Champions League football returned after a break of a few weeks, with Barca in Istanbul for a date with Turkish giants, Galatasaray. Could the Catalans make it 10 wins out of 10 from the start of the season? Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game…
Flick surprises with Olmo experiment
Say what you like about Hansi Flick, but he’s certainly a brave coach who isn’t frightened of trying different things if he has a genuine belief that they could work.
Against Galatasaray, he opted to have Dani Olmo as a false nine, rather
than, perhaps, Gabriel Jesus as a more traditional centre-forward.
It certainly wasn’t an experiment where culers couldn’t understand the logic, because there was obvious reasoning behind Flick’s decision.
Olmo would not only be able to potentially get on the end of crosses given the chance, but he would also operate as the player linking midfield with attack as and when needed.
Though he hadn’t been overly involved in the opening 45, he almost scored with a flying header, and right when Barca were crying out for a goal, as half-time approached, it was Olmo’s magnificent challenge on Davinson Sanchez that set up Joao Cancelo for the equaliser.
It’s a shame for the 28-year-old that he didn’t do an awful lot more to affect play, though oddly enough he didn’t have a bad game either.
His movement and the way he took up positions on the pitch will ensure that Flick will try the experiment again, though whether one could say he took the opportunity to shut a few mouths and stake his claim for more permanence from the start is probably stretching it just a little bit.
Total control in the most hostile of atmospheres
Let’s be clear. Even when Barcelona went behind, it was absolutely against the run of play.
Though the visitors hadn’t scored to that point, they had been far and away the better side, dominating possession and chance creation, but they were hit by a sucker punch.
Things could’ve been so much worse had Victor Osimhen’s goal not been ruled out shortly after, but Barca deserved that slice of luck.
Cancelo’s goal came at just the right time, and in the second half, it was no contest.
The way that the Catalans knocked the ball about, taking the sting out of the game in the process, was a joy to watch, and the two early goals from Fermin Lopez and Anthony Gordon were no more than they deserved.
If there was one tiny criticism to make, maybe it was that the visitors hadn’t taken their chances in the first half, as they could’ve been home and dry even before the official blew his whistle for the break.
A sensational display in a hostile setting that deservedly sent Barca to the top of the Champions League table.
Defending from the front proves key
Much will be made of the fact that Barca scored another four goals.
In eight league games and two Champions League games this season, all of which have been won, the Blaugranes have scored a sensational 43 goals.
No other club on the continent comes close.
The pace, power and commitment from all of the attacking personnel, and those midfielders that enjoy supplementing the forays upfield, have ensured that opponents just haven’t been able to live with them.
That’s made the back four’s life much easier as a result, and the most positive aspect of this way of playing… the team just won’t ease up. They keep going for the jugular.
At 4-1 up against Gala and with only a few minutes left, the Catalans were still looking for a fifth. Not a single thought in their minds of sitting back and protecting the lead.
Magnificent!
