In the midst of an institutional and football earthquake due to what happened this week, Barça will recover the pending match against Osasuna tonight (7pm). The Barça team has no other option than victory, emotionally and football-wise. These are my 5 tactical keys for this match:
It will be Xavi’s first post-decision match. It is unknown whether this will have a positive effect on the team or just the opposite, but what is certain is that the coach will not make decisions thinking about locker room balances. And that will make all the actions, starting with this afternoon’s eleven, be real. In this sense, it will be interesting to see if he gives scope to young people or takes some representative measures with an established player. Be that as it may, it seems clear that, from now on, the coach will put an end to the game system in which he believes the most and the one that he has recovered for weeks: three defenders at the back, a winger who spreads out and the inside square to attack. What is evident today is Cancelo’s return to the starting eleven.
Xavi’s announcement forces the footballers to step forward. Especially the players with greater background and more experience. Among all, the names of Ilkay Gündogan and Robert Lewandowski, both European champions, stand out. The forward has to raise the level of his current football. It is necessary for him to fix the centre-backs well when he is at the forefront, to unload faster when he comes to receive and, above all, to move better in the area.
As for the German, he has combined discreet performances given his high level with several other notable ones. For example, against Villareal, where he played in a more advanced position than what he had been doing lately (infielder) and in which he can be more visible and more decisive. He participated in all three goals. He has to continue this line or even increase benefits.
Osasuna defends well statically, especially everything that is positional, but has real problems minimizing the players who come from behind. It is no coincidence that the majority of dangerous actions that the team has generated for the Navarrese, both in the Super Cup semi-final and in the League match (penalty included), have come with this maneuver. And that is something that the Barça team has to continually exploit and take advantage of today.
Those from Arrasate are a team that jumps to all pressures in almost all areas of the field. Especially when they are moved in stretches of transition or when the game ends up opening up in the second half. And that is when the interior spaces between their lines open up for the Navarrese. When that happens, the best thing is to drive to gain meters and set to provoke a final jump under pressure from the rival to release the last pass. A concept that the Catalans will do well to apply this afternoon.
It will be necessary to pay maximum attention to Osasuna’s goal man, Ante Budimir. A pure finisher who moves wonderfully in the area. He has special intuition to win the finishing zones before the defender and the ability to finish with just one contact. Something to which he adds an extraordinary aerial game. He has scored ten of the 26 goals that Arrasate’s team have scored so far. No less than 38% of the Navarrese team’s goals. On the other hand, mention the former Barça player José Arnaiz. A piece that usually plays in the final stages of the game and knows how to take advantage of these game contexts. The Chimy Ávila situation can give it more prominence. He was a starter in the Super Cup Semifinal and the player who brought the most danger to Iñaki Peña’s goal.
