LAS VEGAS (Jordi Blanco).-Barcelona won the Las Vegas Classic, showing more flashes than it would have liked. But Lewandowski’s premiere shows more than Real Madrid, who have changed nothing from the familiar. A much less friendly Clasico than it appeared, a Tangana effort near the break, a few discussions between the players and a goal, a great goal, that Raphinha punished the match before half an hour.
A very remarkable first half, which was praised by Xavi (“we were very high with a lot of pressure and dominance”), and a less active second half in every way, but the general picture of Barcelona was shown above. Competitor.
This is evident in the undisguised pressure of their forwards on the rival defense when the new Barça look to control the ball. Anzu was very close to scoring from Petri’s loot in the area, and Rafinha did just that with a superb long shot, before up to four of his team-mates broke through the Madrid defense until the worst Militão disallowed.
On the other hand, he found it difficult to establish himself in the center of the field for Barca, where from the start Busquets lined up again with Petri and Gavi, with Araujo moving to the right. Given the lingering doubt over Azpilicueta’s signing, he could be an undisputed solution.
This time Christensen teamed up with Eric Garcia, putting Alba on the left-hand side to form debutant Lewandowski alongside Tireless, Anzu and Rabinha in an attacking hat-trick mobile. Although the details of a Barça player are still far from what should be expected from him.
Barça dominated the first half, Valverde’s brilliant shot to the post by Ter Stegen (who couldn’t follow the ball with his eyes), Rudiger moved to the left, without Benzema, to keep the Madrid defense high. Despite the work of Vinicius (again clashing with Arajo) and Rodrigo, risk being overlooked in the game once again.
Defending calmly despite the pressure and looking for quick transitions were the commandments of the Merengue team, which could not surprise a disciplined Barça and were perhaps ready to give their best. At least until they got into action, already in the second half, with Kroos and Modric missing Ancelotti in the first 45 minutes.
Starting with Rafinha-Anzuo-Lewandowski and ending with Dembele-Memphis-Aubameyang, a highly-talented, dominant and eager-to-be-loved Barcelona unleashed all the cannons their coach could enjoy.
Sergi Roberto played inside Barca again, in which Kessi missed an impossible goal, in which it was neither strange nor excessive to see Frenkie de Jong playing centrally again, once again reprimanded and out of its normal position.
The Las Vegas Classic showed an improved, aggressive Barcelona, with rhythm and a desire to be loved. Madrid, champions of the league and Europe, didn’t need to show what Barca needed, but it was subdued and somewhat disappointed for several minutes.
