2023-11-08 06:40:00
SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN BARÇA
FC Barcelona had a golden opportunity to qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions League, for the first time since 2020/2021. They only needed to win a point against Shakhtar. The story seemed ‘simple’ on paper, but in practice it has been disappointing. An accumulation of errors, mistakes and the absence of a clear idea of what to do, despite the thousand corrections, leave the culés affected and in focus. There are many those pointed out after the presentation in Hamburg, but also in the last week.
Robert Lewandowski, leadership (and goals) blurred
He is coming back from an injury and needs patience, but he has had two starts in which the contribution has been zero. Against Real Sociedad he went unnoticed and left the field very early, as a ‘warning’. He had the opportunity to vindicate himself in the Champions League, but it has been quite the opposite. He had a very debatable performance, barely shooting throughout the game and continued his streak of six games without scoring. The team is not finding him and hanging crosses is not getting anywhere, But ‘Lewy’ is also not good at imposing himself on rival centre-backs or generating opportunities himself.
Oriol Romeu, without solutions in the medullary
He hasn’t been there since Frenkie de Jong was injured. He has lost the spark that he showed in his first games with the Barcelona jersey and It is reminiscent of Sergio Busquets’ ‘worst’ moments with the slowness he displays when quick transitions are needed. At the Reale Arena he stayed on the bench and returned to the starting lineup in Hamburg (60′ of play). He did get it right when it came to passing, but with a ‘mania’ to slow down Barça that hurt more than necessary. He lost too many balls (6) and was not able to cover all the parameters that corresponded to him.
Ferran Torres, no bite
Much more was expected from Ferran in the last two presentations. Even though he is a player who stands out and tries to give mobility to the team, his contribution is being minimal and Barça urgently needs him to translate the good feelings into goals. Against Shakhtar he was infected by the team’s passivity and had an insufficient performance. The reaction has to come quickly, because faces having opportunities in dribs and drabs (again).
Joao Félix and a worrying streak
Against Shakhtar, He played his tenth game without being able to score a goal. Although all the responsibility cannot fall solely on him, he has had two games in which he has been inconsequential. In Germany he started from the bench, for the second time since he landed in Barcelona, but it was not the stimulus that the Blaugrana needed. Beyond claiming a penalty, in which there was nothing, the Portuguese was infected by the bad dynamics and did not offer individual solutions, once again.
Raphinha, waiting for the final ‘punch’
As in the case of Lewandowski, he is coming back from an injury and it has been evident that he needs more pace to be important, but in the most demanding moments of this season he has shown little or much. He is a player from whom we must demand more, because he is in a position to contribute more. His return to ownership was not as expected, quite the opposite, and he is highly noted. He was a victim of passivity and slowness, but he did not have any intention of agitating for the band.
Xavi Hernández, in the focus more than ever
Finally, the one who comes out ‘worse’ in these two games is Xavi Hernández. Although they are not decisive, because victory was achieved in Donosti and Barça still has many options to qualify for the Champions League, their approach is under discussion. The team is not recognizable, it does not generate chances… and suffers more than necessary day in and day out. Against Real Madrid the deficiencies were noticeable in two plays by Jude Bellingham, against Real it was constant suffering and a worrying sloppiness, while against Shakhtar it ‘felt’ like absolute nonsense. The criticism goes directly to him and he has to shake it off before it’s too late. Because the Champions League doesn’t wait.
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#big #names #Barça #bad #image #Shakhtar #Real