Las Palmas manager details potential weakness in Barcelona's backline that his team will look to exploit in upcoming LaLiga clash
Las Palmas manager Diego Martinez has pointed out a flaw in Barcelona’s defense that his side will look to capitalize on when they face off in LaLiga on November 30. He reckons that the weakness in Hansi Flick’s setup is the space left behind by his boys due to their high defensive line.
Barcelona will be keen to return to winning ways in LaLiga, having failed to win their last two matches. The Catalan club sit at the summit of the league table with 34 points after 14 games. Meanwhile, Las Palmas are languishing just one position above the relegation zone with 12 points after the same number of games.
La Blaugrana will undoubtedly go into the clash as top dogs. However, Galician coach Martinez has discovered a strategy he can utilize to pull off a surprise against the league leaders. In the pre-match conference, Martinez acknowledged the quality that Barcelona possesses while specifically commending their high-pressing system.
Pointing out the Achilles heel in Barcelona’s gameplay, he said space left behind the high defensive line could prove costly for the Catalan club.
"We have to try to take advantage of the spaces they leave; when they have suffered the most is with five or fewer passes against them, but we also have to be very firm in individual duels and generous in defensive help," Martinez said (via Mundo Deportivo).
Hansi Flick's side have conceded 14 goals in 14 games in LaLiga this season.
Barcelona handed huge boost ahead of Las Palmas clash
Barcelona have been handed a major boost ahead of their upcoming clash with Las Palmas in LaLiga. Manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that academy graduate Lamine Yamal is fit to play in the match after recovering from an ankle injury.
Yamal sat out Barca’s last three matches across competitions after spraining his ankle against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League on November 6. His absence was strongly felt as the Catalan club won one of the three matches. In what will come as music to the ears of fans, the 17-year-old is available for tomorrow’s clash.
Hansi Flick said in a pre-match briefing on Friday (via ESPN):
"Lamine is back, he's ready to play. We will see if he starts or not, we have not decided yet. But he can play, and he will play."
Lamine Yamal has proven to be indispensable for La Blaugrana this season. He currently tops the assists charts (7) in the league and has also scored five goals in 12 games.