01/11/2023 Act. at 08:19 CET
A new month begins at Barça, just after the defeat against Real Madrid in the first league classic (1-2). A complicated and demanding calendar, which will test the sporting project led by Xavi Hernández in a season in which results and titles are already demanded, beyond the good feelings.
The blaugrana will have three hard trips in the month of November: Donosti, Hamburg and Vallecas. This Saturday they face Real Sociedad in Anoeta and two days later they will travel to German lands to face Shakhtar Donetsk in a match that could be decisive for qualification for the round of 16 of the Champions League. Also the always complicated visit to the demanding Madrid neighborhood, a team against which they have gone four games without winning.
In the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium They will host Deportivo Alavés and Porto on the fifth and penultimate day of the group stage of the highest European club competition. Hold on, curves are coming.
Without letting go of the accelerator, In the first two days of December, Xavi’s men will host Atlético de Madrid and Girona; two teams that have demonstrated their potential and presented a candidacy to fight for the top positions in the classification and that aim to, at least, achieve a European place.
The other side of the coin
While Barça has a more than demanding schedule in this post-classic stretch, Real Madrid’s seems simpler. The culés need to tighten the screws if they do not want the whites to escape in the classification and end up widening the distance in points.
Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Granada and Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu; in addition to Cádiz, Betis and Alavés at home. As for the Champions League matches, they will host Braga and Naples at home to close the group stage in Germany against Unión Berlin.
Consolidate the sports project
The defeat against Real Madrid did not leave anyone at Barça happy: neither players, nor technical staff, nor board of directors.. While it is true that the Blaugrana had a good first half, in the second half the tactical battle that Xavi won against Ancelotti went to waste. However, confidence in the Egarense remains intact, as he conveyed it to the coach himself in a brief meeting after the game against the whites.
However, From all levels of the club they are aware that a complicated and decisive stretch is approaching.. Vital for the consolidation of the sports project before starting 2024 with the Spanish Super Cup, again, in Saudi Arabia, the start of the Cup and the round of 16 of the Champions League.
The injured, on the verge
Barça has accused the losses of several essential footballers in Xavi’s scheme. Members of the backbone of the team. We refer to Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha, De Jong and Kounde; in addition to Captain Sergi Roberto.
The Pole and the Brazilian already played a few minutes in the classic and the Frenchman was part of the squad. The Tenerife native will be ready to visit Real Sociedad and could wear shortswhile with the Dutchman he is going with greater caution, respecting the ‘tempos’ and the feelings of the footballer to finalize his return.
2023-11-01 07:00:07
#Barcelona #Maximum #pressure #Xavi #Hernández
