BARCELONA (Jordi Blanco, correspondent) – Barcelona regained the competition rhythm but is still anchored in the football depression. He beat Elche in between yawns one day, the next, forgetting that the result, 3-0, was the only thing that kept the spotlight from refocusing on the flat play of a team condemned in the second half after a embarrassing first.
Lionel Messi doubles, two assists from Martin Braithwaite and, in any case, definition, what Ronald Koeman demands so much, restored Barça’s hopes, which, however, showed signs of weakness in football, especially in the first 45 minutes of the game. without any logic.
Messi opened the can as he returned from halftime and finished a high heel from Braithwaite and condemned the mid-second half victory with a goal, masterfully defining Frenkie de Jong’s excellent play in what was almost the only thing to be saved from a meeting again very far from the expected. Barça won, Messi pushed him to victory again … But that’s all. Braithwaite rounded off his performance by giving Jordi Alba 3-0, after Elche had already surrendered and from the moment the match was condemned.
FORGET
Without soul, without game, without depth, without agility, without rhythm or intensity, the Barça team completed a first half to be forgotten in all respects, which made Elche dare to dream of the bell. And very quickly, when Trincao responded to a first opportunity after four minutes with a golden opportunity that he did not describe in complete confusion, very serious, of the Barça defense.
It could already be Clement Lenglet or Samuel Umtiti accompanying Gerard Piqué in the back; Sergiño Dest may already be performing or Oscar Mingueza on the side, the truth is that the Barcelona defense is a tragedy in every game and suffering is only part of all the football ills burning a team to which the matches are made. Longer and more uncomfortable with every passing minute.
Barça could not break the rival order, determined to enter through the center, without opening the game to the limit and telling every intention out loud. But without offering him a solution. The game seemed like a copy of the game against Cádiz, perhaps more worrisome when you arrive scoreless halfway through and the urgency already knocks on the door.
MESSI
And so began, with doubt and alarm, a second half dubbed as a drama but quickly evaporated, when a combination between Messi and Braithwaite ended with the Argentinian’s 1-0 goal without giving Elche time to get used to it. . , forcing him to change the plan.
It’s not that Barça rebelled in their game, but they did find greater fluidity from midfield forward. The entry of Ousmane Dembélé offered him more solutions and he reached Badia’s goal with more danger, until an excellent play by De Jong condemned her with Majesty Messi, doubles scorer, top scorer of the championship, leader, opener and savior, the next day. another, of this Barça halfway through the resurrection or ultimate collapse.
With the 2-0, the game was over, all doubts cleared and the local victory confirmed, but turned into a beating thanks to Jordi Alba, who rounded off an excellent Braithwaite chief assistant to regain the smile.
Barça won. While football is still a long way from what was expected, it has at least achieved its first goal: to rediscover victory.