'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona thrashed Valencia 5-2 in a La Liga encounter at the Camp Nou. The hosts started on the front foot and dominated possession in the early exchanges.
After a minute and fifty-one seconds, they surged ahead when wonderkid, Ansu Fati finished off a flowing move. In the 7th minute, Frenkie de Jong got himself on the score-sheet after arriving late in the box to smash home Ansu’s cross.
Kevin Gameiro halved the deficit in the 27th minute but that acted merely as a consolation rather than a springboard for an improbable comeback.
After the break, Gerard Pique scored in the 51st minute and Luis Suarez increased the hosts’ lead ten minutes later.
The Uruguayan got his second of the evening when he got the better of Jasper Cillessen 8 minutes from time.
Valencia, though, pulled a goal back in injury time when Maxi Gomez popped up in the penalty box to prod past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Here is a look at the talking points from the game.
#5 Ansu Fati puts on a show in the first half
The Blaugrana were dealt a couple of major blows at the start of the season. Firstly, Lionel Messi was struck down by injury and then Barcelona lost the services of Luis Suarez.
Immediately, the onus fell on the club’s youngsters to stand and be counted. And, when accorded an opportunity at the Camp Nou, Ansu Fati did so, and rather emphatically.
The teenager looked lively throughout the first half and caused the Valencia defence all sorts of problems.
In the 2nd minute, he outfoxed the defensive line and timed his run to perfection. De Jong saw the youngster’s movement and fed him a cross from the right flank.
Ansu Fati made no mistake and calmly stroked the ball past Jasper Cillessen’s left hand.
A few minutes later, the duo reversed roles as the debutant turned provider for de Jong.
A clever shimmy flummoxed Daniel Wass and Ansu Fati made his way into the penalty area. Thereafter, he left Ezequiel Garay for dead with an exquisite piece of skill.
The teenager then had the composure to lift his head and pick the right pass, in the process, laying the ball on a plate for de Jong to finish.
Apart from the goal and assist, Ansu Fati was a constant thorn in the Valencia side and he pulled out a variety of skills and tricks.
Moreover, the Camp Nou terraces were left enthralled with the youngster’s silky display in the first half and subsequently, cheered the loudest when he received the ball.
Years ago, in the early 2000s, an Argentine teenager from La Masia captured everyone’s imagination and went on to scale great peaks as a footballer. And, though it would be too premature to start comparing Ansu Fati with Messi, there certainly is a similar buzz surrounding the former at the moment.
Only time will tell how this tale transpires.
#4 Barcelona’s new look midfield seems the right path forward
For the first time in the 2019-20 season, Ernesto Valverde decided to field the midfield trio of Arthur Melo, de Jong and Sergio Busquets. In earlier games, the Spaniard had opted for a much more pragmatic approach, meaning one of the three invariably missed out.
However, the change on Saturday showed that Valverde was willing to shake things up and on evidence, the aforementioned triumvirate looks best equipped to handle any challenge thrown at Barcelona.
Throughout the game, the midfielders kept asking for the ball in tight areas and spread the ball efficiently. The above allowed the Blaugrana to impose themselves on the game and ensure that they didn’t give away possession cheaply.
Additionally, with Arthur and Busquets alongside, De Jong was allowed to roam further forward and the Dutchman enjoyed himself thoroughly.
On numerous occasions, he exploited the half-space between Gabriel Paulista and Jose Gaya, enabling Barcelona to create instances of numerical superiority.
The strategy helped the midfielder carve out the opening goal for Ansu Fati. De Jong’s driving runs nearly created another when he set up Antoine Griezmann in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, the Frenchman’s effort was thwarted by the keeper.
More importantly though, the three-man midfield helped the Blaugrana control the game better, an aspect that has gone slightly pear-shaped this term.
Thus, at this juncture, the Barcelona faithful would hope that Valverde doesn’t revert to a defensive approach, especially away from home.
After all, a circumspect brand of football has never really been the Blaugrana’s forte in the 21st century and with midfielders of the ilk of Arthur, Busquets and De Jong in the ranks, one would be extremely naïve to not play them in tandem more often.
#3 Albert Celades endures a cruel baptism by fire
On the 11th of September, 2019, Valencia shocked the footballing fraternity when they sacked Marcelino. The former manager had led the Los Ches to fourth place last term and had also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Thus, Albert Celades always had huge boots to fill and he didn’t get off to a particularly good start on Sunday.
Facing Barcelona at the Camp Nou is quite an arduous task. Yet, the new manager would’ve hoped for a bit of fight from his players, despite the steepness of the peak they were being asked to scale.
However, not a lot of that materialised with the Los Ches looking clueless for a major chunk of the game.
Unsurprisingly, they also seemed to abandon their high-energy, high-intensity pressing style.
Moreover, their build-up play seemed much more laboured than before, meaning that Dani Parejo was often left with very few passing options.
Defensively, they were all over the shop as Barcelona tore them to shreds on multiple occasions with Wass in particular, enduring a torrid evening against Ansu Fati.
However, having said that, there were a handful of positives for Valencia on Saturday. The few times that they managed to elude Barcelona’s press, they looked a threat in the offensive third.
Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno linked up well and that contributed to the only goal the visitors scored.
A trip to Barcelona as one’s first managerial assignment wouldn’t have been too high on Celades’ wish-list. And, it only gets difficult with a mid-week Champions League game against Chelsea.
Though losing to Barcelona at the Camp Nou isn’t particularly a crime, the Spaniard would’ve loved something a little more cordial than the 5-2 drubbing meted out to him.
#2 Luis Suarez shines on his return from injury
Against Athletic Bilbao, Luis Suarez pulled up with a right leg injury, which sidelined him for a couple of games. Subsequently, Barcelona failed to inspire in the Uruguayan’s absence.
However, the striker returned for the clash against Valencia and he bagged a brace, despite starting on the bench.
After coming on for Ansu Fati, the Uruguayan instantly made a mark as he made the net ripple with a sublime curling shot from outside the box.
After receiving the ball on the half-turn, he set himself, analysed the keeper’s position, used the defender as a shield and wrapped his foot around the ball. The shot dipped and swerved perfectly and clipped the post on its way in.
In the 82nd minute, Suarez latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and beat Cillessen at his near post again with a brilliant first-time shot.
In addition to the goals, the striker showcased a telepathic understanding with Griezmann, a combination that nearly resulted in a net-bulger for Barcelona.
Over the past few weeks, the Blaugrana’s attack has been accused of being toothless and lacking imagination.
However, a fit and firing Suarez would put those criticisms to rest. And like many a time before, the Uruguayan proved just how pivotal he is to Valverde’s side on Saturday.
#1 Barcelona’s home and away form comparable to chalk and cheese
Barcelona came into the game having accumulated just four points in three games. While they won their only home encounter against Real Betis, they lost at Athletic Bilbao and drew at Osasuna.
Thus, the Blaugrana’s troubles on the road, which had been magnified exponentially after last season’s capitulation at Liverpool, were exposed, yet again.
However, on Saturday, the hosts replied in the best possible manner as they put five goals past a hapless Valencia outfit.
The likes of Ansu Fati, Carles Perez, De Jong and Suarez were superlative as each of the mentioned players influenced proceedings.
Moreover, Barcelona looked brave enough to try out intricate passing moves, a sight the club’s faithful haven’t been able to witness on recent away trips.
Thus, currently, it seems that the defending champions’ ailments on their travels are more psychological than physical.
Though there are a few teams capable of out-muscling and out-running Barcelona, one reckons that their cautious approach might be proving to be their kryptonite.
And, one can’t help but wonder what the Blaugrana might achieve, if they can replicate their home form on the road, which would also mean a shift towards relying on creativity rather than calculation, a strategy they don’t employ currently.
