Barcelona as they misplaced 2-1 in opposition to Girona in La Liga at Estadi Montilivi final evening.
Having been proclaimed because the Spanish kings of comebacks over the previous 12 months, they have been handed a style of their very own medication because the hosts overturned a 1-0 deficit to go 2-1 up and seal a particular win on the evening.
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The end result comes as a devastating blow to the Catalans’ plans and hopes within the Spanish league, for it sees them fail to overhaul Actual Madrid within the standings and hand their rivals the benefit as soon as extra.
Barça Common brings you three takeaways from Girona 2-1 Barcelona.
Too straightforward to beat
The final time Barcelona misplaced two video games in a row was again initially of October after they dropped three factors in opposition to PSG and Sevilla in back-to-back video games. They’ve now repeated that streak, however below much more unforgiving circumstances.
After the 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid within the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, it was anticipated that the Catalans would come out all weapons firing and make a press release of intent.
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In any case, there’s barely any time earlier than they take to the sphere for the decisive second leg, the place they need to rating no less than 5 objectives.
What they did final evening in opposition to Girona, nevertheless, was shambolic, as soon as once more elevating critical questions as as to if the system has taken an irreversible toll on the gamers’ health.
Barcelona have been merely not up for the problem at Estadi Montilivi final evening. Whereas they did create higher possibilities within the first half, they have been wasteful with them with Lamine Yamal lacking a 1v1 and a penalty.
After the break, nevertheless, they merely succumbed to Girona’s counters and have been too straightforward to interrupt down.
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Regardless of taking the lead, they have been simply damaged down by the hosts’ assault with a sensible sequence of play and had no solutions for the low cross-field ball. As soon as once more, they conceded inside minutes after taking the lead in what has develop into a recurring theme.
Then, they didn’t push and create attacking probabilities of their very own and have been outshone by Girona’s impressed attacking forays. The hosts created an xG of 1.79 within the second half, greater than double that of Barcelona, and have been the deserved winners.
The sport as soon as once more raised critical questions in regards to the defensive position, which has develop into extra uncovered than ever earlier than in current weeks, and whether or not it’s a sustainable mannequin transferring ahead or not.
Refereeing within the highlight once more
Refereeing controversy as soon as once more. (Picture by Judit Cartiel/Getty Photographs)
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Barcelona could certainly have spurned the penalty given to them on the evening, however the sport once more raised questions in regards to the refereeing in what has develop into a relentless function of Barcelona video games of late.
Hansi Flick was brazenly essential of the officiating in opposition to Atletico Madrid, and it has been recognized for some time that the Catalans have typically been on the receiving finish of questionable refereeing calls in current video games.
Final evening, there have been as soon as once more two clear-cut situations of refereeing misjudgement that price Barcelona closely, particularly contemplating they each got here at pivotal moments within the sport.
For starters, Girona’s defender made their means into the field earlier than Yamal’s penalty kick, which ended up in a miss, an motion that ought to have led to a immediate repeat penalty. But, the referee didn’t blink an eye fixed on the clear error.
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The second, and extra blatant error, got here in the course of the time of Girona’s winner late within the sport. In the course of the buildup to that aim, Jules Kounde was clearly fouled and had his foot stepped on, which gives clear grounds for the aim to be disallowed.
At a time when the VAR can spend eight minutes to test a minuscule offside on a Barcelona aim, it’s appalling that not just a few seconds could possibly be spared to overview a clear-cut error.
Time for a critical reset
Barcelona’s efficiency final evening, and over the previous two video games as an entire, has been embarrassing, and there’s a actual want for the gamers and the supervisor to move again into the dressing room to replicate on the identical.
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Each facet of the staff’s sport, which has been praised in current instances, has been falling wanting the staff’s traditional requirements – and it’s excessive time the matter is addressed.
On the level within the season the place the staff ought to be peaking when it comes to their kind and stage, Barcelona appear to be taking steps backwards.
The press has been incoherent, the staff have appeared lazy on the sphere with no objective or intent to trace again.
The video games are not being managed in midfield like they need to be, with opponents being given extra space than ever earlier than. Extra importantly, the assault appears extra restricted with gamers out of sync and easily unable to take their possibilities.
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The UCL knockouts are simply across the nook, and the Copa del Rey will want a superhuman effort to get again into. Barcelona have additionally given up the lead in La Liga again to Actual Madrid and are on the again foot in all competitions swiftly.
There’s, thus, an actual have to get again into the thick of issues and work out a brand new plan.