Barça needed to gain momentum in the first game of the year after the confusion of the derby. And he found it in the Cup, with a lot of shocks, after an extension and a great protagonist: Ansu Fati, who needed a moment like this. A starting point to gain confidence and recover that striker with an angel who had a special relationship with the goal.
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His was the winning goal, in a bitten shot that bounced off a defender, from a Barça that staggered in the Cup and conceded up to three goals from Intercity, a First RFEF team. This is what this format has: without a second leg, you win in intensity, disorder and mystery. Xavi already warned in the previous one, remembering “high-profile eliminations”, words that at times sounded like a self-fulfilling prophecy, but which ultimately did not come true.
Xavi knew the dangers and opted to surround the players with less filming of others like Koundé, Busquets and Dembélé. A formula that benefited footballers like Pablo Torre, which left some luxuries and revives the debate about his role in the team. The former from Racing marked differences between the lines, he showed that his foot has a lot of football and that his control can be poison for rivals.
Seeing him play, it is understood that Barça will seek his incorporation. In cases like this, potential is invested; in the footballer that he can become and Pablo Torre can be a very interesting one for Barça.
The other great news was the performance of Araujo, author of the first goal, and the most reliable defender yesterday of the team. The central defender, who was returning from an injury, was not seen out of temper despite the inactivity. Great news for a Barça that lacked forcefulness in both areas.
The lack of effectiveness in the first half condemned the team to the possibility of a scare. And that’s how it happened because the team also needed to be more reliable at the back. Oriol Soldevila, with three goals, was about to become the hero of the match. But Ansu appeared in extra time to avoid disaster. A goal to go to the round of 16 that could be a turning point for the striker this season.