The year 2022 ended with a tremendous disappointment for Barça. The draw against Espanyol allowed him to maintain his lead in the League (even if it was due to his favorable ‘goal average’ with Madrid) but not to reaffirm his credentials for the title. Unlike. The derby left bad feelings because the team showed a dangerous lack of intensity. Xavi must solve this serious problem. Immediately. Because on Sunday they have a very complex match against Atlético at the Metropolitano. If Barça does not recover its aggressiveness and effectiveness, it will be difficult for it to beat Simeone’s team. And a defeat against the rojiblancos could unleash a crisis with unforeseeable consequences in a club eager, more than ever, for security and stability. But it is that before the debut in the Cup arrives. Theoretically, an affordable confrontation against the modest Intercity of the First Federation. A ‘trap qualifying round’ in which Barça has very little to gain and much to lose.
Because the Cup only works if it is won. The title is the only objective in this competition. Any other result would be a failure that would generate more urgency in a team that needs to be champion to reaffirm itself as a present and future project. Xavi, of course, is aware of the importance of tonight’s game. And, although he will rotate, he will present an ‘eleven’ of guarantees to avoid an unpleasant surprise. In fact, the call is entirely from the ‘first team’, with only two absences: Lewandowski and Pedri, who are resting. The coach knows that Barça cannot afford to underestimate any competition…
Xavi recalled yesterday, in the previous press conference, that he already suffered historic humiliations in his football days in the first rounds of the Cup. It was at the beginning of the 2000s. Figueres, Novelda, Gramenet… they were a recurring nightmare for that Barça. The technical today, evidently, hopes that none of those unfortunate disasters will be repeated. That is why he warned of the danger of being an obligatory favorite: “It will be a very difficult game to play & rdquor ;.
The Blaugrana coach stressed the need to improve the offensive balance and made it clear that the line-up will be ‘Araujo and ten more’. The Uruguayan centre-back, fully recovered from his injury, will play a game for Barça again three and a half months later. A very important ‘signing’ for Xavi. The only signing that will probably arrive in this winter market…