The main person responsible for Barça’s last victory in Balaídos has already retired from playing professional football. Five and a half years ago, when Jérémy Mathieu was 31 and decided with a header a decisive match for the League at the Celta de Vigo stadium, Ronald Koeman led Sadio Mané to Southampton. Since then, the Dutch coach has changed three times on the bench, moving to the Camp Nou, while Mané can boast of having won a Champions and a Premier League almost in a row. Football, like many other things, has evolved over the course of the decade. But the memory of that solitary goal by Mathieu is still alive, the result of the terrible dynamics of the Barça team on the shores of the Atlantic, in a field as old as it is charismatic in which, in the big days, it was sung A Rianxeira before the covid-19 forced the stands to close.
Three defeats and three draws in six visits between League and Cup. This is the balance that Barça has accumulated since 2015 in Balaídos. Being the dominator of the state championship in recent times has not stopped the Catalan team from living bad experiences at the home of Celta, which would not be one of the most powerful teams in the competition: without going any further, those of Oscar Garcia fought the last year so as not to lose the category. In addition, if you like the precedents, details come out that aggravate the bad streak of results. Such as the mistakes of Ter Stegen to facilitate the 4-1 of the 2015/2016 season, the 3-0 in the 33rd minute of the visit of the following year, the injury of Dembélé a few days before the defeat of Anfield (18 / 19) or Aspas’ foul goal to start sinking the aspirations of Quique Setión and his Barça in ruins a few months ago in the League.
Koeman is aware of the stadium that his team visits tonight in the fourth day of the League (9.30 pm / Movistar LaLiga). That’s why he doesn’t want to hear about rotations, although on Sunday Sevilla, the reigning Europa League champions, will test their plan at the Camp Nou again. He is not frightened by the tight schedule or having positions that are not yet doubled by the difficulties that the sports management is having to finish completing the squad. “We have had four very intense pre-season weeks. We only have one match. We may make some changes, but I don’t think we need to rotate, “said the Dutchman, again very enlightening at a press conference. Therefore, all indications are that Barça will examine the 4-2-3-1 in an unfavorable scenario and will seek to confirm the good feelings of the official premiere a few days ago, with Messi nurturing the sharp left side that are beginning to consolidate Ansu Fati and Jordi Alba.
Braithwaite makes merits to follow
There is more doubt on the opposing front, where Antoine Griezmann has not just come into play despite Koeman’s insistence on putting him on the right. Against Villarreal the Frenchman intervened only 30 times in 78 minutes, half as much as Fati, and still can not find the formula to shine alongside Messi. On the other hand, who is in luck is Martin Braithwaite, the main novelty on Koeman’s list to fly to Galicia this morning. The Dane is back from injury and, as he has not had any serious offers this summer, all indications are that he will keep the box office in the locker room after arriving there in exceptional circumstances in February. “It helps me, because in principle we want to have two or three players per position. We put the Leo of new, also Griezmann, but Martin is more specific “, said Koeman about the former Leganés player, who at the moment is the only pure center forward in the squad. In his first year at Barça, under the direction of Setión, he scored a goal in eleven games.
Aspas, the black beast of Barça
For its part, Celta face their fourth game in the league after adding five points in three games (two draws and one victory). The Galicians have made adjustments to the squad, but are still in the hands of the everlasting Iago Aspas when deciding matches. Moaña has already scored three goals in this league and is hurting Barça when they face him: seven goals in eleven games. In principle, tonight will be accompanied on the offensive by another fruit of the Celta squad, Santi Mina.
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