Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Barcelona needed to work laborious for his or her slender 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano at Estadi Montjuic, with Hansi Flick repeatedly praising the opposition’s efficiency after the sport.
It was certainly a troublesome recreation for the Catalans, who had been unable to make too many scoring alternatives. However even towards this robust Vallecano aspect, one participant who made a noticeable influence was Alejandro Balde.
Balde’s sensible efficiency vs Rayo
Beginning in his typical left-back function, Balde was a dwell wire for Barcelona all through the course of the sport.
The Spaniard utilised his velocity and acceleration to make marauding runs on the flank, thus making life tough for the Rayo Vallecano defensive position, which was already occupied by Barcelona forwards.
Balde could not have registered an help, however he got here very shut on two events. Within the nineteenth minute, he delivered a wonderfully timed low cross to Raphinha.
A stellar efficiency from Alejandro Balde (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
Nevertheless, the Brazilian winger failed to regulate the ball, and his shot missed the goal. Later, within the seventieth minute, Balde discovered Dani Olmo contained in the field, just for Augusto Batalla to make a vital interception.
Balde’s influential efficiency on the evening is backed by statistics as effectively. He accomplished 4 profitable dribbles, the very best within the recreation.
His passing within the last third was additionally spectacular, with 13 accomplished passes within the attacking zone – probably the most by any Barcelona participant.
By way of goal-scoring alternatives, Balde was answerable for creating two large probabilities, rating solely behind Rayo Vallecano’s Isi Palazon, who had three.
Total, Balde’s velocity and dribbling prowess on the flank, coupled along with his darting crosses from wider areas performed a key function in serving to Barcelona safe a slender win.
Due to the three factors, the Catalans have now reclaimed their place as desk toppers, although the membership would as soon as once more require Balde’s performances once they tackle Las Palmas of their subsequent league recreation.
