2023-12-04 13:05:36
Happy faces in Can Barça when one of the ‘coconuts’ of the League falls in Montjuic after great football from the men of Xavi Hernandez. The return of the style that the Terrassa coach talked so much about lands as a blessing for the Blaugrana to beat an unrecognizable Atlético de Madrid, with a small stretch in the twilight of the productive match and surpassed at all times by interceptions and continuous chances by part of FC Barcelona.
De Jong and Pedri left through the front door of Montjuic. Overshadowed by the thunderous goal of Joao Felix, who was MVP of the match, the two midfielders proved to be the Alma Mater of a team desperate for the return of both players after the serious injury of Gavi, the footballer with the most recoveries in the club. The performance of the two footballers reached its peak with the perfect complement that both found in Ilkay Gundogan. The German confirmed the return to the highest level of his teammates, and knew how to alleviate the team’s needs at all times.
Araújo, total Kaiser with Jules Koundé
Koundé and Araújo celebrating the goal | FC Barcelona
The defense of FC Barcelona once again showed symptoms of what it was last season. A new impeccable performance by Ronald Araújo y Jules Koundé, Together with the spectacular game of Iñaki Peña, they add a new clean sheet after a turbulent start to the season for the men in defense. Except for the two accompanying set-piece actions, which gave Atlético de Madrid the ill-fated free kick of Memphis Depay, Both defenders knew how to alleviate the Atlético offensive with valuable cuts to the limit, also accompanied by a great withdrawal from the team, possibly the most valuable thing of the match.
The performance of Andreas Christensen It also contributed to the effective defensive proposal of the men of Xavi Hernandez. The Dane was successful in releasing the ball, with only one error in his 58 pass attempts in the entire match. The former Chelsea player came out at the last minute in the starting eleven after Íñigo Martínez’s annoyance in the warm-up prior to the match.
Pedri, Gundogan and De Jong, the three musketeers
Pedri, Gundogan and De Jong in the meeting | FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona game was directed by the three architects of Xavi Hernandez. Without a doubt, it is the best match of the season for the three players. De Jong and Pedri needed a game like this to confirm the return of both to the highest level after their respective injuries. Barça was grateful for the arrival of both like someone who sees rain in the desert. The absence of the two players plunged FC Barcelona into a crisis in its game in which even Xavi’s position came to be in danger. The previous match against Vallecano Ray It was the necessary step to return to the highest competitive level for the Spanish and the Dutch.
Pedri generated in all aspects. His game was outstanding both in the offensive task and in the moments in which he had to go down into the mud. Very attentive along with his teammates when it came to covering gaps in the retreat, the Canarian was life insurance when the culé ball was released. He knew how to dismantle the mattress framework and was precise in the pass after three gray games that marked his return. The highlight of the footballer, along with his offensive contribution, were the valuable recoveries he achieved for his club.
De Jong was the fundamental connection between defense and attack. We see again the Frenkie who forced his signing for Barça with his style of play. “With De Jong we have the ball again and we are unbeatable,” Laporta declared before the match. He wasn’t confused. Barça has only let four points escape in the League with the Dutchman on the field, and has lost 10 the entire time he was away. No arguments needed. His return has been impeccable and he has played 90 minutes of the three games in which he has been present. Life insurance that returns to Can Barça in the best way.
Gundogan granted the freedom that De Jong had been crying out for at FC Barcelona since his arrival. The fast German understood that he could be the perfect complement for the Dutchman, and so it was. Xavi has hit the nail on the head and, despite the poor season so far of the former Manchester City player, he put together a great game in communion with his dance partners.
Lewandowski, who has seen you and who sees you
Lewandowski against Cádiz in the League | Getty Images
The situation is critical with the Polish striker. Each time he makes it even clearer that his football decline is not a coincidence, it is not a mere mirage. The striker’s match was, once again, unfortunate in terms of goal, and his contribution is becoming less and less in a game, Barça’s, which requires all the speed in the world. His proposal no longer matches the proposal of Xavi Hernandez.
Lost in offensive tasks, slower and lazier than other years, he did not have a good game. Many fans endlessly repeated in their heads a scenario in which the Lewandowski who played the match yesterday was the version of the Pole from two years ago. “If this Lewandowski is the one from two years ago, the game will be 4-0 at half-time,” they reported from SER Catalunya in yesterday’s gathering. The goal is something fundamental for Barça in a season in which Real Madrid is a steamroller and Bellingham does not stop producing goals in the merengue defense, leaders along with Míchel’s Girona. Lewandowski forged half the league with his scoring side but, in the current campaign, he is neither there nor expected.
Joao Felix celebrating the goal | FC Barcelona
Joao Felix ended his two-month streak without scoring in the previous match against Porto in the UEFA Champions League. Barça and the fans demanded more from the Portuguese, whose goal was the one that tipped the balance against Atlético de Madrid, a team to which he still belongs. Romanticism was guaranteed, but he did not find a world of color when he received his former colleagues. Joao was a headache for the red and whites along with Cancelo, despite the fact that Simeone’s men knew how to bail out the water better on their side than on Raphinha’s and Jules Koundé, with Riquelme who did not come out at the end of the 45 minutes back on the field of play.
The only ‘but’ for Joao Felix In the match it is a common point in all the matches that he plays as a starter with the Blaugrana jersey. From minute 65 onwards, his performance begins to decrease sharply and also causes his contribution to not be what was desired and required. He was substituted in the 77th minute with discomfort in his left leg to bring on Ferran Torres already Lamine Yamal.
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