Rayo Vallecano 0 - FC Barcelona 2

vs.

Referee: Lahoz.

Barcelona line-up (official): Bravo - Alves Pique Bartra Mathieu - Xavi Busquets Iniesta - Munir Messi Neymar

What a lineup.

awww yiss hopefully this defence impresses and we stick with it. If Vermalen ever gets fit he could challenge for CB.

Nice to see Pedro being dropped. I nominate Feghouli to replace him next season.

Mathieu is slow , from first 15 mins.

The way they are pressing is very interesting

La Liga linesmen

Messi and Nerman.

Rayo's high line. Pique creating chance gallore from the back with long balls.

Was that stonewall penalty and a red against Munir not given? Can't see shit from this stream.

Can't believe how bad we were in the second half. As soon as they lost a player, Barca lost will to play. With that kind of determination you can say goodbye for trophies.

Yeah, disappointing. Just completely switched off.

Bravo has impressed me. He reads the ball trajectory quite well and is a good shot stopper too. Also there are fewer communication problems with him in goal than what we saw midweek with Ter Stegen.

As much as I despise Alba playing at LB, I think Mathieu is too slow to play LB against stronger opponents with quick wing transitions. Also he lacks the on the ball technique and is quite one dimensional: pass and move, typical of fullbacks lacking technique but featuring good stamina and work rate.

Alves doing trademark crosses again. I have no idea what happened to the beast who played at Sevilla.

Good work rate by Munir but I can't see him going very far by being and playing so extremely one-footed. He is very predictable.

Neymar pressed well but he is dangerously casual sometimes. He needs to toughen up physically and mentally.

Oh yeah and Barcelona not creating 3 goal scoring chances because Iniesta decides to take more touches than he should and refuses to play a ball forward. For all his otherworldly technique he is extremely one dimensional in his play.

danyjr wrote:Nice to see Pedro being dropped. I nominate Feghouli to replace him next season.

Too bad we can't make any transfers until the summer of 2016.

As for the game, nothing learnt really. Teams stupid enough to play high line vs us will get abused if they dont apply better ball pressure.

Could of had 5 if not for poor ref and linesman.

I dont think Mathieu lacks the speed so to speak to play leftback, its his technical qualities which are a bigger problem. His touch isnt quite top level. But against stronger opponent, ill sacrifice it if it means not playing defensive black hole Alba.

I dunno what Enrique's plan is playing Alba vs PSG away but Mathieu against modest Rayo.

Second half killed me, fell asleep for 10 minutes. Where is the killer instinct? Arent they upset they just lost to PSG? Shouldnt they take that out on 10 men Rayo? No, instead we trying to score the perfect goal and complicating it.

Munir had some difficulties, but he was clearly fouled by the goalie. Totally disrespected because he some kid..we all know if thats Messi, that's a red and penalty.

Oh and Bravo makes his first actual worthwhile save of the season, a very good one in fact.

ima blame the second half boredom to fatigue to be honest, the past 10 days has been pretty hectic with 4 games.
with one man down and 2 goals up I can see why many didn't show too much intensity, but also we were unlucky we could of easily won 5-0 etc.
Mathieu in LB would be even better if our rb was dangerous with the ball.

I understand perhaps less intensity to win the ball back and defend, but with the ball and trying to attack and break them down I dont see how fatigue plays a part.

I am somewhat of the opinion we need teams to play a high line against us, otherwise we automatically lack ideas.

I think we were just making sure that clean sheet was kept lol I'd rather concede a goal next match, so we get our heads out of our asses and I don't want Real Madrid to be the first score against us in the league or we won't hear the end of it.

By the way in the last 8 games against Rayo V. are goal-difference is 34-1.

I feel that if messi finished any of his billion chances in the 2nd half people wouldnt be saying we didn't try at all in the second half. that being said i only watched the second half and was quite bored.

OMG the missed chances. I'm cofident I could have scored one if I was playing second half and the last time I've scored was 12 years ago.

In other news speed or not in big games I'd rather have Mathieu in LB than Alba. Worst case he won't do many overlaps - no big deal

Good thing is what people are discussing can see that immediately on the pitch, something did not happen in Martino spell. I did not think Lucho would put Mathieu there so quickly after the PSG game... Thats is something really positive.

The Franchise wrote:

danyjr wrote:Nice to see Pedro being dropped. I nominate Chadli to replace him next season.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

The Franchise wrote:

danyjr wrote:Nice to see Pedro being dropped. I nominate Deulofeu to replace him next season.

Winter is Coming wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

The Franchise wrote: