Barcelona’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt midweek was something however simple, particularly with the Catalans needing a Jules Kounde brace to get them over the road.
Three video games now stay earlier than they disperse for the winter break, and the primary of them is in opposition to Osasuna at residence.
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Alessio Lisci’s males haven’t had a season to recollect up to now and languish in fifteenth place, simply three factors forward of the relegation zone. Their latest type, nonetheless, has been much more encouraging as they’re unbeaten in three video games and have received their final two video games.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Osasuna.
Midfield mainstay to return
Frenkie de Jong was briefly out of Barcelona’s squad for some private issues and returned to the dynamics just for the previous two video games. On each events, he began on the bench.
, in the meantime, positioned his religion within the mixture of Pedri and Eric Garcia to return good within the double-pivot, and the duo did effectively to manage the center of the park.
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Tomorrow, nonetheless, the supervisor may deliver De Jong again as a starter, and all indicators level to him becoming a member of Pedri as a starter with Eric Garcia transferring again to a defensive function.
The staff are but to play three video games this yr earlier than dispersing for the break, and Flick sees it to be essential to steadiness out gamers’ minutes. The Dutchman’s return, therefore, is near assured, and he’ll look to revive his synergy with Pedri.
Different minor rotations are anticipated to characteristic, with there being a robust likelihood of Marcus Rashford or Roony Bardghji that includes and Robert Lewandowski being rested. The large change, nonetheless, is undoubtedly that of De Jong’s return.
Very long time, no clear sheet
In the hunt for a clear sheet. (Picture by Justin Setterfield/Getty Photographs)
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Joan Garcia returned from his prolonged layoff interval in Barcelona’s sport in opposition to Athletic Membership and has remained the staff’s beginning goalkeeper ever since.
His return from harm was extremely celebrated, and rightfully so, given how stable he has been on the again for the staff this season. In actual fact, he stored Barcelona’s first clear sheet after ten video games on the evening in what was a fairytale return.
Since then, he has began 5 video games for Barcelona throughout all competitions and has finished exceedingly effectively, not solely with shot-stopping but in addition along with his distribution and sweeping capability. But, he has not maintained one other clear sheet.
For the trouble he has been placing in, Garcia deserves to have clear sheets to his title, and the staff’s tendency to concede early is just not serving to his trigger.
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One of many priorities in opposition to Osasuna, past taking the three factors, thus, will likely be to take care of a clear sheet after a very long time. In spite of everything, there’s a actual have to buckle up defensively and do higher as a unit.
An opportunity to drag clear
Actual Madrid’s latest type in La Liga has been poor to say the least, and their constant destructive outcomes have helped Barcelona not solely catch up however surge forward.
The staff’s win over Actual Betis final weekend took Barcelona to 40 factors with 16 video games performed within the competitors. Actual Madrid, in the meantime, fell in opposition to Celta Vigo and are actually on simply 36 factors with as many video games performed.
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Having already secured a fairly stable lead, the Catalans should look to capitalise on the approaching matchday, for it presents them with a large alternative to drag additional away from their arch-rivals.
Actual Madrid tackle Alaves later within the week and can be overwhelming favourites below any regular circumstances. Two pink playing cards in opposition to Celta Vigo, nonetheless, now see them enter the sport with each of their left-back choices unavailable.
Including to that the truth that the staff should not have each right-back choices and simply two beginning centre-backs accessible, Los Blancos are severely crippled on the again.
Their ongoing type with the aforementioned setbacks, thus, leaves a large likelihood of them dropping factors and Barcelona should take all three factors to pile the stress on them.
It’s a golden likelihood certainly, and Hansi Flick’s males should bear the identical behind their minds on Saturday.
