Barcelona defensive fragilities exposed
Pundits across the globe have acknowledged Barca’s attacking supremacy as well as defensive fragilities in the past and the game served as a reminder of the latter. The side’s defense failed to clear the danger in the 39th minute and paid the price for the same with a goal. Their misery was doubled in the 64th minute when Aleix Vidal and Javier Mascherano failed to connect properly with the clearance and gifted Gomez with a clear sight of the goal, which the player duly obliged to by putting the ball in the back of the net.
The side’s decision to part ways with Claudio Bravo might prove to be a costly one as Jasper Cillessen failed to leave his mark on the game. He failed to inspire any confidence amongst the Barcelona defenders and was not completely in control of his box. Luis Enrique would be better served by reinstating the erratic, yet often effective Ter Stegen to the starting line-up in the rest of the games to come.
