Three talking points ahead of Real Sociedad vs Barcelona | La Liga MD20

After a protracted journey away in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Tremendous Cup, Barcelona returned to motion away from residence at Santander for the Copa del Rey Spherical of 16 midweek.

Their calendar, nonetheless, nonetheless doesn’t ship them residence as they have to now journey away to the Basque Nation to tackle Actual Sociedad at Anoeta, or as it’s now referred to as, the Reale Enviornment.

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s aspect have seen a very good run of outcomes since he took over initially of this month. They’ve two wins and a draw of their first three video games below the brand new coach and shall be seeking to prolong the run of momentum tonight.

Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Actual Sociedad vs Barcelona.

Transferring in the direction of the inconceivable

Barcelona’s win away towards Racing Santander midweek marked a particular landmark for the group when it comes to the successful streak that they’re on.

The consequence within the Copa del Rey Spherical of 16 noticed the group hit 11 successive video games with out dropping a degree, reaching degree phrases with among the most interesting runs of kind within the group’s historical past.

Reaching 11 straight wins noticed Hansi Flick obtain a feat only a few coaches have within the membership’s historical past. For starters, Pep Guardiola’s unstoppable Barcelona hit 11 straight wins in 2009 within the season they went on to win the treble.

The feat was repeated in 2015 by Luis Enrique as his group hit 11 straight wins that marketing campaign. Surprisingly, the Catalans went on to win the UEFA Champions League on that event too.

Flick reaching that particular determine within the earlier fixture exhibits that the group are destined for one thing particular this season – however tonight he has the prospect to do one thing particular and even cross the information held by Guardiola and Enrique.

The longest ever successful streak in Barcelona’s historical past is held by Frank Rijkaard, below whom the group hit 18 straight wins throughout all competitions. Whereas that’s nonetheless a good distance out, Flick’s aspect strikes nearer to the inconceivable with each win from this level on.

An awaited debut

The Copa del Rey fixture midweek turned out to be far nearer than many anticipated, and it pressured Hansi Flick to convey on the group’s huge names late within the recreation to see out the consequence.

Whereas the group received the job finished and noticed the large names partially rested, one goal Flick couldn’t obtain on the night time was handing Joao Cancelo his debut.

The Portuguese worldwide arrived again on the membership earlier this month and shall be with the Blaugrana till the tip of the season. The supervisor has spoken extremely of his attacking potential and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see the place he suits into Flick’s dynamics.

In all probability, Cancelo’s debut will arrive towards La Actual and it is going to be a matter of focus to see if the supervisor utilises him as a backup right-back or left-back.

Additional, Cancelo’s official integration into Flick’s plans may even unlock among the supervisor’s centre-back choices who’re at present caught in full-back roles concurrently, i.e. the likes of Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia, and presumably Jules Kounde.

All eyes, for sure, shall be on what Cancelo can present in his couple of minutes off the bench and what the supervisor has in retailer for him.

A reminiscence to show round

Barcelona’s first season below Hansi Flick was as near a dream season because it will get, for the membership had been seemingly unstoppable on all fronts.

All in all, they solely suffered six defeats in La Liga, two within the UEFA Champions League, and had been unbeaten within the Copa del Rey and Spanish Tremendous Cup.

Actual Sociedad at Anoeta, nonetheless, is one fixture that they didn’t handle to triumph in final season, and was one of many six league video games wherein the group dropped all three factors final season.

Furthermore, it served as the beginning of Barcelona’s year-end stoop in Flick’s first season, one which noticed them fall again within the title race and lose steam till the Christmas break.

On the night time, it was Sheraldo Becker who scored within the thirty third minute at hand the hosts the lead and Barcelona had been nicely and really outplayed on the night time as they produced an xG of simply 0.64 in comparison with La Actual’s 2.02.

Anoeta, thus, was certainly one of two away stadiums the place Flick’s group misplaced final season and they’ll look to show round that consequence and reminiscence tomorrow as they arrive excessive on confidence.