Barcelona (AFP)
"Grizi" has replaced Lionel Messi! The rookie Antoine Griezmann scored a stunning double for his first time in Barcelona against Betis by Nabil Fekir (5-2), who also scored on Sunday in the Spanish league. And after two days, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla lead the way.
Under the eyes of Messi, still convalescent and present in the platform at Camp Nou, Betis was allowed to open the score against thanks to Frenchman Fekir (15th). But his compatriot Griezmann equalized in throwing (41) and gave the advantage to Barca a magnificent coiled shot (50th), justifying the EUR 120 million paid in the offseason to recruit. He also delivered a decisive pass to Arturo Vidal (77th).
Stunned, the Andalusians had meanwhile yielded on a shot from the young Carles Perez (56th) and a victorious overthrow of Jordi Alba (60), with the baton an excellent Sergio Busquets - unfortunately forced out on injury (73). Loren reduced the score with a shot into the skylight (79th).
This festival erases the inaugural defeat suffered last week in Bilbao (1-0) by FC Barcelona. The club Catalan (3 pts) is placed three lengths of the head occupied by Sevilla FC (1st, 6 pts) and Atlético Madrid (2nd, 6 pts), winner of the economy of Leganés (1-0) Sunday thanks to a goal from Vitolo (71). Real Madrid is third (4 pts).
- Griezmann and confetti -
That's why Barça broke his piggy bank this summer for Griezmann! The French took on Sunday his new status, drawing cheers for his first official match at Camp Nou under the jersey blaugrana.
Criticized in Catalonia for his long hesitation to join Barça, the world champion caught up on Sunday by being very active in the game: balloons recovered, shots countered, subtle discounts ...
Before the break, when Sergi Roberto alerted him to a ladle, the left-hander threw himself to equalize, with some success (41 '). And what about his second goal? At the entrance to the surface, the French sent a balloon marvel out of range of the goalkeeper (50th).
If his celebration on the first goal had been all restrained, he was seen exulting with joy ("Vamoooos!") At the bottom of the stand, then fetching a handful of confetti that he jubilated in the air , like a LeBron James tossing chalk in the air on NBA floors.
To spoil nothing, he also gave a decisive pass to Vidal (77th) and he almost got a hat-trick (90th + 1) under the eyes of a conquered and laughing Messi.
- Fekir, scorer and off -
In short, Barca did not feel the absence of his captain, who is recovering from a calf injury, like Luis Suarez (calf) and winger Ousmane Dembélé (thigh ).
Without them, the experimental attack aligned by Ernesto Valverde combined perfectly, multiplying the actions to a touch of ball.
In other words, Fekir's goal, on Betis's only frank opportunity in the first half, was misleading: after a loss of Busquets' ball, the former Lyonnais went to adjust the Barcelona goalkeeper with a cross shot (15th) for his first goal in the colors of Betis.
But Fekir then died out, too lonely, and Barça de Griezmann took a deserved ascendancy.
As it was the night of the premieres, Barcelona-born Barcelona winger Carles Pérez hit the nail with a shot from the left after setting the defense (56), his first-ever goal in the official match. Barca.
Valverde took the opportunity to launch on the field the promising Anssumane Fati (16 years). The latter, appeared very uninhibited, is the youngest player to wear the blaugrana jersey in Liga since 1941, and we can not wait to see him again!
© 2019 AFP