League football returned to Camp Nou on Thursday night, as Barcelona took on Athletic Club, looking to build on their fantastic opening-day win at Elche.
Last season they won all of their home games in La Liga, scoring an average of three goals per game, becoming the first team to do so in a 20-team league.
It was also the first time Barca had achieved the feat since the 1959/60 campaign.
Athletic hadn’t won any of the last 13 head-to-heads, and nor had they won a league game at Camp Nou since November
2001, losing 21 and drawing three of the matches since then.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game…
Gordon is right at home on the left
Once again, Anthony Gordon looked completely at home down the left flank for Barcelona.
That he’s settled so quickly into his role is to his great credit, and the outlet he offers gives the Catalans much more width on the left.
By making the pitch wider, as it were, it pulls defenders out of position, leaving room for others to go about their work with relative ease.
Gordon’s physicality and pace were both in evidence at various stages, and these elements of his game will also serve him and the squad well during the season. An excellent summer buy.
Rodri debut shows Barca’s strength in depth
I’m not sure that Barcelona, in recent times at least, have ever had the strength in depth that they possess at this moment.
Being able to bring on Rodri and Dani Olmo, whilst still having the likes of Joao Cancelo, Jules Kounde, Karim Adeyemi, Alejandro Balde, Andreas Christensen and others on the bench is a hugely encouraging sign.
The options and benefits that will be afforded to the coaching staff in certain games, injuries and suspensions permitting, are obvious.
The high line still needs work
Culers have to admire Hansi Flick’s determination to play with the high defensive line, despite the evident risks that it presents.
In order for it to work properly, however, each member of the back three or four has to be on the same page.
Sounds simple, right?
On a number of occasions against Athletic, one or more defenders were caught on their heels, and were it not for Joan Garcia’s excellence and Los Leones’ profligacy, the scoreline could’ve been different.
The movements should be automatic, so whoever is tasked by the German coach to be stationed at the back can just slot in with ease, rather than disrupt the defensive balance.
