After humbling Valencia 5-0 on the Mestalla, Barcelona took Sevilla aside, beating them 4-1 on the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan final evening and took a large step in direction of the league title.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for his facet on the evening solely to be met with an prompt equaliser by Ruben Vargas in a deadly counterattack.
Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Eric Garcia have been the opposite gamers who bought on the scoresheet, however Barcelona have been nonetheless made to work arduous particularly provided that they needed to play a major a part of the sport with ten males after Fermin was despatched off.
Barça Common brings you three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Sevilla 1-4 Barcelona.
Elite game-management
Whereas Barcelona began the sport brightly final evening, Sevilla have been equally threatening on their counterattacks making for a stage first-half that rightly ended 1-1.
As he has carried out so many occasions this season, nonetheless, Flick introduced on the proper adjustments after the break and noticed that prompt influence was delivered with the altered dynamic.
Bringing on Fermin Lopez for Gavi introduced in a profile who attacked the aim extra immediately and consistently regarded for runs in behind the defence. It’s no shock that the teenager bought Barcelona the lead inside minutes of approaching.
What was the most important testomony to Flick’s managerial expertise, nonetheless, was the category with which Barcelona dealt with the sport after going a person down, one thing they’ve struggled to do in recent times.
With over half an hour to play with solely ten males, the Catalans didn’t break a sweat and continued their recreation unperturbed, a lot in order that it by no means appeared that they have been in any type of bother.
Such was the arrogance with which they defended and progressed within the buildup that it was they who created the higher possibilities even after having a numerical drawback.
Remodeling the mentality of the crew to such an extent of months, for sure, is the most important testomony to Flick’s elite managerial capability.
In actual fact, his choice to convey on Dani Olmo and Eric Garcia after the crimson card solely made the sport simpler for Barcelona and it’s no coincidence that each gamers had a job to play within the crew’s eventual fourth aim.
Barcelona confirmed within the Tremendous Cup last and once more final evening that they’ve what it takes to grind out a win even beneath stress. For sure, such a mentality will probably be crucial because the season advances.
Classes on the again
Araujo was uncomfortable earlier than getting injured. (Photograph by Fran Santiago/Getty Photographs)
Whereas the Blaugrana assault continued their common enterprise within the last third, the win over Sevilla had many takeaways for Hansi Flick from a defensive perspective.
For starters, Inigo Martinez returned to the beginning lineup for the primary time after his harm and the Spaniard made it very clear along with his positioning, decision-making and distribution as to why he deserves to be a assured starter.
In actual fact, he even performed a vital function in Lewandowski’s opener as he delivered the help with an ideal header.
His associate at the beginning, Ronald Araujo, was respectable at greatest and as soon as once more struggled to adapt to Flick’s offside lure tactic. Failing to carry his line, he usually allowed Sevilla into the Catalans’ territory.
An harm reduce brief his evening, however Araujo is clearly removed from a beginning function beneath Flick until he improves his distribution and adaptation.
A 3rd large takeaway was the steadiness that Pau Cubarsi’s introduction delivered to Barcelona’s recreation – one thing that’s extra reassuring than shocking.
The teenager’s entry into the dynamics and the restoration of his mixture with Martinez noticed Sevilla instantly start to battle in assault and Barcelona once more started using their offside lure to perfection.
Additional, the crew’s buildup from the again additionally considerably improved with Cubarsi and he even racked up an amazing help for Raphinha’s aim.
The ultimate takeaway on the again was Wojciech Szczesny’s robust show and maybe his first stable efficiency for Barcelona with no errors. Not solely was he pretty dependable along with his distribution but in addition got here up with clutch saves, making an announcement as to why Flick prefers him.
The title race is on
With the three crucial factors taken in opposition to Sevilla, Barcelona took an enormous step in direction of reclaiming the management in La Liga and the standings replicate the identical.
The Madrid derby earlier within the week noticed each Actual Madrid and Atletico Madrid cut up the spoils and drop two factors every. Now, Barcelona are inside touching distance of the management.
With 23 video games of the league performed and 15 extra to go, the Catalans are on 48 factors. Los Rojiblancos are only one level forward on 49 factors whereas leaders Actual Madrid are on 50.
Ought to Barcelona be capable of sustain their momentum within the coming months, it’s only a matter of time earlier than they take over management within the league title race as soon as extra.
In spite of everything, they’ve video games in opposition to Actual Madrid and Atletico Madrid to return and have the title of their grasp ought to they maintain successful.