Playing Real Oviedo at the Camp Nou is one of those games that should be automatic on paper.
It’s first place versus last place in the table. Winning La Liga, however, means not getting tripped up by taking these matches for granted. Anyone in a relegation battle should be seen as dangerous, because every game in the second half of the season is consequential for them.
Real Madrid are picking up momentum, and have shown that Barcelona must fight every time out to stay in front of them.
What you have
to like about Dani Olmo’s goal, and Barcelona’s performance writ large, is that they stayed cool and organized, while patiently waiting for the moment in front of goal to arrive. This wasn’t first time that Olmo was decisive in a game that could have gone in either direction.
With Pedri injured, Barcelona will need a whole team effort to keep the wins coming in a critical stretch of the season.
It was great seeing Marc Casadó get the start. I wouldn’t expect to see him in the biggest games, but he has to be able to step into the rotation and put in a solid shift for his team. It was no frills, and nothing truly for the highlight real, but Casadó was tidy and effective on both sides of the ball. In the meantime, it allowed other players to get a rest ahead of a critical Champions League fixture against Copenhagen midweek.
Still, there are more questions than answers at the moment. While Real Madrid surges, Barcelona will have to give a response, every time out, to show that they can get the job done as the pressure grows.
The more consistent they are, the more the pressure gets thrown back on their rival.
It’s a all hands on deck situation at the moment. That’s why it’s great to see everyone contributing.
One thing I loved in this game was not only seeing Lamine Yamal score a spectacular goal, but also seeing him track back and help defensively. Maybe some of that Raphinha energy is rubbing off on him. They even have a new collaborative goal celebration.
Today, it was Dani Olmo’s day. Last time, it was Fermin Lopez. The good news is a lot of players are stepping up, and there is no dependency on anyone. That’s a credit to the system that Hansi Flick is created.
But playing without Pedri will continue to be a big test.
Bigger challenges lie ahead.
The ultimate question will be whether Barcelona is still in first place when the star midfielder returns.
There’s no time for complacency or excuses. Every game counts. Every opponent must be taken seriously.
