Valverde's Barça project continues to grow

Valverde's Barça project continues to grow

Ernest Folch

Colaborador de SPORT

El Barça conquistó un punto de oro ante el Atlético
El Barça conquistó un punto de oro ante el Atlético | sport

No, Barça did not drop two points. At the Wanda they picked up a golden point, which in the end could have been three, in a game which in reality was two different matches. Ernesto Valverde had a surprise in his lineup, with Andre Gomes as a false right winger, a position in which he added little in the first half, but at least he wasn't a shipwreck like at the Bernabeu. 

In the first half hour, Barça dominated the play and had the possession but were returned to being a slow and predictable team who struggled to create chances beyond Lionel Messi's environment. The Argentine star, who was back from his heroics with his country, was the only one creating danger, including hitting the post, against the tight, efficient defence. The feeling was that Barça couldn't even create half a change and Atletico, sat back but not suffering, could score at any moment. 

Until Valverde revolutionised the game with three changes and a new match began: Sergi Roberto became the owner of the right flank, with Gomes on the left, improved. It allowed Luis Suarez to return to his natural position, where he scored a huge goal from a chance the like of which he'd not had until then. Suarez isn't at his best on the left, a long way from the area, the habitat where he's lethal. After Suarez's goal, Barça were on top and if they didn't win it's because they ran out of time. 

At the Wanda, Valverde's Barça showed their two sides. In the first hour you could see the problems which had been hidden in previous games as they struggled to create -- although they showed they're a solid team, protected once again by the saves of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but who have little beyond Messi in attack. In exchange, they later showed they can be more lethal later on, forcing Jan Oblak into saves and almost snatching the win. In any case, it was a tough test and one which Valverde passed. His project continues to grow.