FC Barcelona crowned La Liga 2018-19 Champions after their 1-0 win over Levante
Barca vs Levante - Match Report:
FC Barcelona had the chance to be crowned La Liga Champions at their beloved Camp Nou if they won against Levante. With one eye on the upcoming UCL clash against the rugged Liverpool, Valverde benched a few key players including Messi, Busquets and Roberto. Dembele and Coutinho started for Barcelona along with Vidal.
Barcelona looked determined and were the superior team on all aspects in the 1st half. They were also feisty in their approach as they never let Levante gain any kind of momentum. A host of chances presented itself to a lively Coutinho and the lurking Suarez as Vidal, Arthur, Alba and Dembele fed them with some great balls.
Arthur, Rakitic and Vidal controlled the midfield while Alba and Semedo took care of controlling the attacks. Semedo was okay in defence, but he does not offer much on the right in attacks. Lenglet and Pique were on top of their game as they kept Levante at bay and pushed Barcelona forward.
Luis Suarez this season has the unenvious statistics of missing most of the big chances in La Liga. It was no different in this game as he kept missing and striking weakly, in the first half.
Compared to his recent outings, Coutinho had a good game. But his finishing was poor as a result he did not have too much to show in terms of end result.
Dembele as usual was wayward after his injury layoff. His decision making in the D was back to square one. He did send in some great crosses, but there was no one to put the finishing touches.
By the end of the first half, Coutinho had missed a number of sitters and his free kick hit the woodwork. Luis Suarez missed a few while Lenglet also missed a great chance to score from a set piece. Such was the dominance of Barca that Levante were totally pegged back in their own half and did not have a single shot on goal in the first half.
Barcelona sorely missed that key cog – the one who was sealing things for them throughout this season. (I don’t need to mention that name, do I?)
In the 2nd half Messi came in for Coutinho and the decibels at the Camp Nou went a few notches higher. There was an immediate effect on the play, at the entrance of the little Argentine, as he sent in beautiful balls into the paths of Suarez and Dembele, but both of them did not take advantage of it. Messi had a shot saved while Rakitic had the space and time to send in a typical rocket that missed the target by inches.
Soon Messi gave a ball to Dembele in the box, who seemed to have lost the chance to score, by holding on to it for longer than needed. But the Frenchman did well to take control and cross it to Suarez whose booming shot ricocheted off a defender.
In came the one player who was trying his best to make something happen throughout the game – Arturo Vidal. Vidal sent the ball towards Messi who was smart enough, not to be in an offside position in the D (he is rarely caught offside) and watching all the action. Messi’s first touch was mesmeric as he brought the ball down. He cut back the ball to his left foot and took the lurking defenders out of the equation. Then with a low, delicate finish made it 1-0. Finally Barcelona had their long due goal.
But something totally unexpected happened, after the goal. The Barcelona midfield and defense lost focus and lapsed into a kind of inexplicable passivity. Passes were misplaced and Levante saw more of the ball. Barca’s defense came under tremendous, self-inflicted pressure. Mayoral and Morales missed good chances as Ter Stegen was called into action. One was reminded of the painful fact was this was the team that broke FC Barcelona’s unbeaten run in La Liga last season.
Meanwhile Busquets came in for Arthur. Barca did try and attack in the middle of their defensive mayhem. Vidal, Suarez and Messi were on target but the Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez was top class as he kept the hopes of his team alive. As Levante pressed harder for a goal, panic and anxiety took over the Barcelona box. Players were committing fouls and it was a chaotic defending at its best as Levante won free kicks and corners in quick succession.
With the game edging towards the finish, Levante almost spoiled the Championship party of FC Barcelona. A shot on target by Bardhi hit the post and much to the relief of a stunned Ter Stegen, bounced back out. The vigilant German scrambled quickly and caught it much to the relief of his team and the tensed Camp Nou audience. Finally the ordeal was over and Barcelona won 1-0.
As Captain Messi lifted the Cup in ecstasy, at the Camp Nou in front of his adoring fans, it was poetic justice because on the day the ball had refused to go in for everyone else (including Levante) except for the deserving, genius’s shot on target. It was Messi’s 10th league title and the magician deserves every one of it.
Congratulations to FC Barcelona on being crowned the Laliga 2018-19 Champions. A truly deserving title for the entire team.
Kudos to Ernesto Valverde for taking Barca to their 2nd league title in 2 years.
Epilogue:
Eight league titles in 11 years is an incredible achievement for FC Barcelona. It shows how consistent Barca are and how much potential they have. It was a hard earned and difficult road to success this year. As the team continues its transition, there are bigger games coming up.
Despite all the struggles it was a happy ending as the team celebrated the title win with their loving families at the Camp Nou. Players like Ter Stegen, Pique, Lenglet, Vidal, Arthur, Rakitic, Busquets, Alba, Roberto, Dembele, Semedo, Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Alena and Malcom have done extremely well to help pull the team through tough situations this season. But one guy had been inspirational in turning negatives into positives. Lionel Messi is what makes this good Barcelona team great.
By sealing the La Liga title early, Valverde and Barca can now turn their full attention to UCL. It was good that Valverde had managed to rest some of his key players but Barca cannot afford to switch off in the middle of a game.
For the challenges awaiting them, Barcelona needs to be more focused and coherent as a team for the entire 90 plus minutes. Their strikers, except Messi, are missing way too many chances. A team could play all they want and dominate the game. But if they are unable to finish it, all the great play doesn’t really matter.
It’s time that the rest of the cast raised their game to that of their Captain since the upcoming weeks would need everyone to give it their all.
It’s time that the rest of the cast raised their game to that of their Captain since the upcoming weeks would need everyone to give it their all.
Good luck and fingers crossed. Forca Barca!
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