Barcelona churned out a 3-0 win over Brest final evening at Montjuic, lastly stopping the bleeding and getting a much-needed win.
The Catalans opened the scoring early by Robert Lewandowski from the penalty spot however have been then compelled right into a queer state of affairs the place that they had quite a few probabilities however merely couldn’t discover the completion.
After loads of probabilities missed, Dani Olmo netted Barcelona’s second objective of the evening previous the hour mark earlier than the Polish striker once more scored in extra-time to place the ultimate nail within the coffin.
The win takes Barcelona provisionally to second place on the desk, solely behind Inter Milan, and so they sit fairly with 12 factors after 5 video games. Liverpool and Monaco have an opportunity to overhaul them, nevertheless, as they’ve a sport in hand.
Barça Common brings you three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Barcelona 3-0 Brest.
A much-needed dominant win
Barcelona wanted this victory. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photos)
Tuesday evening’s consequence gave Barcelona’s dressing room precisely what they wanted to bounce again from their struggles in current video games.
The Catalans dropped 5 of their final six factors forward of final evening’s conflict however what stung essentially the most was the best way they performed, struggling to dominate the proceedings and even falling flat on opposition counterattacks with a leaky offside lure.
Final evening, nevertheless, Flick’s males seemingly mounted all of the aforementioned issues and seemed nearer to their greatest with enhancements all throughout the sector.
For starters, the group was accountable for the sport from begin to end and clocked up a snug win with out a lot problem. They at all times had possession of the ball, didn’t give Brest any scope to assault and had all the massive possibilities of the sport.
Defensively, Gerard Martin had a greater efficiency than he had in opposition to Celta and even clocked up an help for Dani Olmo’s objective. He too managed to carry his line on the offside lure.
Most significantly, the ahead line generated vital risk even with out Lamine Yamal with Raphinha, Olmo and Fermin Lopez all taking cost of the playmaking.
Lewandowski strikes nearer to greatness
Robert Lewandowski reached 100 objectives within the Champions League. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photos)
The highlight shone brightly on Robert Lewandowski forward of kickoff because the Polish striker entered the sport with 99 UEFA Champions League objectives and was only one away from netting a historic a centesimal.
It didn’t take lengthy for the veteran to get his probability as he was taken down by the goalkeeper early within the sport and earned a penalty.
Stepping as much as web his a centesimal objective in UCL historical past and securing a spot within the competitors’s legacy, Lewandowski didn’t break a sweat as he calmly despatched Marco Bizot the mistaken manner and gave Barcelona the lead.
Over the subsequent 80 minutes, the participant didn’t have a complete lot a lot to do and he typically dropped again right into a deeper function to assist within the playmaking.
Within the 92nd minute, nevertheless, he obtained a beautiful ball from Alejandro Balde and did exceptionally effectively to regulate it in tight house.
Discovering the tiniest of areas, he rolled it into the far nook of the web to finish his brace and thus netted his one hundred and first objective within the competitors.
The Barcelona star is now solely the third participant in historical past to have a three-digit objective tally within the Champions League after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Actually, he’s now the one energetic participant within the competitors to have such a file.
Additional, it’s astounding to notice that he hit the 100-goal mark even quicker than Ronaldo and solely behind Messi by a few video games.
Maestros in midfield
Barcelona’s midfielder dominated the sport. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photos)
Flick’s Barcelona has been profitable throughout the park however has been constructed on two major foundations – the defence and defensive midfield pairing.
Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi, at this level, have develop into synonymous with defensive excellence and have developed a fantastic understanding of one another’s video games to kind a strong partnership.
The defensive midfield, nevertheless, has been extra usually rotated given Flick’s extra huge choices. Final evening’s sport, nevertheless, as soon as once more reiterated why the Pedri-Marc Casado mixture is the perfect Barcelona have and a basis for his or her success.
Casado was phenomenal on the evening, recovering effectively from the hiccup on the weekend and barely permitting any counterattacks previous his watch with common and well-timed defensive interceptions.
His wonderful distribution was solely a cherry on the cake as he orchestrated the play from deep and sometimes seemed for lengthy balls to toss ahead.
Pedri, with no objective or an help to his identify, dropped a masterclass but once more and confirmed why he’s higher suited within the double pivot than the attacking midfield.
The Canary Islander ran the present in opposition to Brest, controlling your entire midfield and irritating the Ligue 1 facet.
His skill to show away from stress and dribble by tight areas made him a pleasure to look at and it’s no shock that it was his ball excessive that helped Barcelona win the primary penalty. He’s a genius at 22 and it’s scary to see the place his development can take him.