Barcelona maintained their 100% begin to the season with a 2-1 win over a plucky Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday.
After Unai Lopez’s early opener, Pedri dragged the 2 groups stage after the break, with the introduction of debutant Dani Olmo off the bench making a right away influence.
Robert Lewandowski noticed a aim controversially chalked off, but it surely didn’t matter in the long run as Olmo steered dwelling with ten minutes to go to cap off the right debut.
How the sport unfolded
Rayo made a full of life begin to the sport, charging on the Barca defence at each given alternative, and so they deservedly took the lead inside 10 minutes.
Lopez discovered area within the field and fired into Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s close to submit, with the German unable to get a strong-enough hand to maintain the trouble out.
The aim did inject some life into Barcelona however a handful of good strikes down the best wing all led to nothing, whereas Rayo continued to trigger all kinds of issues with their lightning-fast counters.
It took near half an hour for Barcelona to essentially stamp any form of authority on proceedings, however clear-cut probabilities had been at a premium. Lamine Yamal’s strike from vary stung the gloves of Dani Cardenas however the Rayo stopper was at all times in management within the first 45 minutes.
Early within the second half, Raphinha despatched a depraved low cross into the six-yard space which someway eluded Lewandowski because the Poland worldwide slid to strive faucet into an open aim.
Substitute Olmo quickly began pulling the strings. He fired large from a free-kick earlier than crashing towards the crossbar from all of 30 yards.
On the hour mark, Barca lastly dragged themselves stage. Raphinha’s cut-back discovered Pedri, who shifted the ball out from his ft and struck into the again of the online.
Lewandowski thought he had put his facet forward 11 minutes later with a composed end, however a VAR verify inspired the referee to assessment a possible foul from Jules Kounde, who was extremely unlucky to be penalised for treading on the top of Pep Chavarria’s toes.
Barca would get their second quickly after, nevertheless, and it got here as no shock to see Olmo celebrating. His glorious cameo was capped off by a wise end into the underside nook to steer the crew to their third straight 2-1 victory.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 5/10 – Getting crushed at your close to submit is rarely search for a goalkeeper. Bought his hand to Lopez’s opener and possibly ought to have saved it out.
RB: Jules Kounde – 5/10 – A full of life exhibiting which didn’t yield a optimistic contribution at both finish of the sphere. Did not provide sufficient help to Yamal in assault.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – 7/10 – Confirmed the composure that almost all of his senior teammates didn’t. Impressed with the ball at his ft.
CB: Inigo Martinez – 5/10 – Could not sustain with Rayo’s speedy forwards, which left Cubarsi compelled to attempt to tidy up behind him.
LB: Gerard Martin – 4/10 – His first La Liga begin was not one which shall be remembered fondly. Regarded misplaced at occasions as Rayo shortly recognized him as a weak level.
DM: Pedri – 7/10 – Performed loads of passes to attempt to hold Barcelona going forwards and capped off a strong exhibiting with a wise equaliser.
DM: Marc Bernal – 6/10 – Slightly remoted at occasions by Pedri’s runs forwards, however the teenager held his personal properly each on the ball and within the sort out.
RM: Lamine Yamal – 7/10 – The apparent hazard in assault. Barcelona despatched almost all the things by way of Yamal, who discovered himself locked in a completely entertaining battle with Alfonso Espino. Assisted Olmo’s winner.
AM: Raphinha – 7/10 – Grew into the sport after a quiet first half. Induced all kinds of issues within the second half and grabbed the help for Pedri’s equaliser.
LM: Ferran Torres – 4/10 – The left facet of Barcelona’s crew was noticeably weaker than the best. In assault, Ferran was quiet and ineffective, and it was no shock to see him hooked on the break.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – 5/10 – Lewandowski did not do a lot unsuitable on a person stage, however that is largely as a result of he did not do something in any respect.
Substitutes
SUB: Dani Olmo (46′ for Ferran) – 8/10
SUB: Alejandro Balde (65′ for Martin) – 6/10
SUB: Fermin Lopez (90′ for Pedri) – N/A
SUB: Pau Victor (90′ for Yamal) – N/A
Subs not used: Ander Astralaga (GK), Inaki Pena (GK), Sergi Dominguez, Andreas Cuenca, Hector Fort, Marc Casado, Pablo Torre
Supervisor
Hansi Flick – 7/10 – Barcelona weren’t nice right here, significantly within the first half, however the introduction of Olmo undoubtedly modified proceedings as Flick’s substitutions made the distinction.
Participant of the match – Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
