D-day arrives for Barça. And it faces the eliminatory that will mark the immediate future of the team. The setting is unbeatable: the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. The rival, Naples, who surprisingly changed their coach this week. Francesco Calzona will be the third coach of the Italians. Here are my keys for this great meeting.
A notable match. One of those days when the defensive demand will be high. And as such it is almost certain that Xavi will repeat the structure he used against Alavés with Andreas Christensen in the pivot position. With this, and with Oriol Romeu who has remained only as an alternative, the team gains a very positional and confident player on the court. It is so true that he still does not seem completely comfortable, as he has several of the necessary football conditions to play there. But to this movement is added the closing three recovered several weeks ago with Jules Koundé in the central-lateral role. And that results in a three-plus-one structure that should allow Barça to better withstand the opponent’s transitions and, consequently, to be somewhat more solid defensively. Considering what has been seen in recent weeks, it would be the most logical thing.
With two days in charge, Calzona will be able to make few tactical changes. Of course, it is likely that he will start in 4-3-3 (the new coach’s favorite system). To start the game from their own field, Napoli usually lowers the height of their full-backs a lot to start the play with four clean passing options that are difficult to stop. So, first of all, Xavi will have to decide what the team does and, especially, the two wingers. The best thing from a football perspective and what the Barça coach will probably decide will be to put the pressure on. But for this, two things will be essential: that the team continue to improve the pressure that was seen in Vigo and that the wingers be very aggressive in the pressure jump. For the second, concentration to know when it is time and determination to recover. If Barça does well, they will be able to recover balls up or force the Italians to play long in a hasty manner, surely generating an unforced error. The best way to subdue Napoli near their goal will be here.
In football, you have to detect the opponent’s collective weaknesses but also individual opportunities. In the case of Naples, there is one aspect that the Blaugrana have to take advantage of: Lobotka’s back to facilitate entries into the area. He will be a sure starter and an opportunity appears to the Barça interiors.
Beyond Lamine Yamal (the most dangerous player), Barça is having a hard time doing damage in positional attacks. But in this facet, there is two good news for this preview. The first is that Naples is not a very solid team at the back. The second is undoubtedly the improvement of Robert Lewandowski. The nine is more agile and more clairvoyant with the ball. He has 4 goals in the last three games and, another very positive fact, is that five of his last seven shots have been on goal. Today will be one of the team’s arguments with the ball. Right now, he is better than the Napoli centre-back pair. He can do damage down the shaft.
The most dangerous and unbalancing player is the Georgian Kvaratskhelia. A fast and super creative footballer. With an average of 2.8 superior dribbles per game, he is the second best dribbler in Serie A as well as the second player who receives the most in the opponent’s half in the Italian championship. A very unbalancing element and one that Barça will have to monitor very closely. Given that he plays as a left winger in Napoli’s 4-3-3, he will be an important touchstone for the one-on-one with Koundé (on paper). On the other hand, it is necessary to talk about his goal man, Victor Oshimen. After playing in the African Cup with Nigeria and having some rest against Genoa, he will be at full strength. He is a powerful footballer, not lacking in quality and complete. He is equally dangerous whether he has space to run or whether he is in the box. He does not hesitate to finish and is quick to set up his leg (3.3 shots on average per game). Furthermore, he has a remarkable aerial game (1.7 aerial duels won per game on average). And that gives him a lot of scoring. He is the team’s top scorer in the domestic championship with seven goals.
