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If there was a way to begin a season in the worst possible way, this was it for the Spanish champions. After a decade of opening day victories, Barcelona opened the 2019/20 season with one of the most dreadful performances in recent memory, losing 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao. For the first time in a decade, Lionel Messi didn't play the season's opening game, and this "Messi-dependent" team proved once again why they befit that title.
Dropping points is something the Spanish champions can be forgiven for, but what disappoints Barca fans most is the dreadful performance of the team that was on display. As if that wasn't enough for them to bear, they also watched a 38-year-old Aritz Aduriz come onto the field as a substitute and score a jaw-dropping goal in the dying moments of the game to give his team a deserved victory.
Here are 3 things we learned about Ernesto Valverde's side as they put on an utterly lackluster performance.
#3 Same old Valverde
Barca's performance at the San Mames Stadium only reiterated why the Blaugrana fans have been calling for Ernesto Valverde's head for so long now. For a club that's known for its beautiful style of play, their display on Friday night was beyond ordinary.
The starting lineup fielded by Valverde aroused excitement among fans before the game, as new signings Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann, as well as fan-favorite youngsters Ousmane Dembele and Carles Alena, got on the teamsheet. But their delight was short-lived, as, from the first minute, Barcelona was getting overrun by Athletic Club. Iñaki Williams, who recently signed a 9-year contract with the Basques club, was on a rampage, and if it hadn't been for Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Barca would have been a couple of goals down in the first half.
This situation was very reminiscent of so many games last season, where attacking teams managed to corner Barcelona, and Valverde was unable to make any tactical changes to tip the scales in his side's favor. In spite of having so many talented and experienced players in the team, it's shocking to see how Valverde is never able to inspire them. Valverde's conservative style of play, marked by lateral passing, appalling work rate, and an overall lack of motivation in some of the best and most experienced players in the world, is in stark contrast to the flamboyant, attractive and direct football that the club is known for.
Last night against Bilbao, Barcelona did not look like a team with a drive to bounce back after the defeats against Liverpool and Valencia, that they ended last season with. Fans were hoping that maybe this time Valverde would change his style, but if this game points at anything, it's only at another long and arduous season of boring football under Mr. Valverde.
#2 The need for a creative player at Barca
Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic have been performing far below their standards for quite a while now, and their sloppy and passive attitude define the whole team's performance. At San Mames however, Busquets and Rakitic didn't even start the game, and Frenkie de Jong, Sergi Roberto, and Carles Alena took the midfield places. Not having the same old Rakitic and Busquets in the team invited fans to hope for a more daring, dynamic and attacking display from the midfield, especially from star signing Frenkie de Jong and La Masia product Carles Alena.
But this midfield too looked completely out of ideas and devoid of inspiration on the pitch. Frenkie de Jong looked like a shadow of the dynamic, attractive baller that he was at Ajax.
Gone are the days where a moment of magic from Iniesta or a defense splitting pass from Xavi captivated the onlooking fans. The experienced players like Busquets and Rakitic don't perform at that level anymore, and under the defensive system of Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona is in dire need of a daring and creative midfielder. Frenkie de Jong is seen as someone who could take up that mantle, but his performance last night, along with Alena and Roberto, was an unconvincing one.
Barcelona needs players other than Messi who can inspire the magical moments that the Catalan club is known for. It was this lack of creativity and dynamism from the midfield that transpired such a dull performance from Barca last night, and de Jong, Busquets, Rakitic, Alena, Arthur, and Roberto, though all talented, have to step up if the Messi-dependencia is to be broken.
#1 Is Neymar the only solution?
After a dreadful performance like that, where the midfielders and attackers looked out of ideas, one can only wonder how the vision and creativity of Neymar could have lifted that team. One of the most talented playmaking forwards in the game today, Neymar could be the solution that Barca is looking for.
Antoine Griezmann was signed by Barcelona to fulfill the role of a creative forward. But playing from the left-wing, even he looked ordinary against Bilbao. At Atletico Madrid, Griezmann usually played centrally, or from the right flank, and to be at his best he needs to play from his preferred position. With Suarez on the decline, Griezmann could take his place in the center. That leaves Barcelona in need of a creative playmaker who plays from the left.
In Messi's absence, Barcelona was desperate for a source of inspiration and creativity against Bilbao. Neymar Jr, during his tenure at Barca, proved time and again that he could take up that mantle, and share the responsibility of creating goalscoring chances, with Lionel Messi. Barca's experienced midfielders are way past their best, and the new recruits, though promising, need more time to reach the required level. The only way to break out of Messi-dependencia might be to bring a player of the profile of Neymar, which could not only make Messi more effective but might also unleash the full potential of Griezmann.
Only time will tell which club Neymar will play for when the transfer window closes at the end of August. But this uninspiring performance from the team may just be another signal that Barcelona must break the bank to break Neymar back to the Nou Camp.
