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Whether or not it is right down to the ceaseless calls for of their expectant fanbase or the inflexible necessities of La Liga’s accountants, Barcelona can not afford a season of transition.
The membership could also be transferring away from their residence for the primary time in six many years and filling yawning chasms left by the departure of a number of hulking figures, together with captain Sergio Busquets and the enigmatic winger Ousmane Dembele, however Xavi Hernandez’s activity stays unchanged; win all of it.
After a La Liga opener towards Getafe on Sunday night time, this is what lies forward for Barcelona within the coming marketing campaign.
It is secure to say that Xavi sees the sport otherwise to Cadiz’s head coach Sergio. Barcelona’s boss is open about his obsession with possession. “It is clear to me my staff has to regulate the ball,” he as soon as stated, “I endure after I don’t have it.”
No staff in La Liga tried fewer passes than Cadiz final season. Barcelona will definitely dominate the ball for his or her first aggressive fixture at their new residence in Montjuic subsequent Sunday, however will they put it within the web? (In all probability.)
Quique Setien is one other possession addict, preaching from the altar of Johan Cruyff with such enthusiasm that he talked his method into briefly changing into Barcelona supervisor in 2020.
Unai Emery’s alternative at Villarreal final time period earned only one level fewer than Actual Madrid throughout his 27 league video games in cost. After dropping two star forwards within the type of Nicolas Jackson (to Chelsea) and Samu Chukwueze (AC Milan), it stays to be seen if the Yellow Submarine can rediscover their kind.
Barcelona journey to Osasuna’s famed El Sadar stadium simply three days after the second leg of their Europa Convention League play-off.
Final season’s shock package deal in seventh place and likewise reached the Copa del Rey last – the place they had been crushed by Actual Madrid. Barcelona might encounter a staff driving excessive as they embark upon their first group stage of a European competitors since 2006/07.
READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
Actual Betis had been a weird anomaly final season; regardless of committing the second-fewest fouls in La Liga, Manuel Pellegrini’s aspect collected a league-high 15 purple playing cards.
In each of Betis’ matches with Barcelona final time period, the Seville outfit ended the competition with simply ten gamers. Xavi’s aspect, by comparability, recorded extra fouls than Betis however solely obtained six purple playing cards.
Xavi loved outstanding success within the Champions League as a participant however has repeatedly come unstuck within the competitors throughout his embryonic managerial profession.
After consecutive group-stage exits, Barcelona merely must advance to the knockout levels. Profitable La Liga ensures that the Catalans are in Pot 1 for the draw and so keep away from some other European champion. Nonetheless, Xavi might nonetheless come up towards one in all Manchester United, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Porto or Arsenal.
Gabri Veiga was already a goal for quite a few European golf equipment earlier than he single-handedly hauled Celta Vigo to security on the ultimate day of the La Liga season in June.
Two Veiga targets towards the freshly topped league champions had been sufficient to earn Celta three valuable factors and safe the membership’s top-flight standing for another season. Veiga might have declared his love for Celta on the last whistle that day however few anticipated him to stay round after the summer season.
Veiga began the primary match of the season on Celta’s bench however might not nonetheless be a part of the membership by the point they journey to Catalonia in September after the switch window has closed.
Date / Kick-off time (BST) |
Fixture |
---|---|
20/08/2023 – 18:30 |
Barcelona vs Cadiz |
27/08/2023 – 16:30 |
Villarreal vs Barcelona |
03/09/2023 – 20:00 |
Osasuna vs Barcelona |
16-17/09/2023 – TBC |
Barcelona vs Actual Betis |
19-20/09/2023 – TBC |
Barcelona vs TBC |
23-24/09/2023 – TBC |
Barcelona vs Celta Vigo |
On this week’s version of Speaking Transfers, a part of the 90min podcast community, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth, Graeme Bailey and Sean Walsh to debate the ever-changing Moises Caicedo saga, Harry Kane’s transfer to Bayern Munich and extra!
If you cannot see this embed, click on right here to hearken to the podcast!
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