Alaves v. Barcelona Match Review (0-1): Frenkie Scores Game Winner In Lethargic Koeman-Like Style

The Barca Breakdown discussed a narrowly won Barcelona performance against Deportivo Alaves. In the attacking front we saw Abde, Torres, and Luuk De Jong. Xavi started Frenkie De Jong in the midfield in place of Gavi (out due to red card against Granada) alongside Busquets and Pedri. And in the back we finally see the return of Dest with Araujo, Pique, and Jordi Alba. 

 

It's hard to imagine Barca playing in such a lethargic, slow, and utterly uninteresting game against the 19th team on the table. Yet a late goal by Frenkie was the highlight of the 90 minutes. Other than that moment, Barca performed like a bottom tier team against a team facing relegation.

 

Xavi made incredibly late subs (first in the 71') when clearly his strategies on the pitch in the first 70' were not working whatsoever. The Breakdown questions how Xavi didn't implement changes to boost the energy of Barca (clearly the choice should have been Dembele). Of course Xavi started Alba, Busi, and Pique playing them another 90'.

 

In two weeks Barca will play Atletico Madrid, who are 1 point ahead of Barca and played the same games. After the performance in the Copa Del Rey against Athletic Bilbao and Alaves, Barca have almost zero chance of winning that game to take 4th on the table.