Briefly climbing to the prime of the La Liga desk on Saturday night because of a routine 4-0 romp away at Cadiz, Barcelona look like using fairly the wave of momentum in Catalonia.
While the Spanish giants may have been coping with some public monetary points over the previous 12 months, Xavi’s facet are in the midst of an on-field purple patch.
Opening their Champions League journey final week with a thumping 5-1 victory in opposition to Viktoria Plzeň at the Nou Camp, Barca now have their sights set on mounting a real title cost.
Eventually ending 14 factors adrift of Los Blancos final season and coming below actual scrutiny, Xavi’s males have definitely come flying out of the traps this time round.
With the temper in Catalonia showing to be the highest it has been in recent occasions, what have been the secrets behind Xavi’s revolution?
Lewandowski – The man spearheading Barca’s resurge
With Barcelona’s worrying monetary points stealing loads of headlines throughout Europe, many have been left shocked to see Xavi’s facet actually break the financial institution this summer season.
While the Spanish icons may have welcomed the likes of Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessié to Catalonia over the previous couple of months, it’s one other heavyweight arrival who has made a outstanding speedy impression.
Coming off the bench away at Cadiz over the weekend and taking simply eight minutes to get himself on the scoresheet, Robert Lewandowski is undoubtedly the man spearheading Barca’s revival.
Making the choice to finish his record-breaking eight-year stick with German champions Bayern Munich this summer season, the Polish celebrity has loved a free-scoring begin to life in La Liga.
Bagging 50 targets in 46 video games final season as he helped Bayern win a tenth straight Bundesliga title, Lewandowski has as soon as once more hit the floor operating.
In truth, together with opening his Champions League account final week as the 33-year-old racked up a hat-trick in opposition to Viktoria Plzeň at the Nou Camp, the 132-cap worldwide has already racked up 9 targets from his opening six appearances throughout all competitions.
A brand new-found defensive resolve
Signing off the 2021/22 marketing campaign by mustering only a single clear sheet from any of their ultimate six La Liga appearances, Xavi had made it clear that defensive resolve was prime of his agenda this time round.
While Barca’s stellar attacking choices may have as soon as once more stolen loads of headlines of their 4-0 romp away at Cadiz over the weekend, followers round Catalonia ought to be excited by their facet’s sugged performances at the again.
Boosted by the return of defensive talisman Gerard Pique as the Spanish worldwide made his first begin of the season in Andalusia, Xavi has been vocal about his facet’s new-found sternness defensively.
Watching 18-year-old homegrown starlet Alejandro Balde acquire loads of plaudits since bursting onto the scene this yr, Barcelona have conceded only a single strike from their opening 5 top-flight battles.
Likewise, recording three La Liga clear sheets on the spin, that is simply the second time over the previous 18 months that Xavi’s facet have managed to go a trio of consecutive appearances with out selecting the ball out of their very own internet.
Keeping maintain of de Jong
While the likes of Erling Haaland and Casemiro may have secured their very own blockbuster Premier League strikes this summer season, it was a sure Frenkie de Jong who discovered himself at the coronary heart of an actual saga.
However, regardless of Barcelona accepting Manchester United’s £72million bid for the Dutch worldwide, de Jong made it abundantly clear that he had little interest in making the transfer away from Spain.
Although there may nonetheless stay loads of questions relating to deferred wages that the 25-year-old is owed, the former Ajax playmaker has solely continued to indicate his class this season.
With Xavi making it clear from the begin that de Jong has an enormous half to play in his first-team plans this yr, the 44-cap worldwide has been at the coronary heart of Barca’s summer season success.
Offering Barca some youth at the coronary heart of their midfield and forming an attention-grabbing trio alongside each Gavi and Pedri, he additionally bagged his first La Liga strike of the season away at Cadiz over the weekend.
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