Xavi’s pupils confirmed the good sensations of the preseason against Pumas and will be launched at the start of the competition
Barcelona is back. The team led by Xavi Hernández drew a near-perfect match at the Joan Gamper Trophy, beating Pumas 6-0 with good performances from the new signings and finishing a dream preseason. The illusion has returned to the Camp Nou, the azulgranas already believe that this could be their year and a few days before the start of the League they are scared.
«Everything went smoothly tonight, I am very happy for the good game and for the fans, who were enthusiastic. This is the way”, assured Xavi after an almost perfect night. Barça presented the credentials it has gathered in recent weeks. And it’s that the pre-season was one more reason to unleash euphoria at a club that has gone from utter demise in just a year, including Messi’s departure, to the belief that anything is possible. You could draw Lewandowski, Raphinha, Koundé, Dembélé and whoever was needed. That’s the feeling after six games where the illusion has been ‘in crescendo’ until it overflowed in the Gamper.
After the match against Pumas, Xavi could not hide that satisfaction. “We are in a good dynamic, the sensations are good,” he said. Wow they are! The Barcelona of this beginning of the course is a team that has rediscovered stain in the face of the rival goal. The signings of Raphinha, Lewandowski and Dembele have returned the fang to a group that has gone from less to more in the pre-season itself as the reinforcements moved into the Barca discipline.
No better proof of this than the post-holiday debut against Olot. Xavi’s men kept their essence and, how could it be otherwise, dominated the game but suffered an alarming lack of punch. The azulgrana drew up to 21 shots in a match that ended 1-1, highlighting the lack of a ‘9’ marking the differences. Lewandowski by this time was pushing Bayern Munich to force his departure and at Barca they had proof of why the Pole’s arrival was necessary.
That day without much filming began a preseason that would culminate in the United States. Barca traveled with plenty of open fronts in the transfer market and would close them all one after the other. He already passed Inter Miami with a great Raphinha by winning 6-0. The Brazilian appeared in society, played 45 minutes and went to the bench with two assists, a goal and the unmistakable feeling that another player had landed, able to contribute a lot in the attacking area and with a gift to play in the last. final to be decisive. meters. The former Leeds player was the best news in a clash that saw Ansu Fati, Dembele and even Memphis Depay, a player sentenced to exit.
Then came the ‘D-day’. The Las Vegas classic was a new highlight for Barça. Xavi’s men beat Real Madrid again in a clash in which they were clearly superior. “We have been better, I have started to enjoy on the bench,” said the Catalan coach that day. With good reason, his team at times besieged the eternal rival and, already with Lewandowski on the pitch, finished victorious thanks to a lone goal from Raphinha from outside the area. By then, Barça was already a team that dominated matches with the ball, but could also alternate with the giddiness caused by the new signings. The proof is the 16 shots against Madrid in a game in which he had only 48% of the ball. Something was changing.
The classic was the culmination of a pre-season that continued with a draw against Juventus in which Dembele earned his spot in the starting XI with two goals and his presentation against Pumas. Barça come to the start of the League with the machine greased and with a reasonably recognizable eleven. Busquets, Pedri, Gavi, Dembele, Raphinha and Lewandowski have earned a spot in the eleven and it remains to be seen how Xavi solves the sudoku he has on the defensive plot. Koundé or Araujo could play on the right, opening the way for Eric García, Christensen or even Pique to fight for a position in the center of the defence. It is the only doubt in a team that has done its homework in the preseason.
Source: La Verdad
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