Reality bath at Camp Nou. Agur in the vitola of an undefeated team away from San Mamés. The first defeat for Athletic de Valverde in this League was predicted for the 22nd minute of the match against Barça. In the short margin of that time, the locals dictated the score by 3-0.
The lions were soon overwhelmed, soon enough, by Barca’s storm. Dembèlè became the main agitator of the culé team. Lewandoski initially took on the role of assistant and later fulfilled his role as scorer. Sergi Roberto also joined the party.
The responsiveness of the people of Bilbao is striking in its absence. On a tactical, physical and technical level. It is scary to think what would have happened to this Athletic if Barça had not lifted their foot from the accelerator before the end of the first half hour of play.
All this initial nonsense came without Lekue, Sancet and Muniain on the field. Valverde understood that it was convenient to leave them at this time on the bench. It soon became clear to some of his critics that sometimes not everything that happens within a field is what it seems. Now, surely, there will be other appointed lions and surely some of them will take their places.
The 4-0 was not the only misfortune in Barcelona’s Athletic code tonight. Ander Herrera and Dani García, his replacement, returned home injured. We will have to wait to see the extent of their respective disasters.
Four changes, four goals
Xavi faces the visit with four changes compared to the starting eleven that just came from Villarreal. Eric came into the defense axis in place of Marcos Alonso and Balde on the left for Jordi Alba with Busquets in midfield for Ansu Fati and Dembélé on the right wing to replace Ferrán. Barça were placed on the pitch with a different drawing than usual, with Pedri open on the left wing but with free access to move inside and Gavi behind Lewandoski.
Valverde also brought in rotations in his reunion at the Camp Nou. The rojiblanco coach, in the local way and manner, introduced four variations to his starting team. Some of them are surprising.
Yeray returned to the center of defense with Iñigo Martínez, the recent addition of Yuri replaced Lekue at left-back, Zarraga played in Muniain’s usual position and Berenguer moved to the left wing, leaving Sancet on the bench. The Athletic system remained intact. Four at the back, Ander Herrera and Vesga inside with Zarraga up front, Nico Williams and Berenguer open on the wing and Iñaki Williams up front.
The tactical battle went from board to green with both teams ready to put pressure on their opponents. Barça, with a more individual quality and giving the feeling of being stronger and faster, began to eat the lions little by little. His ease in recovering the ball and getting close to Unai Simón’s subjects immediately translated into goals.
Dembèlè, with a header on a pass from Lewandoski and with half of Bilbao’s defense waiting more to pick up a possible offside than what was celebrated, opened the scoring before even reaching the 12th minute of the fight. Sergi Roberto, with the unintended cooperation of Iñigo Martínez in his attempt to cut the ball, increased the local advantage just six minutes later.
Ander Herrera had to leave the field shortly after getting injured. Dani García came on as his replacement and immediately attended grass level to score Barça’s third goal. Lewandoski, after a pass from Dembèlè, opened his scoring account against Athletic. 3-0 in the 22nd minute raised fears of something similar happening years ago with Txetxu Rojo as coach.
Xavi’s team, whose Gavi was replaced by Kessie after suffering a heavy blow between Yuri and Dani García, took their foot off the accelerator against an Atletico team that tested it before half time through Berenguer.
Valverde, having lost everything, did not move the starting pieces. The lions seemed to take a step forward, but it was all a sham. Lots of will, little success. Misfortunes, they say, do not come alone. Dani García, who came on in the first half for Herrera, also had to be substituted due to injury.
Sancet took his place and Lekue went to De Marcos. Minutes later, Vencedor and Raúl García completed the Bilbao carousel of substitutions. The meeting then was more than sentenced, but Ferrán had more impact on the damage by leaving his signature in the form of a goal. Neither Vencedor nor Sancet were able to sign the so-called honorable goal afterwards.
BARÇA
40
athletic
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Koundé (Marcos Alonso, min. 62), Eric García, Balde; Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri (Ferran Torres, min. 62), Gavi (Kessie, min. 33); Dembélé (Pablo Torre, min. 77) and Lewandowski (Ansu Fati, min. 62).
Athletic: First Simon; De Marcos (Lekue, min. 60), Yeray, Íñigo Martínez, Yuri; vesga Nico Williams, Zárraga (Winner, min. 70), Herrera (Dani García, min. 22 (Sancet, min. 60), Berenguer; and Iñaki Williams (Raúl García, min. 70).
the objectives: 1-0, min. 12: Dembele. 2-0, min. 18: Sergio Roberto. 3-0, min. 22: Lewandowski. 4-0, min. 73: Fernando Torres.
Referee: Martinez Munuera (C. Valenciano). He showed yellow cards to Marcos (min. 16), Busquets (min. 71), Eric Garcia (min. 78) and Vesga (min. 89). He also advised Xavi Hernández with a yellow card in the 27th minute.
Happenings: 84,817 attended the match on matchday eleven played at Spotify Camp Nou. A minute of silence was observed in memory of Francesc Martínez, Franchu, coach-psychologist of the LaLiga Genuine champion team of FC Barcelona.
view the game file
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
