Whistled Off And Unconvincing: What Happened And What We Learned In FC Barcelona’s Champions League Clash With Slavia Prague - Forbes

BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 05: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona battles for possession with Ondrej ... [+] Kudela of Slavia Praha during the UEFA Champions League group F match between FC Barcelona and Slavia Praha at Camp Nou on November 05, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

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Whistled off and unconvincing, FC Barcelona were not at their best on Tuesday as they drew 0-0 with Slavia Prague in the Champions League. Here’s what we learned from the tie.

Messi started in the central attacking role

With Luis Suarez out injured, many tipped Griezmann to start down the middle but instead it was Messi who began the proceedings as a ‘false’, central nine. Ousmane Dembélé was on the right and Griezmann on the left up top, but they did switch around at certain times from the 10th minute onwards. On either flank, Jordi Alba and Nelson Semedo provided additional attacking options with the Portuguese right-back put through on goal by Gerard Pique early to force a save from close quarters.

Which means Ernesto Valverde did change the formation

Asked yesterday at the press conference if Saturday’s loss would prompt a change in tactical approach, Valverde said that ‘the possibility of changing the system is always there. But having three forwards fits the way we play’. For this one however, there was indeed a rejig and a 4-2-3-1 put out by the LaLiga leaders. In this system, Arturo Vidal was officially the central attacking midfielder he has often been in the 4-3-3 system.

Barça started worryingly at the back

Just as against Inter Milan the last time they were at home in the competition, there were early scares for the hosts on the counter attack that luckily didn’t finish in an early goal like that which transfer target Lautaro Martinez scored in the third minute for the Italians. In the 26^th minute, there was another good chance for the Czechs where Semedo was skinned on the wing and Frenkie de Jong closed down late, in addition to a disallowed goal nearing half time.  

Dembélé was rusty

Expected to be manning the left side of attack, he showed sloppy ball control and a meek first touch in the 13th mintue when receiving a high pass on the touchline. He also made poor passes himself - either with Semedo on their shared side of the pitch or when he couldn’t find Lionel Messi after breaking free into yards of space on one move - but there were signs of his brilliance around the half hour mark when his trickery took him round a pack of Slavia men.

Arturo Vidal, the ball winner

Starting as noted in a central attacking midfield role, the Chilean did not have as much success stringing passes together to push Barcelona forward as seen in previous games. Still, he was at his tireless, ball-winning best when running for everything he could, even challenging the ‘keeper at one point, and the Camp Nou thanked him for it. As the half progressed, though, he did start finding his groove and also Messi for one close-ran effort parried wide on the stroke of the whistle.

Messi fancied his own chances better than Griezmann’s

Receiving the ball on the halfway line, Lionel Messi, who had been relatively quiet up to that point, sold his marker a wonderful shoulder dummy and charged diagonally towards the penalty area. He could have squared it to Griezmann, but instead fancied his chances and hit the bar with a curling left-footed shot that was the closest Barcelona came to scoring in the first half by far.

Barcelona went down the tunnel scoreless at half time

Just like they did in Dortmund and the last time they hosted European foes here when trailing Inter Milan. Unimpressed, there were whistles around the stadium from some of the 67,000 fans in attendance.

Jordi Alba is injured again

He did not come out for the second half and was replaced by Sergi Roberto. Semedo again filled in for him at left-back, as seen at Levante and various other points of the 2019/2020 season.

Just as in Valencia, Barcelona came out rusty for the second 45

Passes were misplaced, there was a lack of cohesion in the midfield, and various players had to drop out of position.

Messi went close with a free kick at the start of half

But it went just over the bar and was not to be his 51^st deadball strike from outside the box.

A lack of communication was clear to see

Nearing halftime, Griezmann - strolling with his back turned - and Sergio Busquets let a ball out from defence pass through them which exhibited a worrying lack of communication while also gifting Slavia the chance to attack. Thankfully, it came to nothing but later, Griezmann completely misread a pass from Vidal close to full time that he could have easily converted.

For Arturo Vidal’s disallowed goal, Griezmann appeared to offside by some distance

But instead it was later revealed that Messi’s left foot impeded.  

Valverde knew something had to change in attack

Which is why he brought the long-suffering Dembélé off, to some whistles, in the 65^th minute for the cheered-on Ansu Fati. The 17-year-old went straight on to the left wing, which pushed Griezmann to the right.  

And in midfield

Because of this, Ivan Rakitic came on in the 68^th for some much-needed creativity. But his passing was just as off as that of his teammates and he also skied a chance in the 82rd minute high and wide.

Barcelona’s best effort came in the 77th minute

And as the fruit of their best move in the second half. Meeting it from the left flank in the six-yarder, Lionel Messi’s tap in was blocked on the ground by Ondrej Kolar, who denied the Ballon d’Or hopeful for what was at least the fourth time of the evening.

Barcelona missed the chance to keep their three point lead at the top of Group F

A win in the early-kick off would have put them six points abreast of Inter and Dortmund, but with the draw, a four-point cushion can be reduced to just one by either of those teams finishing victorious in a couple of hours.

Whistles filled the Camp Nou at full time and serious questions have to be asked before Saturday

The Barça faithful were not impressed and have seen their team go from a seven game winning streak to a defeat and a draw in their last two outings. In these, they have looked lethargic, disjointed and far from contenders to win the competition they desperately crave to lift for a sixth time.

Losing their run of 16 home wins on the continent, a big statement must be made in their final match before the international break on Saturday against Celta Vigo and the pressure increases on an already under-fire Valverde.

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