BarcelonaBarça draw in Granada in the first game of the second round of the League. Barça took the lead after the break, but the Andalusians equalized in the 89th minute, taking advantage of the numerical superiority by the expulsion of Gavi. Here are four hot notes from the match.
Doubtful square and bevel. While Mateu Alemany tries to get rid of him, Luuk de Jong continues to work for a Barça that has been weakened in attack. In Granada he scored two good headers, but the VAR canceled the first one. And not because he was offside, which the referee pointed out on the pitch, but because in the video room they denounced a millimeter-advanced position of Gavi, the Dutch striker’s assistant, in the previous play. Repetitions and the line to report the alleged offense are as unconvincing as pointing out holes for the hair in actions so unobtrusive goal.
Unpack it. In Barça’s second good cross, De Jong hit the net again, this time with the protection of the law. If the first pass was the youngest of the team, the second was courtesy of veteran Dani Alves, starter for the second game in a row. Juazeiro has the seams in sight when he has to run towards his goal and has to defend fast ends like Machís, but he has not lost a single thread of silk in his right boot. The level on Barça’s right wing is so low that it wouldn’t be out of place to see him start on Wednesday’s classic in Riyadh. Let the electric Vinicius tremble.
Ferran before Dembélé. Dembélé is often compared to Vinícius, who is still being soaped by Barça to accept the renewal they are proposing. In Granada, it was the turn of vice-president Yuste, who also took the opportunity to admit that more exits are needed to register Ferran Torres before the Spanish Super Cup, which is not enough with Coutinho’s. Xavi will need the Valencian winger against Madrid because he understands the position and makes good decisions in attack. In other words, quite the opposite of Dembélé, who at this stage will be left without suitors and without a place, not even at Barça. Too much risk for so much out of control.
Xavi has a job with Gavi. The draw in Granada is part of a context of chaos sponsored by the expulsion of Gavi. González Fuertes showed two fair yellows to the Andalusian, who must learn to manage revolutions in some actions. It was only a matter of time before a referee penalized him for going so far. Now it’s Xavi’s job, who will have to teach him to temper his efforts, as in his day Unzué calmed down Valdés or Aragonés asked Xavi himself to dare. Coaches are there for that too. If the trend in the Dembélé ramp is chronic, Gavi’s suffering seems to be reversible.
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