A review of Barca’s emphatic victory against Leganes
Squaring off against the Pepineros for the first time competitively, FC Barcelona made a strong comeback to the league, with a massive 1-5 scoreline.
Luis Enrique is famous for the rotation policy he'd utilised in his first season with the Blaugrana. Not only did it make his team selections unpredictable, it meant that it was impossible for the opponents to devise a strategy, to contain Barça. Reminiscent of the game against PSG in his debut season, Lucho picked his best 3 centre-backs, in Piqué, Mascherano and Umtiti. After a monstrous game against Celtic in the Champions League, the MSN trident would return with Iniesta and Rakitic joining them. Jordi Alba and Ter Stegen alongside Rafinha completed the XI
With the players at hand, it looked like Barca intended to start with a 3-4-3.
The Leganes fans came out in full force to show their support for the home side.
In the early moments of the game, Leganes took the first shot, as Mascherano and Rafinha pushed up too high, resulting in a quick counter from the right flank, that Ter Stegen secured with ease. It seemed like playing a new formation caused the Blaugrana to struggle with positioning, leaving plenty of space for Leganes to exploit.
For the first ten minutes, Barca looked disorganised and unsure, causing a lack of any significant attacks. The absence of Sergio Busquets looked to give the Blaugrana further troubles, as Ivan Rakitic struggled defensively in his new position, often rushing into tackles.
12 minutes in, Suarez would slip in a beautiful through-ball to Neymar on the counter, who squared it to Messi inside the box, only for Leganes to close in on Messi like magnets. However, Barca wouldn't settle as Suarez took a run on the right flank before finding Messi loitering near the penalty spot. The Argentine slotted the ball in rather effortlessly.
Barca lead 0-1.
In a beautiful play, Messi found Rafinha on the right flank, who passed the ball to Suarez. Neymar was on the receiving end of his lobbed but his mistruck volley failed to challenge the goal-keeper.
Rakitic's poor positioning, led to the first yellow of the game, as he held onto his marker after being bypassed with relative ease. A few minutes later, Rafinha would draw a foul leading in Medjani being awarded the second yellow of the game.
At the half hour mark, Messi took off into an unbelievable run, squaring the ball to Suarez and returning the favour with an easy tap-in for the Uruguayan.
Barca lead 0-2.
3 minutes later, Leganes almost score as Mascherano loses his battle against Darwin Machis, only for Umtiti to do some hard-nosed “body-on-the-line” defending, allowing Ter Stegen to collect the ball after a bit of chaos.
After a few wasted chances, and a yellow to Victor Dias for fouling Iniesta, Barcelona scored another as Messi put Suarez through, who once more, layed off the ball to an open Neymar, who wasn’t going to miss this time; The trio of MSN had scored and assisted all 3 goals of the game by half-time.
An unchanged Barca stepped onto the field after half-time.
After a lot of chaotic, disruptive plays, Luis Suarez sent a slicing through-ball to a central Neymar, who reached the ball just before drawing a foul in the Leganes box; before the defender could appeal, the refree had already pointed to the spot. Messi slotted the penalty into the top right corner, with an ice-cold finish.
0-4.
Moments after celebrating Barca's fourth goal, Lucho made his first changes of the game, as Paco Alcacer replaced Luis Suarez, and Arda Turan replaced Ivan Rakitic.
In the 63rd minute, Barca get their fifth, as a screamer from Rafinha finds the top left corner, in absolutely stunning fashion; a simple dribble, cut in, and a look up, before changing the score-line. Another goal meant another sub, as Iniesta came off for Denis Suarez in the final change of the game.
0-5.
A rash challenge from Pique sent him into the referee's books in the 75th minute, as he collected a yellow on the counter.
A sliding tackle from Unai Bustinza prevented Paco Alcacer from opening his account in a Barca shirt, as Messi found Alba's run from the half line, whose cross was inches away from Alcacer.
After 80 minutes of play, and a yellow to Neymar for arguing, Gabriel Appelt scored a stunning freekick to the relief of the home fans. Although it didn’t change the result, the goal meant that the fans could go home with some pride and consolation.
Despite the score-line suggesting as much, it was a tough game for the Blaugrana, who struggled defensively before the MSN trident ran away with the game. Kudos to Lucho, for continuing to experiment and not holding back, after the unexpected loss against Alaves.
A big score line, plenty of rotation, and a screamer sum up Barca's historic first meeting against Leganes.
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