After a week in which all the team’s objectives and the hustle and bustle of the bench have eluded them, Barça will host Valencia with the purpose of maintaining the second place that will ensure participation in the next edition of the Super Cup. For its part, Valencia arrives ready to accelerate its options to enter Europe. Here are my 5 tactical keys for the encounter:
Once it has been decided and confirmed that And in this sense, young players have to rise in prominence. This is not the case of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, who have already become two fixtures in the team, but it is the case of Fermín López who is working hard to be an important part of the club’s immediate future. Today he should be the starter at the top of the square. Furthermore, the loss of De Jong and his determination to finish plays will go well for the Barça team. He accumulates seven goals in the 1,333 minutes he has played this season and, with an average of 1.50 shots per game, he is the fourth player on the squad who finishes the most. Fermín’s status has to change starting today.
Valencia shows great weakness when attacked from its left. And several factors come together in that area. Firstly, the loss of Gayà has meant that it has to be Jesús Vázquez or Yarek who occupies the left back and, secondly, because the interior wingers (Fran Pérez or Diego López) have more of an offensive than defensive outlook. That is to say, Barça will have an area on its right side in which to go deeper. When this happens, the Catalans also have to exploit the arrivals at the first post. And Valencia has had significant difficulties defending the short post throughout the season.
Valencia is a very “jumping” team in medium pressure. This means that the player closest to the ball will always press. That is, he leaves the zone and, consequently, generates free space behind. A space that Barça has to take advantage of to combine or to enter today. The ball holders will have to think quickly to be correct, but it will be important for the other players to enter this freed area. If Barça understands this concept well, they will be able to play comfortably and generate a lot.
Another important factor will be that the team can combine offensive fluidity with the defensive stability offered in the games preceding the return of the Champions League. And Barça has conceded seven goals in the last two games when in the eight prior to these they had only conceded three, keeping a clean sheet in six of the eight. The first objective for tonight has to be to play well, the second, to add the three points and, the third, to keep the goal clean again.
Among the dangers of Baraja’s painting we must necessarily talk about Hugo Duro. And the forward has already accumulated 12 goals and two assists in the League. He has a very high success-to-goal rate considering that Valencia is not one of the most productive or scoring teams in the championship (35 goals scored). Furthermore, with 2.6 fouls received per game, he is one of the players who draws the most fouls in his favor. And all of them in areas close to the area. One of those attackers who are difficult to mark. On the other hand, highlight an interesting footballer who could not play in the first leg due to suspension: Javi Guerra. He is a young midfielder (22 years old), with long legs, a lot of movement and good ball handling. One of his best virtues is his arrival. He signs four goals and 34 total shots. He is combining starting positions with presence in the decisive minutes of the game, but he will be present for sure. And finally, mention André Almeyda, a very talented footballer who has left behind the injury that has prevented him from being available for a good part of the season. Since his return, four incomplete games and two goals.