After the setback a week ago in the Classic, Barça visits the fiefdom of one of the best teams in the League. And furthermore, it does so without margin of error because the difference with respect to the main rivals in the fight for the title demands it. In front, a great team that plays and moves by memory. Here are my 5 tactical keys for this great meeting:
Xavi returned to last season's format going out and closing with three at the back. He also slightly lowered the height of the two wingers to facilitate passing lanes towards them and create doubts in the rival. And the team ended up losing but it did withstand the opponent's transitions much better. So it may be that Xavi uses this formula in highly demanding matches. And today's is. So the first of the keys tonight is to see what tactical framework the Barça coach opts for. The defensive behavior shown in the Classic gives serious options to the option of closing three at the back.
Or what is the same, important footballers who will help a lot to improve the team. The first two already played in El Clásico. And it is just as true that they were seen out of shape as it is that, after a clean week, their condition will be much better and that, therefore, they will have great specific weight in the game. It seems clear that the forward will already start while the most likely thing with Raphinha is that he will start the game with the game underway. Be that as it may, they will be two pieces that will add the level and that can be important taking advantage of the spaces. They are both good at it. As for Pedri, he returns after two months and that is great news for Barça. He won't start but he will have minutes. Due to his quality, his vision of the game, his decision-making and his ability to generate in the final third, he improves all the teammates in front of him. Interesting to see his connection with Joao Félix if they meet on the pitch.
La Real de Alguacil maintains the defensive line very high. Especially when he performs at Anoeta. It is the fourth team that spends the least time on its own field when playing at home. So Barça will have many spaces behind the txuriurdin defense. But Barça must use it well because, sometimes, that can be a dangerous weapon. And seeing so many spaces to attack often invites you to be excessively vertical. Barça has to know how to combine appropriate moments to take “goal breaks” without rushing. And this can only be achieved with good decision-making by all the players on the field. Knowing when to throw unmarked, when to make the pass or when not to activate the pass but to keep the ball in a long possession to change the speed. The match will depend, to a large extent, on whether Barça knows how to combine verticality with horizontality.
Just after Getafe, Real Sociedad is the team that makes the most fouls in the League. When they cannot recover high, they cut off the action in the rival field through tactical fouls. It is a clearly worked look. That is why today, it will be vital to find quick passes right after recoveries. Because due to the way the txuriurdin play, there will be many situations in which Barça will have space to run but it will be essential to be quick in making decisions to prevent an infraction from cutting off the transition. It will be necessary to pass before colliding with an opponent.
Real Sociedad has many interesting names: Zubeldia is one of the centre-backs that has grown the most in the League and players like Brais Méndez or Barrenetxea have the ability to generate danger on their own without having to find good combinations. This is, without a doubt, one of the best squads in the championship. But above those mentioned, we must highlight two fantastic footballers. On the one hand, Take Kubo. The Japanese, formerly of Barça youth football, is in the best moment of his career. Five goals and two assists to date and an average of 1.7 key passes per game are very revealing data about his current moment. And on the other, to Mikel Oyarzábal. The Gipuzkoan has recovered the best version of himself this season. He is playing as a nine and is doing what he already did (participating in the game) but, in addition, he is seeing the goal. With six goals and one assist, he is the third top scorer in the championship. His influence on Imanol de Aguacil's team is enormous and his finishing quality is magnificent. Defensively, Barça will have to be very attentive on many fronts tonight.
