Copa del Rey 2017/18, Celta Vigo 1-1 Barcelona: Player Ratings

Although the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez were not present, we were treated to a highly entertaining game at the Balaidos.

As two of the biggest teams left in the tournament, it’s likely that one of Barcelona or Celta Vigo would be facing Real Madrid in the later rounds.

So, it was imperative that both got off to a great start. The first leg of this Round 16 tie between Barcelona and Celta Vigo finished 1-1.

Goals from José Arnaiz and Pione Sisto meant affairs would be level going into the 2nd leg next Thursday. Both teams gave it their all, treating us to a total of 29 shots on goal.

Here’s how the players fared:

Celta Vigo

Sergio Alvarez: 7/10

Barcelona didn’t test the 31-year-old as much as he would have initially anticipated. However, when called upon in the second half, the Spaniard was more than adequate in his reply.

Hugo Mallo: 6/10

It was down Hugo Mallo’s flank that Andre Gomes was allowed to freely run down and assist Barcelona’s first goal. Perhaps his willingness to get forward cost him there, gifting Barcelona a vital away goal.

Sergi Gomez: 5/10

Every time José Arnaiz made a run, Sergi Gomez looked like a dear in the headlights. The centre-back simply couldn’t live with Barcelona’s attack and often found himself one step behind.

Andreu Fontas: 5/10

Muck like his CB partner, Fontas struggled to deal with Barcelona’s counter-attacks. Such was the attacking intent of his team, the CB was often left high up the pitch with no midfield protection.

Jonny: 6/10

The full-back decided he would stay back to thwart the exploits of Nelson Semedo & Aleix Vidal rather than aid Pione Sisto. Despite his cautious nature, Barcelona were still able to counter-attack with relative ease.

Daniel Waas: 8/10

The central midfielder made several wondrous passes over the top for Maxi Gomez. The 28-year-old was central to the majority of Vigo’s surges forward. He was disappointed to be taken off in the 68th minute and rightly so, he was Celta’s main source of creativity.

Stanislav Lobotka: 6/10

As the holding midfielder of Celta Vigo’s midfield, Stanislav Lobotka was expecting a tumultuous night, instead, he wasn't overrun and many a time, he even had the opportunity to go forward himself.

Jozabed Sanchez: 6/10

The box-to-box midfielder of the team played his part in both attack and defence. He simultaneously pressed Sergio Busquets and initiated counter attacks going the other way.

Iago Aspas: 7/10

It’s a wonder as to how Iago Aspas didn’t make it at Liverpool. On occasions tonight, the 30-year-old simply treated the Barcelona defenders like training cones. He was weaving his way in and out them with ease, especially making a fool out of Gerard Pique severally. Although the ball kept sticking to his feet, Aspas wasn’t able to score against the Catalonians.

Pione Sisto: 8/10

The left winger looked to take on Nelson Semedo at every opportunity. Such is the quality and pace of the Dane that the decibels of the Balaidos crowd grew every time he received the ball. This anticipation was rewarded in the 31st minute when Sisto smashed one into the top corner after initially causing havoc down the flank through a mazy run.

Maxi Gomez: 6/10

The ever-running striker’s movement was a handful for the Barcelona defence. Although he didn’t display an ounce of quality in the final third, his work rate made a telling difference.

Substitutions:

Emre Mor: 7/10

The exciting youngster came on and instantly made an impact. In fact, he had two clear-cut attempts on goal and showcased some wizardry link-up play.

Brais Mendez: 6/10

The midfielder was brought on to sustain energy levels in the middle and he did just that, regularly pressing Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakiti?.

Facundo Roncaglia: N/A

With Barcelona piling on more pressure in the dying minutes, the 30-year-old was brought on to help sure up the defence.

FC Barcelona

Celta de Vigo v Barcelona - Copa Del Rey

Jasper Cillessen: 6/10

There was nothing the Dutchman could have said or done about Pione Sisto’s rocket of an equaliser. The Dane’s strike was too hot to handle, but apart from that, the goalkeeper stood up tall to what Celta Vigo could throw at him. Surprisingly enough, Vigo kept Cillessen busier than Barca kept Alvarez.

Nelson Semedo: 7/10

Despite being tormented by Pione Sisto all game, Semedo still found time to be effective in attack. It was because of the full-back’s attacking intent that Sisto was afforded so much joy down the left flank. However, Semedo began to tame his attacking runs in the second half. When he did venture forward in the second half, he was creating chances with every single contribution.

Gerard Pique: 5/10

As the most experienced player in the Barcelona defence, Gerard Pique was meant to lead by example, instead, he became the weak point of the back four. Celta regularly tried to run in behind Pique, knowing fully well that he has a tendency to have lapses concentration.

Thomas Vermaelen: 7/10

In contrast to his supposedly superior defensive partner, Thomas Vermaelen was both assured on the ball and off it. The Belgian typically marked Maxi Gomez out the game, ensuring the 21-year-old didn’t have a meaningful goalscoring opportunity.

Lucas Digne: 5/10

Once again in another first-team opportunity, Lucas Digne didn’t do much to convince Ernesto Valverde that he should be challenging Jordi Alba on La Liga matchdays.

Paulinho: 5/10

The signing of the season was uncharacteristically off the pace, not being able to make a difference in either defence or attack.

Sergio Busquets: 6/10

This may be a sign of the times, but Celta Vigo were able to run through Barcelona’s midfield at will during the game. The usually positionally astute Spaniard was left scrambling on many occasions, as the likes of Wass and Sanchez overloaded him 2v1.

Andre Gomes: 7/10

The Portuguese midfielder has been under much scrutiny since arriving at the Nou Camp. But his involvement in Barcelona’s first goal was simply stunning. He ran with the ball for over 30 yards, beat one man and drilled across an inch-perfect cross for José Arnaiz. Exactly the type of play befitting of his £50million transfer fee.

Alex Vidal: 4/10

The 28-year-old was literally non-existent down the right. Anything good from the right came through the exploits of Nelson Semedo. Vidal wasn’t his normal electrifying and busy body self, instead, he struggled to take on the Celta Vigo defence and make incisive runs.

Denis Suárez: 5/10

It was a frustrating evening for Denis Suárez, as he wasn’t given the time or space to be his usual creative self. On the left flank, he looked out of ideas and lacking the physicality to make an impact.

José Arnaiz: 7/10

The 22-year-old once again took advantage of first-team football, by scoring his 2nd Copa del Rey goal in two appearances. Apart from that, he was a real livewire in the attack, often making runs that his teammates didn’t have the capabilities to feed.

Substitutions:

Ousmane Dembele: 6/10

In his first appearance in over 108 days, Barcelona’s record signing made his much-anticipated return to the pitch. Despite only having 18 minutes, Dembele still managed to create for Denis Suárez and have an attempt on goal himself.

Ivan Rakiti?: 6/10

With Barcelona comfortably losing the midfield battle, Ernesto Valverde brought on the Croatian to dictate the game and set a passing tempo. But the pace of the game was so intense that Rakiti? couldn’t slow it down.

Sergi Roberto: 5/10

It was clear that Celta Vigo were causing havoc down the flanks, so Valverde brought on Sergi Roberto reduce the number of overloads they were facing.