Monday evening noticed Barcelona preserve tempo on the high of the desk by beating Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at Camp Nou because of braces from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha and a Florian Lejeune personal aim. Anthony Gordon additionally impressed for the hosts, notably together with his nice backheel to arrange Raphinha for his second of the evening.
Hansi Flick named a powerful squad for the go to of the Lightning, so let’s check out three speaking factors from the sport…
Kounde’s heading again to the bench
Jules Kounde has misplaced his place within the Barcelona beginning XI and confirmed why on Monday. His defending for Rayo’s early aim was as amateurish because it may very well be, from the quantity of area that the winger was given when he picked up the ball initially, to the way in which by which the Frenchman additionally excused himself from a deal with as a substitute of clattering the opponent and stopping the possibility at supply.
He can get ahead and complement the assault, as he confirmed when virtually including a 3rd aim, however his main concern is defending – and he’s simply not excellent at it until he’s taking part in extra centrally in a again 4.
There’s no motive for Hansi Flick to not make Eric Garcia and even Joao Cancelo the No.1 selection in that place shifting ahead.
Over the course of the season, one other crew could effectively end forward of Barca as they try and three-peat in La Liga.
Have been any golf equipment to do exactly that, it gained’t be as a result of the Catalans handed the title to them.
That’s as a result of if there’s one factor that has already outlined the Barca of 2026/27, maybe much more than the final season or two, it’s the unimaginable work ethic from every participant.
Everyone seems to be taking part in as if their life relied on it, and towards Rayo’s low block and again 5, the place as soon as Barca could have toiled, on Monday they merely minimize by them like a knife by butter.
If they will sustain such relentlessness in every sport, there gained’t be many different groups that may dwell with them.
Energy, tempo and penetration…
If there’s one difficulty that Flick hasn’t been in a position to clear up since he took over within the dugout, it’s Barca’s incapability to defend corners.
It’s an actual Achilles heel for the crew, and has induced so many issues prior to now that it actually ought to’ve been addressed correctly.
On the event of Rayo’s second aim, having one of many smaller gamers on the pitch in Xavi Espart making an attempt to man-mark Sergio Camello was clearly an oversight, and one which could’ve value them the sport on one other day.
It shouldn’t be troublesome to choose up runners and aggressively assault any balls being fired in at tempo, and but that’s seemingly past the Catalans at current.
