From two teams low on morale and touched on their pride, a weak match emerged, as it could not be otherwise. Both demonstrated to a large extent why they have not been able to meet their objectives. Almería, bottom and relegated weeks ago, has been fighting hard for the goal since August. Barcelona, ??which has not been able to defend the League title, was permissive in its pressure on the passers and imprecise in its construction, a cocktail that against more talented rivals, namely Madrid or PSG, has been fatal. Against Almería, Fermín was enough and little else. The young people have been the drivers who have put Barça with one foot in Arabia.
Both Baptistão and Choco Lozano missed goals in front of Ter Stegen, in open, frontal positions, with everything in their favor. It’s not that the German goalkeeper grew big and made saving saves. The home team’s shots weren’t even between the three posts. Adri Embarba’s cross shot, a little more accurate, crashed into the base of the post. Any of those occasions would have meant a tie and changed the situation. It was not so.
If Barcelona has played very few complete games this season, they are not going to do them now in May, when they barely have any goals to fight for. Against Real Sociedad the Blaugrana got into tune after half an hour to end up putting in an interesting performance. In Almería it was exactly the opposite. As if he wanted to complement his performance on Monday, after Lamine Yamal’s right-footed shot hit the post and after a bicycle kick to Chumi, in the 28th minute, Xavi’s team began to dissipate.
The start was encouraging for a Barça team in which three youth players coincided in the lineup. Because the immovable ones, on their own merits, Cubarsí in defense and Lamine Yamal on the right wing, were joined by Héctor Fort, who placed Cancelo within Xavi’s rotations, which also included Raphinha and Christensen, in addition to the suspended Gündogan.
Barcelona therefore played with five youth players, since Sergi Roberto and Fermín formed the core with Pedri. Without the energy of Raphinha and the light of Gündogan, it was up to La Masia to provide the criteria and enthusiasm. And it seems that young people are the only ones who are not annoyed or annoyed by this end of the year. For them, every day is an opportunity to take advantage of, to rebel. While others act like officials, they dream, run and have fun. That is the blessing that the team and the Barcelona fans have. And even the box, because it is his impetus that has almost put the club in the Arabian Super Cup.
To the tightrope walker dribbles of Lamine Yamal, who placed Langa on the baseline using his spur, and the vertical passes of Cubarsí, who is capable of leaving Lewandowski alone, who shot high with his left foot, the arrival of the area of ??Fermín, who has the goal between his eyebrows, and the good footing of Fort when he joins the attack.
The winger was able to raise his head and place a great center curled into the heart of the small area. Fermín appeared there to jump and head in front of Maximiano, an impulse in the air that already paid off against Atlético and Valencia.
Barcelona was able to increase its advantage with another corner at the far post, a play from which they took great advantage, which Iñigo Martínez was unable to score. And, right after Lamine Yamal’s post, the match completely lost its competitiveness, almost as if it were a summer friendly. Barça stopped putting pressure on its rival, as if it did not want to cause more blood. This lack of appetite aroused even the irony of the Almería fans who found solace by chanting their team’s passes with olés.
Only Fermín ended that lethargy after an arrival from Sergi Roberto from the left wing. The Andalusian hooked the captain’s center first to beat Maximiano again to score his first double with the first team and reach double digits. The youth squad’s streak, which is always noticeable, contrasts with the Valencian striker, who despite having gone 12 games without celebrating, is still the second top scorer in the locker room. With Almería surrendered, Xavi wanted to spice up the final minutes with the entry of Vitor Roque, who must receive the same yellow cards as kicks. The Brazilian does not have Fermín’s spark.
Almería: Maximiano, Pubill (Pozo 80), Chumi, Montes, Langa, Robertone, Peña, Baptistão (Luis Suárez 58), J. Viera (Melero 69), Embarba (Centelles 80) and Choco Lozano (Lukas Romero 58).
Coach: Pepe Mel.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Héctor Fort (Cancelo 73), Sergi Roberto (Christensen 70), Pedri (Oriol Romeu 82), Fermín, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres (Vitor Roque 73) and Lewandowski (João Félix 69).
Coach: Xavi Hernández.
Stadium: Power Horse Stadium in Almería, 15,543 spectators.
Referee: Alberola Rojas (Castilian-La Mancha school).
Cards: Showed yellow to Vitor Roque for Barcelona.
Goals: 0-1 Fermín (14), 0-2 Fermín (67).
