The moment of De Jong and Ansu Fati and the defense of direct play

Barça wants to avoid surprises and add three more points in the top European competition. The difference in level with the rival is considerable but, if Red Star is dangerous in any scenario, it is without a doubt, at home. Here my keys for this meeting:

1. Turn for De Jong:

After it was not the day against Espanyol, today does seem to be the opportunity for Frenkie De Jong to start in the starting eleven. If that happens, the most likely thing is that Barça will take on a different and very interesting tactical nuance. And in the stretches of the game in which the Dutchman has been on the field playing as a six, Barça has shown many moments of double pivot. It seems that, either because of De Jong’s positional volatility or because he wants to give him a context very similar to the one he had at Ajax, Hansi Flick wants the number eight to be closer to him. Against Espanyol, both Pedri first, and Gavi later, did exactly the same. Suggestive to see if this continues with more minutes quota.

2.- Ansu and the offensive variety:

Points and goals are also important today. Even so, it is also a good context for Ansu to have weight in the team. If it’s not a start, let it be a good chunk of minutes. Barça has to invest time and trust in what, let’s not forget, is right now the fourth forward of the squad. The most likely thing is that the youth player will not reach that impressive level before the injury but, if he manages to get close to it, he will be a very valuable player for Barça. It is important that he adds minutes and gains sensations, confidence and weight in the squad.

3.- The intensity of the second half:

Last Sunday against Espanyol was a small warning that this way of playing requires always being at your best. Flick also warned him at the subsequent press conference. Given the possibility that today’s game will be well focused on the last stretch, the team has to show that it has learned its lesson and maintain the intensity of the pressure and the pace of the game.

4.- The defense of direct play:

If the imagined match script is fulfilled, Red Star will go a long way. Because he will not take risks and because he has players for it. In their only home game (against Benfica), the Serbian team went long out 45 times and, in the last Champions League game against Monaco, this figure rose to 59 long outs. So it will be important for Barça to handle this issue well. The role of the center backs defensively will have a lot of weight tonight.

5.- Ndiaye and Maksimovic:

Red Star’s most dangerous player is Cherif Ndiaye. He is a very large attacker (190 centimeters) but does not lack mobility or technical ability to do things. With eight goals, he is the top scorer in the Serbian Super League and has scored one of the two goals that Vladan Milojevic’s team has scored. Against Monaco, he was the only player who generated offensively. He forced the penalty and he converted it. Also mention the young Maksimovic. He is only 17 years old but he is a fixture on the team. He is a midfielder and has a notable left foot.