October 31, Halloween! and the ghosts decided to go out at Barcelona, Malcom and Dembélé were in terror against the Cultural Leonesa, both are the alternatives that Ernesto Valverde has on the bench and they are obliged to do much more, especially the French. And given the current state of the Catalan team with the complicated schedule and waiting for the recovery of Messi, it is in these games where they must take a step forward. Claim a site, claim a role that has given more fear than the Nun and is not to the opposing defenses.
The best of Barcelona was Jasper Cillessen, he knows he will not occupy Barcelona’s goal while Ter Stegen does not lower the level. But little seems to matter to the Dutchman. Before the Cultural brought out two fundamental hands so Barcelona did not live a Tarantino movie after the Broadway recital that gave to Real Madrid.
The defensive match of the Cultural was the height of Jigsaw, planned and executed in order and with intensity throughout the meeting. Barcelona could never leave the game of fear for 90 minutes and just at 71’could get its first shot on goal, did not find a way to cause imbalances in the defensive balance of the “Leonesa” team.
What Barcelona needed the most in recent seasons was what saved it from the nightmare, a third guarantee center defense. Clement Lenglet goes further. He decided the game with a header goal in added time. Umtiti can take his recovery calmly, Clement wins matches.
The victory of Barcelona was way much reward for what they offered and more if we took into account this was Cup game where the substitutes have the opportunity to show and offer variants to Valverde for important games, they preferred to spend the game thinking about their Halloween costumes. The lack of mastery and depth resulted in a poor offensive so striking that the goalkeeper of Cultural lived a relaxed game receiving only 2 shots on goal.