Barcelona quickly regained the pole place on the La Liga standings final evening after a , one which appeared a misplaced trigger even a minute earlier than the ultimate whistle.
Pedri Gonzalez gave Barcelona the lead with a peach of a end early within the evening, however Axel Witsel equalised for Girona in opposition to the run of play with a shocking bicycle kick quickly after.
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The guests then started mounting stress on Flick’s males by repeatedly breaking on the counter and exposing the defence however fluffed all their probabilities.
Ultimately, Ronald Araujo scored the winner within the dying minutes to assist Barcelona take all three factors in thrilling trend.
Barça Common brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 2-1 Girona.
The defence raises continued questions
Barcelona’s defence has been struggling. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Pictures)
The primary half in opposition to Girona at Montjuic noticed a sample similar to that which Barcelona displayed in opposition to PSG, and whereas your entire workforce is guilty, the defence continues to take the highlight as the largest fear.
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Simply as they did in opposition to Luis Enrique’s males, the Catalans managed the opening quarter-hour excellently, suffocating the guests and never giving them an opportunity to even enter their space.
All of it fell aside after Pedri’s opener, nevertheless, as they slacked off and handed Girona extra of the ball.
Particular person errors started creeping in after Barcelona took the lead, and Girona received common probabilities to interrupt on the counter.
What was stunning, nevertheless, was the truth that the guests managed to interrupt Barcelona’s offside entice nearly each time they tried to.
Rather a lot has been stated in regards to the workforce’s excessive line of defense, however it’s clear that it isn’t working in addition to it did final season this time round.
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Groups have recognized the method for breaking it, and have finished so with good impact.
Yesterday, the defence as soon as once more seemed in absolute shambles, and Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi had been left chasing the Girona forwards time and time once more, typically with the opponents incomes 1v1 conditions in opposition to Wojciech Szczesny.
Kounde’s errors and Balde’s excessive positioning solely made the state of affairs all of the extra sophisticated.
Flick has certainly been cussed with the excessive line and it has given him the rewards. Now, nevertheless, there’s a actual have to establish tweaks and final evening solely highlighted the difficulty additional.
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A captain’s shift from De Jong
Frenkie de Jong placed on an excellent shift. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)
Whereas Barcelona’s efficiency final evening was removed from excellent, one has to laud the dedication and dedication of Frenkie de Jong, who was entrusted with a brand new function and the accountability of main the midfield for 90 minutes.
The Dutchman performed within the attacking midfield function final evening, alternating at occasions with Pedri, and was incredible within the place as he always tried to get balls into the opposition field and mix with Lamine Yamal.
Whereas Pedri was hooked off halfway via the second half, nevertheless, the Dutchman stayed on and continued working tirelessly to win again balls and transition the play to assault.
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He racked up 60 passes on the evening, together with three key passes, created one massive likelihood and was the driving power via the center.
Ultimately, it was solely becoming that De Jong earned the help for Barcelona’s profitable purpose, and it was made doable solely as a result of the participant continued to consider and pushed himself to the restrict even with lower than a minute left on the clock.
A real captain’s efficiency.
Barcelona’s new quantity 9?
Ronald Araujo scored the profitable purpose for Barcelona. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Pictures)
One of many legacies Gerard Pique left at Barcelona was his operation as a central striker at occasions of want, particularly given his good instincts in entrance of purpose and good peak that gave him an aerial benefit.
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Pressed for sources in assault final evening, particularly with Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Raphinha out injured, Hansi Flick discovered a helpful resolution in Ronald Araujo to play because the workforce’s emergency quantity 9 off the bench, thereby making him the brand new Piqué.
Enjoying as a striker will not be new to Araujo, for he was initially a central ahead participant in his boyhood days earlier than making the swap to centre-back.
What he confirmed on the sector final evening was spectacular even for a participant with such identified foundations.
The Uruguayan star certainly scored the winner for Barcelona within the dying minutes of the sport with a killer end from a sophisticated place.
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The timing of his run and motion off the ball, nevertheless, had been these of a pure striker.
In his brief time on the sector, Araujo stood out by moving into good positions, timing his runs to perfection and creating probabilities and one wonders if Flick has unintentionally found a brand new function for the participant.