By Alex Roberts
The ambiance on the Sign Iduna Park will probably be as electrical as ever, the Yellow Wall has had little to rejoice domestically this season, it’s only a disgrace it’s going to take a real footballing miracle for them to undergo.
Hansi Flick’s aspect are on the opposite finish of the spectrum. Sitting on the summit of LaLiga in addition to being favourites to win the Champions League, it’s time to be a Barca fan.
Jamie Gittens has disappeared
Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho 2.0 has struggled of late, scoring only one aim in his final 19 video games. That wouldn’t be so dangerous if he was creating however he’s additionally did not register a single help in that point.
It’s fairly the drop off. Gittens registered 14 aim contributions in his earlier 25 video games, incomes him hyperlinks with a few of the largest golf equipment each again dwelling and on the continent. These hyperlinks are nonetheless there, for now no less than.
Niko Kovač’s aspect had little to no attacking menace within the first leg, Barca took management of the sport from the primary whistle. They’re going to want greater than Gittens however when he’s in type he can actually make a distinction.
Growing older like a effective wine
Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski has been getting all of the headlines, and rightly so, bagging 40 objectives in 46 video games throughout all competitions, however he isn’t the one elder statesman ripping it up for Barca this season.
Iñigo Martínez might be Barcelona’s greatest centre-back in the meanwhile. He’s precisely what Flick desires, calm below strain, capable of play out from the again, and most significantly, laborious to get previous.
He received 100% of his tackles within the reverse fixture. He additionally received 50% of his duels and was dribbled previous zero instances. With younger Pau Cubarsí beside him, Barca are set for the current and the longer term.
Lastly discovering his toes
So much was anticipated from Maximilian Beier when he joined from Hoffenheim final summer time. It’s taken a short while, however he’s beginning to seem like the participant Dortmund thought they had been getting.
Eight aim contributions in his final ten video games throughout all competitions, together with the opener in Der Klassiker on Saturday, makes him their chief attacking menace over the previous couple of months.
Beier nonetheless has somewhat option to go if he’s going to be the subsequent huge factor at Dortmund. Soccer is a confidence sport, a powerful efficiency towards Barca would doubtless do wonders for him.
Alejandro Balde will probably be a giant miss
The Catalan membership’s hectic schedule has claimed its first sufferer. Balde will doubtless be out of motion for the subsequent few weeks after selecting up a hamstring harm of their edgy 1-0 win over Leganés on Saturday.
Balde is Hansi Flick’s undisputed favorite within the left-back place, making 43 appearances throughout all competitions, scoring one aim, and offering eight assists. Fellow La Masia graduate Gerard Martín is at the moment their solely different choice in that place.
Barca will definitely be with no fairly potent attacking menace now that Balde is out however fortunately they’ve loads of these in the meanwhile.
Prediction
Barcelona ought to undergo to the semi-finals with out getting out of first gear because of their huge first-leg win. Having stated that, we don’t predict them to take their eye off the ball. We’re going to go together with a 2-0 win for Barca.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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