Hansi Flick has urged consistency from referees on all touchlines, saying: “All I ask is that the referees decide the same for each bench.”
The Christmas break is just around the corner, with just two games left for teams to ensure a smooth holiday. This is the case of both Barcelona and Leganés. The Blaugranas have two games to consolidate their lead, which has been threatened due to recent unsatisfactory performances and poor results. Flick’s team has dropped ten points in the last five games, and if they want to finish on top, they cannot afford any mistakes in these two games against Leganés and Atlético. Likewise, the pepineros fight at the bottom of the table, striving to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Barcelona urgently needs a reaction in LaLiga. After a 1-5 win against Mallorca, it looked like they had overcome their previous problems against Real Sociedad, Celta and Las Palmas. However, against Betis, the same mistakes resurfaced, and they missed two crucial points.
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Flick’s team is coming off a vital victory in Europe, where they fought hard to defeat Borussia Dortmund on their own turf. It was a commendable victory as they had to take the lead on three occasions to secure the points in a stadium where no one had won in European competition for the last three years.
Now, they are looking to replicate that success in LaLiga at home. Montjuïc had been an impregnable fortress until Las Palmas surprised by taking the three points from there. Barcelona are determined to regain their strength at home, a key factor in their title aspirations. On paper, it looks promising; Leganés is one of the few teams in the league, along with Getafe, Espanyol and Valencia, that has yet to achieve a victory on the road this season.
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Flick will be forced to make rotations for tonight’s match. Some of their players have accumulated a lot of minutes and need to rest. One player who could be replaced is Rafinha, who had to be replaced against Dortmund due to physical problems due to fatigue. Casadó is in a similar situation, having become a key player for Flick despite his youth, but has barely had a break this season.
The defense also faces concerns, particularly with Íñigo Martínez, who has played virtually every minute. Ronald Araujo is prepared to play his first minutes of the season against Leganés, according to the coach’s intentions expressed in the press conference, although it is not clear if he will start or enter in the second half.
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Furthermore, there is good news with Ansu Fati returning to training with the rest of his teammates. Although he has not yet been discharged, he is expected to be discharged in the morning and be available for selection. Obviously, he will not start, but if the game allows it, he could see some minutes. However, Flick will not be on the touchline as he has been suspended for two matches after receiving a red card in Sevilla.
The Madrid team seeks to score points for the first time in its history at Barcelona’s ground, having been close in the 16/17 and 18/19 seasons when they were victims of goals from an in-form Messi. In Butarque, they are aware of the difficulty of facing the league leaders, but the urgency of finding their form again is crucial to avoid falling into the relegation zone. Against Barcelona, Borja Jiménez’s team will not be able to count on Rosier due to a suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card. Franquesa will also be absent for an extended period. Brasanac and Nastasic are doubts, having missed some training during the week. However, Dani Raba and Haller are fit and will be included in the squad. The biggest changes could see Altimira come in for Rosier and the return of Juan Cruz after not starting against Real Sociedad. Many blue and white fans will be in the stands at Montjuïc.
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Neutralized
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