FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.11.2007 11:29

A renewed Recre look to climb out of relegation zone

Roger Bogunyà

Playing for the first time in their history their second consecutive year in the top flight, Recreativo have been renewed from head to foot. The players, coach and even the results are not what they were a few months ago.

Spectators who went to the Barça-Recre game last season will have a surprise Recre’s line-up is announced at Nou Camp on Saturday evening, Recreativo have been renewed from head to foot. The players, coach and even the results are not what they were a few months ago.

Total renewal

The squad was totally changed over the summer in Huelva, with 12 new signings and 10 players sold off. Finishing eighth in the league last year drew the attention of other teams, and most of their key players left the club (Cazorla, Viqueira, Uche, Mario and López Vallejo, among others).

This success also affected the bench, with Marcelino leaving the club for Santander, resulting in the ex-blaugrana Víctor Muñoz becoming the new coach. Muñoz, with little luck so far, has tried to maintain the level of good play and results of a year ago. Recre are currently 18th in the league, with 12 points from 12 games.

Poor away record

Their lowly league position means that the Andalusian team will have to play ambitiously at Nou Camp. Their formula will be playing for the counter-attack, a method which most visiting teams try at Nou Camp.

Playing only one forward (Sinama-Pongolle), Víctor Muñoz will form two consistent lines in defence and midfield in order to minimise the number of goals. It won’t be an easy task: Recre have let in double the goals away than at home.

Their current form is weak away from home, with only 4 points from a possible 18. Moreover, the breaks in the league don’t seem to benefit Recre, as they’ve been on worst form each time the league re-starts, and the same could happen at Nou Camp.