This Champions League is no longer for Barça, who left the tournament at the drop of a hat, through the back door and in which they have only been able to beat Viktoria. There were no surprises in Pilsen against the team with the most goals in the maximum tournament, which took four more. But neither were there great claims or rebellions. Barcelona heard the Champions League anthem for the last time until, at least, September 2023. It will be ten months of exile. Goodbye, until next season. And he did it with a meeting in which it was impossible to recover lost prestige. It was a farewell without honors. Yes, with goals, but with a minimum exercise. It was a goodbye without sorrow or glory, without being able to amend the ballot.
In the eleven Iñaki Peña made his debut in goal, just as his coach Xavi had promised in the previous one. The goalkeeper, as he already taught in the tie against Galatasaray – where he was on loan – is good insurance when he is demanded from up close because he has reflexes and is brave. He had more work than expected. Because the local team got excited as the first half progressed, to the point of hitting the crossbar with a header. Peña, who excelled in several stops, could not do anything in the two goals received, neither in the maximum penalty nor in the header of the giant Chory, who finished off only because Marcos Alonso completely missed the mark.
There was also a desire to see Pablo Torre’s first start, after having only had three short minutes after his signing. The Cantabrian, on the other hand, had a stormy debut. Firstly because he allowed himself to be robbed by Kalvach from behind and close to the box. The Czech was planted in an unbeatable position but Peña became great and avoided the goal. Then because as soon as the second half started, he took a good slap to Ndiaye’s face. As if that were not enough, the former Racing player also committed the penalty that allowed Chory to close the gap. It was a desperate action from the interior because the center-backs, Piqué and Marcos Alonso, got lost in an aerial ball (both went for it) and ended up enabling the Viktoria striker.
Torre got rid of the bad taste in his mouth by making his debut as a scorer at 2-4 with a left foot… in which he was injured. Kessié also fell, who acted as a pivot.
Xavi asked his players to go into the match motivated to want to demonstrate, while being aware of their privilege. And a few paid attention to him. One of the usual, a Gavi for whom there are no encounters that annoy or cause him reluctance but he always shows his face. Jordi Alba and Ferran Torres also wanted to be noticed. The left-back was sharpened by the band of him putting several dangerous centers. For his part, Ferran occupied the position of nine that Lewandowski left free, at home, officially with back discomfort. Obviously with another style and other weapons, more mobile and combinative.
The former City player failed to hit the first time in the mouth of the goal. But he was able to quench his thirst for goals with a brace against a Viktoria whom he had already beaten at the Camp Nou. On the other hand, Ansu Fati was left wanting.
The 0-1 was about to be Fati because his shot was swallowed by Stanek below the body. But when the ball was about to go in, it stopped on the line. Until there Marcos Alonso entered with power to clinch. The Czech goalkeeper showed little security by not being able to stop a distant attempt from Piqué but Ansu Fati will have to keep testing him and looking for himself.
The third striker was Raphinha, another one who is in need of encouragement. Perhaps his one-on-one as a winger did not come out, but his self-esteem was reinforced because he was involved in the other three Barça goals. At the edge of the break, the Brazilian changed from the right to the left where Alba entered, who headed the ball to Ferran Torres. The Valencian shot and the VAR validated the goal and the 0-2 went up to the scoreboard.
As soon as Viktoria scored, between Ferran Torres and Raphinha they reacted quickly. The two made a mine inside the area and Torres scored with his left foot against a passive defense.
The 1-3 did not do justice to the efforts of the locals, just like the final 2-4. The entry of Marc Casadó –second debutant– and Álvaro Sanz, two very academic midfielders, did not manage to make Barça dominate against the willful and lazy Viktoria, who also dared against a gray and official Barça that did not convince either.
Viktoria Pilsen: Stanek, Holik, Hejda, Pernica, Jemelka (Havel 57), N’Diaye (Bucha 57), Kalvach (Cermak 78), Jirka, Vlkanova, Pilar (Kronus 88) y Chory (Bassey 79).
Barcelona: Iñaki Peña, Bellerin, Pique, Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba (57), Kessie (67), Pablo Torre (77), Gavi, Raphinha (Dembele 77), Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati.
Goals: 1-0: Marcos Alonso, min.6. 2-0: Ferran Torres, min.44. 1-2: Chory (p.), min.52. 3-1: Ferran Torres, min.54. 2-3: Chory, min.63. 2-4: Pablo Torre, min. 75.
Referee: Radu Petrescu (RUM). He showed yellow card to Gavi (min.42), N’Dyaye (min.46), Pablo Torre (min.50) and Ferran Torres (min.90 1).
Incidents: Match of the sixth and final day of Group C played at the Doosan Arena before some 11,000 spectators.
