Barcelona 1×1: Koeman 'kidnapped' De Jong

Koeman played with a predictable eleven against Athletic. Despite the recovery of Sergi Roberto, he was prudent and lined up Mingueza in defense alongside Araújo, Umtiti (second consecutive league game) and Jordi Alba. The two implicated in the Planes report, Mingueza and Umtiti, were headlines. Pjanic played instead of Sergio Busquets and, above, Griezmann, Messi and Dembélé repeated. This was the one by one of Barça, in which the tactical novelty of delaying De Jong weighed down the Dutchman, who was in a spectacular moment.

Ter Stegen. Comfortable match for the German. He could not do anything in Alba's own goal and was calm from above in the last minutes.

Mingueza. He suffered with Muniain in the right sector, was under scrutiny after the Planes report and responded well. With its shortcomings, it competes. He does not have an easy task and he is doing a service to Barça. And also, he assisted the goal. Very worthy of yours. Dembélé helped him a little behind.

Araújo. Very stable. Without errors. Titular and very important in the Barça.

Umtiti. As far as his physique goes, he is aggressive and knows how to read the games. Try to regain your level, but it is not easy. Approved. He has experience and knows how to hide his limitations.

Sunrise. As always, better forward than backward. With Mingueza on the right, you have more freedom to climb. He did a lot of danger in the first part. Offensively, he is still the best left-back in LaLiga. But behind, he felt the pressure of De Marcos and scored an own goal. He saw yellow card.

Pjanic. A player who should be Barça's compass and who can't find his place. He's not even right in one of his specialties, shooting. Koeman doesn't trust him. He changed his way of playing for him and was the first substituted. Short as it is in cash, Koeman needs to get him back, or at least give him a specific task in the game.

De Jong. He played more late. Koeman should not trust Pjanic as the only midfielder and he helped in the exit of the centrals. In a great moment and essential today for Barça, the Dutchman cannot renounce that position because the Barça team loses a lot of presence.

Pedri. Magnificent player, always giving solutions. When a pass fails, as in the first half when he tried to initiate a transition, he does not give credit. He did an epic robbery in the final minutes. An angel from heaven has fallen to Barça with his signing. One of the team's thermometers. Read the game. Nice to see you.

Dembélé. Well in the 2-1 play, finally with a collective sense of the game to enable Mingueza on the wing. In the first part he was failed with the sword. When a game goes 1-0 and Messi leaves you three times head-to-head with a defender, a 140 million euro player has to make a difference, not send the ball sky high. Koeman reproached him. On the left, he did more damage in the second half. He did not help Mingueza as he should on defense. But it is in progression. He doesn't seem so disconnected from the game nor does he play his own games. Basic to take one more step if Barça wants to win something.

Messi. He played a spectacular opening 20 minutes. A delicious pass control from Griezmann (Unai Simón made a save), a chest shot and a fabulous direct free kick after forcing a 1-0 free kick. Apparently recovered from the discomfort that prevented him from making it 1-0. Then he had a spectacular start at the start of the second half, but disappeared from the game at minute 60. Of course, then he managed to provoke a couple of fouls to allow the team to breathe at the end of the game.

Griezmann. He's playing well the last few weeks. He always does what the team needs and gives the feeling of mixing better with his teammates. In place to make it 2-1 and give Barça another winning goal. A fantastic January.

In the second half, Sergi Roberto reappeared, who played inside and was correct but lacking rhythm and without a place. Lenglet also came out, which led to a system change (three centrals), to protect the scoreboard; and Braithwaite, to give oxygen and help with Yuri's climbs.