الاثنين، 26 أبريل 2021

Home » » Five talking points from Villarreal 1-2 Barcelona

Five talking points from Villarreal 1-2 Barcelona

By  5:04 ص  No comments
Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga Santander
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Another important win for the Catalans

Another step closer to the title

Barcelona made hard work of Villarreal but still took home all three points to keep their title hopes alive with just six games of the season left to go.

The turnaround in form has been pretty stunning with Barca having now taken 46 out of a possible 51 points since the turn of the year.

The weekend got even better for Barca when Atletico slipped up yet again on Sunday night and were beaten by Athletic at San Mames.

Win on Thursday against Getafe and Barca will be top with only five games left. Ronald Koeman’s men will then even be able to draw the crunch match with Atletico.

Griezmann thriving in 2021

It’s not just Barca who are thriving in 2021, so too is Antoine Griezmann who was Barca’s match-winner at the Estadio de la Cerámica with two first-half goals.

The first was a gorgeous chip over Sergio Asenjo after being played in by Oscar Mingueza, while Villarreal defender Juan Foyth unintentionally teed up Griezmann for the second.

The Frenchman has now been involved in 22 goals in all competitions in 2021, a record only bettered by two other players.

Griezmann’s had plenty of criticism during his time at Barcelona, and rightly so at times, but he now has 18 for the season and there’s no doubt he’s played a key role in the team’s resurgence.

Pedri’s overdue a rest

Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga Santander Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

One player who is not thriving presently is Pedri who looks, unsurprisingly, tired and has done for a little while. The one surprise is that Ronald Koeman keeps on starting the youngster despite the fact he has plenty of other options available.

Pedri has been a revelation this season but Sunday was his 40th appearance of the campaign and it’s starting to show. There are only six games left now but Koeman must surely been thinking about giving the youngster a breather.

Ilaix Moriba, Riqui Puig, and even Sergi Roberto are all options to come into the team. Miralem Pjanic is also a possibility if he can shrug off a knee injury that ruled him out of Sunday’s trip to Villarreal.

Lucky escape for Messi

Barca were undoubtedly helped in the second half when Villarreal were reduced to 10 men when Manu Trigueros was shown a straight red card for a brutal challenge on Lionel Messi that left the captain in pain on the turf.

Fortunately, the Argentina international was able to carry on and play the whole 90 minutes but it was certainly a worrying moment for Barca.

Villarreal boss Unai Emery admitted after the match the red card has proved costly but somehow managed to whinge about the decision too.

“Trigueros challenge on Messi that got him a red card? It is excessive, it hurt us a lot, because the player first touches the ball and then slips,” he said. “My question is, if it were the other way around, would it be an expulsion?”

Barca quartet at risk of suspension

Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga Santander Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Barcelona’s win at Villarreal did come at a cost with Antoine Griezmann and Oscar Mingueza both picking up bookings.

The yellow cards mean the duo join Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong on being just one away from an automatic one-match ban.

All four players will need to be careful in the coming games with some key fixtures on the way. Barca play Granada next and then face a trip to Valencia before welcoming Atletico.

Ronald Koeman certainly won’t want to be without any of his key players for the run-in and particularly for the match against Diego Simeone’s side at the Camp Nou on May 8.



from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts https://ift.tt/2PrWBhk
Categories: 

0 التعليقات:

إرسال تعليق

.