Barcelona briefing: Lewandowski can’t be dropped, Marc Bernal’s impressive debut

Hansi Flick’s new period at Barcelona began with a hard-fought win at Valencia, getting back from one aim down because of Robert Lewandowski’s brace.

The hosts had began the sport on the entrance foot and managed to get forward via Hugo Duro, who headed house a cross from Diego Lopez.

However Flick’s younger Barcelona facet confirmed character to finish the turnaround.

Right here, The Athletic’s Pol Ballus analyses the sport and runs via the important thing speaking factors.

Barca can’t drop Lewandowski

With Flick eager to assemble a high-pressing group, there have been rising doubts in Barcelona over the position Lewandowski can play. The Poland striker will flip 36 subsequent week and is definitely previous his bodily peak.

He has additionally been questioned for his struggles in link-up play, being unable to thrive in tight areas. As a lot as these could also be legitimate issues for Barca followers, final night time he reminded them and everybody else why Flick can nonetheless depend on him.

The way in which Lewandowski moved contained in the field and browse Lamine Yamal’s cross earlier than it had even left the 17-year-old’s boot was textbook No 9 play. He had been struggling as much as that time, however that easy tap-in not solely introduced Barcelona degree simply earlier than half-time, it additionally modified the script of the sport for the participant and his group.

There’s nobody else within the Barcelona squad with that striker’s intuition — a despairing Ferran Torres efficiency helped show that time. It didn’t actually matter that the 35-year-old was in any other case barely concerned. He performed the 90 minutes, however 10 Barca gamers ended the sport with extra touches than his 32.

Was Pau Cubarsi fortunate to not be despatched off?

The brief reply is sure. Valencia coach Ruben Baraja picked out that second because the defining one of many recreation. Within the fifty fifth minute, with Barcelona now on high, an already-booked Cubarsi made a cynical foul on striker Hugo Duro.

The Mestalla erupted, demanding a second reserving, however referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez spared the 17-year-old. Flick, conscious the teenager was using his luck, changed him with Andreas Christensen eight minutes later.

Cubarsi didn’t have a nasty recreation — he saved Barcelona from going 2-0 down with a goal-line clearance after a Ter Stegen howler — however understanding when he can afford to be that aggressive in his defensive play is clearly one thing he must hold engaged on.

Flick’s adjustments, mixed with Valencia’s tiring gamers, meant the sport ended comparatively comfortably for Barca.

Marc Bernal’s debut is a reminder of La Masia’s energy

Meet the most recent academy prospect who will certainly change into a daily at Barcelona.

After a powerful pre-season, Flick gave 17-year-old holding midfielder Marc Bernal his La Liga debut at probably the most intimidating stadiums in Spain. Bernal handed the check with ease.

He performed 71 minutes, touched the ball 61 instances, accomplished 49 passes with 94 per cent accuracy and misplaced possession solely 5 instances. His top (6ft 3in/191cm) helped him win 5 out of eight aerial duels, full 4 tackles and block one shot.

Stats apart, it’s his studying of the sport that almost all stands out. He is aware of the right way to break the opposition line with a move, will get concerned within the build-up, and provides a greater artistic pressure than Christensen will ever do on this place.

Born in 2007, he’s from the identical technology as Yamal and Cubarsi, with whom he has shared dressing rooms in La Masia since a really younger age.

💫 Desde #LALIGAFCFUTURES a #LALIGAEASPORTS.

💙 Marc Bernal
❤️ Lamine Yamal
💙 Pau Cubarsí

👀 ¡Los jóvenes diamantes del @FCBarcelona_es! pic.twitter.com/NLiwCux28u

— LALIGA (@LaLiga) August 17, 2024

Bernal has shone particularly brilliant when he has performed alongside Marc Casado, one other standout La Masia graduate and Bernal’s midfield companion final season with the membership’s B group. And on the day they had been each granted their first La Liga begins, they acted as an ideal double act.

Whereas Casado is extra of a tidy box-to-box bulldozer, Bernal definitely appears to be like to have the upper potential. The talent set is there for him to be Barcelona’s subsequent holding midfielder. Now it’s on the membership to offer him the time, platform and belief to blossom.

Of the 16 gamers Flick utilized in Valencia, eight have performed in La Masia. Cubarsi, Bernal, Casado, Alejandro Balde and Yamal had been within the beginning line-up. Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia and Pau Victor got here off the bench.

The membership have mortgaged their future to land big-name signings, and battle to register gamers beneath the wage restrict, so they’re pressured to depend on the children — and so they all the time ship.

Barca would do effectively to cease daydreaming about large signings and simply give larger roles to their children. The early indicators are that Flick might do exactly that — possibly as a result of there was no different possibility. However in a season the place the chances are stacked so massively in opposition to them, given the energy of an ideal Actual Madrid facet, this could possibly be the beginning of his legacy on the membership.

(Prime picture: Jose Breton/Pics Motion/NurPhoto through Getty Photos)