Barça threw the game for 53 minutes... and then turned up in Germany
It took the Barcelona boss just under an hour to realise he can't play two No.9s together
Barcelona signed Paco Alcacer as backup to Luis Suarez. A backup with a price of gold: almost 40 million euros. But they didn’t sign him to play with Suarez. Because, save minor differences, they’re the same type of player. They are both No.9s and they don’t complement each other. It told in Germany.
It took Luis Enrique 53 minutes to realise his error. The error he made in playing Alcacer and Suarez together and dropping Neymar back in a strange 4-3-1-2 formation. During those 53 minutes, Barça were not Barça. They looked uncomfortable. Lost. And, even though they had chances to take the lead, they weren’t able to score.
Borussia Monchengladbach were able to, though. Their pressing paid off and an error from Sergio Busquets (a man who does not usually make mistakes) allowed them to score the opening goal on the counter attack.
Coming from behind in Germany is not easy. Especially against a side which has won its last 11 games at home. Barça tried. They went back to their origins. On came Rafinha for Alcacer. And Arda Turan for the quiet Ivan Rakitic. Two changes before the hour. An unusual move from Luis Enrique. But two substitutes which were obligatory as Barça tried to turn things around.
And on this occasion, they had the desired effect. First of all, Arda scored. A golazo. And then Gerard Pique, with a little help from goalkeeper Yann Sommer. But three points is three points. And Barça achieved a victory in just 37 minutes. The 37 minutes in which they played like Barça. Without experiments. Without tactical modifications. As they’ve always played. And as they’ve always won.
