Barcelona remain in second place in the La Liga standings and only two points behind the leaders thanks to a hard-fought 3-1 win away to newly-promoted Real Oviedo at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium on Thursday
night. Barça were the better team throughout the night but fell behind in the first half in wild fashion, but the Catalans dominated the second half and found the net three times to secure all three points and win a third consecutive game in the league and fourth in a row in all competitions since the international break.
FIRST HALF
Oviedo came out to fight to begin the game, with a bold and attacking plan with plenty of bodies forward and a couple of dangerous moments on set pieces in the first 10 minutes. Barça eventually took control of the ball and forced the home team to retreat, and started to create real scoring chances.
It’s hard to understand how Barça didn’t find the net in the first half, with at least four major opportunities that somehow didn’t end in a goal: Marcus Rashford forced two monster saves out of Aarón Escandell, Raphinha hit the inside of the post but the ball didn’t go in, and Ronald Araujo had a shot saved by Escandell just as the ball was about to go over the line.
The Blaugrana should have been ahead but couldn’t finish the many golden chances they created, and they were made to pay in bizarre fashion: Joan Garcia came out of his goal to play sweeper keeper but tried to be too cute and pass the ball short instead of kicking it long for a throw-in, and his misplaced pass fell to Alberto Reina who scored a sensational goal from just inside the halfway line to put Oviedo in front and send the home crowd into a frenzy.
Barça continued to press looking for an equalizer, but the halftime whistle came to end a period dominated by the Catalans but without the finishing touch, and the home team had a shocking lead thanks to one of the craziest goals you’ll see this season.
SECOND HALF
Hansi Flick sent on one of his big guns off the bench at halftime, as Frenkie de Jong replaced Marc Casadó in midfield. The Dutchman was immediately involved in the action, and Barça continued to dominate the ball while doing a better job of denying Oviedo’s counter-attacking threat.
The Blaugrana didn’t have to wait too long to find the equalizer, as Eric Garcia was quickest to the rebound after a shot from Ferran Torres was saved by the goalkeeper and found a way to smuggle the ball into the net. Robert Lewandowski then replaced Raphinha at the 65-minute mark, and five minutes later the Pole completed the comeback as he headed home a fantastic cross by De Jong to put Barça in front.
Barça had to endure some tough moments after the goal as Oviedo started to attack once again looking to get back in the game, but the Blaugrana defense stayed solid and avoided big trouble. They still needed another goal to make sure of the points, however, and they found it with two minutes left in regulation as Rashford sent a corner into the box and Ronald Araujo showed amazing strength to fend off his opponent and head it home for the visitors.
Oviedo almost got a second to create late drama but Garcia made a fantastic save from close range against Lucas Ahijado, and Barça were able to run out the clock to secure the win at the final whistle.
This was tough at times and having to come from behind is always a challenge, but Barça were clearly the better team and deserved the win. Joan Garcia made up for his mistake with a strong performance the rest of the game, and Frenkie de Jong was fantastic off the bench. Real Sociedad is up next, and the Catalans will look to continue building momentum as they chase their biggest rivals at the top of the table.
Well done, boys!
Oviedo: Escandell; Ahijado, Bailly, Carmo, Alhassane; Dendoncker (Colombatto 89’), Reina (Forés 76’); Hassan (Sibo 65’), Cazorla (Ilic 65’), Chaira (Brekalo 76’); Rondón
Goal: Reina (33’)
Barcelona: Garcia; Eric, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martín (Kounde 73’); Casadó (De Jong 46’), Pedri (Bernal 90+1’); Raphinha (Lewandowski 65’), Olmo, Rashford (Rashford 90+1’); Ferran
Goals: Eric (56’), Lewandowski (70’), Araujo (88’)
