BarcelonaBarça beat Valencia at the Camp Nou in the first of three decisive matches that will mark the future of Ronald Koeman. The prominence of the night was for the number 10. Then the hot notes of the match.
Touched by the gods. In his first tenure in eleven months, Ansu Fati once again showed why Barça’s sports project depends on how he returns from injury and how difficult it is for Jorge Mendes to renew. Well Koeman placing it from the start – better so not in contexts of chaos – and even better the striker appearing to alleviate the discouragement. First through an action that would have signed Messi to tie the morning goal of Gaya and then causing the maximum penalty of 2-1. Do not turn off the red key.
Embarrassed in attack. The undisputed Ansu, however, will need support to lead the resurrection proclaimed by President Laporta. One of them, in theory, must be Memphis. Great pitcher of stopped ball – what execution in the penitentiary! -, with the ball in game the Dutchman is embarrassed in individual actions instead of to express itself in collective sense. He finds it difficult to associate (despite the 1-1 attendance) and does not interpret the moments when it is necessary to press. Perhaps with a less devoted and more interventionist coach I would polish these aspects and have a better international reputation.
4-3-3 upside down. Because Koeman, despite the positive final score, is irreducible. The Dutch coach suffered because Valencia was looking for a draw, and preferred to protect himself with a 3-5-2 before monopolizing possession with midfielders – Riqui Puig, unheard of on the bench – and tired the rival with high circulation. Koeman smiled thanks to one of the posts in the southern goal of the Camp Nou and the iron hand of Ter Stegen to stop a good shot from Guedes. The 3-1 scored by Coutinho faded the suffering. Barça won, yes, but it still has shortcomings. Calm with euphoria.
Another claim. The calm on the scoreboard offered the first minutes of Kun Agüero with Barça. The Argentine did not have much time to prove his quality, but it will be good for Koeman to be able to add him to the cause. The goal is not lost like that. If the physique holds up it won’t cost him much to oust Luuk de Jong and Braithwaite in the second forward unit. It will be a luxury to have one of the best strikers of the last decade bringing gunpowder and threat when he plays. Let him prove that he was signed not only to please Messi.
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