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Barcelona maintained their lead on high of the La Liga desk with a win over Las Palmas final night time, taking their tally to 54 factors after 25 video games.
The target was at all times to settle the scores in opposition to the Canary Islands-based facet on the night time, particularly after they beat Hansi Flick and Co. earlier this season in Catalonia.
The opening half concluded goalless after the guests struggled to search out solutions for the hosts’ resilient defence, however the half-time change from Flick helped them get their foot again within the sport.
Finally, targets from Dani Olmo and Ferran Tores sealed the 2-0 win and introduced house the three very important factors.
Barça Common brings you three takeaways from Las Palmas 0-2 Barcelona.
Substitutes lead the cost
Ferran Torres made a powerful affect. (Picture by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photos)
45 minutes into their sport final night time, Barcelona regarded misplaced and much from taking the lead at Gran Canaria.
Las Palmas, after making the Catalans undergo for 90 minutes at Monjtuic, had been on the right track to repeat the identical and it was clear that rather a lot wanted to vary.
Flick made only one change at half-time, taking off Fermin Lopez who was not at his finest on the night time, and changing him with Dani Olmo who has slowly been making his approach again from harm.
Olmo’s introduction, in itself, modified the course of the sport. Certainly the Spaniard required a number of touches to get again into the rhythm and was concerned in some inaccurate passes, however what adopted was elevated dominance from Barcelona.
With the attacking midfielder rising into the sport, Barcelona started creating extra threats extra typically within the last third and his actions within the field destroyed the hosts’ fastidiously orchestrated defence.
Errors started creeping into the Las Palmas defence regardless of them trying impenetrable simply earlier than the break and it’s not stunning that it was Olmo himself who broke the impasse.
The Spaniard confirmed immense talent to dribble previous defenders in a good house and create room to shoot previous the goalkeeper and made the tough feat look ridiculously simple to place his facet forward.
Notably, even the second purpose in opposition to Las Palmas was scored by a participant Flick introduced off the bench – Torres.
Questions must be requested about Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski was disappointing in opposition to Las Palmas. (Picture by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photos)
Barcelona had been removed from their finest throughout the sector final night time and a plethora of causes might be attributed to the identical.
If one participant needed to be picked for being underwhelming and disappointing on the sector, not many would object to the finger being pointed in the direction of Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish striker barely contributed to Barcelona’s efficiency regardless of enjoying your entire 90 minutes and had simply 23 touches of the ball all sport.
He solely tried 13 passes of which he accomplished 10 and recorded only one shot on course in your entire night time.
Lewandowski struggled to create any house in Las Palmas’ low block and the tight areas within the field noticed him lose possession the moment he gained it.
He by no means received into a terrific scoring place, and questions now need to be raised about his performances regardless of his numbers this season.
Whereas the ahead has been significantly better in opposition to groups that make use of formidable and attacking play, he has been atrocious in opposition to low-blocks and it’s excessive time the supervisor begins contemplating alternate choices on such nights.
In spite of everything, Torres and Olmo working as a striker or false 9 have confirmed rather more efficient in tight areas and each gamers proved their worth final night time,
The necessity for the next gear
Barcelona received an important sport. (Picture by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photos)
The three factors from Estadi Gran Canaria are very important in Barcelona’s bid to retain the lead in La Liga, particularly given the tight schedule forward.
Furthermore, the 2-0 win over Las Palmas echoes the dressing room’s emotions after the slender victory final weekend and it’s largely constructive that Flick’s males are capable of get the job achieved even on nights when they aren’t at their finest.
A brief look on the schedule coming forward for the Blaugrana, nevertheless, displays the necessity for them to be at their easiest – one thing they had been removed from final night time.
Regardless of securing the win over Diego Martinez’s facet, Barcelona weren’t fairly hitting the precise ranges at Gran Canaria.
The group appeared comparatively out of sync, gamers weren’t on the identical bandwidth and the sport seemed to be transferring a lot slower than the group has been accustomed to this season.
Barcelona subsequent face Atletico Madrid within the Copa del Rey after which have the likes of Actual Sociedad, Benfica, and Osasuna on their calendar.
There may be an pressing have to up their sport and return to the extent they confirmed earlier this yr. Flick burdened the identical in his post-match press convention and it’s encouraging that he has taken word of the shortcoming.
