Barcelona return to motion after the worldwide break tomorrow, and it will likely be a troublesome check for the membership as they tackle Valencia at residence.
Having began off their marketing campaign with two wins in La Liga, Barcelona confronted a roadblock in opposition to Rayo Vallecano, the place they failed to gather all three factors.
Commercial
The stress, thus, is now on Hansi Flick and Co. to get again to successful methods, and extra importantly, return to enjoying free-flowing soccer as they did all through final season throughout all competitions.
Barca Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Valencia.
Getting again to successful methods
After two shaky wins in La Liga, Barcelona did not take three factors of their closing recreation earlier than the worldwide break. It was certainly their third consecutive recreation on the street, however the truth that they dropped factors was essential.
Getting back from the worldwide break, the stress is on them to get again to successful methods, no matter the associated fee, particularly given the run of type of rivals.
Commercial
Whereas Barcelona are at an inexpensive seven factors after three video games, Actual Madrid have been on hearth and entered the worldwide break three factors away from the Catalans.
Enjoying on Saturday, they made it 4 wins in as many video games, and it’s clear that they’re exhibiting no indicators of stopping early within the season. Sustaining a small hole with them, thus, is in Barcelona’s finest pursuits.
The sport in opposition to Valencia thus turns right into a digital must-win recreation for Hansi Flick and Co., for something lower than such a outcome will broaden the hole with Actual Madrid to at the least 4 factors. A win is essential, and the rejuvenated workforce will look to get off on the fitting foot.
A second residence away from residence
Barcelona to host Valencia at Estadi Johan Cruyff. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Pictures)
Commercial
The sport in opposition to Valencia on Sunday was presupposed to be Barcelona’s first recreation on the new Spotify Camp Nou, and so much was mentioned concerning the venue’s return for the workforce’s league clashes this season.
Not for the primary time, nevertheless, the Blaugrana have been pressured to postpone the return and won’t get again to the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow. As an alternative, the sport will happen at a brief foster residence – Estadi Johan Cruyff.
Joan Laporta and Co. did not get the required permits to host the sport in opposition to Los Che this week at Camp Nou, and the formalities will drag on later into the month.
Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, in the meantime, hosted an enormous music live performance in current days and is thus not able to host a recreation on quick discover.
Commercial
The Catalans, thus, will play on the miniature Estadi Johan Cruyff tomorrow evening – a second residence away from residence after the venue at Montjuic.
It stays unsure when the workforce can certainly make the much-awaited return residence, however enjoying at such a small venue tomorrow is undoubtedly a serious blow for Hansi Flick and Co.
The large absentees
The worldwide break has been tough for Barcelona in some ways, primarily by way of the accidents suffered by key gamers throughout completely different nationwide workforce camps.
For starters, Frenkie de Jong is dominated out of tomorrow’s conflict in opposition to Valencia owing to a health setback, and the supervisor should thus look to deploy a brand new double-pivot mixture on the evening.
Commercial
With Gavi additionally dominated out, all indicators level to Pedri and Marc Casado beginning in opposition to Valencia because the double-pivot, and the mixture previously that Flick can financial institution on.
In the meantime, Alejandro Balde can be unavailable. However the larger blow, undoubtedly, is that has dominated him out of the sport and made his availability for the UEFA Champions League opener in opposition to Newcastle United a serious doubt.
Changing the Ballon d’Or favorite and his impression on the sector is close to unimaginable, and Flick may have his work minimize out to make sure the workforce’s attacking output doesn’t diminish in his absence.
Whether or not he locations Raphinha on the fitting wing and begins Marcus Rashford on the left wing, or he fingers Roony Bardghji a beginning debut down the fitting flank, stays to be seen, for it’s going to determine a serious a part of the outcome for Barcelona.