Minimum objective, met. Third consecutive victory in a week and second position in the bag. Barça will finish runners-up after defeating Rayo and will be in the Arabian Super Cup. An early goal from Lewandowski, once again substituted, and two from a resurrected Pedri in the second half served to settle the score. All under the gaze of a circumspect Xavi and seasoned by minority cries against Joan Laporta that were repeated. From the same area, the cheering stands, they sang in favor of the coach, which was received by whistles from another part of the public.
In his most turbulent hours as Barça coach, the coach behaved as usual. That is to say, he practically never left his technical area. At times he gave instructions, at times he lamented. Of course, almost always with a serious face consistent with what was experienced in the days before the game.
In the sporting aspect, the coach opted for an eleven with three changes compared to Almería. Three classics appeared on the pitch such as Cancelo, Gündogan and Raphinha and Héctor Fort, Pedri and Ferran Torres remained on the bench.
Amidst shouts of “Barça, yes, Laporta, no, and more pace than expected.
That’s why it took no time at all for the Barcelona team to advance with a very impressive goal. Lamine Yamal, what a gem, cooked a gourmet maid at the exact cooking point and Lewandowski lowered the ball with his chest to impale it first into the net. A bit magnificent that put the landscape on track from the start.
Lamine Yamal, as usually the most creative of the team, was able to score the second next but his shot went very wide. The football match promised a lot for Blaugrana interests, but as so many times this season the team did not maintain competitive tension and Rayo threatened Ter Stegen. He first looked for Cubarsí’s back, as other rivals have done lately, and then finished. Ciss and De Frutos tested the Barça goalkeeper and Camello gave a fabulous control that was not accompanied by a good shot.
This series of warnings woke up Barcelona, ??who were able to increase their advantage on a counterattack that Lewandowski, selfish in his fight for the top scorer, wasted by not returning the ball to Raphinha who was alone. The Brazilian, in his vertigo line of recent weeks, took a closed corner that went to the post and also a foul that almost surprised the Rayo goalkeeper.
The match was open and the cheering crowd returned up to seven times until half-time in their cries of censure of the president, now limited to “Barça, yes, Laporta no.” Other spectators, also few, responded with whistles. The majority, perhaps tourists, looked at him in silence.
Upon returning from the locker room, with Christensen already on the field, Barça tried to score but more at a trot than at a gallop, like in Almería, and Rayo could have tied if Álvaro had known how to beat Ter Stegen. Of course Fermín responded with a howitzer that Dimitrievski cleared, all reflexes. Cannon shot that woke up a stunned crowd. Xavi did not see it clearly and he made a triple change (João Félix, Araújo and Pedri) in search of fresh legs and minds. The changes proved vital. Although the Canary came in cold and erratic, a machine for losing balls, the coach advanced his position so as not to take risks in the build. If at that moment they had told him that he was going to score two goals, not even he would have believed it.
The only thing missing was a wave attempt from the respectable one that did not bear fruit to cause the total mess. In that state, Rayo stood up again against Ter Stegen, who repelled a dangerous kick from Isi. Barça played with fire once again.
However, when he was about to get burned, João Félix did magic with two incredible dribbles before the ball fell to Pedri after a rebound. The canary shot and after hitting the ball on the crossbar he went in. The second goal, a billiards work, and the third, devastating.
Araújo threw deep to Pedri, who was right again. Now he did let his smile be seen. Excellent news. In a couple of minutes he had scored as many goals as he had this season. Everything decided, and minutes for Vitor Roque, encouraged by the same people who criticized Laporta. A quilombo
