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Martin Braithwaite scored twice as a highly changed and highly rotated Barcelona beat Dynamo Kiev 4-0 on Tuesday to reserve their place in the Champions League round of 16.
Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong rested for the match, despite a long injury list, but Barça managed to score four wins out of four in Europe this season with four goals in the second half.
Report: USMNT couple make history with Barça win at Dynamo Kyiv
US international Sergino Dest opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a clever shot from a tight angle. Braithwaite scored his first goal of the game five minutes later, then won and scored a penalty with 20 minutes to go. Antoine Griezmann then came off the bench to complete the injury-time win.
Positive
There was plenty to smile about for coach Ronald Koeman in Kiev, something that has rarely been the case since he took office. Team B defender Oscar Mingueza did well in his full debut for the club. It could be an option in the league in the future, with Gerard Piqué, Samuel Umtiti and Ronald Araujo injured.
There was also a full Barca debut for USMNT winger Konrad de la Fuente at the end, and Braithwaite had a good night in his first start this season. The Danish forward took his goals well, his first Champions League goals, and hopes for more opportunities in the future.
Negative
The first part was boring, but that was not necessarily the fault of Barça. This was a team of players playing together for the first time, in many cases. Most of them also improved in the second half, although it was not the best night for Junior Firpo or Miralem Pjanic.
Manager rating out of 10
7 – Koeman made seven changes and got responses from the likes of Braithwaite, Mingueza and Carles Alena. He will have been happy with what he saw from the players on his squad and delighted to be in the round of 16 with two games to spare.
Dest was excellent as a Barcelona right-back, even becoming the first American to score a goal for the club. SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP via Getty Images
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players submitted after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 – The captain of the night didn’t have much to do, but seemed confident on the ball despite the costly mistake against Atlético de Madrid last time out. He fired a deflected cross shot at the edge of the break.
DF Sergino Dest, 8 – A great display in defense and attack, finished off with a goal.
DF Oscar Mingueza, 7 – In his senior debut, the B-team defender looked nervous at times, but grew in confidence as the game progressed. Excellent on the ball, he provided a couple of important blocks and a corner kick that led to Braithwaite’s first goal.
DF Clement Lenglet, 6 – He came away with a penalty claim against him early in the second half before being withdrawn with 30 minutes to go. Barça cannot afford to lose him given their lack of centrals.
DF Junior Firpo, 5 – He seemed like a lacking confidence player on the left-back, choosing too often the safe pass to the side or back, perhaps understandable given his lack of minutes since signing for Real Betis in 2019. party in the center -back.
MF Carles Alena, 6 – He did enough in his first start this season to dispel the myth that he can’t play a deeper role in midfield. He connected well with Alba to prepare for Griezmann’s late goal.
MF Miralem Pjanic, 5 – He’s not as involved as he would have liked to have been cast as one of the older players on the field.
FW Pedri, 6 – A clever pass to Braithwaite led to Dest’s first goal on another decent night for the attacking midfielder on the eve of his 18th birthday.
FW Francisco Trincao, 6 – Many tricks and effort, but lack of real substance. It is still a work in progress.
FW Philippe Coutinho, 6 – He saw a lot of the ball, but was often guilty of too many touches.
FW Martin Braithwaite, 8 – He inadvertently set up the first goal and then scored two of his own, the first a poacher’s shot at the far post and the second a self-won penalty.
Substitutes
MF Riqui Puig, 6 – Came in just after the scheduled time for his longest appearance of the season. Not too involved, but neat and clean with the ball.
DF Jordi Alba, 6 – He looked lively when he came in and could have scored one or two before he finally found the net with a clean shot.
FW Antoine Griezmann, 7 – Given the final 30 minutes from the bench, the French international scored the fourth goal.
MF Matheus Fernandes, N / R – The Brazilian midfielder made his first appearance for Barça, although he didn’t have much to do.
FW Konrad de la Fuente, N / R – The USMNT forward came in for the final 10 minutes to make his competitive debut for Barça.
Source: espn.co.uk
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