FC Barcelona is back on track perfectly in the Champions League (5-0). Already at the break, Barça had made the difference thanks to goals from Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Inigo Martinez. The festival continued in the second with a new achievement from Lewandowski and an unfortunate counterattack from the opposing captain.
This manita allows Blaugrana to get back into the race for the round of 16 after the setback in Monaco (2-1). Next match against Bayern Munich…
Inaki Pena had nothing to do during the entire meeting. Very quiet match for him and so much the better. The Catalan goalkeeper was saved by his bar on the only action conceded. He saved his clean sheet at the end of the duel.
Jules Koundé was again very serious with more offensive freedoms. His defensive returns were strong and his climbs sharp to support Yamal.
With two strikes, Koundé could have scored a first goal in the LDC this season. Another big performance for him.
Pau Cubarsi had a few shifts in concentration on simple passes or checks. His positioning, his aerial presence and his choices were not always very relevant against a rather approachable opponent.
Disappointing for the young Catalan. His exit makes sense both tactically and physically.
Already very aggressive, Inigo Martinez was able to highlight himself in the zone of truth. The Catalan defender scored the third with a furious blow of his helmet before being the decisive passer on the fourth pawn. Great defensive performance and great presence on set pieces.
On the only action conceded, Martinez is caught by a hell of a hook and is saved by the bar.
Alex Baldé rarely went into attack and hardly accompanied Ferran. The Barcelona full-back was content to defend with more or less success on the few opposing offensives. Correct match without real transcendence.
Baldé is restrained by the slightly more restrictive instructions of his coach, we feel it, but the match did not deserve to take risks. He was involved in the fifth goal, with a low cross deflected into the opposing cage.
Marc Casado was rigorous and precise so as not to be found wanting as in Monaco (2-1). The young Spanish midfielder had some inspiration to open at the back, but sorely lacked the physicality to recover balls.
Casado made a defensive return to his line on the only action conceded. Great determination, like his match.
Pedri was involved in all of FC Barcelona’s goals in the first half. At the origin of the first two, the Catalan midfielder is the decisive passer on the third. His sublime pass from the right outside could even have offered Lewandowski a fourth.
Defensive returns, technical mastery and swaying dribbles, we witnessed a new masterclass from the Catalan prodigy.
Raphinha proves even more that he has taken on a big dimension. The Brazilian international was the decisive passer on the first goal and scorer on the second. A harasser in pressing and technically precise, the evening playmaker is untenable.
Raphinha continued as soon as she returned from the locker room. L’Auriverde kicked a perfect corner on the fourth goal. A match of captain and offensive leader.
Lamine Yamal monopolizes the defenders’ attention so much that spaces are created elsewhere. He has the lucidity to exploit them as on the first goal. The 17-year-old winger did not hesitate to make his opponents turn like puppets.
Yamal simplified his game in the second but did not often make the right choice. With so much density on his wing, a touch of individualism is understandable.
Robert Lewandowski is in line with his last weeks: a little slow, clumsy but decisive. He scored the first goal and monopolized the central defenders throughout the first act.
Same observation on the fourth pawn with a fox placement. We feel it is sharper but not yet in its ultimate version.
Ferran Torres missed three very clear chances in the first half. Technically, the Spanish winger missed simple movements and seemed out of time. Lacking confidence, the international Roja was not really reassured. The only big flop of the Barcelona evening.
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: The scores of the manita inflicted by the Blaugrana in the Champions League){kind=link}