3️⃣ TALKING POINTS AS BARCA SURVIVE GALATASARAY SCARE

 OUR 3️⃣ TALKING POINTS AS BARCA STAGE COMEBACK AGAINST GALATASARAY

-Mitansh Kagalwala

Photo Via: www.barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona took on Turkish giants Galatasaray in the second leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie, after the first game in Spain finished 0-0. The Catalans went into the game as huge favourites, but were pegged back early in the first half by a Marcao header from a well-taken corner. Barca pushed for an equalizer, and eventually got it, Pedri stealing into the box and smashing the ball into the bottom corner past the excellent Inaki Pena. Into the second half, and Barca dominated, with the Turkish side barely able to get into Barca’s defensive third. A winner looked likely, and it came via Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who tapped in after Frenkie De Jong’s smart pass across the face of goal. Barca now go into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they will meet one RB Leipzig, Lyon, Atalanta, West Ham, Braga, Rangers, and Eintracht Frankfurt. Here’s what we made of it:

1.      GOLDEN BOY: Pedri is already world class. There, we said it. But it’s true. The 19-year old was the best player on the pitch, and scored a Messi-esque goal, dropping three Galatasaray defenders to the ground with a body feint, and then calmly rolling the ball into the net. He was calm and composed on a night rife with pressure, and played with a maturity beyond his years. He set the tempo for the game, and was Barca’s creative spark in the final third. All of Barca’s forward plays went through Pedri, and he showed just why he is considered to be a generational talent.

2.      CHANGE IN MENTALITY: Barca have often been associated with a weak mentality, conceding comebacks and late goals aplenty. Barca went into the tie as huge favourites, and with the first leg ending 0-0, the pressure on the young Barca side to move forward was tremendous. Add to that an extremely hostile crowd in Turkey, with boos, bottles and fireworks thrown at them, and, based on recent history, you would expect this Barca side to crack. Instead, the Blaugrana showed grit and determination, even after going behind, to come back and secure their place in the quarterfinals with what turned out to be a comfortable win. While the job Xavi has done on the pitch is excellent, his true achievement lies in building a fighting mentality in this young group of players, which has often been missing from Barca sides.

3.      SUCCESSOR IN GOAL: While Pedri may have stolen all the headlines, there was one other player who performed excellently across both legs. Inaki Pena, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper, currently on loan at Galatasaray, did everything in his power to spoil his parent club’s party. The first leg ended 0-0 largely due to his efforts, while he put on a good display at home as well, making an excellent double save: first, from a deflected Sergio Busquets shot, then from a close range Pedri volley. While his distribution could do with some improvement, it is clear that Barca already have the successor to Marc Andre Ter Stegen in their hands. 


CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR OTHER POSTS: 

PLAYER RATINGS FROM REAL MADRID 3-1 PSG

CHAMPIONS IN REBUILD PART 2: MANCHESTER UNITED

CHAMPIONS IN REBUILD PART 1: FC BARCELONA


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TALKING POINTS FROM BARCA 4-1 VALENCIA

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