Barcelona takes out the binoculars. Some glasses that allow the leader to look calmly and comfortably at his pursuer, Madrid, a little further away, although with one more game for the blaugrana. Some binoculars that, despite the fact that there is a long way to go, allow the applicant to dare to focus forward without feeling dizzy and focus on the title, after another victory, the sixth in a row in the championship. Xavi's team has 34 of the last 36 points in the League after the Bernabeu. The figure provides the sense of authority that leaders exude from their vantage point. Barcelona not only left the La Cerámica stadium alive, but something else. He seemed to be more convinced and sure than ever. Because when they are not Ter Stegen and Lewandowski, Zamora and Pichichi, they can cling to the light of Pedri and the invulnerability of Araújo.
The four Barcelona midfielders begin to modify their rivals and force the coaches to change their schemes. Xavi kept his idea for the big matches at La Cerámica despite the absence of Busquets. Kessié was the one who stood next to an omnipresent De Jong who flies, an unequivocal sign that the Barça coach sensed a face-to-face match.
Villarreal was one of the three worst starts left for the Blaugrana along with San Mamés and Cornellà. But the firm step of the leader begins to instill respect and makes us rethink strategies. Without going any further, Setién decided to copy and equalize the forces in midfield, to the detriment of one of his three forwards, to protect himself, perhaps due to Gerard Moreno's injury.
This is what happens when a team rides so sure of itself that it causes doubts in its opponent while Barça doesn't even flinch. Two conditions play in favor of the blaugrana in their airs of superiority. One is Araújo, a Uruguayan wall in defense that puts a stop to any advance that is presumed to be a skirmish. The second endorsement is Pedri, a sweet footballer, who sees football with a clarity and simplicity that exudes.
It didn't take the canary even three minutes to detect the back of Pau Torres and Alberto Moreno as a weak point and put in a pass that left Lewandowski alone but the Pole couldn't with his former Bayern teammate, the veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina. It is becoming customary for Barça's nine to not score or hit the first or second chance that presents itself.
But at the moment that Barcelona lives, it will be necessary to start thinking about dismantling old beliefs that seemed to be absolute truths and now turn out to be outdated and obsolete. It is no longer difficult for Raphinha to play fast, Lewandowski is not just a finisher and Pedri is more reaching than ever. All this sequence came together in a magnificent action for the first goal. It was a succession of passes full of precision, intention and mental quickness. Villarreal's defenders were late and it wasn't exactly their fault, they were the victims of a well-oiled machine. Recovery, combination, definition, without the opponent's ability to react.
After high pressure, the Brazilian left it to Pedri and the midfielder unloaded for Lewandowski already in the area, and the nine returned it to his back on a beautiful and millimeter wall. Reina was a privileged spectator of that pen, to the point that he saw the canary arrive in a race and could never guess what it was going to do. The magician Pedri also deceived him to score his sixth league goal, seventh of the season.
The goal gave the visitors even more morale, something that did not happen recently. Barcelona played with a solvency similar to that of the Riyadh classic. Led by a brave and liberated Frenkie de Jong, Barça did not let Villarreal out. Raphinha and especially Lewandowski, after a great spoon pass from the Dutchman, bordered the 0-2 that would have done justice against a team that defensively has accused the change of coach.
Although football can be very random. What could have been a problem for Villarreal became a solution. Coquelin was injured in a struggle with Kessié and Setién undid what was done with the entry of a winger like Chukwueze. While Albiol continued to impose himself on Lewandowski, Villarreal began to look at Ter Stegen. Especially after a transfer from Pedri with a header that Koundé did not reach and that allowed Morales to run towards the German goalkeeper. The commander's shot was not between sticks.
The break gave way to a more even duel. However, the step in front of the groguets left spaces to look for the quick attacks of the Barcelona fans, who once again put up with the cuts to the emergency of Araújo, a true guardian angel, while Pedri led the counterattacks, which neither Raphinha nor Lewandowski were able to specify.
As Villarreal grew, the Uruguayan grew bigger in defense, immeasurable in his performances. There was only one play that he didn't get to. A combination between Fer Niño and Chukwueze. The youth squad assisted with his heel for the entry of the Nigerian, who beat Ter Stegen but the play was canceled due to Niño's advanced position at the origin of the play. It was the 90th minute and Barça knew how to suffer, who remembered the Metropolitan as if he needed that point to feel tight. Xavi hardly moved the bench, while the local fans despaired with the referee until the final whistle. What works is not touched.
Villarreal: Reina, Foyth, Pau, Albiol, Alberto Brown (Wheat, 83), Capoue, Couple, Coquelin (Chukwueze, 36), Baena (Mojica, 83), Morales (Iron Boy, 83). ) and Yeremy Pino
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Kound, Araujo, Christensen, Balde, De Jong, Kessie (Jordi Alba, 89), Pedri, Raphinha (Ferran, 81), Lewandowski and Gavi
Goal: 0-1, m.17: Pedri.
Referee: Hernandez Hernandez (Canary Committee). He warned Pau, Baena, Parejo and Moreno from the locals and Araujo, De Jong, Koundé, Raphinha from the visitors
Incidents: Match corresponding to the twenty-first day of LaLiga 2022/23 played at the La Cerámica stadium in front of 21,178 spectators.
