Three talking points ahead of Real Sociedad vs Barcelona | La Liga

A one-week break between two successive games has become a rare sight in the world of football. With multiple competitions running in tandem, it has become a norm for the top clubs across Europe to take to the field twice in a seven-day span.

Barcelona received the rare blessing after El Clasico as they had no midweek fixture after the primetime clash. It could not have come at a better time.

The Catalans are hard done, wounded, and hungry after the unfair Clasico result and take to the field for the first time tomorrow night since the debacle. San Sebastian will host their clash as they take on Real Sociedad in a tricky clash.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Sociedad vs Barcelona.

Riding on the silver lining

Despite their long list of injuries, there was hope in Catalonia about El Clasico last week. The Blaugranas, after all, were the hosts on the afternoon and were riding on good momentum.

What unfolded at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, however, was disappointing. After a spectacular first-half display, Barcelona fell apart over the second 45 minutes as Real Madrid pioneered a stunning comeback.

More than the result, it was the sheer manner in which it unfolded and the last-minute winner conceded that stung the players. To come back from such a defeat can surely not be easy.

The onus is thus on Xavi Hernandez to ensure that his team only take away the silver linings from the game, for there were no dearth for them. He began his job with a pep-talk the day after El Clasico, and tomorrow’s clash against Real Sociedad will be the first test of the same.

Anger, a feeling of being hard done, and a revenge-seeking mentality, as Ilkay Gundogan said, would be the best response Barcelona can come out of El Clasico with. The feeling of helplessness is precisely what Xavi must avoid from sitting in the dressing room.

A big return

Pedri has suffered a turbulent time in recent months. The Spanish phenom has struggled to catch a break with injuries and has spent more time off the field than on it.

His most recent blow came in Barcelona’s 2-3 win over Cadiz late in August. The midfield prodigy was diagnosed with an injury to the right rectus of his anterior thigh, ruling him out of action for over two months.

After weeks of speculation and caution, he is finally at the cusp of a return. He may have missed El Clasico, but Barcelona understandably prioritise his long-term fitness and complete recovery.

The youngster’s return for the game vs Sociedad brings life back into Barcelona’s midfield, for he is the team’s most creative outlet by far. Pedri will likely play as a substitute this weekend, but one can expect him to return to the starting lineup in the subsequent fixtures.

His return, however, also places the manager in a tricky spot. After all, he must sacrifice one of the three players who have run the Blaugrana midfield in recent weeks.

With Ilkay Gundogan and Gavi better established under the manager, Fermin Lopez could be the one relegated to the bench.

A quest to stay alive

Just when it appeared that Barcelona had cut the deficit with Real Madrid, El Clasico arrived and undid their progress. The La Liga race is indeed open, but the Catalans must wake up and smell the coffee if they are to stay alive in it.

Eleven match days into the season, Real Madrid sit in the joint-first place with 28 points. Of their games so far, they have won nine and dropped points just twice.

Alongside Los Blancos sit this season’s surprise dark horse, Girona. Michel’s side are level with Real Madrid on points, and their only defeat so far, ironically, came to Real Madrid.

Even Atletico Madrid sit ahead of Barcelona, who now have just 24 points after 11 matches. Notable, Diego Simeone’s side even have a game in hand over the Azulgranas.

Down to fourth place, Barcelona are treading a tightrope. The season is long and the players will be weary by the time it comes it its conclusion, but it is vital that they patch their voids and get momentum under their belt in the coming weeks. All that must start tomorrow night at San Sebastian.