06.11.2007 13:13
A guaranteed defence
Sandra Sarmiento
Barça have the best defensive record in the league after letting in just 8 goals, and have yet to concede a single goal in three Champions League encounters.
The arrival of such new players as Abidal and Milito (plus Touré, who often does a lot to help out
at the back) have made Rijkaard’s side more defensively solid than ever. In 14 different
official matches at home and in Europe, Barça have started with no fewer than 11 different
defensive line-ups. As well as tactical switches, injuries to Puyol, Márquez, Zambrotta, Milito and
Abidal have enforced these changes.
Three repeats
During the first five league matches, with Puyol still recovering from a knee injury,
Zambrotta and Abidal were the regular full backs, but Márquez, Thuram and Oleguer alternated in the
middle. However, the same defence consisting of Zambrotta, Milito, Márquez and Abidal was fielded
against Sevilla, Zaragoza and Olympique Lyon.
Puyol returns
At the Ciudad de Valencia, Barça’s captain made his
long awaited return, while Zambrotta missed the game through injury. The back four against Levante
hence featured Oleguer, Thuram, Milito and Abidal. On October 2, at the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium,
an injury to Márquez in the 6th minute meant Puyol was sent straight on to replace him without time
for a warm-up.
More changes
With the Mexican sidelined, as well as Zambrotta and Touré (who slots in just in front of the
back four), Oleguer, Milito, Puyol and Abidal teamed up once again to face Atlético Madrid and
Villarreal. In Glasgow and Valladolid, Rijkaard opted to play Puyol at right back, while Abidal
missed the trip to the Nuevo Zorilla due to an ankle injury. That meant Sylvinho started his first
game of the season.