The final time Barcelona took on RCD Espanyol in La Liga, solely a Joan Garcia masterclass on the RCDE Stadium helped them recover from the road.
Now, the Blaugrana put together to tackle their native rivals for , this time in their very own yard on the Spotify Camp Nou, however the timing of the sport couldn’t have been worse.
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Heading into the derby, Barcelona are actually recent off a defeat that put them 0-2 down within the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on combination.
Hansi Flick should not solely look to orchestrate a comeback towards Atletico Madrid subsequent week, but in addition preserve the group’s lead in La Liga and maintain his gamers recent – one thing that’s simpler mentioned than accomplished within the present scenario.
Nonetheless, the coach has no possibility however to discover a approach to maintain his facet alive on each fronts, and the extent and thought behind his rotations for tomorrow’s sport will go a good distance in deciding the identical.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Espanyol.
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A derby on the mistaken time
In any regular scenario, a sport between Barcelona and Espanyol would steal the limelight as the most important sport of the match-day in La Liga.
This time, nevertheless, there’s a sense of quiet across the sport, and understandably so given the circumstances round its scheduling.
Barcelona, in any case, tackle Espanyol in between the 2 legs of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal towards Atletico Madrid and it’s clear that the Blaugrana won’t give attention to that end result as a lot as they might have in any other case.
In any case, additionally they have a seven-point lead in La Liga, and if they don’t prioritise the midweek sport over tomorrow’s, they are going to be left alive in only one competitors.
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For his or her pure survival on a number of fronts, Barcelona are compelled to strategy tomorrow’s sport with warning and a conservative strategy – one thing that dampens the colourful spirit of a derby. But, there may be merely no manner across the scenario.
Pedri is best rested
Relaxation for Pedri? (Photograph by Angel Martinez/Getty Photos)
Barcelona’s 0-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid midweek had a number of takeaways for Hansi Flick, one of many greatest of which was the substitution of Pedri at half-time.
Having began the sport, the Canary Islander left the sector within the forty fifth minute and didn’t return after the break. The choice was made as a result of he was coping with discomfort and the supervisor didn’t want to take any dangers.
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Given the scenario, Barcelona and Flick on Saturday, and the participant is best rested than compelled on the sector in any capability.
It thus stays to be seen who Flick deems match to start out in midfield. Eric Garcia stays an possibility, and Frenkie de Jong is anticipated to return, it’s unlikely that he’ll begin.
With Marc Bernal unavailable, Flick may additionally flip to Gavi as a starter. Another choice could be to start out one in every of Dani Olmo or Fermin Lopez in a deeper position as properly.
Momentum has by no means been extra worthwhile
Barcelona weren’t the worst facet towards Atletico Madrid for a lot of the sport, and in reality, deserved the win greater than the Colchoneros regardless of taking part in a person down for a very long time.
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There may be, thus, within the second leg of the fixture. Nonetheless, they need to make sure that they’ve the momentum firmly on their facet forward of the sport.
What Barcelona lacked within the first leg of the UEFA Champions League was the power to capitalise on their possibilities, and any efficiency with a robust attacking show will hand them the arrogance that they will pull off the unimaginable midweek.
To take action towards Espanyol in a heated derby affair, evidently, will solely pump the arrogance additional increased and Barcelona have a golden likelihood, in that sense, to get themselves again on monitor.
Flick will undoubtedly make rotations, proper from defence to the ahead line, however to have the group choose up a win regardless of the tough circumstances will probably be a large assertion of the dressing room’s capabilities.