The La Liga title is back in Catalonia for the first time since 2019, the first time since Lionel Messi left the club and the first time under the reign of Xavi.
But on the evidence of the 2022/23 campaign it won’t be the last.
The Blaugrana stormed to the title and had a coronation when Real Sociedad came to the Camp Nou last week, though they went down to a 2-1 defeat to the Champions League chasing Basque club. But that didn’t matter one bit. Xavi’s men are still 13 points clear of the chasing pack having won the title away to local rivals Espanyol…it could hardly have been better!
The margin of victory has surprised everyone, with Real Madrid the pre-season favourites in many eyes, so what has been behind the remarkable transformation at the famous Camp Nou Stadium?
Summer 2022
It all started back in July when Polish scoring sensation Robert Lewandowski joined the club from FC Bayern at a cost of 45m, and he has proved to be worth every penny as he heads towards the Golden Boot award in his first season in La Liga. Lewi has scored 22 goals, five more than Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, while also making six assists in the league. It was a masterstroke from Xavi who also brought in winger Raphinha, in a 58m move from Leeds United, and Sevilla defender Jules Kounde at a cost of 50m.
One of the most significant moves was one which didn’t actually happen as midfield ace Frenkie De Jong, aggressively pursued throughout the transfer window by Manchester United, stayed at the club. The Dutch master had a superb season, as one of the most accurate passers in the league.
Out went Phillipe Coutinho, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Miralem Pjanic and Xavi had his squad, smaller than most of his rivals, but good enough to destroy each and every one of them.
The Big Players
Apart from Lewandowski and De Jong, Barca had plenty of other players making spectacular La Liga 2023 results highlights, including youngsters Pedri and Gavi. But I’ve picked out three other stars who played a huge role in the Blaugrana’s success.
Uruguayan centre back Ronald Araujo has certainly come of age and, at 24, he has his best years to come. Araujo has grown into one of the most assured defenders in world football, tough in the tackle and very comfortable on the ball. In front of the centre backs midfield general Sergio Busquets has been as influential as ever. The skipper is approaching 500 games for Barca but he has recently announced his departure from the club and he will leave a big hole to fill.
And then there is wide man Ousmane Dembele, who, when he returned from injury helped push the Blaugrana over the line. The France star played a crucial role in Lewandowski’ s success and the Polish hitman clearly thrived when Dembele was on the pitch. He’s lightning fast down the left or right flank and can turn a defender inside out before delivering a cross or cutting inside to shoot.
Xavi’s midfield obsession
Part of Dembele’s success can be attributed to Xavi’s insistence that midfield domination is key to his strategy. By crowding spaces in the middle of the park Barca can make space for Dembele to work in and De Jong can then release him with a pinpoint ball.
Of course Xavi, alongside Busquets and Andrea Iniesta made up a formidable midfield trio in Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning side. While he values the devastating wing play of Dembele, Xavi often chooses to add an extra man in the middle and play with an inverted wide man on the other flank. Alongside Busquets and De Jong, Pedri and Gavi often make up the midfield square with Dembele supporting Lewandowski. This way the Blaugrana can take total control of the middle and, with the best defence in the league and second most prolific attack, Xavi’s plan has worked to perfection.
Key moments
Last week, here at SBOTOP, we took a look at how Napoli conquered Italy, the only team to beat the Blaugrana to the winning post, a week before Xavi’s men won their title away to Espanyol with a 4-2 victory over their relegation-threatened neighbours.
The La Liga 2023 betting odds pretty much handed the title to Barca on the 23rd April when a Ferran Torres goal earned them a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, but there was another pivotal moment a couple of weeks earlier. On 5th April the Blaugrana were thumped 4-0 by Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey and, from that moment on, the Catalans became ruthless. They had already gone out of the Europa League to Manchester United at a time when they had a lot of injuries so, with the title run in their only priority… Barcelona delivered.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
