FC Barcelona go end to end with Real Betis, Barcelona Femení dominate in Cup, and Barcelona B’s comeback falls short | Match Reviews

FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Betis

After the Copa del Rey loss to Athletic Club midweek, Barcelona was in need of three points. There were a ton of narratives, including the return of Quique Setién and Junior Firpo to Real Betis and on-loan Carles Aleñá’s first meeting against his parent club.

Setién opted for a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Arturo Vidal being the one midfielder sitting behind Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. As much as cynics will say that the home in Seville was superior, the teams traded blows for the entire match, though Barcelona certainly looked more exposed at the back of the two teams.

Without Gerard Piqué, Clement Lenglet put in a full performance. He conceded the obvious penalty with a ball off the hand, scored the game-winner off a header in the 72nd minute, and received his marching orders in the 79th minute for his second yellow. A heck of the day at the office for the Frenchman.

Barcelona almost fell to the sword of Nabil Fekir’s individual brilliance, but Messi’s brilliance proved to be too much for the Real Betis. A hat-trick of assists, two of which came on free kicks, were sublime. The rare goals from Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, and Lenglet, who all scored their second of the season, came at a right time.

The issues for Barcelona were obvious however. Even before space opened up when Fekir and Lenglet both got sent off, Arturo Vidal’s touch wasn’t good enough to do what was asked of him. He gave the ball away for Betis’ second goal, and his usual ability to combine with Griezmann and Messi was nowhere to be found.

Rubi’s full-backs Álex Moreno and potential future Barcelona right-back Emerson outplayed Firpo and Nelson Semedo, who struggled to manage their defensive duties with opportunities to go forward. Firpo’s issues may be attributed to game time, but it was a disappointing showing for Semedo after a stellar appearance against Levante last weekend.

For the first time in a few weeks, Barcelona now have a full week off, and it couldn’t come at a better time for Setién and his squad. While no new players were added, this is finally an opportunity for Setién to make some decisions on how he wants to continue his tactical project; a project that is much more difficult to manage when matches don’t stop. Sitting behind Real Madrid in the table and with Napoli at home on the horizon, each match, each training session, each kick, becomes more important than the last.

Barça Femení 10-1 Real Sociedad

The Spanish Super Cup was over before it began. Facing last year’s champion in the competition, the Barcelona Femení dominated Real Sociedad from start to finish. Goals from Marta Torrejón and Alexia within the first ten minutes gave the match the feeling that it was over when it had hardly begun.

Torrejón’s connection with Caroline Graham Hansen was on full display as the Norweigan winger’s dynamism cutting in towards goal was too much for La Real’s defenders; and Torrejón reaped the benefits. She scored in the 5th, 33rd, 56th and 78th minute to make it four on the day and earn herself the Player of the Match award. Alexia Putellas and Asisat Oshoala both got two, while Hansen and Candela Andújar both added one.

Lluís Cortés side is passing all the tests that they struggled with last season. Certainly the permanent purchase of Oshoala, arrival of Hansen, and return of Jenni Hermoso are three of the catalysts. Goals can come from anywhere at the Estadi Johan Cryuff. If not Oshoala or Hermoso, it can be Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia, or Patri Guijarro.

Having lost four consecutive leagues, Cortés knows the job isn’t done yet in Spain and the heightened expectations of the Champions League are part of the equation as well. Sometimes fear can help give the favorite the advantage; and the 10-1 demolishing of Real Sociedad should help with that advantage.

Barcelona B 2-3 Villarreal B

Unlike the first team, Barcelona B mounted a comeback but couldn’t finish the job. A goal in the first minute from former Barça player Rafa Mújica put the team on the back foot in a hurry. Playing off the shoulders of the centre-back, Mújica was played straight through on goal and finished easily. The second goal was just as simple for Villarreal B. A cross from the left found the head of Edu Espiau, who out jumped Sergio Akieme and put it past the keeper.

A few minutes later though, Barcelona B started their comeback. Kike Saverio found himself near midfield with a ton of space on the left wing and surged ahead. A layoff to Monchu and the immediate return pass gave Saverio the shooting space to score Barcelona B’s first goal. A minute later, Álex Collado showcased why the third division may be too low of a level for him. Picking up the ball at midfield, he rode three tackles before sending the through ball behind the defense for Gerard “Peque” Fernández to run on to and score. The 17-year-old Peque, in his Barcelona B debut, chipped the keeper and made Francisco Pimienta’s decision to reward his tremendous Juvenil A form look like the right one.

Barcelona B didn’t have much time to celebrate though. Four minutes after Peque’s goal, the Blaugrana failed to put pressure on Jun-hyuk Ahn and the 20-year-old scored the winning goal from distance. Pimienta’s team would have other chances, but a second game-tying goal never came.

To take the positives from the match, Barcelona B were very close to a result with a severely depleted squad due to first team call-ups and sales in January. Riqui Puig’s absence means that Monchu must take on even more responsibility in the midfield, a job that he’s done admirably. Opponents know that he is Barcelona’s engine this season, both in creating and scoring goals. Collado is close behind in terms of importance, and both midfielders took plenty of abuse in the match.

The other positive is the debut of Peque. After the exodus of Abel Ruiz and Alejandro Marques and Rey Manaj unavailable, the leading scorer in La Masia this season didn’t look out of place at Barcelona B. He still has much to learn, but it was a promising showing nonetheless.

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Source: barcablog.com