Even with the Champions League genius of Lamine Yamal, Barcelona have big problems in attack
Atletico host Yamal and Barcelona in the second leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday holding a 2-0 aggregate lead David Ramos/Getty Images
If anyone was wondering why Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is Barcelona’s top transfer target for this summer, the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Camp Nou on Wednesday explained things.
Pau Cubarsi’s 44th-minute red card had a huge bearing on Barca’s 2-0 defeat against visitors Atletico, and you could argue Hansi Flick’s home side had been playing well up to that point — but the match also seriously underlined their goalscoring problem, which is not a new issue.
A quick look at the expected goals (xG) figures is illustrative. Atletico scored twice from an xG of 0.44. Barca should have done better from their 1.10.
The elephant in the room is the No 9 spot for the Catalans.
Robert Lewandowski was chosen to start last night after scoring the winning goal, thanks to a lucky rebound off his shoulder, as Atletico were beaten 2-1 away in La Liga on Saturday — a match in which defender Nico Gonzalez was sent off for the home side just before half-time.
But in truth, the 37-year-old Poland striker has looked off the pace for months. His movement off the ball has slowed, and he has struggled to keep up with the physical aspects of the game — especially the level of pressing that Flick’s system of play needs from the forward line. You could argue he should have done better on that front in the build-up to Giuliano Simeone being put through on goal, which led to Cubarsi being sent off. From the resulting free kick, Alvarez scored a stunner.
Barcelona 0 Atletico Madrid 2: Cubarsi’s red leads to Alvarez’s stunner, anti-Muslim chants heard pre-game
In possession, Lewandowski’s output hasn’t been much better. He touched the ball 11 times and completed four passes in the first half last night, at which point he was replaced with Fermin Lopez.
The main reason Lewandowski has been starting in recent weeks is his backup, Ferran Torres, is in even worse form. The 26-year-old Spain forward has scored just once in 12 La Liga appearances going back to early December, his most recent Champions League goal was a month before that, and noise about Barca considering selling him come the summer is building.
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford started on the left of the attack last night and did many things well — except for finding the net. Atletico right-back Nahuel Molina had a hard time stopping him, especially in the first half, but the England forward lacked a clinical edge. He took seven shots, four of which were on target, hitting the crossbar from a fierce free kick that goalkeeper Juan Musso just about got a hand to.
A point also needs to be made about Raphinha’s absence, which has been an absolute disaster for the club.