FC Barcelona are set to face Real Sociedad in La Liga later today as they look to continue their good form in 2025. The Catalan club is unbeaten across all competitions so far this calendar year and will want to secure the three points today.
Hansi Flick’s men come into this game with the knowledge of what happened with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with both teams playing earlier in the matchday. They currently find themselves second in the table as Diego Simeone’s team won their game last night.
However, it doesn’t matter what happened yesterday or where they sit going into the game tonight. All that Barcelona need to ensure is that they keep winning games and that will be helpful as they have their fate in their own hands.
With all this in mind, we at Barca News Network bring to you three major talking points ahead of this clash as Barcelona prepare to face Real Sociedad in La Liga.
1. Time to take advantage
Although we said what Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid do shouldn’t matter, for the first time in many weeks, Barcelona have the opportunity to go clear at the top of the table and not be level on points with the other teams.
Real Madrid dropped all three points against Real Betis last night and this gives Barcelona the chance to take advantage. However, facing Real Sociedad is never going to be an easy task, as Hansi Flick himself saw earlier this season.
Barcelona’s form coming into this game has been very good, but the performances can improve. Defensively, it is important to sharpen up a little bit and not make the same mistakes that the team made against Atletico in the Copa del Rey.
The last thing the Catalan club wants to do is to drop points against Real Sociedad at home and hand over the title initiative to Atletico Madrid. Let’s wait and see if Hansi Flick can inspire his team to play well tonight and get the three points in the process.
2. Rotations?
With an important Champions League game on the horizon not so far away, Hansi Flick might be looking to make some rotations against Real Sociedad without compromising on quality to keep players fresh for the Benfica game.
Flick will have to make his decision to choose between Marc Casado and Frenkie de Jong for the defensive midfield position. Similarly, one would have to assume that Dani Olmo will be rested for this game with Gavi taking his place.
The German coach is unlikely to rotate out either of Raphinha or Lamine Yamal but Robert Lewandowski is likely to start, reclaiming his place from Ferran Torres. Similarly, Pedri is not someone who is likely to be rested against the Basque club.
There is also a very good chance for Flick to rotate the left-back position and bring in Gerard Martin for Alejandro Balde. The latter has played a lot of football in recent weeks and the German coach might want to keep him fresh for Benfica.
3. Araujo to finally start?
Ronald Araujo has been stuck to the bench for the last few weeks and the Uruguayan needs the chance to start and the Real Sociedad game might provide him the best option. He could come in to provide a break for one of Pau Cubarsi or Inigo Martinez.
Going forward this season, the Barcelona captain will be important during big games where teams are good on the counter and he needs to slowly yet surely work his way back into the line-up and start adapting to Flick’s high line.
Araujo has not yet fully understood how to play the offside trap but there is no doubt that Flick will be working with him on this aspect in training. One can assume that the Uruguayan would have worked on the same in recent weeks.
Let’s wait and see if Hansi Flick gives the talented centre-back a chance against Real Sociedad and if he can impress. It could be a very crucial game for the Uruguayan international and let’s wait and see how it plays out.
