LaLiga 2019-20, Barcelona 5-2 Real Betis: 5 Hits and Flops

Griezmann celebrates with Carles Perez and fellow substitute Arturo Vidal during their 5-1 rout
Griezmann celebrates with Carles Perez and fellow substitute Arturo Vidal during their 5-1 rout

#3 Flop: Andres Guardado

Guardado (left) was bypassed too easily, too often and the visiting captain struggled before being replaced
Guardado (left) was bypassed too easily, too often and the visiting captain struggled before being replaced

For this spot, it was between William Carvalho, former Barca winger Cristian Tello, and captain Andres Guardado. They were all ineffective in different ways on this occasion, but I ultimately went with their lackluster midfield general - unsurprisingly hooked shortly after the hour mark.

If you look at the build-up to Barca's second, third and fourth goals, where is Guardado? He's either ball-watching and not occupying a defensive position to affect play or being bypassed too easily, left in a player's wake as they approach the goal. It's part of the reason why he didn't complete any tackles, only won one duel and struggled as Barcelona overwhelmed their visitors with a relentless stream of attacks.

Losing possession on ten occasions and completing fewer passes (nine, 64% success rate), makes for grim reading. He was poor and for the captain to struggle in such fashion against an exploitable Barca midfield really set the tone.

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