Barcelona produced a clinical performance to sweep aside Deportivo La COruna’s challenge at home as Lionel Messi made a scoring return to action for the team. Brazilian Rafinha played a starring role in the first half with two goals.
Luis Suarez made it three with brilliant movement and an even better finish. Luis Enrique brought on Lionel Messi in the 55th minute and he only needed 3 short minutes to find the back of the net with what was only his second or third touch of the game.
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Deportivo made it difficult for Barcelona in the opening few minutes of the game but mistakes led to their own undoing. Here are five talking points from the game:
1) Barca not fluid but efficient
The scoreline might flatter the Catalans but there is no doubt the influence Messi has on this team is immense. Barcelona scored 3 goals in the first half itself but for a while, it looked like Deportivo were holding their own against the hosts.
Barcelona were very efficient in finishing off their chances when they got them and once the first goal went it, the Catalans sniffed blood. It was more of a case of taking your chances rather than completely dominating the opposition and carving out chance after chance.
Once Lionel Messi came on Barcelona did look a lot more threatening. The Argentine needed only three minutes to get on the scoresheet as his brilliant run and finish capped off the win. But Barcelona looked a lot more fluent with Mess in the side with the dynamic and style completely changing because of the forwards’ vision and movement.
2) Rafinha proving his worth at wing back
Barcelona played a back three today because both of their two first choice full backs were injured. Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto were unavailable for selection which meant Lucas Digne and Rafinha started as the wing backs.
The Brazilian scored twice in the first half and linked up brilliantly with his Brazilian teammate Neymar. Despite all the money Barca have spent in the summer, it is their academy products who are showing their worth in a star-studded team.
Recently there has been a lot of talk about how the La Masia academy hasn’t been producing the kind of talent it used but the likes of Sergi Roberto and now Rafinha are showing that there is still a lot of talent in their ranks.
There also seems to be a hint of Dani Alves in Rafinha the way he plays, his movement on the pitch and his link up play with his teammates.
3) Samuel Umtiti should play in defence
Barcelona had one of their more routine and comfortable games today but at the start, there were a lot of unsettled nerves both amongst the fans and the players. Derpotivo played a press that rattled the likes of Mascherano and Mathieu
The Catalans were slow to start and the away side were doing well to contain them and looked threatening on the counter. Once the goals came then the defence and the rest of the team were a lot more settled but against better opposition, it could have been a different story.
Samuel Umtiti proved he can handle the pressure of playing at the highest level when he deputised for the injured Varane at the Euros. He is also very composed on the ball and is probably a better option to Mathieu.
Mascherano is not a natural centre-back and will probably never be completely accustomed to the role next to Pique. The sooner the Frenchman gets a run in the side the faster their back four will be settled.
4) Barcelona have to keep Lionel Messi fit
Lionel Messi only needed one touch to score and only three minutes on the pitch to have an impact for Barcelona today. The Catalans did labour a little in the first half and played with efficiency rather than ruthlessness.
Keeping Messi on the bench from the start was a good move by Enrique considering his recent injury struggles. When he came on the nature of play and confidence of the whole team just shot up a notch.
Although they only managed a single goal in the second half they created a lot more chances than they did in the first because of the movement and vision of the Argentine magician.
Suarez was taken off at half-time and Alcacer was brought on. The striker at least had three clear cut chances to score a goal but his horrible finishing meant Messi’s contribution in the game won’t reflect in the numbers after it.
5) Lapses of concentration cost Deportivo the game
The scoreline looks very comfortable in Barcelona’s favour but the way the game began it looked like the Catalans were not going to have it all their own way. Deportivo were holding a good defensive line and were making it difficult for Barca to break them down.
They also pressed the defence whenever they got the chance, at times they were regarded winning the ball in Barca’s half. But what decided the first half in Barca’s favour was sloppy play from the visitors.
The first goal was because of their cheap concession of possession. That resulted in the floodgates being opened as Barca took the chances that came their way. This game was one Depotivo probably didn’t expect to win but they will need better performances against other teams of their calibre.
It was their goalkeeper Lux who produced several outstanding saves in the second half to ensure it wasn’t 7 or 8 goals once Messi was brought on.
