BarcelonaBarça’s placid victory against Osasuna at the Camp Nou, in the match corresponding to day 28 of the League. Barça put the match on track in the first half thanks to a brilliant start. Here are four hot notes from a convincing performance that consolidates the team in the Champions zone.
Unconditional. Xavi has always been a good cop with Dembélé. He only supported Alemany’s iron fist in the weeks of the winter market, in which Barça might not have fallen in the Cup if they had had the Mosquito, then punished for their refusal to renew downwards. With the window closed, the coach, despite the four new signings, regained the soft position with the end and makes him play as much as he wants, which is enough, because he considers it an important piece. In fact, if there was a final tomorrow, Dembélé would start ahead of the lush (but more limited) Adama. That’s the decent thing to do, and it should end there. And it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he ends up staying after all. It will do so with the endorsement of Xavi.
The importance of spaces. Dembélé was a coward against Osasuna. And he didn’t need to score to be the best Barça player of the night. Aside from kicking poor Cote, the visiting winger, the Frenchman made two brilliant passes. He already has seven in the league, as has Alba, who has played a lot more than he has. However, in order to be able to promote the attendees, there must be a clear break. And that was precisely the great evolution with respect to the tie against Galatasaray. Barça’s first three goals were born out of movement in space (Gavi, Ferran Torres and Aubameyang) against a rival who was coming to close behind. You can, yes. Now you just have to keep it up for the next few games.
A profitable ear tug. Another thing to keep in mind for Istanbul and Madrid is the smell of Ferran Torres. After Xavi, dissatisfied with his role, replaced him at the break on Thursday against Galatasaray, the Valencian recovered through the big door against Osasuna. He scored the 1-0 penalty with a very tight shot and made it 2-0 thanks to a cold-blooded definition. This is the effectiveness that the people of Barça expect from the first major signing of Laporta’s second term. 55 million euros deserve this type of goal-scoring reference. That the ear pull of the technician serves to withstand the flame.
Green shoots in the ‘fish cart’. As Barça solved the duel before the break, Xavi rewarded the less usual players with minutes. On Thursday there is a vital match in the Europa League and it was agreed not to force more of the account certain pieces that will have to be important in Turkey, like De Jong or Araujo. That’s why they stepped on the green Lenglet, who hadn’t played since the donut a few weeks ago in Vitoria; Martin Braithwaite, unpublished after injury, and Riqui Puig, who remains the last midfielder in the rotation. Matadepera took advantage of the moment against Osasuna and showed that there are also green shoots in what is commonly known as the fish cart. He made a goal worthy of the quality he has. He kicked, went to the rebound and had a plan to cut the goalkeeper and defender before sending the ball into the net. Bra-vo.