Barcelona started their La Liga defence with a 1-0 victory over Athletic Club Bilbao. Lionel Messi missed a first half penalty but a Luis Suarez volley in the second half ensured the points went back to Barcelona with the Spanish Super Cup defeat avenged.
Messi not a penalty master
In the 30th minute Barcelona were awarded a penalty after Gorka Elustondo brought down Luis Suarez in the box. Lionel Messi picked up the ball and put it on the spot with almost everyone in the Estadio San Mamés thinking the Argentine was going to convert. But Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz saved the penalty sprawling low to his right to keep the score level.
Penalties are not Messi’s forte. From the 63 penalties he has taken, the Barcelona number 10 has missed 14 of them. Missing six of his last 11 attempts, is he becoming predictable? 65% of his penalties have gone to the keeper’s right. Maybe it’s time someone took spot-kick duty from Messi?
Atheltic’s high pressure reduced Barcelona’s creativity
In the Spanish Super Cup, Athletic managed to reduce the amount of chances Barcelona created. They carried the same approach into this game and for the most part, it worked. The fowards and wingers pressed high up the pitch. The high pressure meant Luis Enrique’s side were unable to play out from the back with Claudio Bravo forced into long kicks where Athletic would win the header to regain possession.
It subsequently caused a lack of mobility in the midfield. Athletic had a man to man marking system in the midfield reducing the space that Messi had when collecting the ball.
Sergi Roberto didn’t look out of place at right back
Throughout pre season the Sergi Roberto had been used as a right back. In the 19th minute Dani Alves pulled up injured and the young Spaniard came on to replace the Brazilian. He looked at home at right back and may be the long-term solution for Barcelona on the right. They signed Douglas last season who was tipped to be Alves’ successor but a list of injuries halted his career.
Roberto was energetic up and down the wing and his range of passing as a midfielder helped him pick out the runs of Messi and Suarez. Enrique seems to have found the answer to his right back problems and Roberto has a big future ahead of him.
Barcelona can’t shift their injury problems
Last season it was Douglas and Thomas Vermaelen who suffered long term injuries. The likes of Neymar and Andres Iniesta also picked up the occasional injury missing up to a month’s worth of football.
Things didn’t start well this season either with Neymar missing the start of the season with the mumps. Alves picked up an injury in the first half and unconfirmed reports are speculating that he could be out for up to seven weeks. In the second half, defensive powerhouse Sergio Busquets was carried off on a stretcher – an injury that will be a massive blow to the La Liga champions.
Neymar was missed
Last season we saw probably the most deadly trio in footballing history. Messi, Neymar and Suarez scored 122 goals. Against Athletic Neymar’s presence was missed. Whilst Rafinha has plenty of technical ability he can not replicate the quality of his fellow countryman. The understanding between Jordi Alba and Neymar makes Barcelona tick. Rafinha was a passenger today. The sooner the wonder kid gets back from his illness, the better.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
