First come the clouds. Then comes the rain. And, finally, the sun comes out.
For FC Barcelona, the hope is that the sun is here to stay.
Barça’s last three games versus Málaga CF have produced results that mimic your garden-variety weather pattern.
Last year, when the Catalans visited Málaga in the first half of the season, the teams played to a scoreless draw.
When Málaga came north in February, they rained on Barça’s parade, winning at Camp Nou by a score of 1–0 just as Barça were trying to mount an assault on the league’s top spot.
But in Match Day 2 this season, at home against Málaga, things were brighter. Barça ratcheted up the pressure and emerged with a 1–0 victory at Camp Nou.
The score did not reflect Barça’s intensity that day, however, as Thomas Vermaelen burned Málaga for a score in minute 83 only after his teammates had unleashed a storm of 22 shots, 13 of which were on goal.
On Saturday, FC Barcelona will try to stay on track versus their Andalusian rivals.
