Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barcelona are dealing with busy schedules. However, they have a different strategy, especially for this weekend’s match. The busy schedule faced by clubs in Europe, especially those who play in domestic and European competitions. Even because of the 2022 World Cup which took place at the end of the year, the European club event, the Champions League, was condensed.
Before the 2022 World Cup takes place in Qatar, the Champions League group stage is over. After the 2022 World Cup is over, the Champions League continues with the knockout stages. Therefore, the Champions League participants face a busy week. They played twice in two weeks in the Champions League. Then the Champions League is off for a week or two, then it goes on for two weeks in a row.
If every team in the Champions League played twice in two weeks in Europe’s top competition, there would be consequences. They will play four times in two weeks. The details, two matches in the Champions League and two matches in the domestic league. Of course it is very tiring to play four times in two weeks. So, rotation is usually the solution. Clubs will usually play a different starter in each of the two matches.
Well, there is a different strategy from Barcelona and PSG this weekend. Strategies related to players who become starters and substitutions. Barcelona, who played Cadiz last night, was seen using a “reserve” starter. This means that those who play at the beginning are those who partially become reserves.
Up front, Memphis Depay, Ferran Torres and Raphinha started. In the middle there is no name Pedri as a starter. Behind Alejandro Balde started at left back position. With that composition, Barcelona could not score in the first half. That composition only resulted in one goal against Frenkie De Jong in 55 minutes.
In the 57th minute, Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele and Pedri were played. 72 minutes Ansu Fati came in. After 57 minutes, Barcelona was able to make three goals. The three goals came from substitutes Ansu Fati, Lewandowski and Dembele.
Xavi only played Dembele, Lewandowski and Pedri for 33 minutes. Ansu Fati even only played 18 minutes. Their energy is only used a little and the results are maximum. It seems that in the match against Cadiz, Xavi will only play important players if needed. Xavi seems to be making the most of his important players against Bayern Munich in the middle of the week.
I suspect Xavi will play as a substitute against Cadiz, if it is stuck, then the main players will be played. Then what about PSG? PSG against Brest at home on Saturday (10/9/2022). Playing at home against a team in 17th position, PSG played the best starter. PSG won 1-0 through Neymar’s goal in the first half.
Messi, Neymar, Mbappe, Vitinha, all started. Only two regular nonstarters have started against Brest namely Juan Bernat and Danilo. Danilo plays as a defender which is usually filled by Marquinhos. Mbappe and Neymar were only replaced in the 70’s. While Messi played full. This means that the starters played for a long time. In fact, in the middle of the week they will play in the Champions League, even though the opponent is Maccabi Haifa.
Is it effective? Is the strategy of Barcelona and PSG this weekend effective? Yes, of course effective. Because the definition of effective is to achieve the goal. What’s the goal? Yes get three points. Barcelona get three points against Cadiz. PSG also got three points against Brest. This means that both teams’ strategy is effective!
Which is More Efficient? Even though both teams are equally effective this weekend, Barcelona is more efficient. Efficiency is the best comparison between effort and result. Barcelona were more efficient because they got a big win over Cadiz and used less energy from some of the starting players. PSG won narrowly by using a lot of energy from many core players.
Some of Barcelona’s core players (especially the key players up front), only played less than 40 minutes against Cadiz. While most of PSG’s core players played around 70 minutes in the win over Brest. The discussion or distinguishing between core and reserve players is contextual because both teams are dealing with busy schedules.
The discussion of playing minutes for the core players is also contextually discussed because of the busy schedule. It could be that the core players are tired in the next match because they are forced to play long minutes.
The next efficiency will be seen in the middle of this week when both play in the Champions League. Will Barcelona’s strategy or PSG’s strategy be efficient? We will see later.
The effective and efficient discussion of the two teams puts aside the opposing factors of each team. If the level of their respective opponents from Barcelona and PSG is used as an effective and efficient coloring factor, of course the results are different.
ASL
