Three talking points ahead of Real Oviedo vs Barcelona | La Liga MD6 | OneFootball

After a reasonable period of rest following their 3-0 win over Getafe, Barcelona return to action in the team’s game against Real Oviedo on Thursday night.

The Catalans will be back on the road on the night and will look to ensure that matters end better when compared to the previous time they played away from home in La Liga.

After all, their last game on the road in the competition ended in a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano and put them two points behind Real Madrid – a margin that persists even today, given Los Blancos’ promising form.

With the Madrid derby coming up this weekend, putting pressure on Los Blancos by winning their game is all Barcelona have in their capacity in order to take pole position. That begins with winning tomorrow night.

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

A golden chance to rotate

While it is indeed true that no opposition can be overlooked in domestic football, Hansi Flick has no choice but to classify opponents into different standards of difficulty, given the hectic schedule.

Real Oviedo, in such a hypothetical classification, would fall into the least competitive bracket. While that does not mean they can be brushed aside, it means that the game provides Flick with a better chance to rotate his troops.

So far this season, the newly-promoted side have won one and lost four of their league games, with their only victory arriving against Real Sociedad. They have only scored one goal so far and have conceded eight.

Making rotations across the park, thus, appears to be the manager’s most practical option on the night, and one can expect alterations right from Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo returning in central defence to the likes of Marc Casado and possibly Roony Bardghji earning starts.

After all, it only makes sense that the coach provides his regular starters a rest tomorrow night with the tough games up ahead.

Dani Olmo must raise his level

Olmo must step up. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Fermin Lopez’s injury late into the team’s last La Liga game will see the player ruled out for close to three weeks and a return is only expected after the next international break.

The player’s setback, needless to say, opens the doors for Dani Olmo into the starting lineup as a regular figure once more and thus provides him with a chance to prove his worth.

With Gavi out for months as well, Olmo is now the only real option Flick has in the department for the coming games and will be a default starter. It is in his best interest to make the most of his opportunity and prove that he still has the magic in his boots.

While Olmo did shine in Barcelona’s latest league outing with a goal and an assist, his performances this season have not been anything convincing or consistent.

He will thus have a lot to work on in the coming weeks, including his movements off the ball, his distribution, and especially his finishing form.

Building crucial momentum

The game against Real Oviedo, in many ways, is only a curtain-raiser to three gruelling games for Barcelona across competitions ahead of the upcoming international break.

Immediately after tomorrow’s challenge, the Catalans face off against Real Sociedad at home and then invite PSG in the UEFA Champions League, a clash they will be desperate to win.

Further, they also have a meeting against Sevilla scheduled just days after the clash against Luis Enrique’s side, and must be fresh if they are to take three points in all three games.

Barcelona’s slow start to the season saw a major momentum switch when they destroyed Valencia by a 6-0 scoreline, and then added to their confidence. The 3-0 win at home against Getafe was the cherry on the cake.

Now, however, it is crucial that they keep the same momentum going as they prepare for the game against PSG in the UCL for which they must be at their best.

There is, moreover, no room to adjust in La Liga as well, especially given Real Madrid’s red-hot form.