
LaLiga, Matchday 3
Camp Nou, Barcelona, Cataluyna, Espana
Saturday, September 9th, 2017    2:45PM ET    beIN SPORTS

FCB: State of the Club

According to the LaLiga table, Barcelona is in great shape and form as they’ve taken all six points from the first two matches of the season.  However, that’s far from the case.  As we all know by now, Neymar Jr. has left the club in stunning style.  That alone has lead to endless questions regarding the club’s board.  How could the club let this happen?  Why wasn’t Neymar’s release clause set at or around $1 billion, such is Cristiano Ronaldo’s?  Was there an uneasy relationship between Neymar Jr. and Sr. with the Catalan club? If so, why? Etc.  Couple his world record transfer departure with the fact that nearly 70% ($147 million) of that money was used to fund a 20 year old Frenchman in Ousmane Dembele.  A player who was purchased just a year ago from Stade Renneis for $15 million and is going to pay the youngster $12 million annually.  A working wage that isn’t too far off the pace of what world class Neymar was getting.  On top of this, Barcelona purchased Brazilian international Paulinho for $40 million from Guangzhou Evergrande. Wondering where this club takes the pitch?  China!  It doesn’t end there though.  On top of this their were countless other failed transfers, such as Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne, Aleix Vidal, and quite frankly Arda Turan. Additionally, the epic fail of not purchasing Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, nor securing any of the other players that were involved in the possible deadline day dealings takes the cake.  Once Barcelona had finally conceded that the Catalan club wasn’t going to get the mercurial attacking midfielder, the board shifted gears to Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria.  

Di Maria mind you plays for PSG.  Yes, the same Paris club that bought Neymar for $220 million.  Well, it had been reported that in an attempt to lower the cost of the Neymar transfer, PSG was willing to throw Di Maria into the deal.  Barcelona said no.  Then come deadline day, the Catalans go back to Paris in an attempt to purchase Di Maria for roughly $40 million.  PSG, knowing that they held all the cards, demanded $60 million.  The deal was dead.  As for Ozil, that move was never going to work in such a short period of time.  The caveat, with this potential move, was that former club Real Madrid had a buyback option in Ozil’s clause in case of a sale for the player.  With the buyback, the Madridistas would have been given 48 hours to decide whether to buy the German or let the Arsenal to Barcelona deal go through.  So, with less than 24 hours left in the window, you know rivals Madrid would have enacted their right to filibuster until time simply ran out in the summer window.  

Oh, and one more thing.  Despite the President Josep Maria Bartameu and his board going on record stating that living legend Leo Messi’s contract extension has been signed, it really hasn’t.  The Argentine’s contract runs out at season’s end, and beginning January 1st, he’s free to talk to other clubs regarding a free move away from the Camp Nou.  UNACCEPTABLE!  Thus, the state of FC Barcelona is at a crossroads.  A vote of no confidence in the current board is in action now, and a move for an election is on the horizon— I hope.  A new regime, withLeo Messi’s approval, will be the only way that La Pulga pens the extension.  Ultimately, only time will tell, but as this match is set to square off, the board is facing a seismic shift. Can the squad keep an even keel?

Key Players

All eyes will be honed in on the aforementioned Frenchman, Ousmane Dembele.  After becoming the second largest transfer in club football history, the young winger will make his Blaurgana debut at the Camp Nou.  He’s taken Neymar’s #11 shirt and is slotting in on the left of Barcelona’s front three.  The question is, can he live up to the billing, both in play and spirit?  While there’s no doubt Barcelona probably paid double what Dembele is really currently worth, there’s no denying the fact that he’s incredibly talented and that the sky is truly the limit for him.  Ousmane possesses electric speed with and with out the ball, actually faster than Neymar in my estimation.  He also has a propensity to provide the assist.  Demeble produced 12 assists during last year’s German Bundesliga campaign, a total good for second in the league. The youngster, however, sometimes plays too fast, although, that is normal for players of such a tender age. Ousmane, also isn’t clinical enough in front of goal at the moment, but he surely has the potential to produce wondrous strikes, and with time his consistency will improve.

As for Espanyol, Papakouli “Pape" Diop is the man that will rustle the feathers of the Barcelona fans, as he attempts to do the same to the Azulgrana squad as well.  He’s a defensive midfielder, who seems to live on the playing edge, at least when playing against Barcelona.  Pape will be physical from the start.  You’ll see him foul players, particularly Messi, time and again.  By game’s end, Diop will have a yellow card no doubt. Still, will his defensive prowess result in a sputtered Blaugrana attack?

LSB Prediction

The first Catalan Derby of the 2017-18 season will certainly pack a punch, as always.  Both clubs will be playing for regional pride and LaLiga success.  Contrastly, this will provide another moment of unity after the terrorist attack that occurred in the city’s famed Las Ramblas.  I suspect that there’ll be a minute of silence, as well as plenty of Catalan flags waving, and chants ringing through the stadium in support of the victims, the city of Barcelona and the region of Catalonia.  On the pitch though, new recruit Ousmane Demeble and second captain Leo Messi will combine for a goal, maybe two, as Pape Diop’s efforts fall to the wayside.

2-0 FC Barcelona