You can never draw too many conclusions from preseason games because they can be rushed. And less of the first, which is usually the most boring of all. Today in Olot, people have had more fun to see their team and the Barça not because of what the two teams have done on the pitch. The duel ended in a draw, but the result was not important. The match has left behind some exciting details, such as the Pablo Torre’s debutwhich demonstrated quality, and also to see again Ansu Fati y Pedri on a playing field.
Xavi perfectly interpreted what people want to see in these first pre-season games. new faces, players unknown to the general public, the new signings. That is why he put Pablo Torre and Kessie at the start, located in the interior flanking Nico, who has acted as a midfielder. Under sticks, Ter Stegen and in defence, three youngsters from the house, Arnau Casas and Mika Mármol on the axis, Àlex Valle on the left and Dest on the right. Above, two wingers, Ilias on the right and Abde on the left and Aubameyang on point. Pedri and Ansu have remained on the bench.
The match started a quarter of an hour late because Barça arrived late and the first half was played with a heat that did not help the pace of the game to be high. If the first friendlies already suffer from speed, the temperature did not help. Despite the pasty pace, Xavi’s men didn’t have a bad first half, which had one of its protagonists in Pablo Torre. The Cantabrian pearl left quality details such as a pipe before serving a good ball to Aubameyang, who only against Battle has not been able to define well. The forward had it in a good cross from Kessie but his shot went to the crossbar. If he was accurate to make it 0-1 after a pinpoint pass from Ter Stegen.
More with pride and insistence than with football, Olot tied before the break. Mármol has committed an innocent penalty that the veteran Eloi Amagat has transformed. Just before, those from La Garrotxa already sent a ball to the post in a foul that was poisoned.
As usual in these games, there was a carousel of changes at half-time. Xavi has only left Casas and Àlex Valle on the field. The others, all new. Ansu Fati has worn the captain’s armband for the first time and Pedri the number 8. The heat has subsided but the pace has not improved excessively. Heavy legs are noticeable after a first week of work with a lot of physical load.
Àlex Valle has sent uA ball hit the post and Aranda had a couple of good chances to score. Xavi has put Fabio Blanco on the field for Arnau Casas, so that all those who had traveled could have minutes. Pedri had the second in his boots but in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper he wanted to embellish himself too much. Collado has also had good minutes sharing games and has shown that he can be useful if he stays. The two teams have tried to score until the end and Olot has sent a ball to the post but finally the marking has not moved.
Datasheet
lineups
Olot: Battle; Aimar, Carles Mas, Ayala, Bigues; Terma, Manzano, Eloi (c); Callís, Ferran Brugué and Urri. Ot, Gonzalo, Forés, Xumetra, Èric Vilanova, Enric Vallès and Gerard Batalla entered the second half.
goals: 1-1 Eloi Amagat (44 ‘p)
Barça: Ter Stegen; Dest, Arnau Casas, Mika Mármol, Álex Valle; Kessie, Nico, Pablo Torre; Ilias, Aubameyang and Abde. At the break the team was as follows: Iñaki Peña; Marc Casadó, Arnau Casas, Chadi, Balde; Aranda, Pjanic, Pedri; Collado, Ansu and Álex Valle. Fabio Blanco has also entered
goals: 1-0 Aubameyang (28′).
