Ansu and Pedri aim to be the flag of the change of cycle of the Barça that comes
Barça’s great competitive leap this season may be the areas
The match at the Reale Arena left one headline above all: Barça has a great squad, waiting to have a great team. Also that there are two special young players in the squad. The first Pedri, plays something else. The second, Ansu, who entered with 1-1 on the scoreboard and went to the locker room with 1-4. The striker needed the goal, who gives the impression that he is still in a process to recover the place that belongs to him: that of the Barça flag of the future together with Pedri. The two were barely able to participate last season. In this they are already making differences.
The game against Real also served to confirm that games are won in the areas. The champion teams dominate them and at the Reale Arena Barça had Ter Stegen and Lewandowski. The German is winning to be back in the debate of the best goalkeepers in the world.
The Pole is assuming with amazing naturalness the role for which he was signed. He came to score goals and he is doing that without breaking a sweat. Against Real he scored two goals that contributed to a misleading result. They are only two days, but Barça lacks consistency. Xavi keeps looking for the way but only Pedri seems to know how to interpret the score accurately.
The best example is still De Jong, who plays something else. In a style that demands minimalism, it remains stuck in excesses and baroque. At the Real Arena, everyone was in tow for many minutes except Pedri, who found solutions with sheer talent at times and understanding of the game at others. Xavi started this time from the beginning but the team did not flow. Against a Real team that plays without wingers and four midfielders, he resigned from the four defenders.
The substitution of Piqué, Alba and Sergi Roberto was a resounding message. The statement that this season does seem to herald a change in cycle. No one imagined that with Xavi on the bench, Barça’s big problem would be control of the matches. He didn’t need it to beat Real. They earned him 30 exciting final minutes and Ansu’s momentum. Barça has a squad, but is still looking for the team.