Xavi looked happy and exultant last night, forced to even greet the hundreds of fans in the Animation Stand who chanted his name. From start to finish, everything went wonderfully for the coach, who took advantage of the depth of his squad to enjoy a victory that could be the leverage. And Joan Laporta, the main promoter of the arrival of the Joãos, lived the triumph happily.
He smiled with relief because he discovered that his bet – bringing João Cancelo from City on loan and João Félix on loan from Atlético – was the best possible operation in times of scarcity. The two brought the joy and dynamism that Xavi’s team needed.
Joao, lateral-interior; Joao, midfielder
In their first game as starters, they changed Barça’s skin. He played Xavi with Cancelo as a winger, interior and, on occasions, as a center midfielder (his was the team’s first shot that went wide from the front of the Betic area) to fill the engine room and have more passing options. Cancelo also pressed fiercely, bringing the defensive line 70 meters from Ter Stegen.
This is how he stole, for example, the ball that served as a prologue to the 1-0 scoreline that was signed by João Félix, who was only seen sticking to the left wing when the referee gave the initial whistle to the match. Then, he became a second striker, living behind Lewandowski, scanning the attacking front and projecting his offensive creativity to the delight of Laporta, the president who believed in him the most. And Deco, the new football director. They were the happiest people on the Olympic mountain of Montjuïc, with more people than usual. Up to 45,055 fans, many of them Betis, came to the venue on a hot night. Laporta and Deco were exultant, but not as much as João Félix.
left team
Barça’s game shamelessly leaned towards the left side. Everything was due to the speed and depth that Alejandro Balde injected into that place, who had much more impact on the game than Ferran Torres, confined to the right wing, even passing in front of Raphinha, already officially transformed into the third right winger. The owner is Lamine Yamal. And then the Brazilian appears, who vindicated himself with a great goal, 4-0, to make it clear that it is not a second course.
Ter Stegen does not disconnect
Barça started well, happy, fun, entertaining, although later they received two chances due to their own mistakes. A mistake by Koundé and another by Balde allowed Betis to invade the Barça area, but they made a mistake, even with the score 0-0, which limited Barça’s weakness.
Related news
Then, the two goals (João Félix and Lewandowski) arrived to calm Xavi, certifying the improvement in the game by galloping through his two fast full-backs (João Cancelo and Balde). But, in the end, it all comes down to Ter Stegen, a goalkeeper who does not disconnect even when the score (2-0) invites us to live thinking about the European premiere. A new defensive disconnection allowed the German goalkeeper to demonstrate his reliability by making a monumental save against Willian José’s point-blank shot.
Ferran Torres marks a free kick
After more than two years, a goal came from a free kick. The last one bore Messi’s signature. It happened in Mestalla against Valencia (May 2001). He had to wait two years and four months for Ferran to end that curse. The former City player was overshadowed by the magical night of João Félix and the forcefulness shown by Lewandowski. And even Xavi had decided to replace him. Then, the referee whistled a foul on the edge of the area, inhospitable territory for the Blaugranas. Until Ferran Torres executed a precise shot, with a beautiful external parabola that allowed him to overcome the Betic barrier. And William José.