Barca News
Injuries have forced Xavi to have to subscribe to rotations and not be able to provide continuity to the best possible eleven . A lineup in which Pedri, one of the big absences, has not been able to be in since he was injured in training on August 24.
The coach has had to look for alternatives in the squad and has not been able to exploit one of the most promising partnerships: the one between Pedri and Joao Félix . The Portuguese made his debut against Osasuna on September 3, coming off the bench and since then he has started every game.
In total eight games – two in the Champions League and six in the League – in which he has scored three goals and provided three assists . Joao has adapted to a hybrid position (sometimes a false winger, others more focused on the square) and has become a fixture in Xavi’s lineups. When Pedri returns, the job will be for Xavi to find the best fit for both of them.
From the outset, the presence of both should enhance precision in passing and play between the lines . In Xavi’s usual square, the two aim to occupy the upper part of the square: Joao Félix on the left and Pedri on the right with two forwards in front (Lamine and Lewandowski) and two midfielders covering their backs.
The challenge will be for Xavi when he has all the midfielders available. The coach will have six potential starters (Gündogan, De Jong, Oriol Romeu, Gavi, Pedri and Joao Félix) for four positions . To these we must add the emergence of Fermín, who is vindicating himself.
Furthermore, the losses of Pedri and De Jong have promoted a version of Gavi closer to the base , so we will have to see how his role is defined when the injured return.
In this sense, Joao Félix appears as one of the least flexible players of the six . While Pedri, Gavi, De Jong and Gündogan can occupy various positions in the midfield, the Portuguese is the one who needs to be closest to the forwards and above all orient himself to the left wing.
The Portuguese is currently Barça’s top scorer in the Champions League with two goals and has shown great understanding with Lewandoswki, who has already taken advantage of two assists from the Portuguese. Furthermore, during the break he has shown that he is in a great moment and it is expected that against Athletic he will maintain a place in the eleven.
This is not the case with Pedri, who could play his first minutes against Shakhtar. The idea is that he enters little by little after another muscle injury. The Canarian has only participated in two league games (he scored against Getafe) and the coaches trust that they will form another of the team’s great partnerships.
The two share some characteristics (oriented controls that are the first dribble and passing precision in small spaces) that should take Barça’s game to the next level.
Source: Sport
