Liga, Barcelona-Valladolid 1-0: Dembelé in the 90th minute, minus one from Atlertico

Koeman’s team exploits the numerical superiority in the final, beats Valladolid 1-0 and goes close to the Colchoneros

Barça hit the target, but sweat more than expected against a generous Valladolid. To snatch the three points that are worth the 19th consecutive useful result, we need a flash in the 90th minute of Dembélé, after a final played in numerical superiority. The Catalans thus move to only one distance from Atletico Madrid, bypassing Real Madrid again, next weekend’s rival. Messi can thus end with a flourish an evening that began with the homage of the captains and the club for the attendance record snatched from Xavi.

–

REDUCED RANGES

—

The opportunity is too good for the Blaugrana, consequently Koeman does not make calculations and draws the best possible eleven despite the warnings of Messi and De Jong five days from the Clasico. This means returning the Dutchman back to the center of defense in place of Piqué (who will be available again against the Blancos), while in front there is the trident of wonders against a Valladolid decimated by injuries and suspensions. Sergio Gonzalez must in fact do without 12 elements for what on paper is a mission bordering on the impossible, on a field in which the albivioletas have not won since 1997.

–

STOP THE POLE

—

Yet Valladolid sells their skin dearly defending en bloc in the last 20 meters, without giving up insidious restarts thanks to a midfield that always accompanies at least five men. And so in the 9th minute the guests gave Ter Stegen the shivers with a header from Kodro that hit the crossbar, a sign that it will not be a walk in the park for Barça anyway. Confirmation comes in the next 20 ‘in which Valladolid shoots three more times, albeit with poor accuracy. In the meantime, the Catalans are struggling to find spaces to pierce the opponent’s defense, delaying 45 ‘to pack the first shot in the mirror that arrives thanks to Pedri, but Masip manages to deflect just enough to send the ball to the post and block in two halves .

–

ON THE WOOL THREAD

—

Koeman’s troop thus realizes they have to change gear and raises the center of gravity in the recovery, giving rise to a pounding siege. Dembélé finally enters the heart of the maneuver, Jordi Alba begins to push consistently and, despite some sporadic risk on the counterattack, Barça begins to pack repetitive opportunities. At 58 ‘Griezmann tries (header just wide), then it’s up to Messi and the new entrant Trincao, but Masip is always well positioned. A great help to the Blaugrana was given by the referee Jaime Latre, who in the 79th minute chased Oscar Plano for an entry from behind on Dembélé who would have deserved a simple yellow card. Messi and company thank and take advantage of it right at the end thanks to a left on the fly of the French, who is found in the right place on a spike of Araujo. A sigh of relief for Koeman just as the three points seemed to fade.

–