Sure. But as a defender, why put yourself in that position in the first place? Mbappe was wide enough of the goal mouth to not be an immediate threat. In those types of 1v1 situations, a defender defends the ball, but also the goal. If Mbappe were ~3 meters more central, then yeah, dive in and attempt to tackle. However, he was well wide, and would have had to pull off the impossible to beat BOTH the defender and the GK to make a goal, apart from drawing the PK.
I'm not liking the rumored inicial once. Joan Cancelo Cubarsi Eric Martin De Jong Casado Olmo Yamal Lewandowski Raphinha Why burn out so many of the 1st 11, when there's Kobenhaven coming up on Wednesday? Cubarsi's form has dipped recently, and Flick has 3 of the likely starting 2 CBs all playing today. I like using Casado, but I might have rested Raphinha. This feels like using a howitzer to kill a flea.
Also, I might have rested Cubarsi, and used Araujo, and used Torrents instead of Martin. That way, going into Wednesday, at least 2 CBs and both FBs are rested for Wednesday.
Martin with the stupid dive in in yet another situation where he did not have to tackle. 50 or so meters away from the goal line, all the way on the touchline. Barca defenders don't seem to have learned anything. You could make a training video lasting hours showing stupid dive ins by them.
They're using the Valencia gameplan: 1. Man-mark the pivots, to deny them the ball. 2. Force Barca to bypass the midfield, and to play more towards the wings in the build-up. What Barça need is for Olmo to come short, to alleviate Oviedo's press on the pivots. Just like at Valencia, he isn't doing it, so Oviedo are able to contain Barça's possession game. Also, we're seeing passes meant for Olmo get cut out as well.
Barca don't want to have Yamal picking up the ball in their own 3rd/their own half. But thats exactly what's happening. When he gets the ball so far away from goal, he's far less dangerous, and it gives Oviedo 60-70 yards to bring defensive help to neutralize him. Either Olmo has to show to the ball shorter, or switch Olmo with Casado, and bring in Fermin. This Valencia game plan has been shown to work, and Flick needs a counter to it. The only difference between this game and that one was Araujo dove in to give away a PK in the 1st minute.
Also, Moreno is actually correct, in that Barca need to move the ball quicker, to break down Oviedo and their press.
Kounde on for Martin at half. Still the same approach by Oviedo, and still Olmo hiding rather than showing for the ball. Faster movement of the ball by Barca, though.
Ok, let's think about subs. I like pulling Raphinha, but unless Cancelo is winded, I don't like bringing on Balde. I'm thinking to pull off Lewandowski and either Yamal or Casado for Wednesday.
Thank God for the press producing the chances for Barça's forwards to finish. Flick still needs to find a solution for that type of approach Valencia, and now Oviedo have taken to interrupt Barça's possession game.
Hansi going with both Olmo and Fermin. This concerns me, because of Olmo's injury history. He's played significant minutes in each of the past two games, and I dunno if his body can handle playing significant minutes in three consecutive matches. No rotation along the backline, which I think has contributed to a stagnation in progress with some of those players. I would have liked to have seen some rotation here. Ferran leads the line. Makes sense, because Abuelo Robert needs a break, but then I wonder how long Ferran can go today.
The way Elche are playing this should be a simple game. EDIT: Maybe I spoke too soon. Elche pressing man to man well so far.
Yeah, Inaki could have come off his line better, but then their FB didn't do anything, either. I do like how Elche play with bravery and coming forward. Even if they don't look like they have the horses.