Dynamo Kyiv received a visit from FC Barcelona in the fourth Champions League match this season. We have the player ratings.
FC Barcelona traveled to Kyiv to face Dynamo on Tuesday without Lionel Messi and a strange starting eleven. Ronald Koeman was in dire need to find the proper alternatives that can help his side withstand this atypical season filled with matches every three days.
We all thought Antoine Griezmann would get his chance to shine but the gaffer had other ideas for today’s approach. Koeman decided to use Martin Braithwaite as the striker and his decision paid off in a major way. The Danish striker responded with a memorable performance during the second half of the game.
After going to the break with no goals from either side, all the action took place during the last 45 minutes. Seven minutes after the break, Braithwaite assisted Sergino Dest for the North American’s first goal as a Barcelona player. But that was only the beginning of the new number ‘9’ at FC Barcelona.
Braithwaite scores twice away from home.
The last time Barcelona’s number ‘9’ scored an away Champions League goal was back in 2015, which is the Luis Suarez era. But today, Martin Braithwaite broke this bad streak with two goals during the second half. His first came after an assist from Mingueza during a corner-kick in which he appeared for a tapín in the far post.
Not long after that, Braithwaite got taken down inside the box and Griezmann allowed him to score his brace from the spot. Near the end, the Frenchman dominated as a luxury substitute and rounded the victory with his side’s fourth goal.
With this win, FC Barcelona secures Group G’s first place with their sights set on the round of 16. Not having Lionel Messi wasn’t so bad after all. These players proved they can win away from home without their most important player.
Player ratings
Dynamo Kyiv: Bushchan (6), Kedziora (5), Karavaev (5), Mykolenko (4), Zabarnyi (5), Harmash (6), Buyalskyi (6), Verbic (5), De Peña (6), Shaparenko (5), Shepelev (5).
Bench: Andrievskyi (5), Popov (5), Lednev (4), Supryaha (5), Baluta (5).
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen (7), Dest (8), Lenglet (7), Mingueza (8), Firpo (6), Pjanic (7), Aleña (8), Coutinho (7), Pedri (8), Trincao (7), Braithwaite (9).
Bench: Puig (8), Griezmann (7), Alba (7), Matheus (6), Konrad (6).
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