PBP: The 2024-25 Champions League Match Thread

Maybe pull Yamal for rotation's sake, and bring on Ferran, since he's out vs Villarreal?

Agreed though, its a short bench.

 

You want us to play with 9men ?

 

Meh, I trust a professional to not make the same mistake in consecutive matches.

 

Well, that was certainly coming...

 

Just keep it at 1-2, and get outta there as healthy as possible.

Not Barca's day today.

 

Agreed.

Had chances to preserve a draw, but it was too much being down a man for so long.


What sucked harder was that the red card prevented a more "normal" rotation through the lineup.

 

On a positive note, we are still in the top 24 based on away goals.

 

Is that still a part of places in this new format?

 

Yes, top 24 advance.

But of course, joking. #22 would have a very difficult path in the KO phase.

 

Ok, so I did a rewatch of the match, because I'm accustomed to being irate after CL matches. On the red card:



It looks like the idea was to play to Eric's feet, and then a quick one touch to Cubarsi. However, im reminded that it takes 3 people to make a pass: the ball holder, the defender, and the receiver. On this one:

Eric fails to unmark himself sufficiently,
Cubarsi hides behind a defender,
Ter Stegen was both slow and indecisive in playing the ball.

On balance, I'd give the blame as : 80% MaTS, 10% on Eric AND Cubarsi, and 10% to their press.

I get that part of Barça's breakout is that they try to draw in the opponent's press, and then break it with a quick pass or two, in order to eliminate 2-3 opponents out of their 10. It works GREAT, like 98% of the time. But this is the 2% of the times that it didn't.

 

Another item that was noteworthy to me was Flick's performance yesterday.


For one, the players looked unprepared, and they started slow, both mentally and physically. To me, that's on the coaching. For as much as we criticized Xavi for this issue, I think Flick also warrants equal critique on this.

For a roster such as this, and for a congested fixture list as Barça's will be in the next month, STARTING FAST, seizing the game early, and then rotating the lineup is crucial. The roster is not deep enough, nor healthy enough, nor versatile enough to be constantly trying to win by means of the Remontada.

Otherwise, it will catch up to this team, and exacerbate their collective deficiencies, IMO.


The other thing was that, once the red card was shown, Flick did little to change the shape and change the personnel until it was too late. Getting to halftime level was HUGE.

But, like Xavi before him, Flick equivocated until the side got worn down, and Monaco rightly scored their 2nd goal.

Monaco, for their part, subbed at half, and again at minute ~60, and again at minute 70. So, just before they scored, Monaco were ahead by 3 fresh players, PLUS a man advantage.


Meanwhile, the senior citizen Lewandowski was made to chase a game, where he wasn't going to get service to score. Flick FINALLY went to the bench far too late, at minute 78.

I get that the bench was short. But Ferran's fresh and younger legs >> Lewandowski's aerial abilities, IMO. Especially into the 2nd half of that match.

Since Ferran won't be available for Villarreal, why not use him to run about instead of Lewandowski? Or Victor? Or Torre? And why did he wait so long to freshen the lineup with subs? Why wear out your aging striker on a game that isn't really set up for him?


To me, Flick did not do enough to preserve the draw, and he should be criticized for this. Here's hoping it doesn't happen again.

 

This is correct.

But Cubarsi also hid behind his defender, and Garcia did not create the free yard to receive a pass, either.


And while its MOSTLY on MaTS, the others also were spectating on that play as well.

 

Yeah, probably about right. Like Araujo's red, its frustrating because you don't HAVE to foul in that situation. A red is probably worse than a goal. Although, unlike Araujo's, this looked more like an accidental foul.

 

I've gone back-and-forth on the foul.

If you watch the clip from the beginning and focus on what Eric was doing, he's initially jogging slowly, followed by a short sprint, and then back to slow jogging at the instant MaTS makes a wussified pass.

Meanwhile, the Monaco man was at a full sprint at the instant that MaTS pussyfooted the hospital ball to Eric.

So Eric had to make a snap decision on a guy who had the advantage of position, pace, and possession a mere 18 yards away from goal. I dont blame him for fouling, nor would blame him for NOT fouling on that one.

That Eric hasn't played a lot may have dulled his "game awareness" a bit. No real "good solutions" in that moment, other than for all parties to be more ready to play.

 

Rep to you, sir, for posting this.

Yes, a win is needed. But, IDK if we're quite at "most important" stage, just yet.

Once again, here's hoping Barça can put this game away early, and sub early.

None of this stoopid "wait-til-minute-78" bullshyte that Flick has done lately, or that Xavi was wont to do all the friggin time. The 1st XI need rest, and some of the other guys need minutes.

(You just KNOW that De La Fuente and the other national team managers are gonna use Yamal/Pedri/Lewandowski/Kounde/Raphinha etc.. like rented mules, so get them off the pitch by ~minute 55-60.)