Barça will face a key match against Porto tonight (9pm). A clash that, in all likelihood, will decide first place in the group and, consequently, the team's short-term future in the Champions League. Here my keys for this meeting:
The precedents of the last two years make it non-negotiable to give maximum importance to this meeting at all levels. That is why Xavi will have to field the best team to show the best version. In this sense, without De Jong, without Pedri and with Araújo still with little competition rhythm, the eleven is quite clear both in defense and in the midfield. But Raphinha's injury opens the question for a right winger position. Lamine Yamal or Ferran Torres are the options. In terms of football, the youth player's is the highest level, but the demands of the competition and the need to have arguments to change the game if necessary, also give arguments for the Valencian to be chosen. In fact, the latter seems the most likely. Interesting to check the coach's preference and how he manages the extreme width area.
It will be transcendental to read the rhythms of the game. There will be moments to control the game and to play at a slow tempo, but Barça will also have moments to play fast. In their own field and in a progression zone, it will be important for the team to advance reliably and with few losses since perhaps Porto's strongest point is transitions. But in the opposite field, the team has to improve its speed of movement. Against Sevilla, Xavi's men played with notable offensive clarity but with low speed. So much so that the Blaugranas played with an average of 1.46 touches per pass. Too high an average to attack good defenses.
Barça will have to take advantage of the areas that go from the side to the rival centre-back. Especially on the right wing of the Portuguese. Because they go out of adjustment very easily. In the derby against Benfica, they suffered a lot. Cardoso's expulsion comes precisely in a sequence in which Benfica exploits a very obvious disconnect in the defensive line with a simple parallel vertical pass.
The interiors and wingers on the opposite side (Lamine, Ferran Torres, Joao Félix, Gavi, Fermín...) will have to be very active and attentive tonight. And Porto has a lot of problems controlling distant finishers. Almost all rivals have generated chances from these sequences. Without going any further, Benfica scored the winning goal last weekend just like that.
Henderson Galeno is the most dangerous footballer on the team. Usually starting from the left wing, he is a fast and skilled player. He has three goals and two assists. Be very careful with him in open field situations. Also talk about Mehdi Taremi, his goal man. A player without technical boasts but with high instinct for finishing. He has surpassed 20 goals in the domestic league for two consecutive seasons. On the other hand, it is obligatory to talk about Nico González, who is still a Barça player. A footballer with high potential and great technical quality but who is not counting excessively in Sergio Conceiçao's plans. He currently has 268 minutes between the League and the Champions League. His preference for intense and organized players is working against him. We will see if he has minutes today
