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Three talking points from Crvena Zvezda 2-5 Barcelona

13:48
FBL-EUR-C1-CRVENA ZVEZDA-BARCELONA
Photo by PEDJA MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Another huge win

Barca in rampant form

Barcelona continued their rampant form by hitting five against Crvena Zvezda to secure all three points. The Catalans have now netted 24 goals in six straight wins in all competitions and simply can’t stop scoring.

In total Hansi Flick’s side have bagged 55 goals since the start of the season, a new club record, and are the top scorers so far in both the Champions League (with 15) and in La Liga (on 40) where they top the table.

Robert Lewandowski bagged another double and is now one goal off 100 in the Champions League, while Raphinha inevitably found the target to maintain his stellar start as did Fermin Lopez and Inigo Martinez.

Lamine Yamal, for once, didn’t score or assist but put in another dazzling display down the right flank to help secure the win which takes Barcelona up into sixth place in the Champions League standings at the halfway-stage.

Jules Kounde in the form of his life

It’s not often that full-backs steal the show, but Jules Kounde definitely did that with a hat-trick of assists for Barcelona on a very memorable night for the French defender.

Kounde and Yamal ripped their opponents apart down the right flank in the second half, with the Frenchman bagging assists for Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez.

It’s a feat that simply doesn’t happen very often and therefore deserves plenty of applause.

Hansi Flick is obviously a big fan and was full of praise for Kounde after the win in Belgrade.

“He is a good example for the whole team,” he said. “We have a lot of players that improved a lot this season, they increase their performance and Jules is an absolute professional player. He is very focused on the pitch and in the training. I appreciate that. That he also today gave the last pass to the goals is really good to see.”

We all know that Kounde would probably prefer to play at center-back for Barcelona. The thing is that he’s currently looking like the best right-back in the world right now.

Barca look light at left-back

It’s a different story on the opposite flank where Alejandro Balde was given a breather as Flick gave Gerard Martin a first Champions League start of the season at left-back. Flick has actually handed Martin 11 appearances this season and seems a big fan of the 22-year-old.

Yet Martin is finding it a big jump up to first-team football and hasn’t been able to adapt as quickly as say Marc Casado, Marc Bernal and Pau Cubarsi. He had another tough night on Wednesday, keeping the hosts onside for their first goal, but hopefully will have learned plenty.

FBL-EUR-C1-CRVENA ZVEZDA-BARCELONA Photo by PEDJA MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty Images

The big worry for Barcelona going forward, however, is whether Martin will be able to step up and make the grade. Flick isn’t blessed with options at left-back and if Balde were to pick up an injury then Barca may well have a problem.

Hector Fort is able to play on both flanks, but has been curiously under-used this season, and despite Barcelona’s brilliant start to the season this is one area of the squad right now where the Catalans look a little vulnerable.



Source: barcablaugranes.com

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