BarcelonaBarça banished ghosts and evil spirits after a difficult week. It was necessary to win to show Madrid that it is already too far, in the classification, and to get strong thinking about Old Trafford. It was necessary to win for a lot of players to show Xavi that they too are ready to face the end of a demanding season that can end very well, even if the possible sins of the past dominate the agenda these days and muddy the image of the club Ansu Fati, distracted, did not know how to get on the moving train of this Barça who wants the last station of the League to be in Canaletes. Ferran Torres yes, with an excellent performance that allowed him to reconcile with the Camp Nou, which had almost forgotten how dangerous the Foios player is when the stars are with him.
A solid, uncontroversial victory was needed to silence those who will now witness a robbery every day. It was necessary to do it without suffering to demonstrate the mental fortitude of a team capable of focusing on the present. Today and here, there is nothing else. Nothing to be distracted by the mistakes of the past or the next game against Manchester United. Stumbling against Cadiz would have left Madrid five points behind, and would have led to the return of those campaigns that claim that Barça’s legs will tremble. Well no, nothing to fear. This team is hungry and eager to take on the world. Xavi knew that the duel against Sergio González’s team was a great opportunity to lift the morale of some weak players, such as Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia or Ansu Fati. Barça, still with Sergio Busquets on the bench, was learning to live without Pedri. Living without the canary is possible, but a little sadder. It’s like waking up at home when the person you love has started a long journey and you miss them. Everything goes on, but everything costs a little.
Xavi recovered a system with three points, although Ansu was playing close to Lewandowski, opening up the whole wing for Alejandro Balde. It’s not so much about explaining football with a drawing or a number, because it’s about the movements. And between Ferran and Balde, they softened the defense of a Cadiz turned into a mischievous, mischievous team, those who keep wasting time, those who make you feel bad. Fali was making Lewandowski lose his temper, hanging over him, making little mistakes, throwing him out. If the first minutes of Barça, with a lot of anger, were good, there was a moment when Ter Stegen had work and it seemed that the game could get complicated. Barça would be lucky, completing the job before the break, first thanks to a good play by Ferran Torres that ended with a goal by Sergi Roberto, and then with a dry shot from the front of a Lewandowski who needs the goals to come forget that it is not at the same level as before the World Cup.
Ter Stegen, un wall
After Thursday’s scare against Manchester United, Barça knew how to close the match as serious teams do, with two direct blows to the opponent’s jaw, before the break, to send him off. Xavi, who on more than one occasion applauded the actions of a strong-willed Ferran Torres, saw, on the other hand, how Ansu Fati failed to let himself be seen. Neither the ball found him alone, nor did he know what to do. He was not the star even when Lewandowski was no longer there and could play in the middle in an awkward game. It’s always awkward to play against a Cadiz team that has less talent, but has as much character as their manager. In fact, Roger Martí managed to score two goals, one in each half, and both were beautiful. But in one he was offside and, in the other, Fali had fouled a Ter Stegen who has not yet conceded a goal in the League this 2023.
The Andalusians tried until the end, but all the fish was sold. And more so when Ter Stegen has decided to make it a personal matter not to concede goals, with an impossible save from Chris Ramos at the end of the game. Xavi’s Barça is already in office. He knows how to put the bow on the matches and make it his own. Sacrificing the show at times, but with a calendar like the one that awaits the Blaugrana, it’s understandable. There will come a time for poetry, which must now be cold and calculating. In fact, the coach from Valais immediately removed De Jong and Lewandowski from the field, and gave the debut of young Castelldefels striker Ángel Alarcón. Xavi was already thinking about Manchester, a game in which Ferran is confident of starting, after his good game against the Cadiz. It’s on stages like Old Trafford where you have to show what you’re made of, more than against Cadiz at Camp Nou. But everything the Valencian hinted at was so promising, that Xavi might be thinking about it now. It is in Barça’s interest that Xavi has doubts, it will mean that he has many players ready to go out and win.
- FC Barcelona: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Christensen, Alejandro Balde, Frenkie de Jong (Kessie, 68th), Sergi Roberto, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Lewandowski (Raphinha, 73rd) and Ansu Fati (Alarcon, 85′)
- Cadis CF: Conan Ledesma, Iza Carcelen, Luis Hernandez, Fali, Azamendia, Theo Bongonda (Nephew, 62′), Ruben Alcaraz (Fede San Emeterio, 68′), Gonzalo Escalante (Ivan Alejo, 62′), Brian Ocampo (Choco). Lozano (62′), Alex and Roger Marti (Chris Ramos, 73′).
- Goals: 1-0 Sergi Roberto (43′) and 2-0 Lewandowski (44′)
- Referee: Pablo González Fuertes (Asturian).
- Yellow cards: Roger Martí (24′), Rubén Alcaraz (54′), Frenkie de Jong (66′), Kessie (79′) and Fede San Emeterio (82′).
- Red cards: None.
- Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou (72,010 spectators).