Beyond the forced modifications in the midfield, I hope Galarreta and Herrera play because with that pivot we will win for sure, the big question is who will play up front. I think Valverde has made the decision for days but we won’t know until 8:00 p.m. or so.
The question is, opt for the finishing center forward like Villalibre, who bothers and fixes the centre-backs, is feisty, who draws fouls, and who in addition to being on a roll, is losing in the cup, or play with Gurutzeta who made a bad game in Valencia, he has hardly participated in the cup and he tries to move between the lines to start from behind in attack, therefore not fixing the center backs.
Both options have pros and cons. Villalibre usually fixes the centre-backs, and that is good when the centre-backs in question are more or less good with the ball, because it is good to have players busy in defense who are capable of starting the game with the ball, an often feisty striker It usually wears them out more than they probably would like. Furthermore, Villalibre currently needs fewer balls to score goals than Gurutzeta, the statistical data supports this, and if the two brothers play on the wing today we will need a good finisher because these games usually have few opportunities. Gurutzeta has the advantage that he can come lower to receive, but he is not a virtuoso with the ball, so he is not going to take the center backs too much out of their zone, something that Sancet could take advantage of. That said, I would like Villalibre to continue, because I think it is the ideal match for the buffalo.
In any case, to win today I think there are several premises that we have to meet:
1.- Rapid circulation of the ball, teams like Barcelona and Madrid suffer chasing the ball. By moving the ball quickly we will always find spaces to enter. For that, the best in the engine room are Herrera and Galarreta. The high rhythm destroys this Barsa.
2.- Touching the area: It is a truism, but inside the area they cannot touch you, you have to provoke plays with ball control in the areas, the defenders cannot put their foot in as they would like and today Der Stegen is not playing, Iñaki Peña is playing , clearly one of Barça’s weak links.
3.- Recovering balls up: It is also a truism, but the closer to the opponent’s goal you recover, the fewer passes you have to make to score and the fewer opposing players they have to defend themselves (we know this well because before it used to happen a lot to us). High blood pressure is the key.
4.- They are not Messi’s Barça. You have to fundamentally control Joao Felix and Ferran, both players who start from behind. They have quality up top but they are not what they were by any means, it is essential not to let them play inside the area lest the referees (after the pressure they have had this week) feel pushed to give them a hand.
5.- Above all intensity, that they feel that they are not going to leave the cathedral alive from the first minute.
I don’t know how you see it.
Relentless in the fight
generous in victory
the merit is in the work
made with old oxen and with hands
with patience but without rest
at that we are the best
and no one has or will have that title.
Aupah Athletic
