Two strategists, two states of mind, two cultural currents. Pepper versus XavYo. Barça lives installed in delirium and chaos. This Thursday, from 8:30 p.m. (Movistar LaLiga), visit the Gran Canaria Stadium with Xavi Hernández questioned. Seven points behind the leader Real Madrid, there is no margin for error. There is no point in nonsense. Winner of two titles, a League and a Super Cup, the culé team has conceded 21 goals in the first 18 games.
With a problem called Robert Lewandowski, en Seven Palms will be able to have Vitor Roque Tigrinho as a signing to escape a routine marked by vulgarity. A blurred champion and an architect in search of solutions. It is the most delicate moment for the Terrassa coach, who has been in office for two years, one month and 25 days. «A few weeks ago they told me that he was the new Ferguson, now I’m not worth it. “Will there be a middle ground?” Xavi responded to a journalist a few days after losing to Girona (2-4).
114 duels coached, 70 wins, 21 draws and 23 losses. The shadow of Rafa Márquez, coach of the culé subsidiary, is increasingly elongated. Paired with Naples in the Champions League, Xavi lives in a continuous examination. Always under the magnifying glass. Barça plays for the fourth time at the Siete Palmas Parthenon and has two wins and a draw. The European Cup is the main challenge for a giant in hours. The last orejona dates back to 2015, the year in which UD rose thanks to 21-J.
Lewandowski, three goals in the last twelve games, has become a problem
And in the other trench, and Garcia Pimienta exultant. The fashionable man. Strengthened with the departure of Jonathan Viera Ramos, He has managed to patent his own style. The trained Barcelona native, who spent nearly two decades in the Barça subsidiaries, handles the joy of possession with historical rigor. The fifteen goals conceded in this initial stretch of 18 games is a record. There are no precedents in the 35 yellow campaigns in the top category. A reason to believe in the Pepper Gospel. A promotion (on May 27 against Deportivo Alavés) with Valles as a hero. The Superman of La Rinconada is Zamora thanks to the meaning he gives to the game. Each contribution is a gold bar. The Sevillian goalkeeper acts as another defender and it is a revolutionary tactical movement.
84 duels conducted on the bench OUT Las Palmas38 wins, 28 draws and only 18 losses. Located in ninth place, it has dropped to twelve points. With 25 units in the box, the drop remains at twelve. Without emergencies, the dream of playing in Europe can come through the Copa del Rey. If the yellows eliminate Tenerife (January 7), they play in one week (January 17 and 24) the flight to the semifinals. You have to overcome three qualifying rounds to go straight to eternity. Legend mode.
Within 48 hours, Xavi and Pimienta face each other in the battle of morbidity. The second sounds like a substitute for the first, always under suspicion in this volcanic campaign. The monk from Barranco Seco deserves to return to Can Barça after his controversial departure in June 2021 – he was fired by Laporta. With the absence of the Mexican side Julian Araujoby fear clause, Pimienta looks for the victory that will put her in another dimension. The definitive leap as Quique Setién already did, from Gran Canaria to clubs with greater tradition and global impact. The fight for possession is the first tactical key.
The yellow coach has managed to exploit the potential of the booth to the maximum
Barça (65%) rule this category of ball control, while the yellows occupy third position (59%). The offensive front of the 260 million. The value of the seven horsemen of the apocalypse: Joao Felix (40), Robert Lewandowski (20), Raphinha (50), Ferran Torres (35), Yamal (60), Tigrinho (40) and Gundogan (20). The appraisal of a forbidden relationship that will take Valles to the limit. The best defense in the history of Las Palmas with a vertigo attack. Álex Suárez, Saúl Coco, Mika Mármol and Sergi Cardona face one of the most difficult tests of the season.
Frenki De Jong and the details
Between control and definition. A game of details. Sergi Roberto Frenkie de Jong and Gundogan will face each other Kirian, Enzo and Javi, without ignoring the presence of Maximo Perrone. UD and Barça They share tactical parameters such as high pressure in the rival field and the baroque seal. Xavi is obliged to recover the defensive solvency of last year. Reconnect Lewandowski and avoid this free fall. There are two victories in the last five days. A very poor baggage.
For his part, Pimienta handles short markers like no one else. Only Madrid has managed to score more than one goal against the yellows after 18 days. Two disciples of the light of La Masía and two antagonistic states of mind. Xavi’s anger to his pupils after the last victory against Almería (3-2) is the latest sign of exaggerated nervousness. A signing, Vitor Roque, to appease the beasts. Tons of morbidity. Pepper against Laporta and a burning Meccano. Yellow austerity, with a salary cap of 25 million, against an empire.
Pepper
The art of defending with the ball
15 goals against
The star is Valles With one match as a Barça player and then two decades of work at La Masía, Pimienta faces his most special match on January 4 at Siete Palmas. In his cycle as yellow coach of 84 games, he has managed to implement a touch philosophy with a wall of steel. The yellow team has only conceded fifteen goals and Valles is the Zamora of the gold competition.
Control
A sticking problem
With a high possession figure, the yellow team feels comfortable taking the initiative. This ‘pimientista’ version better Quique Setién’s style. The problem lies in the lack of punch, since the team only has fifteen goals in favor. Munir (one goal), Kaba (one goal), Cristian Herrera (one goal) and Sandro Ramírez (zero goals) are not fine against the enemy goal. However, this low contribution (15 goals) does not cloud an unbeatable situation. Sobriety, fantasy and self-confidence. The values of an unpublished version. A system that marvels.
Xavi
Loss of identity and defensive imbalances
Unrecognizable
21 goals against
At this point, last season – matchday 18 -, Barça had only conceded seven goals. He was leading with 47 points. Currently, with 21 goals conceded, Xavi’s team is fifth with 38 points. An abysmal difference. In terms of goals scored, he currently has 34 and last season, 38. Lewandowski has three goals in the last twelve days.
Injured
Gavi, Pedro, Ter Stegen…
Galacticos in the infirmary. Another factor that can clarify the crisis for Xavi’s Barça is the extensive list of casualties. Gavi said goodbye to the season and Pedri has suffered seven medical mishaps in the last two years. He will not be before the UD. For his part, goalkeeper Ter Stegen underwent surgery for a back ailment and returns in February. Marcos Alonso was also intervened. In the midst of a process of self-destruction, the hiring of Vitor Roque is a song of hope. An injured Barça arrives, having added two victories in the last five days.
2024-01-02 00:00:17
#morbidity #Pimi #Xavi
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