The goal is a mystery for this Barcelona, which is leaving pieces of the League in the fields it visits. A piece in Getafe, another in Granada, a piece in Vallecas and another fragment in Mestalla. Thus, without visitor consistency, the title becomes more and more difficult. In Valencia, Xavi's Barça had an aesthetic but very inefficient performance. This time it was not the game crisis or the defensive sloppiness that condemned him, but the lack of aim. The forwards are not going through a good streak, especially Lewandowski, dry and denied in Mestalla.
The Blaugrana played brilliantly, but wasted one opportunity after another against Mamardashvili, whom only João Félix could beat at pleasure. However, when it seemed that the Barcelona players had done the most difficult thing, they remembered the unfinished plays because Guillamón connected a shot to Iñaki Peña's box. Before and after the tie, Barça were able to make the second and were left with the desire and face to know that the triumph had slipped away in a theoretical final. Without a goal it's live-live, but you can't dream big, there's no paradise.
The nerves of the environment and the tension of Xavi's answers contrasted with the calmness of João Félix in the area. With all the parsimony in the world, he went to the ball that was left for him with tray Raphinha and pushed it into the net. It was an important goal, but he didn't celebrate it like that. A nerve that was also lacking in the defense to cover Guillamón in the 1-1.
Valencia is not left out. Especially if he is missing Gayà, Paulista and Javi Guerra. It is normal that Mestalla gave a very long ovation to David Silva, already retired and honored. The past tense, always envied for Lim's club. And even so, the locals had the first opportunity and forced Iñaki Peña to shine before the minute and a half of the game.
There are things that don't change. And almost like Antwerp, Valencia was about to score, taking advantage of the fact that the Blaugrana stood still in a throw-in. The Valencian players caught them off guard and the goalkeeper had to send Yaremchuk's shot into the corner.
Soon the match turned from the area and Mamardashvili began to have the danger close. A more intense and hardened Barcelona was seen. The reaction in terms of attitude was noticeable with some fresh pieces after having rested in the Champions League. Especially Araújo and Frenkie de Jong, two of the bosses.
With the Dutchman on the field, the coach decided to advance Gündogan almost at the height of Lewandowski, which gave Barça more space to come out from the back (Pepelu could no longer press) and also the arrival of the German. The Blaugrana settled in the opposite field and found, as it had not happened for a long time, their new player, who was very present in the game and not very successful.
Football stuff, perhaps the game in which the Polish striker played best and played the most was the game in which his team missed having a finisher the most. He met the Georgian goalkeeper at all times. Lewandowski tried a long-range shot, with a great scissor shot and a vaseline, but Mamardashvili's response was to deny him the goal three times.
As against Girona, Barcelona had chances in the first half and did not take advantage of them in a stadium where Valencia had only conceded three goals.
This Barça always goes to pieces, it is never complete. When the construction works, he lacks touch and efficiency, and when he seems to be enjoying himself, he ends up making mistakes in defense. It was exactly what happened to him in the restart, which started with 0-1. A great pass with the outside of De Jong left Raphinha in a great position and the Brazilian was not selfish but gifted the goal to João Félix.
It seemed that the game could be placid, just in a square that usually isn't. The team was comfortable. But then it got complicated with a play in which the defense opened wide in front of Hugo Guillamón. The midfielder was getting closer to the area and no one was getting in his way, until he loaded his leg and sent a pipe into the net.
With little, Valencia had tied a game that Barça had dominated and played almost their own way. But the talent above does not accompany him. And it was proven again, when the visitors tried to remedy the mess they had gotten themselves into. Ferran Torres, on the first ball he touched, crashed into Mamardashvili, and the Georgian goalkeeper got in front of a Raphinha who thought too much and ended up kicking the doll.
The epic was missing, but Araújo's attempt went wide and Raphinha's cross wandered around the small area without anyone celebrating it. It was the summary of a Barça slowed down by not having a goal and in which the opportunist Marc Guiu was able to play. Xavi only made two changes.
