Ter Stegen: Spectacular performance by the German goalkeeper, with an incredible save ‘in extremis’ with his heel to a point-blank shot by the Norwegian Sorloth. He completed one of his most complete games, both at the level of interventions and also in the ball output. He only had a small error when it came to a clearance, which Isak was able to intercept, although the ball went wide.
Alves: He played practically like any other midfielder, looking for superiority, with a fairly irregular balance. He lost many unforced balls, although it is also true that he generated a lot of play between the lines. He held on as best he could until the 80th minute. Not bad for a 38-year-old guy.
Araújo: Until the right knee told him enough, he was completing a perfect match. Powerful in the air game, focused on passes into space and forceful when it comes to clearing the ball. However, a hit with Sorloth left him out of action, having to be substituted a few minutes into the second half.
Pique: Superb. It is clear that the center-back moves like a fish in water when controversy surrounds him and is the absolute protagonist of the week. Not even playing with diminished faculties practically from the 35th minute prevented him from holding on almost until the end. He led the team and knew how to put the batteries to his teammates in the most complicated moments. He is an example for all.
Alba: He continues to live on the wire in these last games, dividing the minutes between incomprehensible errors and dazzling successes. He was also a good part of the second part conditioned by his physical problems.
Sergio Busquets: A game to take our hats off at a defensive level, recovering many balls and avoiding transitions, but also suffering untold when it comes to giving continuity to the game in the face of almost suffocating pressure from the rival.
frenkie: He made up for part of his disastrous game against Cádiz. The Dutchman still lacks a boil when it comes to facing some duels, but this time he was much more successful, always looking for the ball and finding solutions in the high block with his incursions. He was close to scoring with a shot very close to the post.
Gavi: No one beats intensity and desire. It is a compendium of drive, grit, ambition and cheek. An action of his, not giving up a lost ball inside the area, after a rebound off the post by Dembélé, he knew how to take advantage of it to give a perfect cross to Ferrar who put the measured ball to Aubameyang’s head. He finished the match limping, but held on like a wild boar.
Dembélé: He is still the most dangerous player on the team, but also the one who makes the most mistakes in the final meters when making decisions. A post shot was his most vertical action. He knew how to hold the ball in the last minutes.
Aubameyang: Scored the winning goal. That is why the Gabonese was signed and he continues to more than meet expectations. He did not have much presence with the ball, but he worked like the best. In the goal he showed his ability to ‘killer’ looking for the only loophole there was to head the ball into the back of the net.
Ferran: The thorn of his disappointing game against Cádiz was somewhat removed. The former City striker played with a presence on the left wing, although without finishing hitting between the three suits. In the second half he spent half a match defending alongside Alba.
Changes
Eric: Good game from the center-back, who suffered unspeakably against the size of Sorloth. However, he knew how to compensate based on will and conviction. He ended up shortening balls at the end of the game as if there were no tomorrow.
Dest: His speed served to stop some leaks in the right lane, although his errors when taking the ball did not give the team peace of mind.
Luke: The Dutchman played very intelligently, trying to get to Ter Stegen’s long balls and look for the second play.
lenglet: He knew how to rise to the occasion, which is already a lot.