Dani Alves got back into the first team against Real Sociedad on Saturday. In fact, he has been in the first eleven the last four league games. Tito Vilanova continues to rely on him, giving him time on the pitch and opportunities, but the Brazilian is still a shadow of his former self who was so critical to the success of Barca in recent seasons.
Against Real Sociedad, Alves provided the assist for Pedro in Barca’s second goal. It was a typical piece of textbook stuff from Barca with Alves running up the wing and providing a measured cross for Pedro to latch on to. Funnily enough, for the last goal assist from Alves, we must go back to last season.
Goal assists used to be a common and key feature of the Brazilian’s game, but this facet did not reappear until Barca’s last game in San Sebastian. That measured pass to Pedro by Alves was his first assist in the league and the second of the season counting the one that provided the goal for Fabregás in the first leg of the Copa del Rey against Alavés.
Therefore, Dani Alves has provided just a single goal assist this season in La Liga. The number is worrying considering that in the 2010/11season he provided 11 goal assists and in the 2011/12 season he provided 10. This downturn is quite evident and even though his performance on the field is not even remotely the same as past seasons, Tito Vilanova still has hopes that the player will returns to his old self. The way in which Tito is showing that he believes in Alves is giving him playing time. Of the 20 matches that have been played by the Brazilian, he has played in 14 and started in 12 of them.
Keeping in mind that Alves has been injured more this season than in his entire career; this has been one of the reasons for his irregularity. Of the 12 matches he’s started, he’s only played the full 90 minutes in seven and was substituted in five of them. Last season at this point, Alves had played 19 games with 17 starts and contested every minute without being taken off. Vilanova can give him all the minutes on the pitch he feels the player deserves, but at the moment, the Brazilian’s performances along with the figures are not adding up.
Adriano is an option
He has played in all of the defensive positions and very well. So far he has racked up five goals, the same as Xavi Hernandez. The handicap of Adriano has always been his injuries. This season, it appears that the player has left behind the string of the muscle problems he had last year, but he did pick up a bruised right ankle just after the Christmas break. He’s now fit and available and is the most likely candidate to fill the right wing spot at La Rosaleda against Malaga in the second leg of their Copa del Rey clash.
Alves did provide the great goal assist for Pedro against Real Sociedad but his overall performance was tame, especially in the second half when the team needed him most after Gerard Pique’s sending off. It was on Alves’ wing that the first goal came from Chory Castro with the Brazilian looking on as a spectator. Apart from his goal assist, he lacked the precision of his former self.
For me Dani Alves is a brilliant player for Barca, and I noted he was chosen for the World Eleven team.
Great work Dani, keep up the good work.
it is true and i have been saying it and some people were aguing with me
It’s tru bt, I believe he will surely be resurgent with tym. Adriano shud be used against Malaga.