2023-09-26 23:32:53
BarcelonaBarça draw in Mallorca in a match between two opposing teams. The Balearics were empty without the ball and took advantage of Muriqi in attack. The Catalans, with rotations, saved the furniture thanks to La Masia. Next, some hot notes.
No trace of the 1-0 syndrome. In exchange for playing substantially better in the last meters, where Gündogan and the Joãos are clear upgrade, Barça are functioning less as a solid block at this start of the season. This is proven by the fact that the team has conceded two or more goals in three of the seven matches played in the League. The defensive weakness is multifactorial, even if in Mallorca it started to emerge due to a specific mistake, not an individual one. It is true that Muriqi scores because Ter Stegen makes a bad delivery, but if Romeu had not disconnected from the play, the German goalkeeper would not have failed in an art in which he is usually very reliable. Complicity is gained through training. Let it serve as a warning.
A bad context to debut. Last year, Barça scored their eighth goal in the League on matchday 23. The figure contrasts with this season, in which the figure was reached when it was still September. Because defensive weakness is multifactorial, it needs to go beyond the players who make up the line. In fact, in theory, Cancelo and Iñigo Martínez arrive to improve what was there. But as we said in the previous note, it takes time and favorable contexts for the pieces to fit together. In this sense, the ultra-defensive Mallorca and partnering with Araujo was not the best framework for the central Biscay to debut as a starter. And not because he suffered a lot at the back, but because he was given too much responsibility in the construction of play.
Work on the causes. Iñigo, a centre-back with vast experience in La Liga, had a lot of trouble dividing effectively and getting the ball to the attacking men. And Cancelo, a piece of carriler who had just decided the Barça-Celta, is not Superman. I explain with the Portuguese: just as it happened with the best Dani Alves, having him as an alpha resource in the area of three quarters by force weakens the collective in case of rival transition. Because Barça has gone from closing with Kounde or Araujo – two central players – on the right side to doing it with a footballer who mainly attacks. All together with a plane like Balde on the opposite side. The defensive gruyere has more causes than culprits. Working to minimize them is the only way.
Who misses Kessie? “Lamine starts it and Fermín finishes it.” Sounds good, right? Well, this was the rhyme of Barça’s 2-2 draw in Mallorca. The Blaugrana were losing a tough game and it wasn’t Lewandowski – substitute because he needed it – who snatched a point from Son Moix. Those responsible for the reaction were the two newcomers from La Masia who complete Xavi’s squad this season. We have often talked about the Rocafonda bearded man and we will continue to do so, because he is a chosen one. Instead, the young Andalusian remained half in the shadows since he kicked it in the classic of the United States. Losses and rotations gave him a few minutes in Palma and it was a shame if he took advantage of them. Better to have him than Kessie, right?
#playing #Balde #Cancelo #time #collateral #damage