The competition returns for Barça and it does so with a great match. The Blaugrana, with the need to change their face with respect to the end of 2023, visit one of the teams that, without a doubt, are playing the best in the championship: UD Las Palmas of former Barça player García Pimienta. A duel that has everything to get hooked on football and tactics. Here are my 5 keys to this fantastic match:
The first point of the match happens because Barça makes a radical change compared to the last third of 2023. The team has to teach much more in all facets of the game and, especially, it has to rebel football-wise against Xavi’s words after the disappointing match against Almería. With the ball, the Blaugrana have to show more solutions and greater fluidity than has been seen to date and, defensively, show more aggressiveness and more coordination in the pressure. This was a great strength during the 2022-23 season and has not been seen this season. Barça cannot afford to repeat a defensive performance like the one seen against Almería where they only managed to recover five balls in the final third of the field (only one in the first half). Day for Xavi to make decisions. We will see if replacing important proper nouns or changing the system. New year, new team.
With Pedri’s new loss, Xavi will have to look for alternatives to cover the playmaker area. And, taking into account Sergi Roberto’s excellent second half against Almería playing behind the forward, it is very likely that the captain could have continuity. The youth player is a better interior than a pivot due to his ability to enter the area from the second line. Another topic will be the possible debut of the new addition Vitor Roque. Xavi has already announced that he will go slowly with his participation but he has entered the call and that gives him serious options to have minutes. In this case, it will be interesting to see in what position and what role the coach gives him within the game scheme.
It will be very important for Barça to be successful in passing because Las Palmas will come out with the intention of having the ball and dominating the game. And, with an average of 59% in the championship, it is, just behind Barça and Madrid, the third team that has the most ball. He tries it against any rival and in any context. Against Betis at the Villamarín they ended up losing by the minimum but subdued the green and white team with 60% control of the game. And that is what its main strength is based on. So the big key for tonight is for Barça to have the ball for most of the game and to make good decisions with it. It will be vital to vary between transiting and maintaining long possessions in the opposite field. And, when in doubt, being patient will be the best choice. Canaries know how to survive if they have to chase the ball but they break down and wear out more than necessary.
A lot of damage is done to the island group by going deeper along the side vertically. And García Pimienta’s team is a very good team at maintaining distances between their lines. With the ball they all travel together and, in defense, they also compress well. Especially inside. This is precisely why Barça has to try to enter through both wings with determination, both with wingers and full-backs doubling. And one of the most favorable situations to do so will be transitions. When the Blaugrana manage to recover in the lower-middle zone, a great option will be to look for the pass outside and take advantage of the meters to search for the rival area. On the other hand, Barça has to take advantage of the fact that Las Palmas plays from behind and uses its goalkeeper a lot. Álvaro Vallés is, with an average of 46 passes per game, the goalkeeper who participates most in the game in the entire League and Barça must try to take advantage of that to jump quickly and aggressively towards him. He does not raffle the ball but seeks to play it.
With Alberto Moleiro (one of the greatest young talents in this League) with physical problems, the Las Palmas squad has other very interesting players. First of all, we must talk about the ex-Azulgrana Mika Mármol. The left-footed center back is having a great season. García Pimienta’s confidence and premises (1400 minutes out of a possible 1440) have brought out the best version of him. On the other hand, Kirian Rodríguez is another high-level footballer. The midfielder has enormous weight in the island team’s game. He is one of the most associated players in this League and the thermometer of the yellow team. Furthermore, with 3 goals, he is also the top scorer. Finally, it is always necessary to keep a close eye on the exes and Las Palmas has two on the attack front: Munir and Sandro Ramírez.
