It’s time to have a look at the Deportivo Alaves vs FC Barcelona La Liga player ratings at Mendizorroza Stadium in Vitoria.
FC Barcelona needed to win tonight against Alaves in Vitoria after their most recent defeat in El Clasico. Real Madrid won in convincing fashion earlier today and this applied more pressure to the Blaugrana. Ronald Koeman decided to use a deceiving starting eleven with Ansu Fati, Messi, Griezmann, and Dembele on the attack.
However, he also used players who are not going through a great moment such as Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, and Sergio Busquets. These players were the reason Barcelona finished the first half with a 1-0 adverse result against a combative Alaves. A horrible mistake by both centre-backs was enough for Luis Rioja to score his side’s opener.
Instead of clearing the ball with evident danger in the back, they decided to play the ball to Neto with no guarantees. Ronald Koeman was fuming after the first half and decided to make some important modifications.
Koeman revolutionizes the second half.
Knowing perfectly which players were below the expected level of performance, Ronald Koeman made drastic changes during the break. He took Lenglet out because he was booked during the first half. The gaffer also took Dembele and Busquets out due to their dismal performances.
As replacements, Koeman brought Pedri, Trincao, and Pjanic to the pitch. He placed De Jong as a centre-back for the second time this season, and everything changed from that moment forward. With half an hour left on the clock, Griezmann scored a fantastic goal with a dink over Pacheco. The Alaves goalkeeper became the man of the match after saving several attempts from the always dangerous Messi and Ansu Fati.
It was not the result they wanted but they had massive improvements during the second half. This will serve Ronald Koeman as a template for the squad he will start using for the rest of the season.
Player ratings
Alaves: Pacheco (9), Laguardia (7), Lejeune (6), Navarro (7), Duarte (7), Mendes (6), Pina (8), Peleteiro (8), Battaglia (8), Deyverson (8), Rioja (8).
Bench: Aguirregabiria (8), Joselu (7), Tavares (7), Marin (7), Garcia (7).
FC Barcelona: Neto (5), Alba (7), Pique (2), Lenglet (5), Roberto (7), Busquets (5), De Jong (8), Dembele (6), Fati (9), Messi (9), Griezmann (8).
Bench: Pjanic (8), Trincao (8), Pedri (8), Dest (7), Braithwaite (7).
Take a look at La Liga table after this result in Vitoria.
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