After the hard blow in the Cup, the Camp Nou (9:00 p.m.) will live one of the most attractive matches in the League between two open proposals and associative talent. Barça, to forget the match against Madrid and to continue with the plus twelve in the table. Girona, to compete and enjoy a big game with a certain margin. Here my tactical keys for this great game:
When Girona has the ball, they put one of the full-backs on the inside (usually Arnau) and form a 3-2-2-3 formation in which they look for superiority on all lines. That is to say, that there is going to be a four against four in the middle of the field. Which is why the presence and role of Busquets is very important tonight. And it is that the Barça pivot will have to do what he does best, directing the pressures of the teammates that he has ahead of him and jumping the extra player who remains inside. In this way, Barça will be able to maintain the high level of pressure with which they usually achieve high recoveries from those that generate chances.
The daring proposal, added to the rival’s lack of experience, makes it a favorable match to combine both inside and out. It is no coincidence that Girona has the same goals for as against (42). Xavi’s men have to take advantage of this factor to exploit one of their best virtues: the combinative game. If they do it repeatedly, they will take chances of danger.
The ex-Barcelona player is Girona’s non-negotiable pivot and the real key man from a tactical point of view. With 23 starts out of 23 possible in his case, he is the one who maintains the balance in MÃchel Sánchez’s box. He compensates for the spaces that the interiors can neglect, he goes to nearby aid and, in addition, he is very good both in getting the ball out and identifying himself as support support in circulation in the rival field. If Barça manages to get him out of the zone through repetitive circulation and mobility, they will have a lot of cattle to generate scoring chances. Fundamental role of the two Barca midfielders coming to receive to force Oriol Romeu to jump or make a positional decision that moves him.
In the first round match, Girona was the most unnatural Girona of the season, changing its active proposal for a much more reactive one, retreating into its own half in two lines of four and five respectively. A setting in which the team from Girona did not feel at all comfortable and that, although it is true that it made Barça’s game difficult, it is also true that it took away almost all of the team’s offensive punch. In fact, Girona played 31% of the time in their own third of the field and it was when they raised height already with a score against, when they caused the most problems for the Catalan team. So the first key from Girona’s point of view is not to anchor the team back again, but to place the block as usual and start the pressure beyond the midfield as usual.
Given the offensive richness of MÃchel’s team, there are several factors with which Girona can do damage. The first is with the talent of Rodrigo Riquelme who, playing with a changed leg from the left and with movements around him, is completing an excellent campaign. He has a great ability to overflow and is, without a doubt, one of the strong elements with the ball.
The Ukrainian is a top level player and he is already showing it. He signs three goals and three assists in just 541 minutes of play. That is, either score or assist in each game. Positioned as a right winger in the 4-3-3 base, he has multiple resources with the ball. Today, a priori, he has to have more space to exploit his extraordinary shot, his excellent one-on-one and his ability to influence the game. We’ll see if against Alba or Balde. Whoever it is, he will be one of the heads of the game without a doubt.
Also highlight Arnau MartÃnez. Good in defense, proud in defense and with football skills to help towards the opposite goal.
Whether in strategy, arrivals or shots, it is obligatory to talk about Christian Stuani. On the other hand, the striker is no longer a structural player of the team (and it is normal) but he continues to play quality minutes and continues to decide the game. And it is that the goal and the mentality that the Uruguayan has are very few footballers. Seven goals in 706 minutes. A finisher like him on a team that generates so much is always an extra value. Tonight too. He plays what he plays.
