Straight
In the last minute, from the ground, after Pedri sliced the ball and Ter Stegen secured the goal, Barça finally scored, breaking free from Getafe’s negativity and Cadiz’s pressure. The interiors resolved a game that held no solution for the many strikers arranged by Xavi. The opening score even fell 2-0 to hide a tweezers win over a competitive Cadiz. The result disguised a difficult game for Barcelona. He hasn’t really started the game in the team yet, is uneasy and impatient, lacks creativity and surprise, is very predictable early in the league.
2
Ter Stegen, Koundé, A. Christensen (Eric Garcia, min. 78), Frenkie De Jong, Alex Balde (Ansu Fati, min. 68), Gündogan, Oriol Romeu (Sergi Roberto, min. 78), Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi (Abde, 68th minute) and Lewandowski
0
Jeremias Ledesma, Iza, Javi Hernández, Luis Hernández, Fali, Iván Alejo (Machís, min. 67), Rubén Alcaraz, Fede (Rubén Sobrino, min. 67), Chris Ramos (Osmajic, min. 85), Álex Fernández (Negredo , min. 85) and Roger (José Mari, min. 85)
Goals 1-0 min. 82: Pedro. 2:0 minutes. 93: Ferran Torres.
referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz
Yellow cards Iván Alejo (min 14), Frenkie De Jong (min 25), Ter Stegen (min 26), Fede (min 47), Gavi (min 51), Pedri (min 73) and Javi Hernández (minimum 92)
Xavi had put together a very daring lineup to counter the social demobilization caused by the move to Montjuïc. Outside of the Camp Nou, there isn’t a show that seduces the Blaugrana crowd. The only appeal is the players and few now seem to stand out more than Lamine Yamal, the striker who made the gamper shine until he was reminiscent of the character of that little devil called Messi. The football industry is evolving so fast that 16-year-olds are becoming contenders for the Ballon d’Or.
Lamine Yamal is currently a good reason to justify the pilgrimage of Culé fans and Barcelona tourists to the Olympic Stadium, a field that burns or freezes over and has nothing to do with the Camp Nou, the arena where the club team- The fans were decisive for the victory in the last league. The La Masia winger’s starting XI was the best showcase for the league debut at Montjuïc. In the absence of the suspended Raphinha and Dembélé’s transfer, the imbalance lay with Lamine Yamal, ahead of Ansu and Ferran today.
The manager relied on Lamine at right winger, brought in Gavi as inside player and placed Gündogan at the base of the game along with Oriol Romeu, while De Jong operated as a central defender in Araujo’s absence. A very offensive formation that made it necessary to start repairs on the field rather than pay attention to where the penalized Xavi was sitting. Making the stadium their own will not be easy for Barcelona fans, as a board dogged by their tactics of finding the way to fill Montjuïc know well. Still not enough with Lamine.
The Barça team sided with the young forward so he could face the Cadiz defence. Sergio González’s boys paid a lot of attention to the winger and as soon as they could they pressed well on the Barça pitch, very strong on outside and flanks, a torment for Barça. Barça’s attacking game didn’t stabilize either, because De Jong’s leadership lacked continuity, passing paths were poor, there was a lack of depth and inside play, and there was no malice on the way to Ledesma. The game was temporarily at the expense of the goalkeepers, which is one of the reasons why Ter Stegen shone in a one-on-one with Roger after a mistake by Balde. The German’s chest was crucial, as were the hands of the Cádiz goalkeeper, great, before a left-footed shot from Lamine Yamal followed, then a shot from Koundé assisted by Pedri. The Catalans’ ball speed was slow anyway, the pace of the game wasn’t great and Cádiz were able to reduce Barça with supportive defense and tactical fouls.
Xavi’s team haven’t scored since Lewandowski lost, slow and clumsy shooting, offside because they don’t have two wingers to put the ball in, it has nothing to do with last division’s Pichichi. Cadiz didn’t allow spaces and Barca didn’t have any unchecks. The sterile pile-ups in the Ledesma area contrasted with the turnovers and transitions of Sergio González’s side. Alcaraz and Cris Ramos excused the 0-1 and in the middle Gavi placed the ball on the crossbar of Ledesma’s goal before Xavi intervened.
The changes made by Abde and Ansu strengthened the offensive and weakened the team, which was more scattered and exposed while also being more unpredictable, as shown by a shot from the Moroccan international that was parried by Ledesma and later the goal of Gundogan and Pedri. The combination of the two saw Cádiz break through and almost equalize through a Machís play before giving up with a second goal against Ferrán.
The chances given were almost as numerous as those created in a difficult tournament for Barça. 2-0 is a relief, but there’s a feeling that playing well will cost as much as occupying Montjuïc.
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