Bittersweet ending to the Champions League

Barcelona came to the game already out of The Champions League last 16. Europa League qualification was at that point secured, yet Barcelona actually needed to end their mission with a win, which they oversaw at futile Viktoria Plzen.

Ferran Torres scored a brace as Barcelona prevailed away from homw, netting their first away goalsin the competition. They failed to do that at Bayern and Inter. These results cost them dear.

Xavi tested, with Franck Kessie as CDM, which didn’t exactly measure up for him especially well. Meanwhile, Pablo Torre had a blended evening beginning in midfield.

Barcelona started to lead the pack following six minutes when Marcos Alonso packaged home from practically on the objective line when Ansu Fati’s shot pressed past the goalkeeper however was going to be cleaned up the line.

It was a decent beginning for the Catalans in the mission to rescue some pride – and the UEFA win bonus – however Plzen almost hit back when Tomas Chory turned a cross against the bar.

Ansu Fati was sniffing around at the opposite end and terminated over as Barcelona hoped to twofold their lead.

Inaki Pena, on his Barcelona debut, was called upon to deny Lukas Kalvach as Plzen attempted to guarantee they win a point in Group C after five straight losses.

Ansu had a good chance to score at the opposite end. However the young player, newly 20 and frantic for an objective, couldn’t turn home a cross on the slide with the goal expanding.

Many chances on both sides

It was an open game from box to box. An extraordinary run by Adam Vlkanova wound up with him terminating barely finished.

Ferran Torres hurried a shot over to end a Barcelona break, following a pleasant strung ball to him by Raphinha, who had in any case hushed up.

Dissimilar to against Valencia, Ferran did score from a couple of yards out. However offside was given against Jordi Alba in the development. Eventually, VAR gave the ref new data and the goal stood.

That might have been down finished. Hpwever, Pablo Torre packaged over a Plzen player in the crate and Chory stuck away the spot kick, sending Pena the incorrect way.

Ferran struck again for Barcelona before long however, joining great with Raphinha and pressing a work home.

Pena was called right into it to deny Vlkanova. Yet he was unable to keep out Chory’s header as Plzen slice Barcelona’s lead to one.

There was all the more awful news as Kessie limped off harmed, with Marc Casado swapping him for his most memorable group debut.

Torre shot home Barcelona’s fourth goal after a fine disregard by Raphinha the top, however hurt himself during the shot and needed to go off, supplanted by Alvaro Sanz.

Erik Jirka hit the post as the Czechs wouldn’t surrender, on what was basically a pleasant night for them. Also, one where Barcelona kept away from embarrassment, at any rate.