Barcelona vs. Espanyol – Spanish La Liga Review (Part 2)
Despite the fact that Espanyol pressed the Barcelona midfield to deny them the free-flowing football they love to play, the Catalans were able to dominate during the second half. It was hard for Espanyol to keep up with the pace of the ball and that is the reason why Barcelona eventually scored two goals and took all three points.
The Catalan coach Josep Guardiola did not want to take any chances with the league title and he fielded his favourite eleven players to get the job done against a tough-looking http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mauricio-c24899 Pochettino’s side.
The Catalan goal stopper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 goalkeeper has done well throughout the season and he has proven time and time again why he is the first choice goalkeeper for one of the best sides in the world.
Valdes has conceded only conceded 19 goals this season in the 35 appearances that he has made for the club.
Barcelona’s defensive crises continued as the game against Espanyol kicked off. The club’s captain and the Spanish centre back Carles Puyol was not seen anywhere as he was declared unfit to play against Espanyol.
The Argentinean captain http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carles-Puyol-c8331 filled the left back space for the Spanish Champions.
With all the three options on the left – http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adriano-c3773 and Eric Abidal – unavailable, Carles Puyol played in the left back position during the UEFA Champions League. However, the young Catalan defender Andreu Fontas performed in the left back position against Espanyol.
The first-choice right back, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-c9879 Alves played in his favourite position and he was unmoved. No player took his position as he took his position on the right and completed the back four for Barcelona.
The first choice holding midfielder, Sergio Busquets also played against Espanyol. Even though http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-Busquets-c33048 has played as a centre back for some part of the season, he was chosen by Josep Guardiola, to play in his favourite holding midfield role. Sergio Busquets provides the team with better distribution and good tackles at the centre of the pitch.
The Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez also performed against Espanyol. Xavi Hernandez played in his favourite centre midfield role – right behind the strikers and right in front of Sergio Busquets.
Xavi and Busquets were accompanied by Andres Iniesta in the midfield. The Spaniard has been terrific throughout the season and that is the reason why Guardiola played him right behind the strikers to link the midfield with the striking force. Andres Iniesta had another outstanding game in the Spanish La Liga and he was later crowned as the man of the match against Espanyol.
Josep Guardiola played his favourite 4-3-3 formation and the three-man midfield was joined by three-man attack. All the first-choice strikers were chosen to play against Espanyol, just to make sure that Barcelona do not slip up during this important fixture.
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