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After Bayern 2: 8, Barcelona did not play official matches. However, news of the location of the club and the team during all this time did not come from the editorials of sports publications. So many events happened that the first game of La Liga 2020/21 was perceived as a kind of opportunity to summarize. And it should be noted, this game was a balm for the soul of the “Barcelona” fans, who during the offseason “absorbed” a lot of negativity.
Ronald Koeman changed a lot after Kike Setien. First, the tactic was surprising, with two defenders close to the classics at work, De Jong and Busquets. With Griezmann or Messi at the head of the attack (substituted according to the situation) and the trio “under” the striker, where there was a place, in particular, for Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian was one of the best on the field in the first half. In general, the whole team, led by Ansu Fati, shone. It’s with him. Messi was in the shadows today and that did not interfere with Barcelona.
But we must also say about the level of opposition. Villarreal had a weak game. In general, after the arrival of Unai Emery, the team continues in search of his game and does not give up the “escape” that can be expected by looking at the crew of the “divers”. It will not be superfluous to say that Barça crushed Villarreal in the final of the last championship: when the “submarine” was still directed by Xavi Calleha, and Barça already swallowed the crisis.
So, about the match. It was a beating without the slightest resistance from the victim. Ansu Fati had already scored a double at twenty minutes, using first the transfer of Jordi Alba, and then – Philippe Coutinho. On the last defenders of Spanish football (Estupinan – the opening of the last championship, Pau Torres – the player of the Spanish team, Mario Gaspar – almost a legend of “Villarreal”, Raúl Albiol – a famous veteran) the agile Fati trivially mocked . His next breakthrough ended with Gaspard’s foul and penalty, which was converted by Lionel Messi.
If you count the moments in which Barça did not realize it -the shots of Coutinho, Roberto, Messi-, the panorama of Unai Emery, who played his 800th game as a coach today, was extremely bleak. In the end, it is logical that the fourth ball flew behind Asenho’s back before the break: the transfer went from Messi to Busquets, but Torres was the first to “put” his leg in and became the author of his own goal.
In the second half, “Villarreal” did not show signs of life either. Moreno scored from offside, and Chukwese’s attempt couldn’t even be called dangerous. The “Barça” did not stop, but played according to the situation, without sudden movements and with rare sudden attacks. For example, like Messi’s kick, after which Asenho took the ball under the crossbar.
Leo was even able to score with a header after Alba’s pass, but failed. I failed and smiled. The Argentine will not play dumb, despite all the moral suffering he has experienced and is going through the club’s decisions. And Barça will be a formidable force. This conclusion is suggested from the results of the match with Villarreal.
On the other hand, it is not worth rushing to draw deep conclusions after a match. Kike Setien also started with a victory and a drastic change of style. Tiki Taka was said to have returned to the Camp Nou, and then Setien was cursed for a mindless game of rolling the ball in midfield. Ronald Koeman has ideas, but it’s important not to lose them in the club’s Augean stables.
Barcelona. Camp Nou Stadium
Barcelona 4-0 Villarreal
Goals: Anssumane Fati 15, Anssumane Fati 19, Lionel Messi 35 (pen.), Pau Torres 45 (ed.)
“Barcelona”: Neto, Gerard Piqué, Clement Langle, Sergio Busquets (Miralem Pjanic 78), Philippe Coutinho (Usman Dembele 70), Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann (Trinkao 78), Jordi Alba, Frankie de Jong, Sergi Roberto 70, Ansuma
Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo, Raul Albiol (Ramiro Mori 84), Daniel Parejo, Mario Gaspar, Purvis Estupinan, Paco Alcacer (Vicente Iborra 46), Francis Coquelin (Manuel Trigueros 46), Gerard Moreno (Carlos Bacca 84), Samuel Chukwese (Takefusa 74) ), Pau Torres, Moisés Gómez
Warning: Gerard Moreno 83
