Barcelona vs Real Valladolid: Three key talking points ahead of La Liga clash | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are set to face Real Valladolid in La Liga in an important game for the title race, but the mood surrounding the game is quite different from usual, with more focus being placed on what rotations Hansi Flick would make.

The Catalan club will be taking on the 20th-placed team in La Liga, who have already been relegated for next season and have conceded almost 30 goals more than the second-worst team in the Spanish top-flight. With all due respect, it is a game that Barcelona should have won.

Barcelona have a super important Champions League semi-final clash against Inter Milan at the San Siro, with the first leg ending in a 3-3 draw. It remains to be seen just how much rotations Flick is willing to afford for the game.

Keeping all this in mind, we at Sempre Barca bring to you three talking points for Barcelona ahead of their La Liga clash against Real Valladolid.

1: How many rotations are too many rotations?

It is no secret that rotations are going to be made for the game against Valladolid, but the question for Hansi Flick to answer is how many rotations are too many rotations? It has already been confirmed that Flick is likely to give some fringe players a chance.

Players like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri, and Inigo Martinez have played a lot of minutes in recent weeks and surely need rest ahead of the big Inter Milan game, and even the likes of Frenkie de Jong would be looking at some kind of break.

It is easy to get carried away and claim that Flick should rotate the entire XI against Valladolid, but the result in this La Liga clash is very important, and dropping points would be catastrophic. Thus, the German coach needs to get this decision spot on.

Do not be surprised to see one of Pedri or Yamal in the starting XI to not compromise on quality, and only time will tell how Hansi Flick decides to line up against Valladolid.

Can Ansu take his chance tonight? (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

2: Glorious chance for Ansu Fati!

Not many saw Ansu Fati getting a chance to start Barcelona’s previous La Liga game against Mallorca, and it came as quite a surprise to see Hansi Flick name him in the XI that night. However, the Spaniard had a solid performance despite not managing to score a goal.

Fati formed an excellent partnership with Hector Fort on the left flank, and their link-up play was a sight to behold. Having come through La Masia, the Spaniard has a natural sense of close control and makes the right movements.

It is almost certain that the Spaniard will get a chance to start against Valladolid, especially considering the fact that Lewandowski is still not available. This might be one of his last chances to salvage his faltering Barcelona career.

The fans still have the same kind of admiration for Fati, and all Barcelona fans would like nothing more than for the Spaniard to reach the levels that he showed before. That could start with a good display tonight, and let’s wait and see how it plays out.

3: How will MATS return?

It has already been confirmed by Hansi Flick before the game that club captain Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will take his place in between the posts, and this would be his first game since returning from injury.

Ter Stegen’s absence could have been disastrous for Barcelona this campaign, but Inaki Pena and later Szczesny have done brilliantly to ensure that the German goalkeeper’s injury has been covered for, quite admirably.

In fact, a case can be made that the Polish veteran has done even better than what Ter Stegen has done during big games. It comes as no surprise to see Hansi Flick decide to stick with the ex-Juventus goalkeeper for the Champions League games until the end of the season.

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding what the future holds for MATS, and fans will be waiting to see if he can showcase the same kind of quality that he did a few seasons ago. Let’s wait and see how the club captain plays against Valladolid.