Survival night at Camp Nou with the visit of Benfica (21:00 Movistar Champions League, follow the game live on AS.com). In the middle of November the Barça is played almost definitively the option to pass to the round of 16 of the Champions League. A victory would mean that the last game in the Allianz Arena against Bayern is a mere formality. Otherwise, it would be necessary a feat against the Germans and wait for the miracle of Dinamo against the Lisbon team.
With only two goals noted in the four matches disputed in the competition, Xavi’s team faces the rival who erased him from the field in From light last September 29 when he beat him by 3-0 in a match that ready was of cause Koeman’s dismissal, which would take place weeks later.
After suffering before Spanish, but “to leave very satisfied with the team’s game”, the technical face this test with the usual precariousness of elements available from the last weeks. Or even worse, because unlike what happened in the last game against Espanyol, this time in Ilias, ni Abde ni Jutglà They will be able to enter the call.
So there will be no other for Xavi than improvise extremes, because your idea of expanding the field is non-negotiable. Gavi, who already occupied the left band in the derby, seems safe and for the other the drama is serious. Dembélé, Dest and Sergi Roberto they are in the final phase of your recovery, with the risk that this entails of relapse, while Coutinho already demonstrated on Saturday that it follows Out of shape.
The Benfica any complex that he might have regarding Barça was removed in the September game and arrives in Barcelona knowing that the pass is in his hand to the next phase. Hopefully a technician as experienced as Jorge Jesus He will have a surprise prepared, but if his team stands out in something, it is in its solidity. His defensive approach could be accentuated by looking for the counter against a Barça in survival mode.