Andre Gomes improves against Espanyol after Osasuna brace
The Portuguese midfielder looked as confident as ever in for the injured Iniesta
There were also impressive performances from Sergi Roberto and Ivan Rakitic
The two goals he scored against Osasuna has a revitalising affect on Andre Gomes. The Portuguese midfielder played against Espanyol with more confidence than usual. He didn't have to score this time. Nor did he have to play wide. He played in midfield in place of the injured Andres Iniesta.
If until now he has displayed problems adapting to the Blaugrana style, now he seems to be finding his place. Surely that has everything to do with his confidence. A level of confidence which had visually grown against Espanyol, above all in the first half.
Iniesta was ruled out on Saturday morning with a groin problem, leaving Gomes in the middle alongside Sergio Busqeuts and Ivan Rakitic. It was Gomes at his most exuberant, but he shone on the ball and displayed some nice turns -- always when necessary...
On the left he linked well with Jordi Alba and Neymar, even as Barça struggled to test Diego Lopez. As the game progressed he did dip, but that was surely due to tiredness, given the way he'd played in an important game days after the Osasuna match when he scored twice.
Luis Enrique ended up taking him off in the second period, replacing him with Javier Mascherano. It was a substitution which had a domino effect, with Mascherano going to right-back and Sergi Roberto pushed up inti midfield.
Like Gomes, it was another fine performance from Sergi Roberto. The academy graduate contributed to his side's play in defence and attack and worked tirelessly. Rakitic was also at a good level. He's improved a lot in recent months following a period when he looked to have lost his way.
