Barcelona Player Ratings: Monaco, Garcia Red, Analysis
Barcelona secured a convincing 2-1 victory over AS Monaco in their final pre-season friendly, showcasing their potent attacking prowess and a developing defensive resilience. Here’s a breakdown of the Barcelona players, their performance, and the key takeaways from the match:
Key Takeaways:
- Attacking fluidity: Barcelona's frontline, with the likes of Gavi, Pedri, and Dembele in particular, displayed impressive coordination and creativity, relentlessly probing the Monaco defense.
- Defensive improvements: Despite a few hiccups, Barcelona's backline, with Eric Garcia leading the charge, showed signs of improvement in terms of communication and tactical organization.
- New signings shine: Both Inigo Martinez and Ilkay Gundogan made positive contributions, demonstrating the value they bring to the team.
Player Ratings:
Starting XI:
- Ter Stegen (7/10): Made crucial saves to keep Monaco at bay, especially in the second half, showcasing his calmness and composure under pressure.
- Koundé (7/10): A dependable presence on the right side of the defense, effectively neutralizing Monaco's attacks.
- Eric Garcia (8/10): A stand-out performer with a solid defensive display, showcasing his leadership qualities and tactical awareness.
- Araujo (7/10): A strong and physical presence at the heart of the defense, winning numerous aerial duels and contributing to a strong backline.
- Balde (7/10): Displayed his trademark pace and trickery down the left flank, providing a constant threat to the Monaco defense.
- Gavi (8/10): A tireless worker in midfield, constantly pressing and winning the ball back. His incisive passes and dribbling skills were a key factor in Barcelona's attack.
- Gundogan (7/10): An intelligent and composed presence in midfield, dictating the pace of the game and contributing to Barcelona's dominant possession.
- Pedri (8/10): The creative maestro of the midfield, his vision and distribution were instrumental in creating chances for Barcelona. His ability to find space and connect play was superb.
- Dembélé (9/10): A constant menace with his speed and dribbling, Dembélé was directly involved in both goals and was a dominant force on the right flank.
- Lewandowski (7/10): Worked tirelessly to create space for his teammates and took a vital penalty to score Barcelona's first goal.
- Ferran Torres (7/10): Always willing to run in behind the defense, he was a valuable outlet for Barcelona's attack and contributed to the build-up of several chances.
Substitutes:
- Raphinha (6/10): Added energy and dynamism to the attack after coming on, displaying his direct running and creative abilities.
- Kessie (6/10): Provided a physical presence in midfield, contributing to Barcelona's control of the game.
- Ansu Fati (6/10): Showed glimpses of his talent with some impressive dribbling and clever movement.
Analysis:
This match was a resounding success for Barcelona, showcasing their progress both in attack and defense.
Attacking Prowess: The synergy between the forwards and midfielders, particularly the Pedri-Gavi-Dembele trio, was impressive. Barcelona dominated possession and created numerous clear-cut chances, proving their attacking potency.
Defensive Resilience: While there were moments where Monaco threatened, Barcelona’s defensive organization was vastly improved. Eric Garcia led the defense with confidence and authority, while the likes of Koundé and Araujo provided a strong physical presence.
Key Player: Ousmane Dembélé was the standout performer, consistently troubling the Monaco defense with his speed, dribbling, and accurate passes. His performance serves as a reminder of his immense talent and the potential he possesses for Barcelona.
The victory against Monaco serves as a positive sign for Barcelona going into the new season. With a strong squad and a tactical approach that seems to be solidifying, Barcelona are poised for a successful season.
