It was time for a reaction and it arrived without further delay. It was time to win after two unfavorable results and there was a deserved victory. It was time to improve and the progression was immediate. With two goals from Lewandowski, who has already surpassed 100 in the Champions League, and another from Olmo, Flick’s Barça completed a hard-fought victory over a rocky Brest. A victory that puts them in the top zone of the Champions League (second provisional) and brings them closer to direct qualification for the round of 16. It was not the most exuberant Barcelona but it was industrious, serious and superior.
Flick asked for connection, intensity and bite. No sooner said than done. The Blaugrana coach only introduced one change with respect to Vigo, that of Fermín for Gavi, who still needs to be taken care of. But he played more pieces. Pedri delayed his position to participate more and organize the game, Olmo positioned himself as a midfielder and Fermín occupied the left flank. The Andalusian acted ahead of Gerard Martín who repeated his ownership despite the bad time he had in Balaídos. Against Brest the kid was more in tune the first time he started in Montjuïc and even assisted Olmo in the 2-0 lead.
But, above all, what changed was the desire, to go to the maximum after a couple of more languid and low-rev encounters. And Barcelona did not have an easy time against Brest, the revelation team of the tournament that arrived undefeated at the Olímpic. It was noticeable because the French applied themselves with self-confidence from the start. Without much imagination but with a robust physique, represented for example by his center forward, a true tank called Ajorque.
Lewandowski opened the scoring with a penalty and closed it at the end with the 100th and 101st goals of his career in the Champions League
It didn’t take long for Barça to advance, and they finally won without the help of Lamine Yamal. He did it after a pass filtered into the heart of the area by Pedri. Goalkeeper Bizot charged Lewandowski from behind and the referee declared a textbook penalty. The Pole transformed it with his classic paradinha and achieved the 100th goal of his career in the Champions League, a figure only reached before by Cristiano and Messi. Then I would enter 101.
The goal gave new energy to a sparkling Barça, led in attack by a multiplied Raphinha, who was everywhere, who generated, who stole, who finished and who was the soul of the team. His energy also infected Fermín, who enjoyed two great opportunities. In the first one he finished wide. In the second, with his head, he found an excellent save from the Brest goalkeeper.
Barça deployed with discretion and occupied all the spaces but lacked a point of neatness in the final meters, with Olmo less precise than in other matches, although he would make up for it later. Even so, Flick’s team deserved to go into the intermission with a higher income. His control of the ball was clear and in defense he did not lose concentration, much to the relief of a sober Iñaki Peña. The stands, who chanted for Pedri and partially whistled for De Jong at the end, were having a good time, indifferent to the absence of the members of the Espai d’Animació, banned due to the conflict they have with the club.
Pedri completed a great game as organizer and was chanted by the stands
The problems of Barcelona fans, as old as the club itself, which wanted to give itself a victory in the last game before the 125th anniversary. It was necessary to shore it up and Flick’s team did that after the break. Although he couldn’t quite find the key and the match was still unresolved. Fermín, there is no two without three, ran into the goalkeeper again and a subsequent attempt by Olmo was taken over the line by defender Chardonnet. But Barça insisted, with a fantastic Pedri in the build-up, and that perseverance was rewarded when Olmo himself got around a defender and beat Bizot with a low shot.
Finally the game was on track and oxygen for the team, with the departure of Gavi, who was placed in the midfield so as not to break the Casadó-Pedri tandem, a duo that perfectly complements each other. The only thing left to do was not to get lost, not to repeat Balaídos’ mistakes and finish the game calmly. Pablo Torre missed a called goal but Barça did not sleep this time, closing the scoring with a goal from Lewandowski. He certified three points that are fantastic to get back on the right track. Fourth victory in a row in the Champions League. Dortmund, Lisbon and Atalanta will be the next continental commitments. The work is not done, especially to finish in the top eight, but Barça has it within their reach.
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