FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves - Laliga Match Review - Jan 28, 2018

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves 

Laliga Match Review - Jan 28, 2018

How can a team be totally dominant and yet let the opposition score? You got to watch the Laliga game between Barcelona and Alaves to know that - especially the first half.

After his impressive cameo in the Copa del Rey, Coutinho debuted in the La Liga for FC Barcelona against Alaves. Valverde had Iniesta on the left, Messi in the middle and Coutinho on the right (?). Rakitic and Paulinho in the middle. Umtiti and Pique were in defence flanked by Semedo on the right and Digne on the left. Luis Suarez was the lone striker.

Despite possessing the ball most of the time, Barcelona were unable to create any clear cut chances.
Alaves came in all prepared as they threw bodies in defense. All the 10 Alaves players were in their own half defending with all their might. They also broke free when they got the ball, which left the high pressing Barca defense totally exposed.

It was total chaos once Alaves broke upfront with their sudden aggression. Suddenly it was like the old Barcelona - all jittery and indisciplined at the back. The talented quartet of Ibai, Sobrino, Medran and Guidetti posed a huge threat whenever Alaves attacked. They broke free a couple of times, but lacked the finishing.

Still it was all Barcelona as they had most of the possession - but there was a definite lack of rhythm. Coutinho did not fit on the right and looked out of sorts. He was kind of caught in the middle of things and couldn't negotiate the passes easily. Digne's lack of understanding with the ever awesome Iniesta was a problem on the left. Semedo was not very effective on the right.

With too many bodies around, even Iniesta and Messi misplaced a number of passes. One such pass resulted in the 1st goal much against the run of play. Messi gave away the ball in the Alaves half and Medran, who got the ball, gave a wonderful, long pass to Guidetti who shot on target, with no Barcelona defenders around leaving Ter Stegen totally hapless. Alaves went up 0-1. Ter Stegen denied Alaves a 2nd goal with a great save of a thunderous shot from Sobrino. At half time it looked like it was going to be a repeat of last year's loss at the Camp Nou for Barca. But being so dominant, it was expected of Barcelona to score sooner or later

At the start of the second half, Alaves almost scored another, but the strong attempt by Ruben Duarte from another great pass from Ibai was deflected . In the meantime Messi's fantastic free kick was saved by the goalkeeper Pacheo who was at his best. In the middle of all the chaos, a solid Rakitic worked tirelessly as the defensive midfielder and was tracking back and forth effectively getting the ball in the process. Valverde brought in Sergi Roberto for Semedo and Jordi Alba for Digne.  Alcacer came in for Coutinho.

Things started clicking upfront as Iniesta, who played the entire match, moved with more energy. He looped in a wonderful pass from near the back line. The ball seemed to move in slow motion - such was the beauty of the magician's pass. Suarez was perfectly positioned for that great cross and finished it off wonderfully. It was 1-1 and Barca stepped up its offence. The Alaves defense were also up to task defending tooth and nail. The goalkeeper was kept on his toes by the waves of attack. Alaves also broke free a few times and were furious when a penalty appeal for a hand ball, by Umtiti, was turned down.

As the final 10 minutes approached, the pressure intensified. Alcacer was brought down near the D and Messi stepped in to take his 3rd free kick of the day. He was 3rd time lucky as the ball flew into the Alaves goal, with the goalkeeper just caressing it in his attempt to stop the goal. It was 2-1 and Alaves were totally frustrated at the turn of events. Once they took the lead, Barca were resolute and saw off the rest of the game without too many problems.

It was a game filled with if and buts.

Alaves, though not a big team, were tough opponents whom Valverde seem to have surprisingly underestimated. Rotation is good but not to the level of chaos.

Alaves may have been aggrieved about the penalty not given, but the Referee was quite tolerant to their constant physical tactics. Wakaso in particular was a serial offender who should have been sent off.

It is too early for Coutinho to be given a full game and ideally he should have been a substitute for Iniesta. He is a fantastic player and looks every bit a part of this team. Unlike Neymar, he has the right temperament and great skills. But playing him out of position in his very first game was not a bright idea.

Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Busquets are indispensable in big games and should be a part of the starting 11.

Finally it was the exemplary fighting quality of the Barcelona players that saw FC Barcelona through this tricky whirlpool.

Barcelona definitely dodged a bullet with this win.