Witnessing an occasional breathtaking performance is a common occurrence in Barcelona. Though the team have had their ups and downs, there has always been a constant proportion of solid displays along the way.
The issue, however, has been the lack of consistency. After every high, the side have fallen into deep troughs in subsequent games.
On Sunday, Barcelona humbled and tore apart Atletico Madrid in front of a full Camp Nou. Such was the energy and charm on the night that the team converted every chance that came their way.
Heading into the next game, the question will be the same: Can Barcelona hold up their good form for a second consecutive game? Here are Barça Universal’s three talking points ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Espanyol.
1. The void at the right-back
Though Dani Alves only made his official debut for Barcelona in January, it seems hard to believe that it has only been a month. The Brazilian instantly stamped his authority on Xavi’s plans through his impact-packed performances. Within 30 days, it has once again become unthinkable to fathom a Barcelona lineup sans Alves.
The display put up by the right-back against Atletico Madrid seemed set to be his best display in Blaugrana colours since his return. But it was not meant to be, because a rash challenge in the second half saw the 38-year-old receive his marching orders. The two-game ban stands despite being challenged, and Alves will miss the derby at the weekend.
Xavi has two options on his hands: trust Sergino Dest, or revert to a 3-5-2 formation.
Dest has not been an appealing option to the manager so far, but the circumstances may force Xavi to consider the USMNT star once again.
Moreover, one must remember that the coach’s instant reaction to Alves’ sending off was bringing on Dest as a substitute. If that is anything to go by, one could expect to see the youngster given a chance to impress.
The other option would be to revert to a three centre-back formation. Eric Garcia is set to return for the derby and could join Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo to fortify the Barcelona goal, with Adama Traore and Jordi Alba playing the role of fullbacks.
2. The right-wing spell
To return to the Camp Nou and produce an ovation-worthy performance in your first is no mean feat. Many of the world’s biggest names have failed to do what Traore managed against Atletico Madrid on his debut, and the Spaniard has earned a second successive start.
Part of the reason for the winger’s blistering display on the night was Xavi’s tactics. The manager came up with a blueprint that asked Alves to play as an inverted winger. The role reversal saw Traore stretch the field of play and drag out defenders, thereby clearing space for Alves to drift centrally and contribute to the buildup.
The same formula cannot be repeated on Sunday because of the absence of the right-back. Sergino Dest lacks the experience and positioning sense to play as an inverted fullback, which could force Traore to take up the role of drifting inwards.
However, it remains to be seen if the January signing can pull off a similar impact in a contrasting role.
Once again, this problem can be partially resolved by eliminating the need for a right-back. The 3-5-2 option is very tempting to consider, but one must not forget that it comes with its own set of drawbacks.
3. Touching distance of the top three
As hard as it may seem to believe, Barcelona have it in their hands to finish the matchday as the third-placed side in La Liga. Real Betis dropped points against Villarreal last week, opening the door for the Catalans.
A win on Sunday will take Barcelona to 41 points, one point ahead of Betis and nine points behind second-placed Sevilla. However, one must remember that Los Nervionenses have played an extra game.
Barcelona’s winter signings seem to have adapted well to the team and will give them an edge for the second half of the season. A title push seems unlikely at this point, but there is no denying that the Catalans could fight for a second-place finish this season.
This is the start of a challenging schedule for the Blaugranas, with two games against Napoli, Valencia, and Athletic Club up as the next four opponents.
The coming weeks will decide Barcelona’s fate in not just this year’s standings but also next season’s competitions. It remains to be seen how Xavi copes with the pressure, but if recent history is anything to go by, Culés do not have too much to worry about.
