Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Oviedo | La Liga MD21

Key Highlights

• Needless to say, the pressure is on Flick to find a way out. The manager has multiple options to count on, but it will be interesting to see which combination he sees as the best fit to make up for Pedri’s absence. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFrenkie de Jong is an assured starter in midfield against Real Oviedo, and one of Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo will occupy the attacking midfield position as usual. The second interior midfield position, however, is the big doubt and Flick can choose from Eric Garcia, Marc Bernal, or Marc Casado to fill that position.
• Deploying Olmo in that role is another option. Defensive issues loom largeJoan Garcia’s superhuman displays painted a rosy picture of Barcelona’s defence towards the end of last month, but the club have gone into a full-blown defensive crisis so far in January. While the Spanish Super Cup in itself saw Barcelona present opposition with numerous openings, Real Sociedad exploited Barcelona’s leaky defence last weekend to take the win against the Catalans. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEven the game midweek, moreover, saw the team concede from two set-pieces in the first-half, raising serious questions about Barcelona’s defence and whether the department is slowly opening up more easily than before. As Barcelona prepares to take on Real Oviedo, Hansi Flick and Co.
• will thus have it as a certain objective to improve their defensive record. For starters, Flick’s selection in the department will play a massive role.
• Pau Cubarsi is expected to start, and it remains to be seen if Gerard Martin, Ronald Araujo, or Eric Garcia partner with him through the middle. Further, there is massive pressure on Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, both of whom have been underwhelming in recent games, to improve their output not only offensively but in terms of defence. Kounde must improve his form.
• (Photo by Eric Alonso/)AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTime to up the anteBarcelona head into the clash against Real Oviedo as overwhelming favourites, especially given that they are the league leaders and the visitors are the lowest placed team in the division. While the dressing room will not take the result for granted, they will back themselves to take all three points on the night.