Xavi’s men must win without Busquets and possibly without Koundé after the puncture on their debut against Rayo
Barcelona will be looking for a table at the Reale Arena stadium this Sunday. The team led by Xavi faces Real Sociedad with the obligation to put behind them the doubts sown after the first draw at Camp Nou against Rayo Vallecano and achieve a victory that restores the illusion in the new project. He will do without Sergio Busquets and possibly Jules Koundé, two key absentees, but with the idea of taking a tough win against a rival from the region, a priori, high in the League.
“Today is a disappointment, but it is the beginning and we have to continue to believe in this game model, that is what should lead us to success,” assured Xavi last weekend after a goalless draw pierced by the illusion balloon his team had since the preseason started. . That day Barça came down from a cloud. The fans, the signings, the thrills…everything was idyllic for a team that went like a shot in the preseason, that started the League in a bubble, and that found a ‘Stop’ signal on the first change. Dimitrievski and Rayo Vallecano stopped the euphoria and now it’s time to start all over again.
The first stop to restore that confidence is the Reale Arena. Barca’s goal this Sunday is to make that debut in a flash, and there’s no better scenario than a visit to one of the most complicated stadiums in the league. The fief ‘txuri-urdin’ is a place where the Catalans suffered for years, but has recently become a talisman field. Even Ronald Koeman, who won 1-6 there as a coach, gave himself a tribute and that is what Xavi hopes will happen this Sunday when the ball rolls, that everything runs smoothly. And it is that a victory with good feelings would be balsamic in the middle of the racket that is there day by day in the Catalan offices until the transfer market closes.
To do this, the Tarrasa coach will likely face two notable absences. Busquets has been suspended after being suspended against Rayo last weekend and Koundé will not be able to be in the game unless Barcelona solves ‘in extremis’ the puzzle his registration poses. Xavi will thus be able to create a team similar to his debut in the League, with the entry of Frenkie de Jong or Kessié in midfield alongside Pedri and Gavi and with the possibility of Ansu Fati occupying the left wing instead. by Raphinha or Ousmane Dembele.
It will not be an easy game for the Catalans. Real Sociedad will appear in an official game in front of the public this season and already have three points in their pocket. The team led by Imanol Alguacil defeated Cadiz 0-1 at the Nuevo Mirandilla stadium last weekend thanks to a lone goal from Take Kubo and will look for three points to lift them to the top of the table. He will have to do it, yes, with Mikel Oyarzabal, Merquelanz, Carlos Fernández and Diego Rico due to injury.
The match against Real Sociedad can also be the farewell to another footballer. Koundé is still waiting for Barcelona to release salary bills and the players currently holding the most votes to leave are Aubameyang and Memphis Depay. Both count for Xavi, but Chelsea and Juventus’ interest has made them priorities in the Catalans’ money making market and the former Sevilla player can finally be registered.
Source: La Verdad
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