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Barcelona’s subsequent 4 video games, as scheduled in the intervening time, span throughout 4 completely different competitions and it’s clear that the calendar is now heating up.
To kick off the brand new yr, they face a frightening problem within the Copa del Rey that could be simple on paper however is something however that in practicality.
Later tonight, they tackle UD Barbastro within the Spherical of 32 of the cup competitors who’re mockingly the identical workforce they confronted within the occasion final season.
Barbastro are at the moment sixteenth within the RFEF Segunda Division and solely not too long ago recovered from a horrific run of 5 straight losses within the league.
For sure, the sport in opposition to Barcelona is the spotlight of their calendar and they’re going to come out all weapons blazing to drag off an upset.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of UD Barbastro vs Barcelona.
New yr, new begin
If there was one workforce in Europe that wanted the hiatus from soccer probably the most to recoup and return, it was Barcelona.
The Catalans, in spite of everything, had been on a downward spiral during the last weeks of 2024 and went from one low to a different from a outcomes perspective.
Their performances in opposition to Leganes and Atletico Madrid weren’t poor in any measure, however they merely had run out of fortune and misplaced each video games devastatingly.
The tip of 2024, thus, was forgettable for Hansi Flick’s facet and the Christmas break was a much-needed respiration area for the dressing room.
Now rested, match and raring for the marketing campaign forward, the Catalans will look to return out all weapons blazing after they take to the sphere for the primary time in 2025.
Having fallen behind in La Liga, it’s going to take an enormous run of momentum for Barcelona to regain the lead and loads is dependent upon how they will maintain churning out outcomes now.
The Copa del Rey conflict tonight, thus, is the beginning of a brand new yr and the workforce will look to ensure they get off on the proper foot.
Debuts incoming
Set to start out tonight. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photos)
Whereas the supervisor should certainly train warning in his strategy to the sport, there’ll undoubtedly be rotations as there have all the time been within the early levels of the Copa del Rey. Apparently, a few of them shall be debuts.
For starters, the primary change anticipated on the night time is for Wojciech Szczesny to switch Inaki Pena within the beginning lineup.
The Polish goalkeeper has not performed an official sport for Barcelona since arriving as a substitute for Marc-Andre ter Stegen and can look to make his mark tomorrow, particularly with Pena slowly shedding the administration’s belief.
The second huge season debut incoming is that of Ronald Araujo who has not featured for the membership in any capability to this point this marketing campaign.
Having fully recovered from an harm he suffered within the Copa America, the Uruguayan shall be wanting to show his price to the brand new supervisor and supply relaxation to both Pau Cubarsi or Inigo Martinez.
Other than the 2 huge debuts, one can anticipate common substitutes like Fermin Lopez and Ansu Fati to advantage begins within the midfield and remaining third and the likes of Gerard Martin to play in defence.
The Copa del Rey paradox
If there may be one factor the Copa del Reyis legendary for, it’s the early upsets it offers yr after yr in what has now turn into a convention.
Ever because the competitors modified its format to a one-game knockout format with the lower-ranked membership having the house benefit, the first-division groups can’t take the occasion with no consideration.
Moving into the fiery environment of a lower-ranked workforce’s stadium and enjoying 90 minutes in opposition to a workforce that has nothing to lose is less complicated stated than accomplished. Barcelona know the identical higher than anybody else.
It was solely final yr in the identical occasion that the Blaugrana took on UD Barbastro within the Spanish Cup however the sport was removed from simple. It was a slim 3-2 win for them on the finish and the opponents had nice possibilities to even pull off an upset,
As they head into the sport in opposition to Barbastro, it’s essential that Hansi Flick maintains rationality and doesn’t underestimate the opposition. One unsuitable step and the occasion could possibly be over for his facet.
