ResumeFC Barcelona started the era without Ronald Koeman with a draw. In the very moderately filled Camp Nou it was 1-1 against low flyer Deportivo Alavés.
Sports editor
Latest update:
30-10-21, 23:56
Barcelona could not convince in the first half with Sergi Barjuán as temporary trainer on the bench. Just like under Koeman, there was a lot of ball possession, but the game became too sloppy near the enemy penalty area. The Catalans did not score and to make matters worse, striker Sergio Aguero was injured.
After the break, Memphis Depay opened the score. The Dutch international got the ball on the edge of the penalty area from Jordi Alba, played free and curled the ball with a lot of speed into the far top corner.
The Catalan joy was short-lived, as a few minutes later it was level again. Alavés combined fluidly through the Barcelona defense and Luis Rioja circled goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen before pushing in the 1-1. Memphis then had two more great chances, but the post and goalkeeper Antonio Sivera stood in the way.
With twenty minutes left to play, another setback followed. Gerard Pique also had to be replaced. The experienced defender joins players such as Frenkie de Jong, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembélé in the already crowded infirmary.
In the final phase, partly due to the many substitutions, the tempo disappeared from the game and there were no more goals. Due to the draw, Barcelona remains number nine in La Liga, Alavés is sixteenth. Xavi Hernandéz, the man who according to Spanish media should become the new coach of the Catalans, will have seen again tonight that there is a lot of work to be done.
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