Barcelona’s first-half show towards Actual Oviedo was up there with their worst this season, as they struggled in each side of the sport and had been outdone by the guests’ press.
Within the second interval, nevertheless, Oviedo confirmed precisely why they’re the bottom-placed crew within the league as they gifted away two targets in 5 minutes to assist Barcelona bury the consequence.
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then served as the right cherry on the cake because it accomplished the 3-0 rout and comfortably put the Catalans again as leaders within the standings.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors from Barcelona 3-0 Actual Oviedo.
Rotations gone too far
Hansi Flick deployed an extensively rotated lineup towards Actual Oviedo, and understandably so given the hectic schedule and the way the opposition on the night time had been removed from in-form.
Joao Cancelo began towards Oviedo. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
The extent of adjustments, nevertheless, noticed the Catalans produce their worst first-half efficiency for the reason that Chelsea sport late in 2025 as they merely struggled for concord on the sector.
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It was in defence that Flick made the most important adjustments. Joao Cancelo, who was initially anticipated to begin at right-back with Kounde on the bench, began at left-back.
As a substitute, the pure left-back Gerard Martin began at centre-back alongside Pau Cubarsi and the pure centre-back Eric Garcia was deployed at right-back.
Whereas all of the aforementioned have proven utility when performed out of place, combining so many gamers enjoying in makeshift roles threatened Barcelona’s buildup stream and noticed them struggling to construct out of the again.
They had been defensively stable, however the ball development was significantly impaired and Barcelona even struggled to get out of their very own half within the opening interval.
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Marc Casado’s struggles on the ball in defensive midfield solely compounded that drawback.
It’s, thus, no shock that quite a bit modified when Kounde got here on and despatched Eric to companion with Cubarsi in central defence.
Barcelona’s assault opened up instantly, the buildup improved and so did the consequence.
Dani Olmo makes the distinction once more
Dani Olmo opened the scoring. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
Dani Olmo might have his ups and downs, and should certainly lower out a irritating determine at instances along with his ball management and buildup play.
Nonetheless, one can’t deny that he’s a real distinction maker who’s stepping up beneath stress.
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His purple patch started in Barcelona’s sport towards Deportivo Alaves late in November when he scored a brace to pioneer Barcelona’s comeback win on the night time.
Days later, he dished out a effective efficiency with a objective towards Atletico Madrid and injured himself within the course of.
He returned from harm towards Espanyol at first of January and scored on his return to open the scoring within the 86th minute and break the impasse in a sport that appeared set to finish in a draw.
Earlier this week, he once more scored a golazo at hand the crew the lead over Slavia Prague for the first-time on the night time – serving to them transfer nearer to the three factors.
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Final night time was no completely different, because it was once more Olmo who scored Barcelona’s opener with a neat, low-driven end previous Aaron Escandell.
His strike opened up the sport and created room for extra Barcelona assaults, and the guests then started to open up.
As all the time, Olmo had his share of frustrations towards Actual Oviedo as he lower out a sorry determine with many misplaced passes, overhit crosses, and errors in tight areas. For all his negatives, nevertheless, he’s a high quality participant who can, and does, flip the sport round.
Heading to the UCL with momentum
Focus shifts to Champions League. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
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With the Actual Oviedo conflict out of the way in which, Barcelona can now give attention to the massive sport that awaits them midweek within the Champions League – the conflict towards FC Copenhagen that may determine in the event that they end within the top-8 or not.
The sport final night time, evidently, already had Flick eager about the European sport developing as his rotations had been all tailor-made in the direction of offering key gamers relaxation for that event.
Kounde and Alejandro Balde each began on the bench to get a while off, and the coach ensured Marcus Rashford acquired the sport off as effectively.
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal had been each taken off early to offer them a break too.
In that sense, Flick can breathe a sigh of reduction to haven’t solely taken all three factors however to have accomplished so with large names rested and the momentum retained.