Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Benfica within the UEFA Champions League Spherical of 16 earlier this week might nicely go down because the membership’s single-most essential efficiency within the competitors shortly.
Going a person down in simply the twenty second minute, the Catalans confirmed nerves of metal to maintain their calm and maintain off the hosts whereas Raphinha’s wonder-goal led them to a well-known win away from residence.
Earlier than the reverse fixture at Montjuic subsequent week, nevertheless, Barcelona should first fend off competitors in La Liga from Osasuna who threaten to remove three factors from them for the second time this season.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Osasuna.
Key gamers to relaxation
Having performed in opposition to Benfica solely on Wednesday evening, Barcelona wouldn’t have lengthy earlier than their weekend’s conflict in opposition to Osasuna kicks off at Montjuic.
To name the sport in Lisbon to be draining out can be an understatement. The win is price its weight in gold, however it’s clear that taking part in with ten males for 70-odd minutes left the gamers winded.
Each participant who began in opposition to Benfica ran the additional mile and accomplished the sport exhausted past limits, and it’s clear that will probably be a precedence to relaxation such gamers forward of the second leg subsequent week.
All indicators thus level to proper from in defence. With Pau Cubarsi suspended for the second leg, he’ll begin in opposition to Osasuna and there are talks of Eric Garcia beginning alongside him to relaxation Inigo Martinez and Ronald Araujo.
Alejandro Balde, who suffered a slight health setback midweek, educated usually at the moment and shall be obtainable in opposition to Osasuna however the supervisor would possibly desire to err on the facet of warning and begin .
The midfield, who ran probably the most in Lisbon, requires relaxation greater than another division and Pedri can be the primary participant to warrant the rotation. Given the riches in his arsenal, Flick may look to play a trio of Fermin Lopez, Gavi, and Marc Casado on the evening.
In assault, all indicators level to Raphinha and Lamine Yamal beginning though the division can also be the least predictable place on the sphere.
Time for an Olmo re-run?
Barcelona have been on a goalscoring spree in current weeks and 2025 has largely gone their manner. The current win over Benfica was merely the cherry on the cake.
Osasuna, nevertheless, pose a totally new risk to Barcelona as they are going to be vastly completely different from most opponents the Catalans have confronted in current weeks.
As relayed earlier at the moment, the Pamplona-based facet are to include Barcelona’s assaults and can look to capitalize on the counter to create their probabilities.
Utilising a system to counter the low-block, thus, shall be key if the Blaugrana are to take three factors and Dani Olmo might nicely maintain the important thing.
Regardless of beginning in opposition to Benfica midweek, the Spaniard was hooked off at simply the 20-minute mark after Pau Cubarsi’s crimson card and needs to be recent sufficient to begin tomorrow along with the Champions League second leg subsequent week.
Flick has experimented with Olmo as a false 9 earlier this season and the system labored wonders in demolishing a low block. With Robert Lewandowski more likely to be rested, taking part in the Spaniard because the false 9 could be a wanted masterstroke.
Olmo’s capacity to drop again, draw defenders, and open up areas will give the likes of Raphinha, Fermin, and Yamal house to run into and will probably be fascinating to see if the coach provides the concept a severe thought.
A lesson that should be realized
Barcelona’s first recreation in opposition to Osasuna this season was the ninth on their calendar. Having obtained off to a flying begin, Hansi Flick thus noticed it to be the optimum likelihood to relaxation his common begins and deploy a second-string lineup.
Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Marc Casado, Inigo Martinez, and Alejandro Balde all began on the bench on the evening and what adopted was an absolute demolition of the Catalans as they went on to lose 4-2.
Flick got here below fireplace for his choice to underestimate Osasuna and thus recorded his first home defeat with Barcelona just because he opted to over-rotate in opposition to a high quality opposition.
Tomorrow, he as soon as once more faces an actual have to shuffle his playing cards in opposition to the identical opposition and will probably be key that he doesn’t repeat his mistake of going overboard.
Lots has certainly modified because the final time Barcelona confronted Osasuna with the largest distinction being that substitute gamers are actually stepping up and delivering on a degree beforehand not anticipated of them.
Going for a dangerous lineup, thus, could also be warranted however will probably be key that Osasuna have to harm Barcelona’s type of play and weighs out the professionals and cons of his lineup selections earlier than the sport.