With many injuries to starters, Xavi had to opt a makeshift system with a new system. The game began with both the teams going end to end with Inaki Williams got his first shot on target in the initial exchanges, but Ter Stegan was able to stop that effort. Felix hit the crossbar from a cross by Ferran Torres and that was the first real attack from Barca. Nico Williams kept Cancelo busy by pushing him continuously with his runs.
Athletic Club had created chances, and had some shots on Barca goal, but Ter Stegan continued his good form in front of the goal. Inigo Martinez playing against his former club put up a grand display surprising many after a lackluster debut in his previous start. He was meticulous with his cross field passes and great with his blocks and often supported Christensen and Balde in defence. Felix was another stand out performer who created quite some problems to the opposition defence. Felix had kept the defenders busy and had a couple of goals denied by Unai Simon. Orial Romeu continued to get under pressure when pressed by multiple opponents.
Barca couldn’t create enough chances to score without the usual presence of a target man in the box. Felix, Ferran and Fermin tried to find an opening but often couldn’t deliver the end product. Xavi was good with his substitutions and brought in Araujo and Yamal in search of a goal, Yamal came close when he sent his shot wide of the goal post. Marc Guiu was introduced to play as a striker in the 79th minute and the combination of Inigo and Felix have found him running towards the goal with an accurate through ball between the defenders. Guiu finished off the move with an excellent finish under the incoming goalkeeper.
The goal eased the pressure on the players and they did well to maintain the lead and finish the game taking all the 3 points in the bag. La Masia keep providing solutions whenever the club is in need and has shown why it is seen as the best Academy in the world. The team will gain confidence with this win going into El Classico coming up next weekend and would want to leapfrog them to the top of the table with a with a win.
