Amadeu Garcia
Updated Saturday, February 3, 2024-20:33
Barça had to suffer in Vitoria, this time not due to their own demerits, but they ended up winning a victory that does show
Xavi
's desire for improvement . Above all, in a second half in which, at last, they managed to have that much-sought control of the match, despite the expulsion of
Vítor Roque
, precisely the author of the third Barça goal.
Lewandowski and Gündogan
, with two more plastic shots, were in charge of scoring the other two goals for the visitors and
Samu Omorodion
, as hyperactive as always, scored the winner for the Vitorian team. [1-3: Narration and statistics]
The improvement in the game took another 45 minutes to arrive. No matter how much the coach looked for something new at the start by placing
Christensen
as a pivot, the Blaugrana had a hard time controlling the midfield throughout the first half. But, in fact, practically the only time they fully achieved it, they had a reward. An action in which
Pedri, De Jong
and Gündogan participated, the first in which the talent of the three could be properly combined, ended with a pass from the German to Lewandowski who the Pole, raising the ball over
Sivera
with a subtle touch , would become the first goal of the game.
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Xavi, against Real Madrid: "It adulterates the competition completely"
Editor: AMADEU GARCÍA
Xavi, against Real Madrid: "It adulterates the competition completely"
Given what we had seen until then, it was an unexpected blow. And, unfortunately for the Blaugrana, unique. Before and after that goal from Lewandowski, with which he broke a long streak without finding the net, the team that reached the rival area more and better was an Alavés team that was not at all willing to be intimidated by Barcelona's big names. The locals even asked for a penalty for a challenge by the young
Cubarsí on Álex Sola
who went to limbo due to a previous offside, but the clearest of the locals was a header from almost point-blank range by
Gudiri
.
Peña's save
His header, after a cross from the incombustible
Luis Rioja, was perfectly responded to by Iñaki Peña
with a display of reflexes to prevent the tie from increasing the score. And, not much later, Gündogan was attentive to steal the ball from Guevara
who
fell asleep when he found himself alone with the ball at his feet inside the Barça area. The
babazorro
team finished the first half by increasing even more their insistence on attacking actions, but were unable to move the scoreboard before the break. Yes he did, and in what way, in the resumption. Gündogan, before the first five minutes of the second half were up, made it 0-2, taking advantage of a measured assist from Pedri. And Samu Omorodion, just a couple of minutes later, closed the gap with a good header after a cross from Álex Sola.
Martínez Munuera expels Vitor Roque.ANDER GILLENEAAFP
But Barça, far from letting themselves be overwhelmed, decided to be patient and control the duel. Until
Vitor Roque
, a replacement for Gündogan who left the pitch due to some physical discomfort, was in charge of transforming a low cross from
Héctor Fort
, in turn replacing
Cancelo
after the break, into a 1-3 that seemed to put the game on track. visitor triumph. The Brazilian is on a roll. Mendizorroza's goal, in addition to the calming goal for his team, was also his second as a Barcelona player, after he opened his scoring account against Osasuna. However, he could not finish the match.
Martínez Munuera
, with two yellow cards in just five minutes, the second highly protested by the Barça side, ended up sending him to the dugout early. With one more, Alavés pressed, but, in the end, they were unable to equalize a duel that ended up falling on the side of Xavi's team.