Barcelona’s dominance of Actual Madrid within the final two soccer seasons has been clear for all to see.
A lot so, certainly, that their rivals from the Spanish capital have simply appointed their fourth supervisor in 12 months with the return of Jose Mourinho.
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Now Barca are aiming to pile on the distress for Los Blancos.
With Barca having captured two successive La Liga titles, and with the group’s gamers performing a serious half in Spain’s World Cup win final month, it’s no shock that oddsmakers are predicting a Blaugrana three-peat.
The final time the Catalan membership achieved that feat was beneath legendary Catalan supervisor Pep Guardiola, who completed the run by making it a Champions League double in 2011.
The hole to Actual when it comes to titles stays a sore level, nonetheless, with the Madrid membership having lifted the trophy on 36 events in comparison with Barca’s 29.
Barca, although, have gained 13 of the final 25 La Liga titles, with Actual successful seven in that point. Now, their likelihood to lastly shut a painful and long-standing wound has by no means been higher.
The World Cup success, which noticed no Actual participant included within the Spanish nationwide squad, may additionally nicely turn out to be a launching pad into the season.
Defenders Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia; midfielders Dani Olmo, Pedri and Lamine Yamal; and ahead Ferran Torres all shone as the worldwide crown was claimed for a second time.
Although the prolonged World Cup run additionally means Hansi Flick must deal with potential burnout, Barca’s youthful roster needs to be resilient. At 36, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is Barcelona’s solely participant over 30.
So what could possibly be the deciding components to tip the title in Barca’s favour as soon as extra? Al Jazeera takes a take a look at 5 key questions for Flick’s aspect forward of the approaching season.
Pau Cubarsi – prepared, or not? The case for Barca’s defence
Ronald Araujo, who captained the group and offered defensive muscle, is off to Liverpool. That leaves again line management to 19-year-old Cubarsi, who relies upon extra on anticipation and positioning than so-called intimidation.
Cubarsi has confirmed himself as a two-season starter, capable of combine it up as he’s grown in stature, and capping his progress by performing begin to end within the World Cup.
Mobility aligned with the flexibility to learn conditions nicely means he’s thought-about far older than his tender years. He’s additionally a product of Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy, and may skilfully begin assaults from the again. Veteran Andreas Christensen enhances Cubarsi in central defence.
Objectives, anybody? Barcelona belief in Torres
Flick is accustomed to lining up Robert Lewandowski in assault, having managed him at each Bayern Munich and Barcelona, however the Polish ahead has now moved to Main League Soccer in the USA with Chicago Hearth.
Barca, nonetheless, proved final season that, simply possibly, it didn’t want the Lewandowski purpose machine for the aspect to succeed.
The Polish striker’s scoring declined to 19 and 21 targets within the final two campaigns in comparison with 42 within the season earlier than.
He did, although, draw defenders and current a bodily presence up entrance, and that can be missed.
You would possibly suppose Flick would have pursued a high-profile alternative, however he should determine the place has been lined.
Ferran Torres, who has attracted consideration from Paris Saint-Germain, is the inheritor obvious after scoring 21 targets final season, and changing the decider within the World Cup ultimate.
Or, is Hamza Abdelkarim’s likelihood coming ahead of anticipated?
The 18-year-old Egyptian, who joined the academy of his hometown membership in Cairo, Al Ahly, in 2020, has signed on mortgage forward of a everlasting transfer.
He grabbed the highlight when fast-tracked into Egypt’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, and have become his nation’s youngest debutant when showing instead within the 1-1 draw with Belgium.
How’s Lamine Yamal’s sturdiness after prolific Barca begin?
The reigning La Liga participant of the 12 months, Yamal was the joint high scorer – together with Ferran Torres – for Barcelona in La Liga with 16 targets, and that regardless of lacking 10 league video games final season. Throughout all competitions, Yamal scored 24 targets in 45 appearances.
Slowed by damage, Yamal transformed solely as soon as throughout the World Cup, however appeared to be bettering because the match progressed. Till lately, the younger winger has confirmed sturdy. However scheduling calls for most likely needs to be managed, and that’s one purpose Karim Adeyemi arrived, including depth on the wing.
Since making his debut at 16 in 2023, Yamal has totalled 151 appearances for Barcelona, plus 33 nationwide group appearances.
Can Flick’s picks click on in Barcelona?
Although a lot of Barcelona’s low season consideration centred on a potential bid for World Cup Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, which continues to be ongoing, the membership appeared set with the acquisitions of Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon.
Flick gave Adeyemi his Germany debut 5 years in the past. Now Adeyemi, 24, is predicted to not solely again up Yamal on the precise wing, however to probably tackle a striker function.
There can be instances when Barca’s advert infinitum possession ways will have to be augmented by athleticism, flat-out pace and vertical play. And that’s the place Adeyemi and Gordon will are available in.
Flick obtained finesse and ending from Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, who has now returned to Manchester United following his mortgage, on the left final season.
Gordon, who scored 17 targets in 46 appearances for Newcastle United final season, can unbalance defences by merely operating straight at defenders.
A research by the Swiss analysis group CIES Soccer Observatory listed Gordon because the quickest participant within the Champions League final 12 months.
How’s their well being within the Barcelona squad?
Fermin Lopez missed the World Cup with a damaged toe, whereas Raphinha picked up a hamstring damage whereas taking part in for Brazil on the match.
Each are absolutely match for the brand new season.
Gavi has sustained long-term accidents in two of the final three seasons, however the midfielder has handed with a clear invoice of well being going into the brand new marketing campaign.
Of the long-term accidents, Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong gained’t return till November from a knee damage, whereas Kuwait-born Swedish worldwide Roony Bardghji is out for the season with a knee damage.
Of the ten video games that Yamal missed final season, six of these have been the ultimate matches of the marketing campaign, together with the title-clinching 2-0 victory over Real Madrid.
On the optimistic aspect, he and Gavi and Lopez, who missed the World Cup, have now had loads of time to rehabilitate, with Yamal’s rehab coming extra so earlier than the match, for which he was nursed rigorously again to full well being.
It has been an distinctive interval for Barcelona in recent times, and particularly the final two with Yamal, however Jose “the particular one” Mourinho is again in Madrid, and that could be probably the most decisive consider whether or not the three-peat might be achieved.
