The day has finally arrived – one that will decide Barcelona’s fate in the Copa del Rey if it has not already been decided.
Hansi Flick’s side faced hell at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano not too long ago, and the result on the night saw them eat four goals in a game that was marred by controversy.
Regardless of the refereeing situation and everything made of it in that game, the fact remains that Barcelona were outclassed and that the 4-0 loss was a kind result for them.
Tomorrow, they take to the field at the Spotify Camp Nou, striving to do the unthinkable – overturn that deficit. It will not be easy, nor is it widely considered possible. Making the impossible possible and the improbable probable, however, is what makes sport great.
Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.
1% chance, 99% faith
At 4-0 down, not many will back Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to come back against Atletico Madrid, irrespective of the attacking firepower they have in their ranks, simply because it is a task too difficult to accomplish.
Heading into 90 minutes, four goals down and needing at least five to take a clean win is easier said than done, especially when the opposition knows that all they have to do is sit tight and defend deep.
Barcelona are no strangers to scoring four goals in a game, and their average number of goals per game last season was close to that number. However, doing so on demand is very different from pulling it off organically.
Despite knowing well how there is a very low chance of a comeback, however, the team have made it clear that they retain complete faith in their abilities. Remontada’s cannot be forced, but if any team can do it, it is Barcelona.
The clash against Atletico Madrid tomorrow is perhaps the single-most demanding game that Barcelona have played under Flick, and the team are capable of creating more than enough chances to win.
Everything that it will boil down to, however, is their efficiency in front of goal and their defensive solidity at the back. Improbable, but not impossible.
Need for a surprise element
Having a clear-cut lead ahead of the second leg, it is likely that Atletico Madrid will not come to attack but to defend their advantage and get through the storm at the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow.
Los Rojiblancos, thus, may well line up in a hyper-defensive setup to block Barcelona’s passing channels, crowd the area, and lower the chances of the Catalans getting shots away at goal.
Considering the situation, it is essential that Hansi Flick comes up with a novelty up his sleeve to force open channels in attack and catch the visitors off guard. After all, they will arrive having studied the team’s dynamics in recent games.
There are several variations Flick can opt for to catch Simeone by surprise, especially in attack, and how well that dynamic works out will account for the result massively.
Shifting Lamine Yamal to a central role and deploying Roony Bardgji for width on the right flank is one approach that could yield positive results. Raphinha and Ferran Torres will continue to start in attack alongside them in such an approach.
Another manoeuvre is starting Marcus Rashford on the left and shifting Raphinha to a central role – an idea that has worked on occasion this season but has also failed equally on other days.
A third interesting idea would be to start Dani Olmo as a false nine in place of Ferran Torres with Lamine and Raphinha flanking him. Fermin Lopez would start as the attacking midfielder in such a setup, with Pedri and Marc Bernal taking the reins in midfield.
No room for defensive lapses
As important as it is for Barcelona to score goals at the Spotify Camp Nou, keeping a clean sheet at the other end counts for as much. And while scoring four goals may not be impossible, not conceding seems to be a far bigger challenge.
If Barcelona are to complete the dreamy Remontada, the defence will have to play the game of their lives, and Flick will have to line up a setup that does not hand Atletico Madrid as much space as they did in the first leg.
The defence will have to play deeper, likely with an aerially dominating presence in Ronald Araujo. With Eric Garcia ruled out of the game through suspension, the captain has good chances of starting alongside Cubarsi and will be critical on the night.
Jules Kounde will have to replicate the good showing from the weekend and must be defensively solid down the right.
Given how Atletico Madrid capitalised on the left flank in the first leg, it will be interesting to see if Flick opts for Joao Cancelo or Alejandro Balde at left-back.
Every goal that Diego Simeone’s side scores will demand an additional goal from the hosts, and chasing four goals already, there is no scope to be chasing any more. All eyes, needless to say, will be on Flick’s defensive plan.
