Barcelona made a large assertion midweek with a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid, retaining the pole place on the league standings and consolidating themselves as one of many favourites within the title race.
On Saturday, they’ll face off in opposition to Actual Betis on the Estadio la Cartuja as a part of Matchday 15 as they appear to take one other huge step in the direction of widening their lead on the high.
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The final time Barcelona performed away in opposition to Actual Betis, the sport was on the Benito Villamarin, which is now beneath renovation. On the night time, nonetheless, the Catalans conceded a 94th-minute equaliser to drop two factors in a irritating recreation.
With Actual Betis nonetheless one in all Spain’s most in-form groups and at present undefeated in eight video games throughout all competitions, Barcelona could have a large problem tomorrow.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Actual Betis vs Barcelona.
Driving on momentum
It has not been mentioned too typically this season that Barcelona are using on momentum, for many of their performances within the marketing campaign have seen them both take house scrappy wins or trip on particular person brilliance.
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The workforce’s win over Atletico Madrid, nonetheless, marked their first correct dominant exhibiting in latest weeks as they utterly dictated the phrases of play in opposition to Los Rojiblancos.
It additionally marked their first huge recreation win of the season after defeats to Chelsea, PSG, and Actual Madrid, and the Blaugrana will look to trip that momentum as they enter tomorrow’s recreation.
excelled throughout the park in opposition to Atletico Madrid with the defence doing decently nicely, the midfield dominating after lengthy, and the assault lastly being on tune after lengthy this season.
As they tackle one other sophisticated rival in Actual Betis, the objective for Barcelona might be to retain the identical type and high quality that they confirmed midweek.
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Fermin and Olmo change up
Fermin Lopez is again. (Photograph by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Photographs)
Dani Olmo scored the objective that handed Barcelona the lead in opposition to the Colchoneros midweek, however by no means rose to have fun. Within the strategy of scoring the objective, in any case, he fell to the bottom and landed awkwardly to dislocate his shoulder.
His remaining involvement, thus, was the workforce’s objective, and he instantly left the sphere of play and is not anticipated to function this 12 months. For sure, that comes as an enormous blow for Flick and the participant, particularly on condition that he was simply discovering his greatest type as soon as extra.
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Whereas Olmo might be unavailable for tomorrow’s conflict in opposition to Actual Betis, Flick has a concurrent enhance that might not have come at a greater time – the return of Fermin Lopez.
Stepping in as a like-for-like alternative, the Spaniard will come off the bench to tackle Olmo’s function in opposition to Los Verdiblancos and can thus assist fill the void left by his compatriot’s harm.
At this level within the season, it considerably seems that Olmo and Fermin are taking turns being injured, for one’s return seemingly coincides with the opposite’s setback. For sure, Flick might be delighted to have Fermin again for tomorrow’s conflict.
Time for measured rotations
Barcelona’s harm scenario has not permitted Flick to rotate gamers to his expectations this season, however now that a lot of the squad is at his disposal, the supervisor should look to shuffle his playing cards to the correct capability.
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If one factor has change into clear this season, it’s that gamers are extra fragile than within the earlier marketing campaign, and adequately balancing their minutes turns into a should.
With the workforce’s scenario within the UEFA Champions League removed from beneficial and a large house recreation in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt arising midweek, Flick ought to look at hand some key gamers relaxation.
Robert Lewandowski, for starters, may nicely begin on the bench with Ferran Torres taking up as the first striker. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal are anticipated to begin, however it’s best for all events if each are rested for no less than half an hour.
In midfield, Pedri will virtually be pressured to begin on condition that Frenkie de Jong is unlikely to be match to play from the get-go. The supervisor, nonetheless, ought to look at hand the Canary Islander some relaxation within the second half when the Dutchman can return to fill in.
For sure, not a lot is predicted to vary from a defensive standpoint, particularly given how the division has solely begun to indicate some indicators of promise in latest video games.