Three talking points ahead of Galatasaray vs Barcelona

Heading into a second leg in Europe without an advantage is a daunting task in itself. Add to that the proposition of visiting a stadium with one of the most passionate fanbases, and one has a problem at hand. Barcelona face the same situation at the moment ahead of the clash against Galatasaray.

The Turkish giants came to Camp Nou amidst severe domestic problems and frustrated Xavi’s side for ninety minutes. It was a game in which the Blaugranes created relatively little, with the forwards having a poor night in front of goal.

Now, much like the game against Napoli, Barcelona head to Istanbul looking for nothing less than a win. The side are coming off a dominating victory over Osasuna and will look to replicate the same midweek. Here are three talking points ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Galatasaray.

1. No ifs, ands or buts

The Catalans head into the clash with a no-nonsense mindset. Every game is a final at this juncture of the season, and Thursday’s game even more so.

Last year, Barcelona could have got away with a draw in the second leg had they secured a goalless draw at home. The away goals rule would put them at an advantage and thus give them a higher chance of qualifying. However, that rule is no longer in existence.

Now, nothing less than a win will suffice. Looking at the delicate margins for the game, Xavi will be forced to deploy his strongest front three, which will likely consist of Ferran Torres, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, and Ousmane Dembele.

At the same time, the team cannot sit back and defend, hoping for a break. From the opening minute, Xavi will push his men to play on the front foot and attack with freedom. Needless to say, a thrilling clash awaits.

2. Now or never for Dest

Sergino Dest’s future at Barcelona has never been more uncertain than it is now. The arrival of Dani Alves pushed him to the bench in January. After a long and hard fight back into the starting XI, it looked as if Dest had done enough to win Xavi’s confidence. Now, however, he has new competition.

According to several reports, Noussair Mazraoui has turned down various offers to join Barcelona as a free agent in the summer. The arrival of the Moroccan international would see Dest’s prominence in the team go down drastically. More importantly, it could push the right-back into the transfer list.

The youngster’s future is now at crossroads. He can either work hard and prove to Xavi that he deserves to stay at Barcelona or win over the confidence of other European clubs to seek a transfer. Either way, producing good performances on the field is a necessity.

With Alves not available for selection, Dest will certainly start on the night. The 21-year-old did not have a good showing against Galatasaray in the first leg, registering zero key passes, accurate crosses or long balls.

He had only 45 touches in 90 minutes and failed to get the better of Patrick Van Aanholt. To say that Thursday’s game is vital to Dest’s future is an understatement.

3. Uncertain rotations

Xavi is in a fix. The game in Istanbul is a must-win encounter, but the club face off against Real Madrid less than three days later. In such a situation, are rotations necessary, or is it understandable to overburden key players?

What could be expected is that the manager will play his strongest lineup against Galatasaray, but look to replace them as soon into the tie as possible. Much like the game against Osasuna, a two or three-goal lead would be the trigger for the changes to be made.

Ronald Araujo was completely rested against Osasuna and will start alongside Gerard Pique. In midfield, the trio of Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets might get the nod with Gavi pushed to the bench. In the forward line, one would expect no changes.

A win on Thursday would help Barcelona head into El Clasico in high spirits. The team are currently in a good moment, and roll look to use it to better their arch-rivals. The clash at Istanbul is not only the stepping stone to a high-intensity Clasico but also a game that determines if the Catalans finish with a trophy this season.