in memory of that team that 25 years ago played in the UEFA final against Liverpool (5-4) and defeated Barcelona, League champion and undefeated since February, when they lost in Montilivi. The Mendizorroza result leaves Girona in a very bad position. The fight to avoid relegation is titanic and Quique Sánchez Flores’ team did not want to be less than Sevilla and Espanyol. The Blaugrana let themselves go in a match in which Flick only fielded three starters from the classic: Cubarsí, Olmo and Rashford. Barça, which had accumulated 11 consecutive victories, was left without scoring after 56 games, and will no longer be able to reach 100 points in the remaining games against Betis and Valencia.
1
Antonio Sivera, Ville Koski, Abde Rebbach, Victor Parada (Carlos Protesoni, 79th minute), Angel Perez, Nahuel Tenaglia, Jon Guridi, Antonio Blanco, Denis Suarez (63rd minute), Toni Martinez and Ibrahim Diabate (63rd minute)
0
Wojciech Szczesny, Alejandro Balde (João Cancelo, min. 78), Pau Cubarsí (Xavi Espart, min. 61), Álvaro Cortés, Jules Koundé, Roony Bardghji (Ferran Torres, min. 61), Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal (Tomás Marqués, min. 86), Casdó Marcado (61 min.), Pedri Marcado (min.). Rashford and Robert Lewandowski
Goals
1-0 min. 45: Ibrahim Diabate
Referee José María Sánchez Martínez
yellow cards
Rashford (45 min.), Abde Rebbach (80 min.), Cancelo (88 min.)
The Barcelona substitutes left the game very soon after a start with a certain joy that . The idea of the Barça game was maintained regardless of the lineup in Flick’s team. Possession and high pressure were also noticeable in Mendizorroza. Even Rashford maintained his elegant career to the concern of Ángel and Sivera. Quique Sánchez Flores’ team, very organized, knew how to defend very close to their goal, tried not to make mistakes in the pass and came out in quick and selective transitions towards the Szcezsny area, which went from the roof of the bus on the title celebration street to the goal, substitute for Joan García, protected to secure the Zamora trophy.
There were hardly any chances except for a couple of shots from Rashford and Rebbach. Only Álvaro Cortés, a 21-year-old left-footed center back who fought with Diabate and Toni Martínez, attested to the competitive tension of Barça, increasingly dull, shallow, too slow and lacking in forwards due to Roony’s lack of participation. Alavés didn’t let go either, no matter how hard they tried to cross crosses into the Szczesny area. He waited for his opportunity while the fans did not stop asking for hands in each play without the referee intervening – he shook his head – and the Var taking notice. And the goal came from a set piece, coming off a corner, when .
Diabate was able to score 2-0 with a free shot after the break when Barça was still asleep, weak in defending the sides and unable to shoot between Sivera’s three posts. The changes, now with Pedri and Ferran on the field, pushed Barça to the Alavés area, which fought in a very diligent manner, with admirable strength and emotion, supported by the excited fans of the packed Mendizorroza.
The Blaugrana did not find a way to create space or create the shot despite the many turns they took in the contest and gave up against a rival who, in addition, also knew how to waste time defending a goal that gives life to their aspiration to stay in the League. The Barcelona attack was too flat and not very aggressive to destabilize the Alavés defense, always better positioned on the field after the corridor offered to Barça at the beginning.
There was no trace of the dizzying and ambitious team that Barcelona usually is, luckily for Alavés. They did not compete and abandoned themselves in a bad way to a defeat that has consequences for the group of teams competing to avoid relegation to the Second Division. Alavés, the most needy contender, at the Camp Nou.
