Barcelona’s Jordi Alba overlooked for Spain squad; Alvaro Morata in, Paco Alcacer returns

ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe and the FC panel agree that Luis Enrique’s Spain have flipped the script on the old tiki-taka style of play.

Steve Nicol and Brian McBride react to Spain’s relentless domination of World Cup runners-up Croatia in a surprising UEFA Nations League result.

Croatia suffered their worst-ever defeat in international competition as Luis Enrique earned his first victory on home soil for Spain.
Borussia Dortmund’s in-form striker Paco Alcacer has been included in Spain’s squad for the games against Wales and England, but his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba continues to be omitted.
Alcacer has scored four goals, including his team’s second in a 3-0 win over Monaco in Wednesday’s Champions League, in three games since joining Dortmund on loan from Barcelona this summer.
Spain coach Luis Enrique has rewarded the 25-year-old, who has not featured for his country since March 2016, with…

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Barcelona’s Jordi Alba overlooked for Spain squad for ‘sporting reasons’ – Luis Enrique

ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe and the FC panel agree that Luis Enrique’s Spain have flipped the script on the old tiki-taka style of play.

Steve Nicol and Brian McBride react to Spain’s relentless domination of World Cup runners-up Croatia in a surprising UEFA Nations League result.

Croatia suffered their worst-ever defeat in international competition as Luis Enrique earned his first victory on home soil for Spain.
Spain coach Luis Enrique refused to answer questions regarding his continued omission of Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba from the national squad, but said his decisions are based purely on sporting reasons.
A regular under Luis Enrique’s predecessor Julen Lopetegui and a starter at the World Cup in Russia, Alba assisted three goals in Barca’s 4-2 win over Tottenham on Wednesday.
Left out of Luis Enrique’s first squad selection, he has again not been included by his former Barca boss for upcoming…

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Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba key encouraging Barcelona performance vs. Tottenham

ESPN FC’s Ale Moreno reiterates that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, and it showed in Barcelona’s dominating performance over Tottenham
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona ended a three-game winless run to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in the Champions League.

Barca took the lead inside the first two minutes when Philippe Coutinho drove home after Messi had released Jordi Alba.

Ivan Rakitic thumped home the La Liga side’s second before the break with a volley but Harry Kane pulled one back for the home side in the second half. Messi quickly restored Barca’s two-goal lead before Erik Lamela’s deflected effort hauled Spurs back…

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Barcelona’s Jordi Alba must use Spain snub as motivation – Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona are the clear favourites in Group B of the Champions League, but the FC crew think Tottenham could struggle to finish ahead of Inter Milan.

Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde was left fuming at the state of Real Valladolid’s pitch during their 2-1 win in La Liga and feels the club kept in that condition to stop his side.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said Jordi Alba must use the disappointment of being left out of the Spain squad on Friday as motivation to earn a recall.
Alba, 29, has won 66 caps for his country since making his debut in 2011 and was the first-choice left-back at the World Cup.
However, he was a surprise omission from the 23-man list named by Luis Enrique this week, the first since the former Barca coach replaced Julen Lopetegui in July.
“Jordi has to manage [the disappointment] in the same way…

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Barcelona’s Jordi Alba waiting on overdue new contract – agent

The ESPN FC panel answer your tweets on this summer’s transfer window and whether Thiago or Christian Eriksen would be a better fit for Barcelona.

ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe explains what’s delaying Antoine Griezmann from making a decision on his future.

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta was presented as Vissel Kobe player.

Julien Laurens provides insight into the difficult decision Antoine Griezmann faces: staying with Atletico Madrid or joining Messi at Barcelona.
Jordi Alba’s agent cannot understand why Barcelona have not offered the defender the new contract they promised was in the works 18 months ago.
Alba, 29, still has two years to run on the terms he signed with Barca in 2015 but he has been waiting for the club to offer him a new deal for over a year now.
Agent Vicente Fores suggested, ironically, that perhaps the club have not been impressed with the left-back’s performances.
“Raul Sanllehi [who joined Arsenal as head of football relations earlier…

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Barcelona’s Jordi Alba apologises after making gesture at Real Sociedad fan

Barcelona stormed back in the second half to end a seven-match league winless run at Real Sociedad’s Anoeta Stadium.

Barcelona stormed back in the second half to end a seven-match league winless run at Real Sociedad’s Anoeta Stadium.
Jordi Alba has apologised for making a middle finger gesture at a Real Sociedad fan during Barcelona’s thrilling 4-2 win at Anoeta on Sunday.
Barca came from two goals down to record their first La Liga win in San Sebastian in 11 years, dating to 2007.
During the second half of the game, which saw the Catalan side extend their unbeaten run to 29 games in all competitions, left-back Alba became embroiled in a spat with one of the home supporters.
“I was caught, no?” he asked reporters when asked…

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Jordi Alba-Lionel Messi combination is ‘life insurance’ – Barca’s Valverde

Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde admits his side’s 2-0 win at Villarreal was an important win after other La Liga title challengers won their fixtures.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has described the partnership that has developed between Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba this season as the side’s “life insurance.”
The on-pitch relationship between Messi and Alba has taken on more importance since Neymar’s summer departure to Paris Saint-Germain.
With more space to attack on the left, Alba is getting forward increasingly and has already assisted five La Liga goals this season, four for Messi and one for Luis Suarez.
He created two great chances for…

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