Today's game against Deportivo La Coruña should be a routine three points for Barcelona. An expected win to round things off in La Liga before the Club World Cup in Japan. After beating the drop by just 3 points last season, Deportivo currently sit 6th in the table, just three points off 4th-placed Celta de Vigo.
A familiar foe - Deep defensive blocks
Depor coach Victor Sanchez's decision to exclude Celso Borges, Jonas Gutierrez and Fede Cartabia from his matchday squad shows his intent of setting up his side to sit deep with a compact defensive block. This would be of little surprise to the Blaugrana and the team have time and time again shown that they have more than what it takes to find a way to score - usually through moments of brilliance. However, time has also shown that Barça occasionally are not able to make the offensive breakthrough. Just recall any one of the frustrating draws or defeats over the past five years.
Depor clinched an impressive 2-0 win against Celta in late November and have been unbeaten in five league matches since a loss away to Malaga in October. In this run of games, they have held Atletico Madrid and Sevilla to 1-1 draws. Individually, Depor's defenders are not standout players. As a collective, they have been well-drilled, the whole being more than the sum of their parts. Deportivo currently have the 5th best defensive record in the league and will be no pushovers in this regard.
Depor on the counter
After sitting back, naturally the counter attack would be Depor's main - or only - method of offensive threat. With 10 goals to his name, Lucas Pérez is joint-4th on the Pichichi race, level with Cristiano Ronaldo and the irrepressible Aritz Aduriz. Depor are heavily reliant on Lucas Perez, who has scored around half of their total goals. Gerard Piqué & Co should be able to neutralise him and with that would go much of the opposition threat. With their height advantage, the Galicians should be a threat from set pieces. That said, Claudio Bravo and his defence have a great record at defending against set pieces and today should prove no different.
No Neymar - A chance for a youngster
Today's game against Depor seems set up as another chance for either Munir El Haddadi or Sandro Ramirez to step up and impress. Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez shouldering most of the opposition's attention would leave the young apprentice the time and space to make his mark. A deep defensive block would allow Munir/Sandro to focus on the offensive threat, with most of the game expected to be played in the Depor half (not that Luis Enrique would allow them to take their eye off the ball defensively). With Neymar's injury, a good performance today would also be a step forward with regard to a starting role alongside Messi and Suárez at the Club World Cup in Japan.
from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/1Nor2aq
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق