After a protracted journey away in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Tremendous Cup, Barcelona returned to motion away from residence at Santander for the Copa del Rey Spherical of 16 midweek.
Their calendar, nonetheless, nonetheless doesn’t ship them residence as they have to now journey away to the Basque Nation to tackle Actual Sociedad at Anoeta, or as it’s now known as, the Reale Area.
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Pellegrino Matarazzo’s facet have seen a superb run of outcomes since he took over firstly of this month. They’ve two wins and a draw of their first three video games beneath the brand new coach and will likely be seeking to lengthen the run of momentum tonight.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Actual Sociedad vs Barcelona.
Shifting in the direction of the not possible
Barcelona’s win away towards Racing Santander midweek marked a particular landmark for the group when it comes to the profitable streak that they’re on.
The outcome within the Copa del Rey Spherical of 16 noticed the group hit 11 successive video games with out dropping a degree, reaching degree phrases with a few of the best runs of type within the group’s historical past.
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Reaching 11 straight wins noticed Hansi Flick obtain a feat within the membership’s historical past. For starters, Pep Guardiola’s unstoppable Barcelona hit 11 straight wins in 2009 within the season they went on to win the treble.
Hansi Flick is reaching new heights with this Barcelona facet. (Picture by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Photographs)
The feat was repeated in 2015 by Luis Enrique as his group hit 11 straight wins that marketing campaign. Surprisingly, the Catalans went on to win the UEFA Champions League on that event too.
Flick reaching that particular determine within the earlier fixture exhibits that the group are destined for one thing particular this season – however tonight he has the prospect to do one thing particular and even cross the information held by Guardiola and Enrique.
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The longest ever profitable streak in Barcelona’s historical past is held by Frank Rijkaard, beneath whom the group hit 18 straight wins throughout all competitions. Whereas that’s nonetheless a great distance out, Flick’s facet strikes nearer to the not possible with each win from this level on.
An awaited debut
The Copa del Rey fixture midweek turned out to be far nearer than many anticipated, and it compelled Hansi Flick to carry on the group’s huge names late within the recreation to see out the outcome.
Whereas the group bought the job finished and noticed the massive names partially rested, one goal Flick couldn’t obtain on the night time was handing Joao Cancelo his debut.
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The Portuguese worldwide arrived again on the membership earlier this month and will likely be with the Blaugrana till the top of the season. The supervisor has spoken extremely of his attacking potential and it is going to be fascinating to see the place he suits into Flick’s dynamics.
In all probability, Cancelo’s debut will arrive towards La Actual and it is going to be a matter of focus to see if the supervisor utilises him as a backup right-back or left-back.
Additional, Cancelo’s official integration into Flick’s plans can even liberate a few of the supervisor’s centre-back choices who’re at present caught in full-back roles concurrently, i.e. the likes of Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia, and probably Jules Kounde.
All eyes, evidently, will likely be on what Cancelo can present in his jiffy off the bench and what the supervisor has in retailer for him.
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A reminiscence to show round
Barcelona’s first season beneath Hansi Flick was as near a dream season because it will get, for the membership had been seemingly unstoppable on all fronts.
Can Barcelona proceed their momentum towards Actual Sociedad? (Picture by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Photographs)
All in all, they solely suffered six defeats in La Liga, two within the UEFA Champions League, and had been unbeaten within the Copa del Rey and Spanish Tremendous Cup.
Actual Sociedad at Anoeta, nonetheless, is one fixture that they didn’t handle to triumph in final season, and was one of many six league video games by which the group dropped all three factors final season.
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Furthermore, it served as the beginning of Barcelona’s year-end stoop in Flick’s first season, one which noticed them fall again within the title race and lose steam till the Christmas break.
On the night time, it was Sheraldo Becker who scored within the thirty third minute handy the hosts the lead and Barcelona had been nicely and really outplayed on the night time as they produced an xG of simply 0.64 in comparison with La Actual’s 2.02.
Anoeta, thus, was one in all two away stadiums the place Flick’s group misplaced final season and they’re going to look to show round that outcome and reminiscence tomorrow as they arrive excessive on confidence.