After a derby in which Barça dropped two points, the Catalans begin their journey in the 2022-2023 Copa del Rey tonight. And they do it against a First RFEF team, Intercity from Alicante. A match that Xavi's men have to face well to assert their superiority. Here my 5 tactical keys for this meeting:
These are the two clear objectives of the party. It is a propitious match for Iñaki Peña, Bellerín, Eric Garcia, Kessié, Pablo Torre and company to have a full 90 minutes in a competitive setting. Some footballers who, within a team that will presumably combine with other more permanent players, have to provide that extra intensity and motivation that equals the benefits of Intercity. This is the only way to end up imposing the highest football level of the blaugranas. The history of the Cup to a single game is full of chapters where lowering the intensity a bit ends in surprise. So the role of the less common will be key to pass the round.
After leaving behind the injury that kept him out of the World Cup, Ronald Araújo was discharged before the match against Espanyol. But surely by giving a progressive entry, he did not have minutes in the derby. So today is the ideal day for the Uruguayan to return to activity. Xavi already announced at a press conference that he will start. The match schedule and the upcoming visit to the Metropolitan means that he has to be an important piece soon.
The main difference between categories is not only the quality but, above all, the speed in circulation. That is what really makes the difference and that is what Barça has to assert. Fast circulation, general mobility and playing with few touches in the construction zone have to be weapons to unbalance an opponent who will play in a line of five (5-3-2) and with a high defensive concentration. The fact that the match will be played on a larger pitch like Rico Pérez should help Barça.
If Barça knows how to adjust well to the game in terms of activation, one of the few points in which Intercity can surprise is on set pieces. And it is that the Alicante team is strong in this type of action. An aspect that they have already demonstrated in this same edition of the Cup. They have several players who are doing well at the top (especially the corpulent central defender Rafael Gálvez). Therefore, granting the minimum corners or fouls that could end up in the center is one of the things that, as far as possible, the Barça team will have to do.
Curiosity arises that the rival has several ex-azulgranas. The defender Guillem Jaime is a footballer with a lot of continuity in the game and a long journey. The system that Siviero applies allows him to be much more of a winger than a winger and that gives him more prominence with the ball. Oriol Soldevila is a quality left-footed midfielder with good vision of the game. Finally, mention Xemi Fernández. Another ex with quality, with good hitting and easy goalscoring. With a total of five goals he is Intercity's top scorer.
