Barcelona subjected followers to one of the uninspiring performances of the Xavi period as they in some way escaped with a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday night.
Sociedad had been on prime all through as Barcelona provided embarrassingly little in assault, with the Catalan aspect as an alternative spending loads of time holding on in defence.
It took till second-half stoppage time for Barcelona to point out any actual attacking impetus and Ronald Araujo beat the offside lure to move dwelling and bail his aspect out.
How the sport unfolded
Sociedad got here out scorching and Marc-Andre ter Stegen wanted to make a robust save to disclaim Ander Barrenetxea after only a few seconds.
That set the tone for the opening levels, with Barcelona properly under their finest and counting on Ter Stegen to maintain the rating degree. Xavi’s aspect regarded torpid at each ends of the sector and had been dropping the possession battle as the clock ticked over to half-hour.
The lack of attacking spark was significantly alarming for Barcelona, who watched as Sociedad punished their sloppy play and threatened to open the scoring time and time once more. Xavi could have been relieved to get into half-time degree.
Ter Stegen saved properly from Brais Mendez as the second half kicked off, earlier than Takefusa Kubo fizzed into the aspect netting with a strike that was finally pulled again for offside anyway.
Sick of his aspect’s poor efficiency, Xavi referred to as on Pedri and Ferran Torres shortly earlier than the hour mark in an try to alter something, however the latter’s first involvement noticed him run the ball straight out of play.
Raphinha despatched a timid free-kick on to the roof of the web however their finest probability of the sport fell to Gavi in stoppage time. The midfielder discovered some house within the field however his low strike was properly stopped by Alex Remiro, who had barely been concerned up till that time.
Somehow, Barcelona escaped with all three factors as Ilkay Gundogan’s cross was headed dwelling by Ronald Araujo within the 93rd minute. The defender fortunately accepted the on-field referee’s verdict that he had strayed offside, just for VAR to intervene and appropriately award the purpose.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 7/10 – A extremely spectacular displaying in purpose. Had to be alert from the opening second as the poor defence in entrance of him repeatedly left him uncovered.
CB: Ronald Araujo – 7/10 – Some very uncomfortable moments early on as he was dragged out vast. Eventually recovered and impressed within the second half. Took his purpose properly.
CB: Jules Kounde – 6/10 – Lacked composure in possession. Stepped up within the second half as Sociedad continued to roar forwards.
CB: Inigo Martinez – 7/10 – Booed relentlessly by the followers of his outdated aspect however was comfortably Barcelona’s finest defender.
RM: Joao Cancelo – 4/10 – Definitely not a winger. His attacking influence was very restricted and he clearly misplaced his head in the direction of the top of the primary half with a pissed off foul.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – 4/10 – Marked into oblivion however Gundogan is meant to be higher than this. Slow in possession and poor together with his passing. A pleasant cross for Araujo’s winner however that does not gloss over what was an in any other case atrocious displaying.
CM: Gavi – 5/10 – Typically wonderful work charge however Gavi merely had an excessive amount of to do in midfield. Tried to cowl each blade of grass however was usually out of place as a result of he was making an attempt to do an excessive amount of.
LM: Alejandro Balde – 4/10 – Made the occasional good run as he tried to really do one thing, but it surely wasn’t usually sufficient.
AM: Fermin Lopez – 4/10 – Couldn’t get into the sport in any respect. Credit to Sociedad’s midfield for swarming him always.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – 2/10 – His poor urgent contributed to Sociedad’s consolation on the ball. Didn’t get any service in assault however did not do sufficient to assist his teammates discover him anyway. Hooked early within the second half, which tells you all the pieces it’s worthwhile to know.
ST: Joao Felix – 2/10 – An embarrassing try and win a first-half penalty summed up a bitterly irritating efficiency from Felix.
Substitutes
SUB: Ferran Torres (57′ for Fermin) – 5/10
SUB: Pedri (57′ for Lewandowski) – 5/10
SUB: Lamine Yamal (69′ for Felix) – 6/10
SUB: Raphinha (69′ for Cancelo) – 5/10
Subs not used: Inaki Pena (GK), Ander Astralaga (GK), Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Oriol Romeu, Marc Casado
Manager
Xavi – 2/10 – This formation was the mistaken name. So, so poor. Took Xavi far too lengthy to alter issues and he was finally bailed out by a late purpose.
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