![Barcelona vs Celta Vigo [4-1] Match Review - La Liga 19-20](https://talkbarca.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Barcelona-vs-Celta-Vigo-4-1-Match-Review-La-Liga-19-20.png "Barcelona vs Celta Vigo [4-1] Match Review – La Liga 19-20")
Welcome to TalkBarca. Our topic for today is the Match Review of Barcelona vs Celta Vigo. The match has ended and ended with a positive result. Barcelona has won 4-1 and it’s quite a convincing victory. Statistically, we were really good. However, if we look at the gameplay, there are not many positives to take from it. Stats don’t matter to me. I want my team to dominate the game and show everyone how strong of a side we actually are. Sadly, FC Barcelona didn’t do that in this game again. Celta Vigo actually outclassed us at our home. Let’s take a look at the starting lineup and review the match in detail.
BARCELONA VS CELTA VIGO – MATCH REVIEW
STARTING LINEUP
Goalkeeper:
Ter Stegen started in goal as expected. Ter conceded one goal and could not keep a clean sheet. However, clean sheets don’t matter more than winning the game. Still, I somewhere believe that if MATS had put in a little bit more effort, he could have saved the shot. Anyway, he had a great game as usual and continues to be a pivotal part of our squad. He has been the most consistent player for Barcelona and I am already seeing our future captain in him.
Fullbacks:
Junior Firpo started on the Left Back. This is a positive sign for us. Although Firpo had a pretty average game, his role in the starting 11 is a positive sign. Firpo has loads of potential and is a long term replacement for Jordi Alba replacement. If we need to keep him that way, we have to make sure that he gets continuous game time. This will not only boost his confidence but will ensure him that the club needs his services. I am saying this because, if a defender leaves us at this stage, especially a talented one like Firpo, we are done. Our defense is already under crisis and if this continues, we are going nowhere in Europe or La Liga.
Semedo started the game on the Right side. He was able to make some good passes and involve a bit in the game. However, he was subbed off due to a calf injury in the 23rd minute. According to reports, Semedo will miss the next 5 weeks of action. Well, this begs another question. Roberto has accumulated 5 yellow cards including 1 against Celta Vigo. This means Roberto will be suspended for the next game as well. So, the question is, who will play on the Right Back? Will Valverde give a chance to Wague or will we another disappointment from our coach? Only the time will tell and we will discuss this topic in depth on another day.
Center Backs:
We saw a slightly different Center Back duo against Celta Vigo. As usual, Gerrard Pique started on the Right Center Back slot. Once again, Pique was sluggish and not in the top of his form. Pique is no longer the Defensive Maestro we are used to seeing. He does not seem to be as considerate of his game as he used to be. Furthermore, Pique no longer seems to have the energy to travel up and down the pitch often. The Pique we remember used to be an active part even in the midfield and used to travel up and down the pitch very often.
On the other side, Umtiti started ahead of Lenglet. It’s good to see Umititi back in the squad. Furthermore, I would rate Umtiti as better than Pique or Lenglet at the moment and Umtiti has that spark of a great Center Back player. However, the top players of our club including Umitit, Griezmann, Dembele, Junior Firpo, and Wague need that confidence of playing actual matches. We haven’t seen a lot from these guys this season and if we want to see them performing at their best, we have to grant them more playing time. This is where the role of Ernesto Valverde comes into play. Valverde needs to be kind to these players and just for once, be sensible enough to start them 4-5 games consecutively. If these players get going for us, we can expect to flourish in Europe.
Coming back to Umtiti, he had good touches on the ball. He also made a few good passes. However, nothing magical from him and nothing magical from any player in the squad in general. Umtiti was not subbed off in the entire game and this is great in terms of having his fitness getting better.
Midfield:
We saw a big shuffle in the midfield, specifically at the Center Midfield position. This change was Sergio Roberto playing as our Holding Midfielder ahead of Sergio Busquests. Meanwhile, Arthur and De Jong played on the Left midfield and Right Midfield positions respectively. I don’t see Sergio Roberto as a Center Midfielder. He got booked as well and could not manage to influence the game. Especially the opposition was pressing us high and in that difficult circumstance, Sergio Roberto failed to influence the game. Talking about the booking, Sergio has been suspended from the next game as he has accumulated 5 yellow cards.
Sergio Busquests was subbed in at 23rd minute due to Semedo’s injury. After that, Roberto moved to the Right Back and Sergio Busquests played in the Holding Midfield position. Sergio Busquests also scored a goal, something very rare to see. However, that was a mistake from the Celta defender who mistakenly cleared the ball right in front of Sergio Busquests. As we know that Sergio isn’t much of a scorer, but, due to opposition’s wrong clearance and then allowing Busquests all the time in the world to place it perfectly cost them another goal.
Arthur and De Jong did not influence the game either. The caliber and quality we are used to witness from these two seem to be fading. This is not a positive sign for Barcelona. Our midfield needs to have a spark and be on point. We need our regular performers to be consistent if we want to flourish in Europe.
Forwards:
Left Wing:
Ansu Fati started on the Left Wing. Ansu had a decent game. He is known to be quick and crafty down the wing. As expected, he did make a few good dribbles and put in a few crosses. However, nothing brilliant came from Ansu Fati. Ansu was subbed of at the half time with Ousmane Dembele. Dembele made a difference Just after coming on the pitch. He made a brilliant run in the 3rd minute and dribble past 3 players in the penalty box with his quick speed and skills, attempted an outside foot shot, but the got inches away from getting into the net. It was a brilliant run and a good shot.
Dembele was continuously troubling Celta Vigo defenders. Once again, Dembele made a brilliant run piercing through the defenders on the right flank and passed it to Messi in the box. Messi, could not match the pace of Dembele and missed it just by a fraction of second. It would have been the 4th goal for Messi on the night and Dembele would have got his assist. Dembele was continuously changing his position from Left Wing to Right Wing and Right Wing to Center. He is so unpredictable and his ability to shoot with both feet makes him even more lethal. This is precisely why Dembele can be our trump card in European Competition. However, He needs to start games in order to regain his lost form and confidence.
Right Wing:
Lionel Messi started on the Right Wing. Once again, a one-man show from the man himself. After the hattrick against Celta Vigo, Messi has now 8 goals this season and is very much in the Pichichi race. However, I don’t think Messi played really well in the game either. Yes, he scored two freekicks, scored a penalty, and got a hattrick. The stats and the results are pretty amazing for any Messi Fanboy. However, we have to note that all these goals came from set pieces.
If we forget about the goals for a moment, we would see Messi was poor in terms of handling the game. He didn’t make many good passes. Sometimes, it felt as if Messi was ignoring Griezmann. I am saying this because Messi wasn’t even looking at Griezmann until he got his hattrick. This is disappointing to see from a person who is known for playing for the team. I expect Griezmann to leave next season if he continues to receive this treatment.
Striker:
Griezmann started on the number 9 position. As I said before, he was completely ignored by Messi and the other teammates. Its very sad to see Griezmann being treated in this way. Griezmann is a great scorer and a great player. He is known to put in his extra efforts in every game. We normally see him dropping down to defense and in the midfield. This is not because he does not know how to play in position or he is trying to make a name for himself. It’s because he is a player who puts in a lot of effort in the games.
Another stupid sight in the game was watching Suarez being subbed in for Griezmann. I think there is something really wrong with Valverde. Suarez is not yet 100% clear from the injury issue, yet Valverde used him? Are we serious? What if this backfires and Suarez goes out on a long term injury? At this age, a serious injury can be fetal for Suarez’s career. Valvderde’s immature and stupid mind is beyond my imagination. I mean, the game is clearly won, why do you need another striker when you are leading with 2 goals. Also, it was unjust with Griezmann as he deserved to finish the game.
![Barcelona vs Celta Vigo [4-1] Starting Lineup - La Liga 19-20](https://talkbarca.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Barcelona-vs-Celta-Vigo-4-1-Starting-Lineup-La-Liga-19-20.jpg)
Dangerous Signs To Worry:
Today’s Match Review is going to be a little bit different. I noticed some signs of worry in Barcelona vs Celta Vigo fixture and I thought it would be good to share my thoughts with you in this detailed Match Review. Barcelona is a team that is used to scoring from buildups. Quick short passes, dribbles, and transition of the ball, this is our style of play. However, our current situation is just as if we rely only on scoring from the set pieces or individual brilliance. We are not playing as a team.
Well, it’s completely OK to rely on set pieces. However, if we are going to rely on set pieces, we will have to get better at set pieces. Currently, we are poor on corners, long-range freekicks, as well as corners. The only thing we hope is to get a freekick in the Messi zone and watch him do his magic. Personally, I believe that the goals coming from set pieces are kind of a bonus purely based on luck. So, if we are going to rely on our luck, then I must say it’s pathetic from our side.
Verdict:
Anyway, this is it for the Match Review of Barcelona vs Celta Vigo. We decided to do a different kind of Match Review this time with much more depth. So, what are your thoughts on our Match Review? What do you think about our performance, apart from the result in Barcelona vs Celta Vigo fixture? Do you think we can dominate in Europe with the current playing style? What are your thoughts about Valverde’s tactics? Let us know all your valuable feedback in the comments section below. We really appreciate when we get your feedback. It helps us improve our work and lets us know what are your demands. So, whatever your thoughts are, just share it in the box below and until the next time guys, Visca El Barca!
