The figures lead Barça to commit to a feat in Munich. Just a few weeks ago, the scenario set in Germany would be chimerical. The arrival of Xavi on the Barça bench and the good game against Benfica, however, make the options of the Barça team rise a little. Unlike Ronald Koeman, the egarenc does not subscribe to a conformist discourse – “it’s what it is” – but it does remain, in a way, linked to the Dutchman’s heritage. Basically, because the main offensive benchmark is still Memphis Depay, Koeman-sponsored signing. The former Lyon man started the course plugged in, but after an effervescent start he is performing below the expectations his arrival generated. According to data collected by UEFA, in the Champions League he has tried five shots in five games, but none of them has gone between the three posts: one has gone out and the other four have been blocked by rival defenders. Memphis has played every minute of these five games, except for the last quarter of an hour of the match against Dinamo at the Camp Nou.
Despite his poor record, the Dutchman is the second Barça player to finish in the Champions League, surpassed only, although hard to believe, by Luuk de Jong. His compatriot, who came out of the Lisbon match especially well, has six shots: one in goal and five more that have gone wide. The Sevilla striker has managed them with less than half of the minutes played than Memphis. For his part, Ansu, with 153 minutes of play in Europe (20 less than De Jong), is the third Barça player with the most shots, four: one in goal (the goal against Dinamo), one away and two blocked by rivals.
Memphis, who has played more minutes
Memphis is the player on the squad who has played the most minutes: all but one complete Champions League game and all 13 league games. Emergencies and casualties are the main factors that explain why he has not been able to have the rest he needs: the ‘9’ substantially lowers his performance from the time of the match. In fact, whether it was a play (4) or a penalty (3), Memphis scored all but 60 of their goals before one, which they did against Athletic Club (75 ‘) on the second day. of League. The same goes for the two assists he has served: against Real Sociedad Piqué assisted in the 19th minute (after a free kick) and was associated in the 13th minute with Ansu to enable him against Valencia.
The number of minutes that the Dutchman accumulates is one of the factors that is taken into account in the Sports City to explain his performance below expectations, although they highlight his professionalism and his “capacity for self-criticism”. . Last season, in Lyon, he only completed 90 minutes in five of the first 13 league games, without playing in European competition. Barça need Memphis to roar more. Meanwhile, pending the evolution of Dembélé and whether Ansu will at least be able to enter the call-up against Bayern, the club has already registered Ilias in the Champions League. He did so on Monday, despite not being able to play to drag a penalty with the youth in the Youth League. If Xavi requires it, the 17-year-old will be able to be in Munich.
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