PSG game plan comes into focus in Barca win over Cadiz

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Xavi’s players are rested and ready for the biggest game of the season

Mission accomplished for Xavi and his team in preparation for the PSG quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.

They got the victory over Cadiz, while lamentably Real Madrid squeezed past Mallorca, keeping pressure on their Spanish rivals atop the domestic table, with the second Clasico of the season just a week away.

But all eyes are on the Champions League now.

Many of the players who will play a secondary role midweek, stepped up and got the job done over the weekend.

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Even Oscar Hernandez, brother and assistant coach extraordinaire who just can’t lose, put in a shift, as Xavi watched on from the stands.

There was plenty to analyze on the field, even if the team will look completely different against Paris.

The most promising sign of all was the continued confidence. The spirit that has been building for months is a contagion that’s affecting even the less utilized players off the bench.

Cadiz had chances, but for me, even though the result was 1-0, the win never seemed in doubt. Earlier in the season, recall that every match seemed like it was there for Barca to lose. Even against the bottom of the table Spanish teams.

The defense once again stepped up. Even with Marcos Alonso and Hector Fort stepping in, and with Andreas Christensen moving to the backline for the first time in a long time.

It’s a shame Sergi Roberto is suspended on Tuesday. He’s really playing some of his best football in a Barca shirt, and looking like a leader on the field, even if I disagree with his assignment as captain.

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Double that for Andreas Christensen who has been such a stellar signing for the club since his arrival. So versatile and dependable.

Joao Felix was the man of the match in this one, just about the only creative spark. He won’t get the start against PSG, but he will be perhaps the most important player off the bench. This is a role he has been embracing of late, and it’s made Barcelona all the better.

But if any question came out of the first leg, it was what to do with the midfield trio.

The suspensions of Roberto and Christsensen made the calculus a bit more simple.

After seeing Fermin Lopez get the start on Saturday, it seems clear that Xavi is going with the talent of Ilkay Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri.

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It seems obvious on paper, but in practice this could be risky.

This leg could go to overtime. So the question becomes, how many minutes can Frenkie and Pedri give you?

And if there are any limitations, for Pedri in particular, does it make more sense to give him the start, or to bring him on in the second half?

I wondered, and still do, whether Fermin will be counted on when the lineups are announced on Tuesday.

Beyond that, however, the objectives were simple against Cadiz.

Give a rest to the regulars.

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Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal will certainly lead the line, and they got the breather they needed to be at full strength to give however many minutes are required.

The backline is a sure thing too with Jules Kounde, one of the best defenders in the world at the moment according to the manager, being joined by two of the other best defenders in the world at the moment in Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo.

The wildcard against PSG will be Joao Cancelo, who will no doubt play, and will also no doubt be targeted.

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The question will be whether the Portuguese national’s attacking contributions outweigh the vulnerabilities on the defensive end. No doubt Ousmane Dembele and company will be given the green light to exploit the left side of the Barca defense.

Onward now.

Xavi, I’m sure, has total confidence in his players who have been on fire, and growing in their power, for months.

They got the job done again against Cadiz, and will be chomping at the bit to take down PSG at home, and then march on to the semi-finals where a favorable matchup against either Atletico Madrid or Dortmund awaits.

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This is a golden opportunity.

Let’s get fired up and enjoy the week.

Visca Barca. The glory is there for the taking.

Source: barcablaugranes.com