On the occasion of Barcelona’s 126th birthday, the Catalans were once again at Camp Nou to host 14th-placed Alaves.
The festival atmosphere from their 4-0 home win in their return to the stadium a week ago, when Athletic Club were put to the sword, was in stark contrast to the pummelling they were on the end of in west London against Chelsea.
In order to show the fans that the game against the Blues was just a blip, and to come good on Hansi Flick’s words after the game, when he suggested everyone would see a different Barca, a big performance was needed against Alaves.
Let’s take a look at three things that affected the outcome of the game.
Opportunity not taken by Marc Casado
When everyone in midfield is fit and available, there’s no question that Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are the first two names on the team sheet, with the likes of Fermin Lopez and Marc Bernal et al left to fight it out for the third spot, assuming the team play in a 4-3-3 formation.
Against Alaves, Marc Casado had the perfect opportunity to stake his claim for a more permanent residency in the starting line-up, but it was one that he didn’t take.
His wild attempted clearance led to the visitors’ first-minute opener, and far too many of his passes were loose, meaning that they didn’t reach their intended target.
Hansi Flick admitted after the game the midfielder can get better.
“It hasn’t been easy for him. He’s played as an 8, a 6… and even as a center back. He’s had to adapt. We have to take the changes into account,” he told reporters. “He can improve, but I’m happy with him; he gives us control in defense, he connects the defense and the attack, he’s clever and intelligent, and we need him at his best.”
Unless injuries happen to take hold later in the season, Casado is unlikely to get such a great chance to impress again.
Raphinha just makes Barca better
One player doesn’t make a team, of course. However, one player can make a team better. For Barcelona, one of those players is Raphinha.
In the first half, the Brazilian was simply sensational. The pace, the width, the energy… all three things allow the Catalans to be that much more expansive with him in situ.
The cross for Dani Olmo was superb, and his work with a subsequent cross for Lamine Yamal’s opener also deserves credit.
What marks him out amongst his contemporaries, however, is his attitude and example.
Where once he could’ve been sold and no one would likely have raised an eyebrow, now he has to be one of the first names on the team sheet.
Gerard Martin the center-back?
It’s odd that Andreas Christensen can’t seem to get a full game for Barca for love nor money.
If Flick was going to rotate some players ahead of the game against Atletico Madrid, then surely the match against Alaves was one for Christensen to be given a decent number of minutes.
Martin won’t really care why he got the nod against Alaves in central defence but certainly did enough to show he may well stay ahead of Christensen in the pecking order.
The 23-year-old made a brilliant block to prevent an equaliser, played a part in Barca’s second goal and is starting to look far more at home in the heart of the backline.
“It’s always good to have a reliable player like him to fill that position,” Hansi Flick told reporters after the game.“We’re always thinking about how we can help our players improve. A left-footed player gives us options to create plays. I like his mentality. I always see him in the gym after training, doing what he needs to do. You know what he’ll bring to the table.”
Martin’s had plenty of criticism since breaking into the first team at Barca but is certainly winning over many of his doubters.
