Setien looks for attack formula
BARCELONA coach Quique Setien will keep trying to find the right formula to allow his attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann to shine at Real Valladolid tomorrow.
The trio burst into life last weekend with a win at Villarreal and combined for the winner against Espanyol on Wednesday.
Even though Barcelona’s title dreams are slight, the forwards are helping keep them alive, with the reigning champions a point behind Real Madrid, ahead of Los Blancos’s clash with Alaves today, after which both teams will have played 35 matches.
If Real Madrid win that, Barcelona can immediately put the pressure back on before Zinedine Zidane’s side travel to Granada on Monday.
What may be more interesting for Setien, though, is getting his star names to click in devastating fashion in time for the Champions League relaunching in August, which is Barcelona’s most realistic hope of silverware at this point.
Ansu Fati is suspended for the clash with Valladolid after being sent off during Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Espanyol, which relegated their local rivals.
“He was humble, he talked to me,” said Setien. “He went to win the ball and it was unlucky.”
Suarez’s goal in that game made him Barcelona’s third top goalscorer of all time on 195 strikes, only behind Messi (630) and Cesar (232).
The Uruguayan acknowledged Setien’s search for a set-up which works for all of Barcelona’s strikers.
Griezmann has been playing alongside Suarez with Messi behind in the last two games.
“It’s the manager who takes the decision,” Suarez said. “He wanted to find a formula, this is the formula he’s trying at the moment. It is Antoine’s first year here so we know it’s difficult, the adaptation period. The other day (against Villarreal) we could all enjoy a brilliant performance from Antoine Griezmann.”
Whatever Barcelona accomplish against Valladolid, Madrid know the title is in their hands.
If they beat Alaves and then Granada on Monday, they will remain at least four points clear with only two games to go.
Los Blancos have looked unstoppable of late, grinding out results at a crucial time of the season.
They have kept five clean sheets in their past six matches and recorded seven wins from seven since football resumed after the coronavirus pandemic suspension.
The spine of the team has excelled, Thibaut Courtois, Sergio Ramos, Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema among their best performers.
Zidane’s impressive squad depth means that even though star signing Eden Hazard has only featured sporadically and Gareth Bale has largely remained in exile, Madrid still have plenty of options on the flanks – Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez all featured in their win over Athletic Bilbao.
At the bottom of the table Eibar in 17th visit relegated Espanyol, 19th place Leganes welcome Valencia and Mallorca, in 18th, face a difficult test at Sevilla.
The weekend’s other fixtures are Osasuna v Celta Vigo, Atletico Madrid v Real Betis, Levante v Athletic Bilbao, Alaves v Getafe and Villarreal v Real Sociedad.