Barcelona put three targets previous Levante on the Spotify Camp Nou final evening, placing an after two straight defeats.
The Catalans’ efficiency was dominant, albeit not convincing, however it nonetheless will go a good distance in resetting the temper within the dressing room, which has been grim in latest days.
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Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and Fermin Lope scored the targets for Barcelona in opposition to Levante, however the truth stays that the workforce’s ending should considerably enhance.
In spite of everything, the margin might properly have been double if not for poor ending.
Barça Common brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 3-0 Levante.
An evening for midfielders
Regardless of Barcelona’s attacking trident of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha beginning on Sunday night, not one of the workforce’s targets got here straight from them.
As a substitute, it was Barcelona’s midfield that stepped up on the evening and delivered an ideal present, scoring all three of the workforce’s targets and creating the possibilities nearly independently.
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Barcelona’s opener went to Marc Bernal’s identify simply minutes after the opening whistle because the teen scored his second aim of the season with good timing of his strike.
Marc Bernal was on the scoresheet. (Photograph by Pedro Salado/Getty Photographs)
Receiving the ball from Eric Garcia’s cross, he lunged ahead with out straying offside and precisely put the ball previous the goalkeeper.
Later within the first half, Barcelona captain and midfielder Frenkie de Jong scored his first aim of the marketing campaign, once more with a well-timed run.
In his case, he received on the tip of Joao Cancelo’s gorgeous cross with a exact and cruel run and bundled the ball previous Matthew Ryan.
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The third aim got here out of nowhere within the 81st minute when Fermin Lopez determined to take issues into his personal fingers and struck a surprising strike from outdoors the field together with his weaker foot – one which thundered previous the goalkeeper and struck the woodwork earlier than moving into.
It was thus a curious evening in opposition to Levante with all three targets going to midfielders with restricted involvement from the entrance three.
As soon as once more, it highlighted how the Catalans don’t depend on any single goalscoring outlet and have a number of routes of scoring.
Joao Cancelo places on a present
Whereas Barcelona’s midfield stole the present not solely with their targets however with the dominance in possession, consolation on the ball and counter-pressing, one particular person who stood out a category aside was Joao Cancelo.
Joao Cancelo was implausible in opposition to Levante. (Photograph by Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs)
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The Portuguese star, who arrived solely within the winter, had not loved wherever near his finest within the 5 appearances he had earlier than Sunday’s and was seemingly on the decline in prominence on Hansi Flick’s pecking order.
What he placed on final night, nonetheless, was an absolute present and maybe one of the vital attacking performances put up by a Barcelona full-back in a very long time.
Cancelo was untouchable within the first half, successful again balls with excessive stress and looking out very comfy in possession and the link-up in tight areas.
His crosses, nonetheless, stole the present and got here in with vicious precision time and time once more. Reality be informed, he might have completed the sport with a hat-trick and a aim to his identify.
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The previous Manchester Metropolis participant had 5 defensive actions and received 4 duels in 90 minutes. He had a staggering 105 touches, seven progressive carries and two profitable dribbles.
With three key passes, he created two huge probabilities and likewise delivered a 91% completion fee on his passes. He had simply the help for Frenkie de Jong to indicate, however might have had a pair extra and hit the woodwork as soon as.
Cancelo’s efficiency, for sure, comes as an announcement efficiency particularly given how Alejandro Balde has been benched for a second straight sport.
His show will undoubtedly see Flick incorporate him extra usually as a weapon in opposition to low-blocks.
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Again on high
Barcelona are La Liga leaders once more. (Photograph by Pedro Salado/Getty Photographs)
Final weekend, Barcelona gave away the lead in La Liga to Actual Madrid after shedding to Girona and located themselves two factors behind their arch-rivals.
Having been forward within the standings for an excellent couple of months, it got here as a critical blow for Flick’s aspect, particularly given how they cheaply suffered two defeats within the competitors.
Actual Madrid’s place as leaders, nonetheless, was not long-lived as they misplaced to Osasuna on Saturday evening, handing Barcelona an opportunity to take again the highest place, and the Catalans certainly did.
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With the three factors final night, Barcelona transfer to 61 factors after 25 video games and are again within the driver’s seat, one level above Actual Madrid and again to the place they have been earlier than the Girona defeat.
At a degree within the season that many might take into account to be their lowest, the place on the standings comes as a large increase to the dressing room and can encourage them to consider the remontada in opposition to Atletico Madrid as an actual chance.