E
l Barça can’t be distracted. On Thursday he travels to Turkeywhere it is played to pass to the quarterfinals of the Europa Leagueand next Sunday visit the Santiago Bernabeu. But tonight he receives Osasuna, a rival that he could not beat in the first round, strong away from home and who must be imposed if he wants to regain third position. Any relaxation today would complicate, sportingly and emotionally, the objectives.
The Catalan team does not have time to lick their wounds after last Thursday’s frustrating goalless draw against Galatasaray on the Europa League. Tonight he competes again and he is obliged not to be distracted if he wants to recover the third position, which snatched the Atletico Madrid on Friday after beating the Cádizand maintain the illusion until the end of fighting for the LaLiga title: the Real he is 15 points behind, although he has played one more game.
But a stumble against Osasuna not only would it hinder his plans in the national tournament but it would also shake the security and confidence generated by his great career and undermine his morale for the return leg against the team of Domenec Torrent and ahead of the Clásico.
The Catalans, who have 48 points, have not lost in the regular competition since December 4, in the match against Betis, and their last three crosses have resulted in landslide victories. In these commitments he has scored 10! goals and only conceded two. This great trajectory, which is not only at the level of results but also of the game, explains his important rise in the table and that this day he will fight for third position in the classification.
Changes
Xavi Hernandez loses for this match Nicosanctioned, and still without the injured Ansu Fati, Umtiti y Sergi Roberto. The Terrassa coach has not wanted to reveal if he will make many changes, but he has already anticipated that there will be some variations in the starting eleven since he has men who drag many minutes due to the large number of games played. And on Thursday, they compete again. Everything indicates that, for example, Sergio Busquets and Aubameyang, substitutes against Galatasaray, will be in the starting team tonight. As well Dani Alves, who is not registered in the Europa League, and Gavi, who was sanctioned in the first crossing against the Turks.
The great doubt of the Catalan bloc lies in the axis of defence, since Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia they are warned and if they see a card against Osasuna today they could miss the Clásico del Santiago Bernabeu next Sunday, the 20th. One of the two, therefore, will rest. The other will form next to Gerard Pique. Clement Lenglet is quoted, but the French center-back barely counts for Xavi.
The Catalan coach will bet on a very competitive eleven because he has already commented that he does not trust Osasuna, whom they could not beat in the first round, tied at two, due to their great potential and their good performance away from home. Outside Sadar they have added more points, 20, than at home, 15. And they have only conceded 12 goals in 13 games. It is one of the LaLiga teams that is showing the best performance this season as a visitor.
The red box, which aspires to certify permanence today, will also have some change, since Chimy Avila, who had settled in eleven, is low due to suspension. Arrasate, however, can finally count on the captain, Oier Sanjurjo, which has been in doubt until the last moment due to muscular discomfort. But he has entered the summoned list of the Navarran expedition that this morning will travel to Barcelona.
The team’s coach PamplonaIn addition, he does not rule out betting, tonight at the Camp Nou, by a five-man defense. He opted for that tactical disposition in the last minutes of last day’s match against Villarreal, a game he won, and he plans to repeat the formula against a Barcelona with great offensive potential.
