Only three games into the season and the pressure is already creeping in. That much was clear in Vallecas, where a draw against Rayo Vallecano halted Barcelona’s perfect start, and could have been less without Joan Garcia's heroics. The dropped points ended their 100% record in La Liga, and now all eyes turn to their return home after the international break, where Valencia await.
Lamine Yamal seems lost, and since he uses the mythical #10, he has not been able to show his entire capacity
The Spaniard was invisible through the game, despite the penalty he scored and created, and that it is needed to say, left many doubts on the spectators. It was only at the third minute of the game that he managed to shoot to goal, finding a great response from Rayito’s goalkeeper.
From there, he could not associate effectively with his teammates, although the issue was not specific for him. Both Barça’s wings were efficiently disabled by their rival.
It is not usual that Lamine, the boy called to fill Messi’s shoes among Barça’s fans, becomes invisible in a game. In the first La Liga match against Mallorca he was crucial to get the three points, although he was perfectly blocked by Levante’s strong defensive scheme in the second, and unable to be determinant against Rayo.
Hansi should take a look on what is happening to his Golden boy, and try to bring him back to his best performance. The league is only starting, but given that in 2 out of 3 matches he has not been crucial for the team’s game, something must be done.
The defense was stronger against Rayo, altough improvements migth be a strong issue for Hansi Flick
In the last match, against Levante, Barça showed up aligning Eric García on the right band, Marc Cubarsí and Ronald Araújo as center backs, and Alejandro Balde on the left. This time, the team lined up a different scheme, with Jules Koundé on the right, Eric García and Christensen as center backs, and Alejandro Balde on the left wing. The only coincidence among both line ups was Balde.
Last weekend Marc Cubarsí and Ronald Araújo seemed slow trying to control Levante’s counterattacks, which might have led Hansi to shake up his alignment for this game. Nevertheless, Rayo Vallecano made the Blaugrana’s wing defenders seem wrongly positioned, and managed to generate danger on their rival pitch with long passes seeking to find the space, which they effectively found in several opportunities.
Eric García was important for the team given that at a point in which Rayo’s pressure closed any way for them to attack, he took the lead and made long passes to the strikers.
Anyway, in the back, when the “giant killer” strikers managed to pass back, it was Joan García who saved Hansi’s squad, not the center backs.
Apparently Hansi has not found the ideal line up for his defense, leaving the impression that Iñigo Martínez’s departure is still giving them issues to resolve.
Joan Garcia showed why he was signed and is preferred as number one
The Catalonian goalkeeper saved the team in several opportunities. His highest point came at the 73rd minute, when he managed to win a hand on hand with Jorge De Frutos, that would have led the Vallecan’s to earn the 3 points.
Through the entire match, he not only saved clear shots to goal, but cut center backs that might have ended in goals if it was not for him.
Doubts on who should have Barça’s number 1 shirt are being cleared, and the 24-year-old keeper seems to be the clearest option for Hansi’s alignment.