Preseason results don’t matter, especially so when you’re FC Barcelona playing against third- and second- division sides, but Barça has followed up Saturday’s 3-1 win over Gimnàstic with a 3-1 victory over Girona on Wednesday.
Personnel wise, Barcelona’s decision to publicly announce a fire sale of the squad has backfired (shocking) with Ivan Rakitić and Arthur the only big name departures. In a financial situation where the club is forced to sell in order to buy, the arrivals have been somewhat subdued with Miralem Pjanić, Francisco Trincão and the loan return of Philippe Coutinho serving as Ronald Koeman’s new blood.
However, on the evidence of today’s match, the Dutchman might be somewhat pleased with what he’s got in attack.
Koeman experimented with a 4-2-3-1 formation today that saw 21-year-old center back Ronald Araújo partnered with Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong in the holding positions. Further forward, the 20-year-old Trincão (purchased from Braga for $37 million) played on the right, treble-winning Coutinho went left, and Lionel Messi played in the No. 10 role underneath Antoine Griezmann.
21 minutes in, Barcelona opened the scoring after Griezmann fed Messi, who danced across the top of the box before expertly releasing Trincão, who setup Coutinho for the tap-in.
WW! pic.twitter.com/h2eka8HN6I
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 16, 2020
Right before halftime, Messi doubled the advantage by cracking one in off the far post from range.
!!!!! pic.twitter.com/XaKV7gVhrq
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 16, 2020
And while these are fun goals, there’s no getting over the fact that Barcelona remains soft as hell. Third-division Gimnàstic scored against the starting 11 last weekend, and Segunda División Girona found one in the 46th minute through La Fábrica graduate Samuel Sáiz.
But five minutes later, Messi came to the rescue again with a heavily deflected effort from the edge of the area.
Receive the pass.
Turn around.
Off the back.
Nothing but net.— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 16, 2020
The 19-year-old American Konrad de la Fuente entered the match in the 63rd minute as Coutinho’s replacement. There was no place in the squad for Luis Suárez — despite his move to Juventus reportedly falling apart — or Arturo Vidal, who’s close to signing with Inter Milan.
Barcelona’s final preseason match is against newly promoted Elche in the Joan Gamper Trophy at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Although LaLiga began play last weekend, Barça doesn’t play its first match until Sunday, Sept. 27, against Villarreal.
