the first half an hour but were able to call upon
quality replacements - unlike this time last year - to
seal victory
COMMENT
What a difference a year makes. On August 14, 2015, Barca
lost 4-0 to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Supercopa. Having
played extra time against Sevilla just days earlier in the
UEFA Super Cup, Luis Enrique's side looked tired on their trip
to the Basque Country and their transfer ban meant there
was little in the way of quality back-up options.
This time, though, it was Sevilla who had played extra time
in the UEFA Super Cup, having lost 3-2 to Real Madrid on
Tuesday. With more rest time and at home where they are
always strong, however, this was always going to be a big
test for Barca.
And the Spanish champions came through it despite some
ominous signs early on. First of all, many were surprised to
see the hapless Jeremy Mathieu in the team at left-back
instead of summer signing Lucas Digne. As it turned out,
the former Valencia defender only lasted 25 minutes before
limping off with a thigh problem. And six minutes later,
Andres Iniesta went off with a blow to his knee. Barely half
an hour into the new season and Barca had already lost two
players.
But that is why clubs have big squads. A year ago, Luis
Enrique did not appear to have much faith in his
replacements, while Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal were unable
to make their debuts until January due to the transfer ban
handed to the club for infringements in the recruitment of
young players.
Following a productive summer in the transfer market, that
has now changed. Digne came on for Mathieu and barely
put a foot wrong all night, even though he is behind in terms
of fitness following France's run to the final of Euro 2016
and an extended break. And another summer signing, Denis
Suarez, stepped into Iniesta's shoes in midfield. He too
impressed and it was his pinpoint pass which was chipped
into the path of Arda, who in turn chested down for Luis
Suarez to give Barca the lead.
With Neymar and Rafinha still away at the Olympic Games in
Brazil, there was another opportunity for Munir El Haddadi
from the bench as well. And the Spanish Under-21 forward
showed that his development has continued as he netted his
side's second with a fine finish. The club's top scorer this
summer, he may yet go out on loan if the club can bring in
another forward this summer. But if not, he already looks
like he can be a more prominent player than he was in
2015-16.
None of the summer signings featured in the starting XI,
with Andre Gomes and Samuel Umtiti unused substitutes.
The message is clear: the new guys will have to win a place
in the team on merit - and that will not be easy to do.
But Digne and Denis played their part in a victory which
means the Spanish Supercopa is likely to be heading back
to Barcelona as the Catalans take a 2-0 lead to the return at
Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
"I liked all the players," Luis Enrique said afterwards. "The
ones who played, the ones who came on and the ones on
the bench. Because we will need all of them."
It is an attitude and also a situation very much in contrast
with a year ago as Barca lost Xavi and Pedro and were
unable to bring in replacements, while Arda and Aleix Vidal
were made to wait until January and the Barca boss rarely
trusted the other substitutes at his disposal.
The new season is underway and what looked like being
another potential banana skin, was expertly averted by
Barca on Sunday. The Catalans have a real squad this time
around, not just a top team, and that strength in depth
proved important even in the very first game of the
campaign.
No comments:
Post a Comment