Barcelona faced Manchester United in a difficult 90-minute match on Wednesday at Spotify Camp Nou. Despite having the home advantage and being the favorites, Xavi Hernandez's team was fortunate to escape with a 2-2 draw.
The Blaugranas return to the meadows of Camp Nou on Sunday night before the difficult second leg against Manchester United. They play host to Cadiz, a team that they easily destroyed at Stadium Ramon de Carranza but have recently had trouble defeating at home.
With only five victories over 21 games, Sergio's team is now ranked 16th in the league. Yet, they have notably defeated Atletico Madrid this year and head into the game on Sunday off a commanding victory.
three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Cadiz.
1. Significant midfield adjustments
The match on Sunday against Cadiz might have been the occasion when Xavi Hernandez had access to a fully functional midfield once more. It was not, however, meant to be.
When Pedri was injured in the first half of Barcelona's match against Manchester United, it dealt a severe setback to the team. The rising sensation won't likely play again until the second Clasico of March, after being out for nearly to a month.
In place of the midfielder who went to the operating room, Xavi will benefit from Sergio Busquets's return. The skipper received the go-ahead from the doctor earlier today and is anticipated to start the game to regain his rhythm before the match at Old Trafford next week.So, Xavi's selection of the midfield for Sunday's game is vital. Against Cadiz, Busquets and Frenkie de Jong are guaranteed a spot, and Gavi will almost definitely stay on the left wing. The third position in midfield is under dispute, though.
Franck Kessie is the most qualified to start as the third midfielder based solely on the manager's selections in recent games. Pable Torre, though, has a compelling argument for being included.
The youngster hasn't played much for the first team so far this year, but he most closely resembles the lost Pedri in terms of appearance. Starting Torre on Sunday would be a good bet if Xavi intends to use him to surprise Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Suspension of Ronald Araujo No. 2
Rotations are obviously a major concern for Xavi because the second leg of the Europa League match was less than a week ago. The suspension of Ronald Araujo is therefore timely because the Uruguayan would have had Sunday off anyhow.
Also, Sergi Roberto will start at right-back while Jules Kounde will likely start on the bench. Andreas Christensen will take the lead in the center of defense after missing the majority of the match against Manchester United. Eric Garcia, a La Masia alumnus looking to reclaim his lost status, will probably join with him.
So, the matchup with Cadiz is crucial as a test of Barcelona's defensive depth. Since their promotion to the top division, the Catalans have never defeated Sergio's team at home, and they even suffered a loss to them at the Camp Nou last year.
The defense will be essential if Barça are to easily win at home on Sunday. Confidence is really needed ahead of a challenging game in Europe next week.
3. Robert Lewandowski's excellent form in front of goal was one of Barcelona's most valuable assets in the first half of the season. It's time for the Polish express to pick up again. The Polish striker appeared to be an unstoppable goal-scoring machine as he shot to the top of La Liga's scoring charts up until the international break in November.
After the World Cup, the narrative changed drastically. Lewandowski has played a key role in the Catalans' combination play in the final third, but he no longer possesses the finishing touch.
Barcelona has suffered as a result of his troubles in front of goal, as demonstrated in the midweek Europa League match. The Pole managed just one shot on target in 90 minutes, resulting in a poor xG of 0.14.
Xavi needs his star striker to contribute right away. Lewandowski's return to form would elevate Barcelona to a new level and aid their race on all fronts. Barcelona has demonstrated recently that it has other sources for goals.
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