PETE JENSON: Barcelona’s problems go on to increase after struggling a shock 1- loss to Almeria… and the LaLiga leaders ought to now get ready to experience Real Madrid A few instances in the up coming month, starting off tonight in the Copa del Rey semi-last initial leg
Barcelona are beneath increasing force soon after a shaky general performance on Sunday Xavi’s side were dealt a shock loss to Almeria, soon following getting rid of to Guy United The LaLiga leaders will have to now put together to experience Real Madrid 3 moments in a month
Back in January, just after a acquire over True Sociedad that took Barcelona into the Spanish Cup semi-finals Xavi informed reporters: ‘At this club you acquire a activity and it buys you a few times grace. If I eliminate my up coming recreation it will be carnage yet again.’
He understands improved than any individual how higher the bar is established and that currently being best soon after 23 online games will get him no credit score at all right after two straight defeats towards Manchester United and Almeria.
The challenges are mounting up for the coach who picked up another yellow card at the weekend and will not be in his technical spot in Barcelona’s next league recreation Valencia simply because of a one particular-match ban. By then he could have dropped to Actual Madrid in what would be an unthinkable 3rd straight loss.
In the next thirty day period Barcelona experience Real Madrid three occasions and if people games see Xavi topple out of the Copa del Rey and see the hole shut at the major the strain will be back again on the supervisor with the his long run into up coming period on the line as soon as a lot more.
Xavi known as the first fifty percent of Sunday’s reduction to Almeria – who have been in the base a few when the game kicked-off – his team’s worst efficiency of the season. And he wanted to say it right before anyone else did.
Barcelona ended up dealt a shock defeat to Almeria in a dent to their LaLiga title hopes this year
There’s now rising strain on manager Xavi immediately after consecutive defeats for the Catalan giants
His troubles are not just that of the following six game titles, three of them against Genuine Madrid. They perform them away on Thursday in the Cup, at household in the league on March 19 and then dwelling in the 2nd leg of the Cup at the begin of April. They also host Valencia and Elche and go absent to Athletic Bilbao.
But it’s the lacking a few that are the issue. Pedri and Ousmane Dembele are both lacking by personal injury, Robert Lewandowski is lacking in action, no more time a danger for opponents like Manchester United who contained him in open engage in in Europe, and like Almeria who dealt with him without the need of complications on Sunday.
Pedri is the major reduction for Xavi. Barça missing seven games with out him last season and there is a sense this period that they still really don’t have an choice when he is not on the pitch.
He is likely to be out for another 20 days earning it likely he will not return until eventually the league Clasico on March 19. He wont be risked at all just before then since that is the match that could choose the title – decreasing the gap to four factors or seeing it increase again to double figures.
Pedri can play amongst lines. He can weave a way by a crew defending in lower-block and packing the area neutralizing the many crosses that Barça attempted at the weekend. It would seem no 1 else can do it when he is no there.
Dembele is the a person other participant who can develop a thing from nothing at all but he is also nonetheless out and while he is closer to returning than Pedri the temptation is there to carry him back again versus Actual Madrid in the league even however that challenges losing the cup very first leg.
Thursday’s match assumes much more value soon after the set-again in opposition to Almeria because 3 straight defeats for any Barcelona manager is one far too quite a few for the persistence of most presidents.
The team experienced not mustered a prospect on target until eventually moment 82 versus Almeria and devoid of Pedri and Dembele it was down to Lewandowski to make a big difference.
His sort has dropped off a cliff put up Earth Cup getting only scored two times because returning from Qatar, having netted 13 periods before the match.
The LaLiga leaders unsuccessful to sign-up a critical probability on goal till the 82 moment of the match
The Catalan giants have to now prepare to experience rivals Authentic Madrid a few occasions in the up coming thirty day period
He was absent with no depart in Almeria and now has a knock which could see him resting on the sidelines in anticipation of that March 19 check out of Real Madrid.
Will Xavi make it to then if he loses on Thursday and once again at the weekend in opposition to lowly Valencia – possibly devoid of not just Pedri, Dembele and Lewandowski, but also the suspended Gavi?
Of program he will, but hardly ever permit it be forgotten that president Joan Laporta was skeptical of appointing Xavi in the first location, and he is not likely to go up the prospect to question even even further if points continue on to go awry.
It’s often crucial to conquer Real Madrid, but soon after getting rid of to Almeria and Manchester United, for Xavi, it has come to be extra crucial than ever.
