Ter Stegen. He was able to do a little more on Fidel’s goal, since the cross shot was not excessively strong or placed. He got rid of the thorn with a spectacular stretch to a point-blank shot from Pere Milla. With his feet, he had some misalignment, but nothing major. He finished with a feline lunge at the last minute, although the referee had canceled the action for offside.
Alves. He had a lot of trouble stopping Mojica. In attack he was very participative, although he abused the centers a bit without rhyme or reason. He was substituted in the 85th minute for Dest.
Araújo. He suffered more than necessary due to Elche’s offensive momentum. In Fidel’s goal, he was late and could not stop the action. On this occasion, his forcefulness was not in keeping with his efficiency or defensive security. He raised the ball on many occasions with discretion and reaching three quarters of the field.
Pique. He was watching Gonzalo Boyé for 65 minutes, having a really bad time because the Elche striker was a real nightmare, playing with his back to the goal and dividing the ball. When he left the field, the center-back was more liberated and he seemed more comfortable on the field. He raised the ball with great discretion and providing long movements to the bands.
Alba. Great match in capital letters from the side, who is in an impressive moment of the season. He did everything well, especially on an offensive level, having Ferran Torres as a reference in front of him. Once again, he signed a great assist for the striker to tie the game.
Sergio Busquets. Excellent in recovering without the ball, he had many problems in the first half to be the protagonist in the game due to the rival’s sticky marking. After the break, he was unleashed more and knew how to give more meaning to the game.
Frenkie. He had two great occasions in his boots, wasting both. The most notorious was one in which he was alone without a goalkeeper, after a poor clearance by the goalkeeper, which Diego was able to take out on the same goal line. An error of those that are usually seen in all the ‘flashes’ of the day.
Pedri. The best. It is a gift to see him in the field. His display against Elche was marvelous. He monopolized a good part of the game by himself, provided imbalance and was the one who best knew how to read the game and break the lines. Unfortunately, Elche’s goal came from a rebound in his clearance that ended up reaching Fidel. In any case, the canary continues to agree with the coach when he assures that today there is no greater talent in midfield.
Dembele. The French winger positioned himself on the right wing, successfully opening the field and providing many solutions. The problem with him is that he combines brilliant actions with blatant mistakes. In any case, his contribution was more than interesting. He was replaced with fifteen minutes to go by Adama.
Aubameyang. He did not play a bad game, but he hardly had chances to see the goal. He was very successful when it came to dividing the game and offering to give continuity to the game and try to get the central defenders out of their place. He tried a heel shot that went wide.
Gavi. It was not his best match. The truth is that he doesn’t help him play as a winger because he shows many lacks of automatisms. His sacrifice and drive is non-negotiable, but he was very little participative and Xavi decided not to take him out in the second half, giving Ferran Torres entry, a decision that ended up being the right one.
Changes
Ferran. His entrance has shaken the game. And not only because of the goal, typical of a true ‘killer’ when he deflected the ball just enough so that Edgar did not reach the ball, after a great pass from Alba, but because he knew how to invigorate the game down the left wing, providing imbalance and depth. He finished with just one goal, breaking a losing streak, but he could have easily signed a hat-trick, between his own mistakes and the goalkeeper’s successes.
Nico. His contribution in the midfield was vital to provide some oxygen and support. He saw a yellow card that will prevent him from playing next Sunday against Osasuna.
Adam. Fifteen minutes of quality from the winger, which was a nightmare for Mojica. The youth squad had a great opportunity to make his debut in front of goal, but his shot repelled it as Edgar could.
Memphis. Fundamental in the victory by manufacturing the penalty play and materializing it with spectacular power. Decisive.
Dest. He came out to give Alves a break, who was somewhat out of adjustment in defense. The American more than complied.