Following a narrow win over Mallorca on Friday, Barcelona will shift their attention to the crucial Champions League affair against Napoli in midweek.
The Catalans require a win against the Partenopei if they are to advance through to the quarterfinal stage. But recent injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Pedri have made things significantly more difficult for Barça.
Replacing de Jong, in particular, will be a major challenge for Xavi Hernandez, considering the importance of the Dutchman in the club’s second line of press.
Roberto ready to replace de Jong
But as Barcelona prepare for the Napoli game, a recent report from Diario SPORT has offered a key insight into Xavi’s game plan.
It appears the Barcelona coach has already found a replacement for de Jong, in the form of veteran midfielder Sergi Roberto.
As per the report, the Spaniard is all set to replace de Jong in Barcelona’s three-pronged midfield unit. He is likely to be partnered by Andreas Christensen in the defensive midfield role, while Ilkay Gundogan will operate in the interior position.
The rationale behind the move
Barcelona have a rather simple rationale behind the move to incorporate Sergi Roberto in midfield against Napoli.
The veteran midfielder undergoes similar tactical training as De Jong, which makes him the most ideal candidate to replace the Dutchman in the middle of the park.
Roberto, for his part, is ready for the challenge and is keen on getting back to the pitch. The veteran is determined to prove himself, especially after losing his place to Christensen in recent weeks.
Not to mention, Roberto’s wealth of experience, coupled with his leadership could prove to be useful against a team like Napoli – giving some much-needed balance to an otherwise young Barcelona setup.
