Author: admin

Barcelona thrashed Alaves 5-1 at Camp Nou on Saturday night to maintain their 100% league record in 2021, and return to second spot in La Liga.

Unsurprisingly, Ronald Koeman’s side dominated the ball completely from the get go but found it hard to break down an organised Alaves back line. However, La Blaugrana found the opener on 29 minutes when a fierce Oscar Mingueza cross was brought down by league debutant Ilaix Moriba, who then set up Trincao to score.

Barcelona continued to attack and made it two on the brink of half time when Lionel Messi produced a moment of magic. The Argentine got the ball about 35 yards out from goal, side stepped a challenge from Rodrigo Battaglia and fired into the bottom corner past a despairing Fernando Pacheco.

Barcelona contiued to dominate proceedings, but only after a scare from the visitors. Luis Rioja pulled one back for Alaves fiftenn minutes after the restart, as he latched on to a misplaced Moriba pass in midfield and broke forward before slotting past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

But Barça then flicked the switch and showed their quality. The third came through Trincao in the 74th minute, who scored his second of the night from a rebounded Messi shot. The Argentine then made it four one minute later, when he unleashed a beauty into the top corner from 25 yards out to secure his own brace.

The scoring was rounded off by Junior Firpo who had the simplest of tasks of tapping in an Antoine Griezamnn pull back after a phenomenal ball over the top by Messi.

Right, let’s get to the Barcelona player ratings.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) – 6/10 – The German had very little to do, but always kept his focus, reading the game well from crosses and making a couple of good saves and could do little about the opposition’s goal.

Oscar Mingueza (RB) – 8/10 – A classy display from the youngster. Very solid defensively, breaking down several dangerous Alaves counters, while also providing a brilliant cross which led to the Barca opener.

Frenkie De Jong (CB) – 6/10 – Was defensively solid at centre back in the first period, and looked more comfortable when pushed up to the centre of the field in the second but couldn’t really influence proceedings at all, making no key passes.

Clement Lenglet (CB) – 7/10 – Good performance, showing his quality against Lucas Perez and Joselu. The Frenchman also saved his goalkeeper from a one on one in the first half with a strong piece of defending.

Junior Firpo (LB) – 7/10 – A very attacking performance, almost acting as a left winger when La Blaugrana had the ball, and got himself a goal with 15 to go as he tapped in from Griezmann’s pull back.

Sergio Busquets (DM) – 7/10 – Such an effective screen as usual, winning the ball five times. Also produced some brilliant passes, most notably feeding Messi from deep for the second goal before coming off at half time.

Ilaix Moriba (CM) – 7/10 – Very bright from minute one, showing great composure and an unselfish attitude to assist Trincao for the opener. But the sloppy pass that led to the Alaves goal tarnished the 18-year old’s otherwise brilliant La Liga debut.

Riqui Puig (CM) – 7/10 – Showed class with some beautiful touches on the ball, weaving his way between opposition players. Was key in making Barca tick, maintaining a 94% pass accuracy.

Trincao (RW) – 9/10 – Threatened Alaves throughout and deservedly grabbed his second and third goals in two games with cool, clinical finishing wither side of half time.

Lionel Messi (ST) – 9/10 – Vintage Messi. Produced magic with a wonderful goal for his side’s second. Then waved his wand again, unleashing a wonder strike from 25 yards out for Barcelona’s fourth. And created the fifth with a ball over the top that can only be described as a piece of art.

Antoine Griezmann (LW) – 7/10 – A game of missed chances for the Frenchman who made up for not scoring by grabbing the assists for Barca’s fourth and fifth.

Samuel Umtiti (CB) – 7/10 – Very solid at the heart of defence, making several crucial clearances and interceptions as Alaves got up the pitch towards the later stages.

Pedri (CM) – 7/10 – Impacted the game instantly after his introduction, spraying the ball around progressively into good areas, and even created Barca’s third with a lovely through ball.

Miralem Pjanic (CM) – 6/10

Sergino Dest (RB) – 6/10

Ousmane Dembele (LW) – N/A

Life under Frank Lampard for Chelsea’s youngsters was meant to be a period for them to prosper…not for Billy Gilmour.

It would be amiss to overlook the rise to prominence of the likes of Mason Mount and Reece James during Lampard’s tenure, but it’s fair to say the ‘Frank Lampard is keen to give youth a chance’ rhetoric had something of a blind spot when it comes to the Scotland Under-21 international.

Gilmour was afforded just 225 minutes of Premier League action during Lampard’s 18 months at Chelsea, and while Thomas Tucehl’s arrival at Stamford Bridge represented a fresh start for everyone at the club, no one will have breathed a bigger sigh of relief than the young Scotsman – well, maybe Kepa Arrizabalaga, but the less said there the better.

Still, Gilmour was widely tipped to head out on loan in January, yet after just a few day at the club, it seemed Tuchel had convinced the youngster to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place.

Stay put he did, and after just one appearance as an unused substitute on the Chelsea bench in Tuchel’s opening four games at the club, he was finally handed his golden opportunity against Barnsley in the FA Cup on Thursday night.

While it may look like Gilmour had been spoon-fed a knock over cup tie against lower league opposition, in reality the task ahead of him was far trickier.

The playing surface at Oakwell was horrendous, meaning even the simplest of passes suddenly became a task. Chelsea fielded a stellar side, yet the boggy pitch meant the visitors would need to show character and drive – two qualities which Gilmour displayed in abundance.

Sitting slightly ahead of N’Golo Kante, Gilmour produced a full-blooded display and drove his team further up the field, offering the classy Alex Mowatt no time to settle on the ball whenever he was in possession.

However, while Gilmour’s desire and ability to grit his teeth was undoubtedly the shining light in Chelsea’s midfield, he didn’t lack the touch of class required to secure his side’s passage through to the quarter-final.

The 19-year-old had a huge hand in deciding the victors of the contest, killing the ball in the centre of the pitch before picking his head up and finding the run of James, who in turn picked out Tammy Abraham who was handed the simple task of slotting home the winning goal.

At first glance the pass from Gilmour looked tidy enough if not spectacular, yet when you watch his participation in the goal back it shows a maturity to his game.

Having picked his head up the youngster instantly sees a gaping hole between the two Barnsley centre backs and looks to thread the ball through to Abraham – as 95% of midfielders would when given the chance.

However, Gilmour spots the run of James on the right and stalls his pass before opting to pick out the right back, with Chelsea completely opening the home side up and Abraham ultimately slotting into an empty net.

It may have looked a simple pass, but there’s a vision and an intelligence to Gilmour’s play which can’t be underestimated in someone so young.

For all the internationals in Chelsea’s midfield, they tend to lack a dynamism and an energy at times, yet Gilmour’s display proved he has the ability and the maturity to mix it with the likes of Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic, and he’ll have given Tuchel an lot to think about before their next outing against Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday night.