Barça delights the Olympic
Xavi’s men sign the first exhibition in their new home, with Cancelo and Joao Félix in tune, before a collapsed Betis
MADRID, 16 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona beat Real Betis (5-0) this Saturday on the fifth day of LaLiga EA Sports, the first exhibition of Xavi Hernández’s team at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys with the signing of Joao Félix and Cancelo to put pressure on the lead of Real Madrid and feed the faith before the debut in the Champions League.
The League champion was far from accusing any type of FIFA virus after the break and collapsed a Betis with casualties, with many former rivals in its ranks. The loans of Félix and Cancelo, both scorers along with Lewandowski, Ferran and Raphinha, fell on their feet in Barcelona and Barça begins to work to sleep as the leader and guarantee future entries for the Olimpico.
Barça did not start with clear ideas or a very good look, Joao Félix looking for his place and Cancelo without appearing, but the locals finished with a promising 2-0 in the first half. Xavi put his last two reinforcements in the eleven but Barça sinned behind due to the resurgence of Isco and the firepower of Betis.
The man from Malaga stole a ball that seemed clear from Kounde and Luiz Henrique made it 0-1, while shortly after it fell to Ayoze in a mistake by Balde. Barça defended itself with a monologue in possession but the depth of the left-back did not pay off with Félix far from the area and Robert Lewandowski somewhat overshadowed.
The entire local game circulated on that side of the field, but in an attempt to get the ball from behind, Betis encountered the pressure and recovery of Cancelo. On the right wing, Félix’s 0-1 scoreline was born in the 25th minute, his first goal scorer with Barça, after a cross from Oriol Romeu and some luck against Bellerín.
Betis sank several meters and opened the door, especially inside, against a Barça that paid much more attention to the player on loan from Manchester City. With the step forward of Cancelo and Félix, and backwards of those of Pellegrini, who formed an eleven of absences with Chadi Riad and Sergi Altimira as new additions, the 2-0 was created.
The Portuguese on loan from Atlético de Madrid missed an assist from Christensen to leave Lewandowski alone. Betis, who feared Rui Silva’s injury, were able to get into the match on the brink of half-time in a one-on-one that Willian Jose failed against Ter Stegen, although the last one was from Joao Félix for Barça.
BARÇA LIKES: XAVI FINDS COMPETITION
At the restart, Pellegrini, who was celebrating his 70th birthday, brought on Abde, another former culé, and had to make the change in goal with the goalkeeper of the Vieites reserve team. Isco went down to receive but Barça continued with its dominance, with Cancelo as another midfielder. Betis had to hold off until the final Barça fireworks.
Ferran reaffirmed himself by scoring the 3-0 from a free kick and the changes kept the hosts hungry. Raphinha, a luxury replacement along with Gundogan and Yamal, scored the fourth shortly after entering and Cancelo signed his great presentation in front of his new audience (5-0). Barça liked it and overcame a Betis without the ball or containment, to be optimistic about their campaign and with a wardrobe that right now complicates Xavi for the better.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 5 – REAL BETIS, 0. (2-0, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Cancelo, Kound, Christensen (Inigo Martinez, 76th minute), Balde (Marcos Alonso, 76th minute), Oriol Romeu (Gundogan, 64th minute), Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ferran Torres (Raphinha). , min.63), Joao Felix (Lamine Yamal, min.64) and Lewandowski.
REAL BETIS: Rui Silva (Vieites, rest), Bellerín, Riad, Bartra, Miranda, Altimira, Marc Roca (Guido, min.67), Isco (Rodri, min.67), Luiz Henrique (Abde, rest), Ayoze ( Juan Cruz, min.67) and Willian José.
–GOALS:
1 – 0, min.26, Joao Félix.
2 – 0, min.32, Lewandowski.
3 – 0, min.62, Ferran.
4 – 0, min.66, Raphinha.
5 – 0, min.81, Canceled.
–REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez (C. Murciano). He cautioned Iñigo Martínez (min.86) for FC Barcelona. And Bartra (min.72) and Guido (min.84) at Betis.
— STADIUM: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, 45,055 spectators.