Barcelona have received solely considered one of their final six factors and their lead over Actual Madrid has nearly fully evaporated in a matter of two video games.
If the defeat to Actual Sociedad earlier than the worldwide break was not sufficient, Hansi Flick’s males slumped to a 2-2 draw towards Celta Vigo final night time in a recreation the place they have been outplayed and collapsed within the last ten minutes.
Lamine Yamal’s absence was felt at Balaidos, and so was that of Alejandro Balde who was rested out of warning and the sport solely revealed how some gamers are merely irreplaceable within the Catalans’ setup.
Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Barcelona and created a two-goal cushion. A late pink card to Marc Casado, nevertheless, introduced critical drama into the script and the workforce left Balaidos with only one level.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors from Celta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona.
The catastrophic collapse
Barcelona have been held by Celta Vigo. (Picture by Octavio Passos/Getty Pictures)
With eight minutes to go and a two-goal lead, the whole lot appeared to be going for Barcelona final night time regardless of the workforce not dominating the proceedings.
It was clear from the get-go that the Blaugrana weren’t at their finest, however targets from Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski coupled with the workforce’s effectiveness with their few probabilities helped them take a stable lead.
But, the whole lot fell aside inside seconds as error after error piled up on the guests’ behalf.
All of it started with Marc Casado’s pointless foul within the seventy fifth minute that earned him a yellow card, and the teenager ought to have erred on the facet of warning thereafter particularly given how the workforce simply survived a pink card earlier than half-time.
But, Casado lunged into yet one more unwarranted problem within the 82nd minute and was given his marching orders, instilling hope into the Balaidos.
The minutes that adopted have been horrific for Barcelona. Nonetheless below the shock of getting gone a person down, they struggled to maintain the ball and Jules Kounde made an unforgivable error by giving the ball away cheaply and letting Alfon Gonzalez free on aim.
Celta pulled one again, and using on the identical excessive, saved the stress going within the Catalan field to search out the equaliser simply two minutes later. In a matter of 240 seconds, they managed to undo Barcelona’s effort and salvage some extent.
Reality be informed, Barcelona are fortunate to even escape with some extent given how the sport was flowing within the last ten minutes. Hansi Flick’s males merely choked and it’s clear that the supervisor has so much to deal with behind the scenes.
Has the code been cracked?
Ought to Hansi Flick search for a unique system? (Picture by Octavio Passos/Getty Pictures)
Barcelona started their season wanting invincible. The ahead trio was on music however the excessive defensive position raised many eyebrows as pundits throughout the globe known as it unsustainable and a large gamble.
Having pulled off the identical towards Actual Madrid and Bayern Munich, there was a way of confidence that the workforce might nicely have perfected the ability and that their lure couldn’t be damaged.
The sport towards Crvena Zvezda, nevertheless, highlighted some considerations because the hosts managed to get away from the lure frequently utilising runs from the deep. They could not have received, however they seeded the thought of the way to beat the Catalans.
Actual Sociedad picked up the ideology and executed it to perfection, beating Barcelona of their last recreation earlier than the worldwide break.
Final night time, Celta Vigo had Flick’s quantity as they broke Barcelona’s offside lure with ease, making runs behind the defence through the midfielders.
The Catalan defence had no solutions for lengthy, and whereas they did handle to carry on till the 82nd minute, they collapsed thereafter. Reality be informed, the scoreline might have been humiliating if not for Inaki Pena.
The topic will not be a rising fear, for Barcelona’s vulnerability on the again is now being routinely uncovered and the workforce doesn’t seem to have a plan B. The highlight on Flick is now intensifying.
Gavi’s first begin
Gavi returned to Barcelona’s beginning XI. (Picture by Octavio Passos/Getty Pictures)
On an evening marred by negatives after the catastrophic collapse, Gavi’s efficiency was one shiny mild that the administration and dressing room will take away as a constructive.
After over a yr after struggling his ACL harm, the La Masia star made his first begin for Barcelona this season towards Celta Vigo and seemed as near his former self as he might.
Certainly, the teenager was extra cautious together with his bodily challenges, however recording 72 minutes in such a bodily duel with challenges thrown on him from all sides shall be a large confidence booster for Gavi.
The midfield star not solely survived the 70-plus minutes that he performed however balled together with Pedri and Casado in the course of the park, displaying grit and respectable distribution.
He performed as a part of the double pivot for a lot of the night time, profitable duels in midfield and breaking Celta’s counters. Nonetheless, he additionally switched up with Pedri frequently and made attacking runs so as to add numbers within the last third.
Gavi’s return to health provides so much to Barcelona’s dynamics, particularly with Frenkie de Jong wanting disinterested and disconnected from the workforce. The workforce will see extra of the previous Golden Boy winner within the coming weeks.