The world doesn't stop for the Catalan derby like it does for the Clasico, but for locals and La Liga aficionados, this is one of the biggest games on the calendar.
Let's take a look at how this one could shape up tactically.
Barcelona News
Barcelona beat Huesca 4-0 midweek in the Copa del Rey, rotating their side heavily and seeing some strong performances. It gives Luis Enrique food for thought ahead of the derby.
Lionel Messi's fifth yellow card of the season against Valencia originally suspended him for the tie, but an appeal was successful—yep, you can do that in Spain!—and he's available for this weekend's match.
One of Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano is expected to drop out from midfield, though while it's usually the latter and he usually drops into defence, Jeremy Mathieu's partnership with Gerard Pique was very good at the Mestalla.
Espanyol News
Espanyol have switched between 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 this season, with Euro 2008 winner Sergio Garcia leading the line.
@stighefootball
Per WhoScored.com, Salva Sevilla and Christian Stuani—Espanyol's top scorer this season—are fit to take part. Stuani may not start even in a 4-4-2 but has come off the bench to great effect lately.
For those unfamiliar with Barca's neighbours, look out for the brilliant Lucas Vazquez on the right-hand side, on loan from Real Madrid, and newly instated centre-back Eric Bailly: inexperienced but potentially very good.
Key Tactical Point 1: A Midfield Sure to Change?
Luis Enrique surprised...well...everyone when he opted to play Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets in the same midfield against Valencia. We'd seen a brief (worrying) glimpse of it vs. APOEL in a dead-rubber Champions League game, but to field them both against the uber-defensive Valencia was odd.
Busquets scored a stoppage-time winner so the tactical questioning abated, but for much of the game, it looked flat, lifeless and unable to break down a stubborn home outfit.
Canal+
Sergio Busquets. Playmaker.
Enrique will surely change his setup this week, as Espanyol stand just as likely to pack numbers behind the ball. Barca will dominate possession, but if the link between the midfield and the attacking troika of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is cut, they'll get nowhere once again.
Xavi switching back to right central midfield (so he can find Dani Alves with through/switch balls), Andres Iniesta returning or Ivan Rakitic's driving runs are all options.
Key Tactical Point 2: Space Behind the Full-backs
Barca now play with three strikers on the pitch, and at times it can get a little narrow when Messi drops in for Suarez and Neymar to run through. The width comes solely through the full-backs pushing on, and that opens age-old gaps for opponents to take advantage of.
That is perhaps why Rodrigo was fielded on the left of a front three for Valencia last week ahead of the spectacular Pablo Piatti, as the Spaniard's pace in behind looked an important threat.
Canal+
Espanyol will have to do what Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho and a tonne of other clubs have done: Look to beat the initial press, survive in possession for more than four seconds and fire a through ball in behind Jordi Alba and Dani Alves.
With Vazquez in fine form and on the wing, he's in a perfect spot to challenge Alba.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire