Barcelona 1×1: Messi does not understand curses

This was the performance of the Barça players in victory, five years later, in Balaídos, with goals from Ansu Fati, Olaza in their own goal and Sergi Roberto, and after the expuslión of Lenglet.

Net: His best game at Barcelona. Safe in the balls centered in the area, forceful in the clearances and solvent in the exit of the ball with the foot. He had such a superb performance that even for a few moments he made Ter Stegen forget. He was also a bit lucky, as the stick repelled a ball that got inside, although part of the credit went to Sergi Roberto, who put his leg “in extremis.”

Sergi Roberto: Great. And not only because of the goal, scored in the last gasp of the match, but because it prevented Celta from scoring, just putting his leg in a point-blank shot from Baeza. His capacity for work and sacrifice, in such adverse weather conditions, were commendable. It seems that the arrival of Dest has put the batteries to Reus.

Pique: Another game where he touched perfection. He was about to be sent off with a direct red card, but fortunately the play came from offside. Tactically disciplined, he resolved all his actions with sense and success.

Lenglet: The Frenchman was completing a perfect match, both in anticipation and when the ball was released, when Del Cerro Grande decided to send him off with a double warning, to the general astonishment of Koeman and the rest of his teammates. The minute 42 ran and Barcelona was left with ten. The second yellow after the push to Denis Suárez is very rigorous and even more so knowing that the player was already dragging a yellow, also very debatable, after an action with Gabri Veiga. The center-back will also not be against his former team, Sevilla, on Sunday after completing the penalty game.

Sunrise: Koeman is knowing how to bring out the best virtues of the left back. He's at an outstanding level, both defensively and offensively. Right now, anything other than Luis Enrique calling him to the national team would be an injustice.

Sergio Busquets: Good game from Badia's, who moves like a fish in water, having a player covering his back. He knew how to break the lines thanks to his pen passes. It seems that he is finding a system where he does not suffer so much defensively and feels more protected.

De Jong: Very complete. Everything you do makes sense. He makes it so easy that sometimes it seems like he's playing in his backyard or in the town square. His ability to play, offer, combine and break lines is second to none. The Dutchman has been reborn with the arrival of his compatriot on the bench and with the new double pivot system.

Coutinho: Another who seems totally different from the player who came to Barcelona two years ago. The Brazilian moved the ball how and when he wanted, feeling like a protagonist and giving meaning to the offensive game. He got on perfectly with Fati and Messi.

Messi: This week he has definitely made peace with all Barcelona fans, inside and outside the club. He did it first with an institutional message through the newspaper Sport and spiced it up on the field with a spectacular game. He did not score, but he touched the goal on several occasions, with two attempts including an Olympic goal. In the play of the second goal, despite the fact that it was finally given to Olaza, all the credit is his, with a house-brand slalom.

Ansu Fati: It has no roof. This kid was born to bring great joy to the fans. He scored a true ‘killer’ goal in the first opportunity he had frank inside the area, using the toe as a resource. When he was replaced, Koeman gave him a public congratulation again. Surely, the Dutchman must breathe easier with players of this level on the field.

Griezmann: He participated more in the high block and was much more dynamic with the ball at his feet, but he continues to have obvious connection problems with his teammates. Starting from the right, he had interesting moments, but he could not finish specifying, especially after a great center from De Jong, that poor control ended up frustrating him. He was the one sacrificed by Koeman, when forced by the expulsion of Lenglet, he had to place a central in the field.

Substitutions

Araujo: Life was not complicated and when he saw that he did not have the ball out, he opted for the ball, period. He had a more than correct game, in the 50 minutes he played, committing very few mistakes. He will start against Sevilla and this game will help him gain confidence.

Pedri: The canary has something different. She dares to make heels and always looks at the door. His passes into space are tremendously effective. In the twenty minutes he played he gave a recital of knowing how to be on the field. There are wickers here.

Trincao: The Portuguese got on the right wing, he wanted to do many things and came out a bit accelerated, but he gave amplitude to the field and also put faith when defending.