The stage, an incredible amphitheatre filled with 81,000 avid viewers, was all set for Barcelona to make a showy start to the season against their modest opponent’s Rayo Vallecano. Yet Barcelona found a brave team in their way that paid little attention to narratives or names.
Throughout the match, Andoni Iraola showed his tactical acumen as Barcelona struggled for fluidity.
Speaking after the match to Mundo Deportivo, Eric Garcia admitted that the Blaugrana had been unable to find solutions.
“I think that Rayo were good and we were defensively good, a shame, to be honest.”
“They set up a match closing off the centre a lot and that complicated life for us, we struggled to find the free man. Their goalkeeper made some very good saves.”
Central midfielders Pedri, Gavi and Franck Kessie all struggled to get on the ball, which was a key part of Barcelona’s issues. Only when Frenkie de Jong came on and dropped deeper did they have a driving presence in midfield.
To close out the post-match interview Garcia thanked the fans and promised that more was to come.
“Thanks to the fans. Ultimately you never leave satisfied if you don’t win, but there is always a margin improvement. We could well have won but now we have to correct the errors from today and go for La Real [Sociedad].”
Barcelona travel to the Reale Arena next Sunday night, which will be a far from ideal fixture for Barcelona to put things right in. Real Sociedad have a history of causing issues for the Azulgrana in Donostia-San Sebastian and they will be travelling without their captain Sergio Busquets, who will be suspended following his red card.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO BARCELONA COACH AND PLAYER IS THAT THE FORMATION IS GOOD LET TEAM WORK ON THEIR PRESSING SYSTEM AND PLAYER HOULD LEARN TO PLAY FAST BALL TO TEAM MATE FOR GOAL WE SAW PLAYER HOLD ON TO THE BALL TOO LONG IN THE DEFENCE THAT MY OBSERVATION FROM THE GAME
WHEN REAL MADRID IS PLAYING THEY THEIR BALL OUT FRONT BUT BARCELONA TEAM BRING BALL BACK TOO MUCH AND HOLD ON TO THE TOO LONG THE BALL SHOULD TRAVEL FAST FOR GOAL LET THEIR FORMATION BE FAST IF THE TEAM WANT GOOD RESULT
Coach Xavi is really missing alot.he still not wake up from his slumbers yet.same mistakes he made last season he still reversed it again.If he want to excel in his reigns he should drop Spanish agenda. Especially at the midfield. He shouldn’t start Gavi as he lack creative prowess,he lacks physicality touches and final passes that can results into goals.Gavi should be operating from bench or loan him.Sergio buscuet shouldn’t be a starter always.He should be operating from bench too.I think the combination of Kessie,De jong and Pedri would be ideally.