At first glance it seemed like an ideal situation for Barca.
They had a game against the worst team in the league right before a crucial second leg in the UCL semis. Rotations could be used and smooth sailing could’ve been in the forecast if everyone did their jobs and a win would put even more pressure on Real Madrid to keep up in the league.
Let’s see how Barca fared.
First half
The first half was anything but easy for Barca.
They gave up an early goal due to a deflection and poor positioning from Ter Stegen, and to make matters worse, their attack was nothing short of lifeless. Ansu Fati, Pau Victor, and Hector Fort all were given rare starts and neither of them took advantage of the opportunity that was given to them.
It was a shame considering the talent level all the rotations possessed, but their disappointing performances were the story of the first half as Barca struggled to create anything against a team with one of, if not the worst defense in the entire league.
There wasn’t much action throughout that first half from minute one to minute forty five, which meant that any sort of hopeful response would have to come in the second half.
Second half
The second half was a totally different story for Barca.
Hansi Flick decided enough was enough and put on quite a bit of first team regulars on the pitch. Raphinha, Frenkie De Jong, and others came on and the team instantly found more success.
The results were almost instantaneous, as Raphinha came on and almost immediately equalized after some gritty play from the Brazilian.
Rare right footed finish from Raphinha, but a tidy one nonetheless, as it put Barca right back into the thick of things. Now, Barca needed to refocus and turn their attention towards finding another goal to get the lead.
It wasn’t going to be easy considering Valladolid’s low bloc, but Barca had enough talent on the field to make it happen. To make matters a bit better, Valladolid’s defensive record had been abysmal coming into this game.
And Barca did eventually find the winner, courtesy of Gerard Martin and Fermin Lopez.
Great cut pass from Martin and a tidy finish from Lopez, all to combine for a gorgeous move to make it 2-1.
Barca controlled the rest of the game from this point on, securing three hard earned points away from home.
Final word
Not much to say here.
Barca’s rotations couldn’t get the job done early on, even going down a goal and still struggling to look threatening in the attack. The likes of Pau Victor and Ansu Fati looked lethargic, didn’t have enough urgency going forward, and straight up didn’t get the job done tonight.
Thankfully the subs came on and clawed Barca back into the win, but a disappointing performance from the rotations nonetheless.
It was a shame for Dani Rodriguez, who was given his first team debut, but had to be subbed off in the first half with a shoulder injury. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious and he’s able to rebound.
On to Inter.
Barca’s next match
Barca’s next match will be on Tuesday as they take on Inter Milan in the second leg of their UCL semifinal.
See you all then!
I’ve been a big time Barca fan since I was 14 years old. I love the club, the history, and the tradition that the club has built over its prestigious history. Forca Barca!
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