⚽ Sportsbet.io ⚽ Spanish La Liga ⚽ Football Pool Discussion Thread 2023/2024

[Trofo]

talking about Barcelona, Xavi close to joining. Al Sadd confirmed he's leaving, just need the official announcement from the catalan club...Barca fans, are you excited?

It seems it is official, several news portals have published it, XAVI is a new Barca coach. Not much details yet, except that Barca will have to pay something to his previous club. Will be much more info coming in following hours probably.

Must say I am excited to see what he will manage to do with this squad and all those money problems. I am thinking quite a lot despite all the problems.

[LTU_btc]

Barca are pretty bad right now, but Celta Vigo are 10x worse despite the favorable H2H at home that you mentioned, so i wouldn't blame anyone going for Barca to win in their bet slips, that's gonna be my pick in our pool

talking about Barcelona, Xavi close to joining. Al Sadd confirmed he's leaving, just need the official announcement from the catalan club...Barca fans, are you excited?

If I would be neutral, I doubt that I'd go with Barca win. But now I'm going to back my team, it's time to up finally, otherwise we will stuck in the middle of table.
Can't say that I'm very excited about Xavi appointment. Yes, I want to see him in Barcelona, but few years later when he will gain a bit more experience. With our current squad and no Xavi experience on high level,I have fears that he may end like Pirlo or Lampard.
And fans shouldn't expect too much from him - there is no chance that he will turn Barca into team which fight for La Liga and Champions league titles.

[buwaytress]

Thanks @tomahawk 9 I've just arrived and will be settling in. Can't wait to meet the awesome SB guys -- got some nice games tonight to watch too maybe if I can convince my SO to keep her eyes to football for a little while (though tomorrow will be an effort for her haha).

I'm on Barca today too. I liked Celta's team a lot last season and they did give me a great win 2 games ago, but I'm really really liking what Fati's getting up to and if we can ask Depay to maintain his high effort, they'll outdo Aspas and Mina. It's the value bet for me and on two of my regular accas =)

No comment about Xavi, except at least it's a player with the right principles for Barca IMO. How effective he'll be is another question altogether.

[cygan]

✂
No comment about Xavi, except at least it's a player with the right principles for Barca IMO. How effective he'll be is another question altogether.

i think that with Xavi, fc barcelona has found one of the better solutions. another coach from a foreign country who doesn't know the club would again be out of place here.
Xavi has a contract with the catalans until the summer of 2023 - i think he will bring the fcb back on track.

[icopress]

Thanks @tomahawk 9 I've just arrived and will be settling in. Can't wait to meet the awesome SB guys -- got some nice games tonight to watch too maybe if I can convince my SO to keep her eyes to football for a little while (though tomorrow will be an effort for her haha).

Did you take a travel kit with you?  

I hope you guys have a great time there! I will also put on my equipment tomorrow and stock up on beer, so I will mentally be with you! By the way, if it's not a secret, did you get there normally? ^{[in the context of covid restrictions, and the presentation of vaccination certificates]} As I understand it, the stadium will be half empty?

[tomahawk9]

bottlers. Barcelona are bottlers...but at least i won my single 


two units on this bad boy cos i knew Barca have crap defence

Did you take a travel kit with you?  

https://i.imgur.com/t2hbjkI.jpg

priorities 
but he prolly didn't need to...there should be plenty of drinks in one of those VIP boxes at emirates stadium (:

[casperBGD]

bottlers. Barcelona are bottlers...but at least i won my single 

~snip

congrats on both-to-score
Barca is struggling, but they were not that bad today, Celta was good as well
expected more from Granada, hoped for a win, and Espanyol actually brought them down, although Granada was better on the pitch, but without a finish

curiosity, I do not have any result guessed up to this point, this weekend, in all pools (EPL, Calcio, La Liga), all missed

[icopress]

priorities 
but he prolly didn't need to...there should be plenty of drinks in one of those VIP boxes at emirates stadium (:

I have no doubts about VIP ... but personally, I prefer to relax to the maximum on planned trips (especially if everything is included). But this is only in those cases when I am not alone, since in this case I would prefer to sleep!

Barca is struggling, but they were not that bad today, Celta was good as well [...]

I would not say that ... considering that Barcelona at the end of the first half led with a colossal lead, and the point is not even that I am not a fan of Barça, but the point is Celta's victory is the merit of Kuman (it is unlikely that Xavi could have done something in the first day after taking office).

[LTU_btc]

congrats on both-to-score
Barca is struggling, but they were not that bad today, Celta was good as well
expected more from Granada, hoped for a win, and Espanyol actually brought them down, although Granada was better on the pitch, but without a finish

I don't agree about it. Yes, 1st half was great and when they were leading 3:0 on away game, I thought, it's too good to be true for current Barca. But second half, it's difficult to comment it. Close in defence to save score playing against team like Celta, c'mon... And final result isn't worst thing that happened today. Fati got injured again...
Not surprised about Espanyol win, they're playing solid at home, but yeah, final result don't fully reflect game.
Derby of Sevilla tomorrow, it's always fun

[buwaytress]

I did as badly in La Liga as in EPL. It was really painful to see Barca drop points after getting 3 goals ahead, and of course our ex-Red Aspas being hugely responsible for that... Atletico probably feels the worst though, scoring 4 goals (own goal counts right?) and still ending up sharing points.

I hope you guys have a great time there! I will also put on my equipment tomorrow and stock up on beer, so I will mentally be with you! By the way, if it's not a secret, did you get there normally? ^{[in the context of covid restrictions, and the presentation of vaccination certificates]} As I understand it, the stadium will be half empty?

Thanks mano! We did indeed have a really great time and I just said my goodbyes, as did LFC_Bitcoin who also has to travel back.

A few things:
1. I can in no way compete to the level of drinking those guys do. Of course, this was something I already knew even before the meeting but I had no idea just how far behind I would be. I guess you can say I got the wooden spoon of that round. Drinks were unlimited too and after we left the stadium there were more... and even more waiting when we got back from dinner...

2. Took a train rather than fly, but this was more for convenience as train station was nearer to town, airport was an hour's drive away. Same covid rules applied and yes, it was a hassle but instructions were pretty clear so we got them all done.

3. Stadium was surprisingly 80-90% full, away fans were packed! They do ask for vacc certs or negative tests, but for travel from outside, you have to pre-order tests and specify a quarantine address (the hotel you stay in), and a bit of a pain to arrange but otherwise quite smooth.

[tomahawk9]

international break, zzzz 😴

Xavi at the camp nou today https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona_es/status/1457687495060168706

I did as badly in La Liga as in EPL. It was really painful to see Barca drop points after getting 3 goals ahead, and of course our ex-Red Aspas being hugely responsible for that... Atletico probably feels the worst though, scoring 4 goals (own goal counts right?) and still ending up sharing points.

all in all, it was good weekend for us Real Madrid fans

and nice to hear you had a good time with the lads...nothing beats a weekend trip + booze and good food + game of footy at the emirates stadium!! 

[slaman29]

Love for Xavi. I did say I don't know if he will succeed but I do know he has the right attitude and maybe our youth benefit. Now we just need to offload and reload.

On a side note. Hope you had a nice time buway, personally I think you're such a generous person and have you to thank for early days BTC experience and even on gambling. And since you actually even don't remember when I mentioned before this means you probably help so many people you don't even remember them all

[buwaytress]

La Liga has first game back from internationals on Friday, so early "hello put in your picks guys" from me. As always, all bets are off on form for teams after 2 weeks of disruption. Ordinarily I'd back the away team but Levante has a way of putting a dent in games when you least expect. But who am I kidding, bottom teams will always be bottom teams, right?

[Trofo]

La Liga has first game back from internationals on Friday, so early "hello put in your picks guys" from me. As always, all bets are off on form for teams after 2 weeks of disruption. Ordinarily I'd back the away team but Levante has a way of putting a dent in games when you least expect. But who am I kidding, bottom teams will always be bottom teams, right?

Good thing you posted since I totally forgot about free bet challenge, going to put it up in the next hour or so check out the other thread a bit later for a chance to get free bet
Leaning towards Sociedad - Valencia to represent La Liga in the challenge. No big derby matches this week but maybe it is better that way since we had international break and as you say that often leads to some strange results.

[casperBGD]

~snip
Leaning towards Sociedad - Valencia to represent La Liga in the challenge. No big derby matches this week but maybe it is better that way since we had international break and as you say that often leads to some strange results.

could not have anything against my favorite team in challenge
although, could be interesting as well in Barcelona city derby, Espanyol was in solid form after lousy start, and Barca is far from great, so there could be fire in that one, and I like city derbies

nevertheless, having Valencia is challenge is simply great

[tulusikhlas]

✂
No comment about Xavi, except at least it's a player with the right principles for Barca IMO. How effective he'll be is another question altogether.

i think that with Xavi, fc barcelona has found one of the better solutions. another coach from a foreign country who doesn't know the club would again be out of place here.
Xavi has a contract with the catalans until the summer of 2023 - i think he will bring the fcb back on track.

The task of restoring Barcelona form before Xavi left for the Catalans perhaps for the next one or two seasons poses a special challenge for Xavi to change Barcelona players playing to follow the history that has been passed down from previous players. Because this club is a kind of family club, it is quite surprising to see Xavi passionately educating Barcelona successors so that they can revive their golden era. With the help of Alves it is also possible for new arrivals at Barcelona to be more motivated.

[tomahawk9]

Leaning towards Sociedad - Valencia to represent La Liga in the challenge.

👍  probly the best match in the league this weekend,, Celta - Villareal could also be a decent match

huh, I forgot we're gonna see Xavi making his debut next weekend (and also Dani Alves? ),, couldn't have asked for an easier game, Espanyol are literally 3 points for free for Barca, especially at the Camp nou...off to a great start, barcelona fans (;

[LTU_btc]

huh, I forgot we're gonna see Xavi making his debut next weekend (and also Dani Alves? ),, couldn't have asked for an easier game, Espanyol are literally 3 points for free for Barca, especially at the Camp nou...off to a great start, barcelona fans (;

Dani won't be able to play until January. I thought that signing free agents is allowed during whole season, but seems that I was wrong.
Maybe he is 38 years old already, but during presentation he was excited like little kid to be back at home. Can't wait to see him on the pitch.
And Xavi debut in Barcelona derby. I'm really hyped before this game.

[Trofo]

huh, I forgot we're gonna see Xavi making his debut next weekend (and also Dani Alves? ),, couldn't have asked for an easier game, Espanyol are literally 3 points for free for Barca, especially at the Camp nou...off to a great start, barcelona fans (;

I forgot about Xavi debut as well, now I have to add that game to my watch list as well. I want to see what are his of the bat ideas for Barca. Alves can't be registered before January so he will not have his debut this weekend. Maybe only as an influence in the dressing room if they managed to sign him in the end. I saw that league was complaining about that 1 EUR deal and did not read anything on the subject after that.

[logfiles]

huh, I forgot we're gonna see Xavi making his debut next weekend (and also Dani Alves? ),, couldn't have asked for an easier game, Espanyol are literally 3 points for free for Barca, especially at the Camp nou...off to a great start, barcelona fans (;

Being a derby, I still believe Barcelona will have to sweat for the three points but who knows what Xavi has on table

Dani won't be able to play until January. I thought that signing free agents is allowed during whole season, but seems that I was wrong.

It probably has to do with the contract that he had with Sao Paulo. So the rules won't allow him to register until the transfer window reaches.