Three speaking factors from Barcelona 4-1 Girona

Barcelona secured a powerful victory in opposition to Girona on Sunday to make it six factors in lower than 4 days.

Nonetheless recovering from the sport in opposition to Osasuna lower than 72 hours earlier than kickoff on Sunday, the Blaugrana didn’t have a lot hassle profitable the Catalan derby, however the outcome was not engraved in stone till the hour mark.

By way of the probabilities created, Barcelona ought to have gained the sport with six or seven targets. To say that the 4-1 scoreline is flattering on Girona is indicative of the dominance Hansi Flick’s aspect confirmed final night time.

Barça Common brings you three speaking factors from Barcelona 4-1 Girona.

Flick’s glorious rotations

Pau Cubarsi was rested in opposition to Girona. (Photograph by Angel Martinez/Getty Photos)

Hansi Flick has been phenomenal along with his rotations and decision-making for the reason that day he took over at Barcelona, and his proficiency on that entrance has solely improved as months rolled by.

The beginning lineup he fielded final night time raised many query marks over the dynamics and extent of threat he was taking. Nonetheless, all his decisions have been well-weighed in hindsight, and he couldn’t have managed the sport in opposition to Girona any higher.

For starters, Flick’s determination to begin Raphinha on the bench and never give him any minutes for the second straight sport reveals that he has his priorities proper and that he believes in his workforce to function even with out the standout stars.

He additionally used the prospect to offer Pau Cubarsi extra relaxation earlier than the sport in opposition to Atletico Madrid, stored Alejandro Balde on the bench with the identical trigger in thoughts and didn’t begin Frenkie de Jong retaining in thoughts the Dutchman’s minor niggle.

At this level, it’s clear that Flick has an beautiful understanding of which gamers require rotation to what extent, and his boldness to maintain massive names out and belief the bench has introduced out the most effective even from fringe stars.

Frenkie de Jong proves his significance

Frenkie de Jong made a powerful impression. (Photograph by Clive Brunskill/Getty Photos)

Barcelona dominated the primary half and will have been 4 targets up earlier than the half-time whistle. Whereas they did preserve the ball, the workforce nonetheless struggled in opposition to Girona’s low block and couldn’t put away probabilities.

The substitutions Flick launched previous the hour mark considerably improved Barcelona’s consolation on the ball and the fluidity within the transitions and Frenkie de Jong’s arrival was the important thing issue.

De Jong began on the bench owing to slight discomfort in latest days however was deemed match to play the ultimate half-hour in opposition to Girona. In simply half-hour, he proved why he’s the right companion for Pedri in midfield.

Regardless of beginning the season with an harm and being overshadowed by the likes of Marc Casado, De Jong is as soon as once more certainly one of Barcelona’s most essential gamers and he proved it with a spectacular exhibiting final night time.

The Dutchman dropped again to assist the defence on want, maintained possession below stress and complemented Pedri’s sport to make sure Barcelona stored the possession.

His true colors come out in chaos on the transition and it was he who fully created Barcelona’s third objective with a vicious counterattack, ready until the ultimate second to seek out Robert Lewandowski.

Because the season progresses, the health of Pedri and De Jong might be the important thing to Barcelona’s success and Flick should guarantee each gamers are safeguarded.

The Robert Lewandowski paradox

Robert Lewandowski scored a brace in opposition to Girona. (Photograph by Judit Cartiel/Getty Photos)

It’s merely inconceivable to grasp Robert Lewandowski at this cut-off date. Simply when it seems determined that his sport can’t get any worse, he pops up with a vital objective and the previous few months have been crammed by his bipolarity.

The Polish striker loved a surprising begin to the season however the second half of the marketing campaign has not been as promising from him given his understandably decrease mobility, vitality ranges and decrease finesse in entrance of objective.

Final night time’s first half was extra of the identical and the veteran lower out a pissed off determine who struggled to place away probabilities that he had on a platter. He even missed a easy 1v1 in opposition to the goalkeeper and will have had a brace within the first half.

Within the second half, nonetheless, Lewandowski was a very totally different beast scoring twice in 20 minutes to seal the sport for Barcelona. 

The primary objective was an unconventional however particular end and he acrobatically received on the tip of Fermin Lopez’s help to offer the workforce the lead. He then pulled off an important strike to finish Frenkie de Jong’s counterattack and make it 3-1.

Because the months move, it’s clear that Lewandowski is changing into a moments participant. He could not have it in him to threaten via the ninety minutes, however he has it in him to supply the second that may make the distinction when it issues.