Raphinha and the VAR triumph

taketonews

the tactic

Xavi abandoned the idea of ​​the four midfielders, devoted to the formula of the two extremes, placing raphinha on the right wing, leaving, therefore, on the left to ferran torres. But he did not have control of the game, especially at the beginning where he was overwhelmed by the staging, much more than interesting, of Athletic.

Ernesto Valverde sent Nico Williams to the left winger position to delve into the defensive zone of Sergi Roberto, retrained, again, as a winger, with Koundé returning to the axis to cover the absence of the suspended Araujo.

The French defender had problems because the Williamns brothers (Nico and Iñaki) met on too many occasions on that left-handed side of the Basque attack, forcing him to live in the open field, as in that failed clearance that almost cost Ter Stegen a displeasure because he saw only Belenguer in his home.

The protagonist

Raphinha had not appeared in the first half hour of the game. He was up off, which caused him to Xavi even had an emergency meeting next to the technical area. He asked the coach to set his position, closer than ever to the lime, to widen the field and stretch Athletic’s dense defense.

The Brazilian was somewhat lost until the first part was dying. It was then that Busquets, who had lost three balls that ‘Busi’ does not usually lose, began to dance with his body prior to assisting the left-handed player who plays on the right.

Athletic’s defense was disordered and even the ball, capricious, traveled to meet the former Leeds player. Raphinha did not control well, but everything was buried by the impressive right hand that he signed afterwards. A goal that took time to be celebrated because he was checked by the VAR.

The lines were correct and the joy of the Brazilian could already spread throughout Barcelona. Singular player, who gives Barça points. While Xavi waits for the injured Dembélé’s dribbling to return, Raphinha’s goals are a blessing.

Marking to…

Gavi returned to the team. He also returned to a Barça that did not have the suit of the four midfielders. He therefore had to assume the role of left interior. He was not accurate with the ball, also entangled the young man in some battles from which he did not come out well. There was, however, a play that will always be remembered. It happened in the first half. About minute 31.

He received a push from Raúl García and his body, tiny, small and brave, then slid over the San Mamés meadow as if it were a springboard. He was sliding endlessly until Dani García came to meet the ball. A ball dangerously close to the head of the young Andalusian. So close and so dangerous that he literally risked his head.

There was, almost miraculously, no physical contact. Gavi got away. He got rid of something that could have been really serious because that image tried to clear a ball at grass level with his head will not be forgotten by anyone. And less for him.

The problem

Lewandowski returned and improved the attack game. He was not successful, that is evident, in the final shot -he missed a very clear chance in the first half and missed a header that seemed simple in the second-, but it was key to unite the offensive actions.

The Polish forward came down, almost to the center of the field, to receive the ball and from there to articulate the plays. Thus he began to intervene, have more weight and even remove Athletic’s central defenders. Already in the second part, he appeared more frequently connecting with Balde, the deepest player on the team. Barça leaned to the left wing. It was inevitable because Sergi Roberto, on the right flank of the rear, had enough to control Nico Williams.

The controversy

Barça’s goal was from VAR. And Athletic’s equalizer, which came in the 88th minute, was also the work of the VAR because it did not go up on the scoreboard. That decision set San Mamés on fire, causing anger because he even complained about Frenkie de Jong’s dangerous previous game. Muniaín’s hands were very clear, as was detected on the screen, no matter how angry Valverde was. Like all Athletic.

Related news

Gil Manzano had given the goal of Iñaki Williams as valid. This is how the Basque group and the almost 50,000 people who gathered in the modern San Mamés understood it. But the referee received the call from the VAR to check the decisive play. A play, perhaps, that allows him to secure the League.

The problem is that Barça did not know how to defend their income because they ended up hanging from the crossbar. First Koundé, together with Ter Stegen, and then Marcos Alonso they saved the equalizer, already in added time, on the same goal line. The French defender celebrated with great joy. Like what it was. That clearance had goal value.

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