Welcome back to TalkBarca. Our topic for today is the Match Review of Juventus vs FC Barcelona. Barcelona had a very difficult task to accomplish in the face of Juventus. Barcelona had to face the Italian boys at their home turf. It looked like a very difficult evening for the Blaugranas. However, FC Barcelona made sure that they do what was needed to be done. Barcelona beat Juventus by 2 goals in Turin.
This game can also be rated as Ronald Koemann’s best game so far. Furthermore, this is also the biggest win for FC Barcelona so far in the season. Barca came to this game after facing a humiliating defeat in the El Classico. However, that game did not seem to bother the players much. The players were confident. They were in control of the situation at all times, and they made sure that they dominate the game.
This game could also have seen more goals from the FC Barcelona side. Finishing is still a major problem for the club. However, there are many other positives to take away from this game which is going to be discussed in this Match Review.
JUVENTUS VS FC BARCELONA MATCH REVIEW
FIRST HALF
Barcelona came into this game knowing that they have a lot to prove. Ronald Koemann started with an unusual starting eleven, leaving out Ansu Fati and Sergino Dest. Ousmane Dembele started on the right-wing and Antoine Griezmann started as the center forward. Both players had a fantastic game. Greizmann was unlucky not to score after his shot hit the woodwork. Furthermore, he also set up Lionel Messi with a very juicy pass. However, Lionel was not able to finish the ball properly.
Dembele, on the other side, proved to be a beast. His impact on the game was real and he also ended up on the scoresheet. Dembele’s deflected shot on goal landed at the back of the net which gave Barcelona the lead in Turin. Dembele was also very brilliant with his passing, dribbling, and overall involvement in the game. Barcelona was phenomenal in the first half. However, there were many missed chances which meant that things could have been a lot more different if half of them were put away.
Messi missed his chances. However, he was pivotal in Dembele’s goal. He gave an incredible pass to the former Dortmund player, and thus, got his name on the score sheet.
FIRST HALF: JUVENTUS 0-1 BARCELONA
SECOND HALF
Barcelona came even stronger in the second half than in the first half. The Blaugranas made Juventus cry for possession and they were over Pirlo’s men at all times. Dembele was once again one of the best performers on the pitch. He deserved another goal. However, finishing is still a very weak area in the Barcelona team overall. Dembele was then replaced by Ansu Fati who had a similar impact on the game as Dembele did. Fati had a goalscoring chance too, yet could not finish it.
Later, Ansu Fati was fouled inside the box which gave Barcelona a penalty. Messi converted the penalty and registered his name on the score sheet. Fati had another chance to score towards the very end of the game but ended up passing it to Braithwaite who was not able to get to the ball first. It was an overall, very sloppy play from Ansu who could have easily finished the ball with his left foot. Still, he was not blamed as much because his team was leading by 2 goals.
A successful finish from Alvaro Morata was denied as offside. Morata got 3 goals denied as offside. Talk about an unlucky night, huh? Barcelona kept dominating the ball. This eventually infuriated Pirlo’s men and we saw many fouls from the Juve side as the game approached its ending moments. Demrial also picked up a red card and therefore, things became easier for the Barcelona team.
CONCLUSION
Perhaps, the biggest problem in this FC Barcelona team is the finishing. Other than that, the Catalonia boys were superb. Their play was crisp and it showed that Koemann came with the right strategies.
Juve’s squad was very incomplete as well. We are probably going to see full squads from both teams in their next encounter. Hopefully, that game is also going to feature Cristiano Ronaldo where both GOATS are going to come up against each other one more time.
FULL TIME: JUVENTUS 0-2 BARCELONA
