OK, so as a courtesy to my fellow Culers, I typically do a rewatch while doing paperwork or the like. Today, I only had the stomach to rewatch the 1st half, because there were so many issues with yesterday's game. The FIRST issue, even before the game started was Hansi's lineup choice, specifically on the left. With BOTH Raphinha and Rashford out, he went with Olmo and Balde on the left. This would prove fatal, because Simeone saw that, and SPECIFICALLY targeted Barca's left side. Of the 3 goals conceded, all 3 had a component of the ball being played on the left at some point.
Just a quick summary of what I saw on rewatch: Minute 3, Simeone's chance: Casado fails to track Simeone's run, but Joan makes the save. Minute 4: Own Goal Minute 14, Griezmann goal: Quick outlet to Lookman on Barca's RIGHT, Balde and Eric come over to stop him, and Lookman quickly switches it left. THREE errors by Barca: Balde was slow to recover his position, De Jong fails to track Griezmann, but Balde also did not seem to give De Jong a shout that there was a runner. Minute 33, Lookman Goal: Ball inside Atleti's own half. OLMO was slow to press their FB, who makes a quick over the top pass. Balde had a runner, who turned and ran towards the Barca goal from midfield. Instead of running with him, Balde for some reason lets him go. ERIC then has to cover for Balde, Cubarsi has to cover for Eric, Kounde has to come inside to cover for Cubarsi, and Casado fails to drop quickly enough to cover for Kounde. THAT goal was a combination of Atleti overloading Barca's left, and quickly moving the ball upfield. IF OLMO had pressed quicker, or Balde tracked his runner, that goal does not happen. Everything after those two decisions leading up to the goal was Barca's defense being torn out of position. Minute 46, Alvarez goal: Balde gets cooked by Simeone on the dribble, which pulls Cubarsi to the left, Eric has to come left to cover for Cubarsi, Atleti quickly cross to Lookman, who squares to an unmarked Alvarez; FDJ does not track Alvarez, leading to the goal. After that, I couldn't bear to watch any more.
So, the game was lost even before the kickoff. Simeone saw that Barca's left was manned by two guys that cannot defend, and he specifically targeted them. Dumbasses will point to Lookman and Alvarez scoring, and point fingers at Kounde. But both of their goals came down to the LEFT side of defense getting cooked. In the Midfield, both Casado and FDJ failed to track/recover runners deep in Barca's own end, leading to chances and goals by Atleti. Up front, Barca's attackers did not convert their chances. All in all, a forgettable game, but Hansi and the players have some work to do.
It's just shady af that the Spanish referee committee (CTA) will not release the audio from the disallowed offside goal for Cubarsí and only the audio for the red card for Eric. https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futb...a-comparte-audio-var-gol-anulado-cubarsi.html We played a shitty match and deserved to lose on Thursday, but this is highly suspect behavior. We can only be left thinking there is something to hide, and they wanted us buried in the match. It also serves the narrative to even complain about these decisions on and off the pitch, so they can say, "there goes Barça again complaining about the refs, claiming conspiracy, what about Negreira, blah blah blah..." The club has sent an official complaint regarding inconsistencies in refereeing decisions: https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/news/4450442/fc-barcelona-official-statement Even Sid Lowe, a former RM TV guy but generally fair-minded analyst of Spanish football, has called out the refereeing recently. It's now an openly recognized problem.
Meanwhile, pathletico go and get whooped 3-0 by lowly Rayo after their impressive CDR showing. Just goes to show every team can have abnormally up and down days. Hopefully this game serves as the wake up call for Barca
would have liked to see Lewa , cassado/Bernal and Araujo instead of Ferran , Olmo and Martin , hope to see Roony have some time to play
Now Lamine wastes a golden opportunity. Too close to chip the keeper instead of just slotting it low and wide.
Good 1v1 goalkeeping. He didn't go down early as Lamine expected. He should've feinted to put it on his right foot and go near post.
the amount of turn-overs that lamine causes each match is ridiculous , he loses possession so many times whether from wrong passes or dribbling and it causes so many dangerous counters for the opponents , what the hell happened to him this season ?