In 2021, FC Barcelona had an incredible year filled with many unexpected happenings.
To begin the year 2021, Barcelona defeated SD Huesca 1-0 in the Spanish La Liga. Furthermore, The Blaugrana lost their first final of the year, the Spanish Supercopa final, to Athletic Club on January 17.
Barcelona’s first Copa Del Rey match of the season was against UE Cornella of the second division on January 21st, 2021, which the Blaugrana won by two goals to nil.
On February 3, 2021, the Catalan behemoth stunned Granada with a remarkable comeback. The Blaugrana, though, had already conceded two goals by the 80th minute. Barcelona went on to win the match 5-3, thanks to goals from Antonie Griezmann, Jordi Alba, Frankie De Jong, and Lionel Messi’s brilliance which kept Barcelona alive in the quarter-finals.
Barcelona’s first UEFA Champions League encounter of the year took place in the Round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain on February 16th, 2021, and the Blaugrana lost 4-1. On April 10th, 2021, Barcelona’s first Classico encounter of the year took place, and the Blaugrana lost by a score of 2 goals to nil.
Changing the squad, saying goodbye to Leo
On the 30th of May 2021, Barcelona signed Sergio Kun Aguero for next season, making him the year’s first signing. The Argentine however has 390 appearances for the English team, scoring 260 goals and providing 73 assists. Aguero on the other hand agreed to a contract that will keep him with the club until the end of the 2022/23 season, with a buy-out clause of 100 million euros.
Barcelona closed the signing of Memphis Depay on June 19, 2021, and he joined the Blaugrana in the summer. This contract will keep him at the club until the 2022/2023 season.
Cules realised on August 5th, 2021, that Lionel Messi would be unable to play for the club due to financial and structural difficulties. In 778 games for the Catalan giant, the Argentine scored 672 goals and added 301 assists. Since his departure, Barcelona is yet to find a consistent goalscorer. However, Barcelona is revitalizing its attack.
Koeman leaves, Xavi arrives with ‘wind of change’
Barcelona fired their Dutch coach on the 27th of October after a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano. Ronald Koeman was in charge of the first team for 14 months before he was sacked in October 2021.
After relieving Ronaldo Koeman from his duty, the Blaugrana chose Sergi Barjuan, the head coach of Barca B, as the interim coach of the first. He was in charge of 3 games in which there was one win and two draws.
On the 5th of November, 2021, Barcelona announced Xavi Hernandez as the first-team coach. Moreover, the Spaniard joined Barcelona from a Qatari team; As Sadd and he won numerous trophies for them.
Barcelona dominated the Gala Night at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on November 29, 2021, when Alexia Putellas, a female Barcelona player, won the Ballon D’or and Pedri Gonzalez took home the Kopa trophy. Pedri and Putellas had a spectacular year in 2021, winning lots of prizes.
Building the new team will take time
Barcelona finished third in the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2021/2022, eliminating them from the competition and relegating them to the UEFA Europa League. However, In the tournament’s round of 16, the Catalan giant will face Napoli.
On December 14th, Barcelona faced Boca Junior in the Diego Maradona Cup in Saudi Arabia, and Barcelona lost on penalties. Furthermore, Dani Alves’ outstanding performance and Ferran Jugtla’s first-team debut were the most thrilling aspects of the game.
Sergio Aguero announced his retirement from professional football on December 15, 2021, at the age of 33, due to a heart issue, which was a devastating blow to the football world. Moreover, according to many sources, the Copa America golden boot award will be named after him.
Due to heart concerns, Aguero didn’t play for 2 months after he was replaced during the first half of Barcelona’s 0-0 tie with Alaves.
In the season’s final match, Barcelona drew 1-1 with Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez.
On December 28, 2021, Manchester City agreed to transfer Ferran Torres to Barcelona for €55 million-plus variables, tying him to the Catalan giant until 2027.
In Conclusion
With 31 wins, 13 draws, and 13 losses in 2021, Barcelona won 54.3 percent of their games.
The Catalan giant scored 108 goals while allowing 69 to be conceded.
Barcelona conceded a lot of goals from set-pieces which shows that defending set-pieces is one of the aspects Barcelona needs to improve on.
Barca scored 12 goals against Athletic, making them the team that has been outscored the most.
Having played 4800 minutes, Ter Stegen was the first team player who played the most minutes in 2021.
In 2022, Barcelona is hoping for a better year.
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