Ehe Barça had just put together a splendid month, with almost indoor football and a brutal punch. Europe, once again, reminded him that the road ahead is still long and tortuous. Xavi’s men suffered a general blackout against Galatasaray, for which a certain amount of physical display and defensive discipline was enough to spend an almost uneventful night at the Camp Nou.
Comparisons are hateful, but while Real Madrid offered a legendary concert yesterday at the Santiago Bernabéu with a packed house on the great European stage, Barça was unable to carry out a Europa League bolus against a Camp Nou with just over half an inning. Hard reality.
Now Xavi’s men will have to win in Turkey if they want to present themselves as one of the true favorites for the title. The game, shown remains, will not be easy. Nobody walks in Europe, not even in the Europa League.
Adama did not go beyond threat
Adama was, one more night, the most unbalancing factor for Barça. The overflows of him were constant but insufficient. He always lacked a certain finesse in the rubric of the play. The centers were not quite precise and the definitions were not better either.
Ferran, without presence in attack
Ferran does not finish finding his best version at Barça. The Valencian striker, who alternates good games with somewhat discreet ones, once again got stuck in the ‘9’ position in tune with the bad first half for Barça. Xavi took it off at the break, along with Nico and Araujo.
Write down this name: Akturkoglu
All the danger of Galatasaray came when Akturkoglu received with spaces to face. The young Turkish talent made a couple of suits for Dest, who had a hard time in the individual duel. It was the only element that destabilized the Barça defense.
failed rotations
How would Xavi see the things that at the break he had to make three changes and the fourth came after 60 minutes of play. All the footballers who rotated ended up on the Camp Nou pitch to try to unclog the game against the orderly Turkish team.
Iñaki Peña presents his credentials
Inaki Pena He returned to what was his home and left his resume in case Barça needs a goalkeeper again. The goalkeeper from Alicante supported Galatasaray with a couple of good saves on Depay. It was not a night of intense work either, but he did take out several fundamental hands so that the Turkish plan turned out as expected.
