The Spotify Camp Nou saw live during the Gamper Trophy some of the hits of the summer that have made Barcelona one of the most interesting teams of the preseason. These are notes that must be played often this season for Xavi's outfit to be a lasting trend. The blaugrana concert begins to be in tune.
The Pole has world crack status and has come to be the reference of the new Barça. There is no doubt that Xavi has reserved the position of nine for him. Signed on July 16, he has always been a starter. He was in the Las Vegas classic, against Juventus and also in New York against the Red Bulls at the end of the United States tour. Obviously, he started in the Gamper. Karolina Cemka, the Polish consul general in Barcelona, did not want to miss her premiere at the Camp Nou. She did well because after three minutes the forward from Warsaw had already scored. The nine showed that he is a footballer who knows how to get along with few spaces, decide quickly and who has the goal between his eyebrows. He is ideal for the area, as he saw himself at 1-0, scoring without an angle, between a defender and the post. But it is that he also showed what he can do outside the area, in the step prior to the goal, with an assist under the legs of a defender and another with a heel, both to Pedri. At 5-0, he went down to receive, turned and saw Kessie's run free. Lewandowski, who has scored 156 goals in the last three years in Munich, is a big nine and then some.
Face, unbalance and center. It is what Xavi asked last season from his pure wingers like Dembélé or Abde. They should have created scoring chances but now they can also finish them off. Raphinha has arrived with a great desire to please and against Madrid he showed that he has a great shot from outside while Dembélé is one of those who do not get nervous when they have to define.
The Frenchman, who has started with the batteries on – like in 18-19, when he scored ten goals from August to December – closes the preseason as the top scorer with five goals. Both were called to compete on the right wing but it turns out that they complement each other and understand each other, to the point that they have been chosen in the last two preparation matches.
The arrival of the interiors, young and very mobile, is being a mine. At Barcelona, a creative midfielder hasn't reached double figures for a long time. The last ones who approached, Arturo Vidal and Paulinho, were two free verses, to the point that they even played false third striker. One of the advantages of Lewandowski's threat is that the center-backs will not be able to come to the aid of the pivots. This space that will be created is where Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Kessie must enter. The first three have seen the door. The Ivorian assisted Aubameyang who only had to push the fifth goal against Pumas.
Barcelona conceded 62 goals in 53 games last season. One of the priorities was to stop that bleeding and in that line two central defenders (Christensen and Koundé) have been signed and a full-back is being sought. In the preseason defensive solidity has been a fact. Only three goals conceded and Olot's was a penalty. Ter Stegen is immovable, a starter in all six friendlies.
Without Piqué, who has not yet been a starter, Eric Garcia is the one who takes command of operations from behind. The ex-City player guarantees a clean, orderly start and is capable of connecting directly with the centre-forward. To be a dominant team that presses, it is essential not to lose balls in this construction phase.
