BarcelonaBalaídos always tends to be a complicated place for Barça and even more so if Lamine Yamal is not there. Hansi Flick’s side, who closed the final day before the international break with a defeat at Anoeta, looked certain of victory against Celta, but a rude end to the match doomed them. Next, some hot notes.
Iago Aspas was right. Although in this same newspaper it was harshly criticized that, in Anoeta, the video refereeing and the technology in charge of reviewing the game boards had failed in the annulled target to Lewandowski that would have meant advancing against Real, against the Celta referee Soto Grado forgave the expulsion to Gerard Martín, who should have seen the second yellow card. The one who saw it was Iago Aspas, who protested bravely for this action. On the other hand, in the second half his pulse did not tremble to send off a Marc Casadó who made the mistake of losing control of the ball and grabbing Ilaix Moriba by the shirt when he had already been cautioned.
The disconnections of Kounde. It seems a lie that a professional like him, runner-up in the world with France, and capable of signing great performances – he started by providing assistance to Raphinha – would also make such embarrassing mistakes. After the expulsion of Casadó, with Celta believing it and biting spurred on by their people, the French defender had two mistakes unbecoming of a player of his category. In the first, the ball went out on the end line and the home goal was disallowed. In the second he completely fell asleep; Alfon pinched his wallet and this allowed him to shorten distances, and for the Galician team, to get fully into the game until they managed to tie it. unjustifiable
Raphinha, a captain who scores again. Since Messi left the captain’s armband vacant, his successors were Busquets first, Sergi Roberto later, and this season it was Ter Stegen’s turn. Two midfielders and a goalkeeper. The injuries to the German and a De Jong who, despite being recovered, has not earned continuity in the eleven, have made the captain Raphinha, one of the most loved footballers in the dressing room and who, if he is the fourth captain, it’s because the teammates voted for it. The Brazilian is responding with goals, assists and leadership. In Vigo he opened the can and recovered the ball, and assisted Lewandowski in the second goal. His good game was not enough.
Gavi, a bittersweet return. More than a year later, Gavi was again playing a game as a starter. During the 74 minutes that he was on the pitch, despite still being far from the level that endeared him to Barcelona fans before seriously injuring his knee, he wanted to show the intensity that characterizes him. He left the game with the score 0-2, before Barça’s shipwreck. He intervened in around seventy occasions, had an 85% pass success rate, with 46 successful passes from 54 attempts, and won five of eight duels. It’s a shame he couldn’t seal his return to the eleven with a win.
