'%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)
#2 Valverde’s tactics are spot on while Lopetegui struggles again
Ernesto Valverde started with the same team that he started against Inter Milan in the Champions League clash. His starting 11 was spot on as they picked up from where they left off against Inter. It was a bold decision to start with Sergi Roberto and Rafinha, rather than Dembele and Semedo, who have played more minutes this season.
His tactics seemed to pay off as Sergi Roberto was absolutely phenomenal in the game. Sergi had the better of Marcelo on the right wing and caused a lot of trouble for the defense. He was directly involved in Suarez’s second and third goal. Rafinha had an unconvincing performance but he wasn’t bad, he showed moments of brilliance before being taken off.
Valverde’s substitutions killed the game for Real Madrid. He moved Sergi Roberto towards the wing and put Semedo in the right-back position. Sergi played as good as he did at right-back in the new position. Semedo as well was brilliant in his position. Dembele’s introduction in place of Coutinho was a brave move. Valverde took out a star player but he introduced more pace. Dembele was involved in the goal minutes after he came on. He ran all over the tired and desperate Madrid defense in the short period of time, he was on.
Lopetegui on the other hand, made dismal choices. He was right to introduce Lucas Vasquez who played wonderfully towards the start of the first half. However, he took Raphael Varane out thus decreasing the depth at the defensive end. Varane’s absence caused Madrid big time, as he would have helped them deal with high looping balls and fast breaks. He had a bad game in the first half but he still was a key figure to take out.
Other than that, he kept Isco, Bale and Benzema on. The front three hardly caused any problems for Barcelona other than that one goal, which was assisted by Isco. Lopetegui waited till the 77th minute to make his second substitution, by then it was too late for Asensio to make an impact. He showed have thrown caution to the wind and take a gamble. He wasn’t brave enough to substitute the underperforming Isco, Kroos or Modric.
It seems imminent that Lopetegui will be sacked now.
