Welcome back to TalkBarca. Our topic for today is the Match Review for FC Barcelona vs Dynamo Kyiv. Barcelona hosted Dynamo Kyiv to the Camp Nou to play their 3rd Champions’ League group stage game of the season. Barcelona ended up winning 2-1. There is a lot to discuss in the game. Here the Match Review discussing the first half and second half individually.
The fans expected a lot from this game after the disappointing draw against Alaves in the La Liga. However, the Blaugranas were not able to register enough goals on the score sheet. There is a lot to get right with this FC Barcelona team.
FC BARCELONA VS DYNAMO KYIV MATCH REVIEW
FIRST HALF
The hype was very real for this game. Barcelona was facing a very weaker and incomplete side of Dynamo Kyiv. Therefore, the fans expected a bag full of goals. However, it did not happen in the end. Barcelona started strong in the first half. The starting eleven was not very convincing as well. Koemann appointed Frenkie De Jong to play as a CB alongside Gerrard Pique. Clement Lenglet was benched. Furthermore, Koemann went with an attacking four of Pedri, Antoine Griezmann, Messi, and Ansu Fati.
Miralem Pjanic and Sergio Busquests played the double pivot role in the midfield. Barcelona started very strongly. Barca received a penalty during the early minutes of the game after Lionel Messi was fouled inside the box. Leo converted the penalty and gave his side the lead. The Blaugranas did not stop attacking after that. Pedri and Ansu Fati were superb. Ansu Fati even set up Griezmann with a great and easy finishing opportunity, but the French International missed. Lionel was not at his very best as well. He was not always involved and looked lazy. However, Lionel set up Pedri with a great pass that hit the crossbar after Pedri struck it.
Barcelona continued to dominate the game. However, they were unstable on a few occasions and hence, allowed Dynamo Kyiv to take shots at goal. Marc Andre Ter Stegen was amazing as he made two very crucial saves to keep Barcelona alive. Marc imposed himself right after he came back from injury. This shows why he is so highly rated.
Barcelona kept dominating the ball and creating chances. However, finishing still remained an issue. The Catalans are finding it very difficult to find the net very often. Koemann must do something about it. Otherwise, it can hurt his team in the upcoming big matches.
The first half ended, and Barcelona displayed an overall good team effort.
FIRST HALF: Barcelona 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv
SECOND HALF
The second half was very poor for FC Barcelona. They were completely out of shape and gifted a lot of chances to the Dynamo team. Attack was very off from FC Barcelona. There was no intensity, no lethality, nothing. The defense was poor as well. De Jong made a few mistakes. However, Ter Stegen was there for his team all the time. He made world-class amazing saves repeatedly making the opponents cry.
Gerrard Pique scored for FC Barcelona making it 2-0. Gerrard converted a pinpoint accurate cross from Ansu Fati and therefore, guaranteed the win for FC Barcelona. Dynamo scored a goal as well later. Ter Stegen made an amazing effort to save the initial effort, but could not keep it out the second time.
A good win from FC Barcelona in the end.
FULL TIME: Barcelona 2-1 Dynamo Kyiv
CONCLUSION
Ronald Koemann’s men keep the winning streak in the Champions League alive. However, there is a lot to fix this team. The team needs to give away fewer chances and convert more. Otherwise, La Liga and Champions League both will get out of their hands.
