Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Barcelona’s conquer SL Benfica within the UEFA Champions League has helped them seal a spot within the quarterfinals the place they are going to tackle final season’s runners-up, Borussia Dortmund.
Nonetheless, the win over Benfica was removed from straight-forward for Barcelona and it required some glorious planning from coach Hansi Flick to get them over the road.
One of many tactical provisions that was made by Flick within the lead-up to the second-leg conflict towards Benfica was to have a backup prepared for Pau Cubarsi.
How Flick deliberate the Benfica tie round Araujo
Ever since Cubarsi picked up an early crimson card towards Benfica within the first leg, Flick had already began to plan his integration course of for Ronald Araujo, studies SPORT.
Regardless of some studies suggesting Araujo had fallen down the pecking order, Flick had no doubts in regards to the Uruguayan’s significance.
When Cubarsi was proven the crimson card, the German tactician acted swiftly by bringing on Araujo, whose physicality and defensive instincts made him the best alternative to assist Barcelona climate the storm.
Araujo loved a tremendous recreation vs Benfica. (Picture by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Photographs)
The defender, regardless of approaching chilly, put in a commanding efficiency in Portugal, which additional helped reinforce Flick’s perception in his skills.
Flick had initially deliberate to check Araujo in the suitable centre-back function towards Osasuna, however the match was suspended as a result of tragic passing of Dr. Carles Minarro.
As an alternative, the coach relied on the intensive coaching classes and video evaluation he had been offering for Araujo to fine-tune the defender’s adaptation to his system.
Flick anticipated Benfica to focus on Araujo’s distribution, very similar to PSG did beneath Luis Enrique final season.
To counter this, he ready different setups, together with utilizing Frenkie de Jong as a deep-lying playmaker between the centre-backs.
Moreover, Jules Kounde performed deeper to supply assist, and Olmo positioned himself nearer to the defensive position.
In the end, Flick’s gamble paid off as Araujo ended up producing a stable show on the coronary heart of Barcelona’s four-man backline.
