Barcelona have strengthened their grip on second place in La Liga because of a 2-0 win over already relegated Almeria on Thursday night time.
Xavi’s aspect had been soundly crushed by Girona firstly of the month however have now received back-to-back video games since, coupled with their Catalan neighbours struggling one thing of a mini collapse. All in all, it means the hole again to third-place Girona is now 4 factors with two video games left.
Fermin Lopez scored each objectives, one in both half, to underline his rising significance.
How the sport unfolded
As was to be anticipated, Barcelona loved management of the ball from the earliest levels of the competition in Andalusia. Robert Lewandowski had a shot saved with a couple of minutes of kick-off, whereas the Pole quickly despatched a shot over the bar when by means of on purpose and attempting to lob goalkeeper Luis Maximiano.
The purpose was a product of that early dominance, with Lopez arriving unmarked within the field to nod in from close-range the in-swinging cross from 17-year-old left-back Hector Fort.
Almeria hadn’t performed a lot to check Marc-Andre ter Stegen within the opening quarter of the sport, however they spurned a wonderful probability to equalise when Leo Baptistao went clear after a swift counter assault and one way or the other missed the goal altogether.
Ter Stegen did have to avoid wasting from Anthony Lozano shortly afterwards, earlier than Barca’s dominance was restored and Lamine Yamal hit the submit from a slim angle. But Almeria returned the favour and struck the woodwork on the different within the closing levels of the half, Adri Embarda denied.
When the second half started, Lozano might hardly imagine he had pulled a wonderful probability from the center of the penalty space vast of the submit. However neither aspect have been in a position to make a lot in the best way of precise possibilities till Lopez doubled his tally and Barcelona’s lead with 1 / 4 of the sport to go.
Sergi Roberto’s dart ahead into the left channel made it doable, slicing the ball to the onrushing Lopez simply arriving within the field. His sweeping first-time end was unstoppable because it flew in.
The two-0 benefit prompted Xavi to make a raft of adjustments, withdrawing Robert Lewandowski (once more) for one, and moments later giving Vitor Roque his first minutes in a month.
Barca substitute Joao Felix in all probability might have made it 3-0 when the ball fortuitously broke to him within the field. He managed to show beneath stress whereas nonetheless retaining possession however snatched on the eventual close-range shot, inflicting it to hit the aspect netting as an alternative of testing Maximiano.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6/10 – Largely a spectator.
RB: Jules Kounde – 7/10 – Stable defensive efficiency. Managed to get ahead too.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – 6/10 – Extra vital first-team expertise.
CB: Inigo Martinez – 7/10 – Performed an enormous position in progressing the ball into attackng areas.
LB: Hector Fort – 8/10 – Gave an important account of himself, managed the ball nicely and bought an help.
CM: Fermin Lopez – 9/10 – Absolutely justified the supervisor’s choice to revive him to the beginning XI with two very nicely taken objectives.
CM: Sergi Roberto (c) – 7/10 – Got here into the aspect instead of the suspended Ilkay Gundogan. Arrange the second purpose shortly earlier than coming off in discomfort after an earlier collision.
CM: Pedri – 7/10 – Stored the ball nicely and was at all times searching for the gaps to take advantage of with passes.
RW: Lamine Yamal – 7/10 – supply of creativity on the proper, though why Xavi is insisting that he begins each sport forward of what’s more likely to be a busy summer time is questionable.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – 4/10 – Disappointing night time that ended with minimal involvement and one other early withdrawal.
LW: Ferran Torres – 6/10 – Made a few half possibilities and fired a shot of his personal simply vast.
Substitutes
SUB: Andreas Christensen (69′ for Roberto) – 6/10
SUB: Joao Felix (69′ for Lewandowski) – 6/10
SUB: Vitor Roque (73′ for Torres) – 5/10
SUB: Joao Cancelo (73′ for Fort) – 6/10
SUB: Oriol Romeu (83′ for Pedri) – 6/10
Subs not used: Diego Kochen (GK), Inaki Pena (GK), Marcos Alonso, Marc Casado, Raphinha.
Supervisor
Xavi – 7/10 – This wasn’t the perfect efficiency from Barcelona, however the boss made respectable use of his squad total. It seems like he is perhaps sending a message to Lewandowski forward of subsequent season.
