Post-Match Thread: Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk | UCL

29 comments

1. Positives:
   – Fermín
   – 3 million Euros
   – 3 points
   – 2 points for the Club World Cup
   – I don’t need to watch this game anymore

   Negatives:
   – the entire second half
   – 0 brain cell decision making, refusing to shoot the clearest of chances and passing horizontally instead
   – Cancelo, Gündogan and Araujo having to play all 90
   – possible Felix injury (yes, “just a blow”, which is exactly how Lewy and Kounde started as well)

2. One more mediocre performance to add to the rest.

   It’s not that we have bad games once in a while, it’s how few *good* games we have.

3. Oriol Romeu should not be allowed anywhere near Clasico. Guy can’t run for life !!

   Also, at this rate, Barca B will be in action against RM. Hope Felix and Cancelo have not become victims to fatigue.

   And a win is a win !!

   Edit – the mentality in the second half leading to the opposition goal gave me flashbacks to the Bayern game.

4. 📊 | Fermín Lopez 🆚 Shakhtar:

   • 82 minutes

   • 37/45 passes completed

   • 1 GOAL ⚽

   • 3 chances created ✨

   • Hit woodwork 2 times

   • 1 goal ruled out ❌

   • 3 dribbles completed

   • 100% tackles won

   • 8 recoveries

   • 7/12 duels won

   INSANE PERFORMANCE.

   https://twitter.com/BarcaTimes/status/1717251450152096041

5. we are out of the group stage!!!!

   ​

   edit: ok nvm i lied theres still a chance we arent

6. I’m just glad our UCL campaign is already miles better than last season

7. Decent first half. Shockingly bad second half. A win is a win. But heading into Clasico, only confidence we are going for, is the Clasico records ..that’s it.

8. For the love of God, let Gundo take a free kick or two. Araujo’s free kick had me creasing lmao

9. 🎙️Fermin Lopez spoke to Movistar+ after the match

   🗣️: “We won and achieved victory, which was what we wanted. Now to think about the El Clasico”

   🎙️Fermin on scoring against Madrid like in preseason

   🗣️: “I will try to help the team and if it is with a goal, then much better.”

   🎙️Fermin on getting so many minutes

   🗣️: “You never expect it but it’s what I’ve been working on all my life. Grateful to Xavi for the opportunity and to the club”

   🎙️Fermin on being comfortable with this formation

   🗣️: “With Xavi I feel very comfortable as an interior player. I try to play my game and help the team. Heading is not my specialty, I am very small, but I have good timing. It was offside.”

   🎙️Fermin on winning today

   🗣️: “Xavi told us that it was a key match for qualification. We suffered a little but we got the three points.”

   🎙️Fermin on today’s match

   🗣️: “It was a difficult match. It was difficult for us. Happy for the victory and for helping with a goal.”

   https://twitter.com/Barca_Buzz/status/1717252556244578531

10. The scoreline is unfair to the performance. Yes, some 15 minutes were tough but no CL match is easy. We had lots of chances, two close offside goals and a penalty not given. We also play with a lot of unexperience in the squad, very tired legs and our best players injured.

    If the penalty gets given and we score, Shakhtar is pretty much dead. One lucky counter like their goal and the momentum completely shifts in their favour.

    3 points, CL win money, and Ferran + Fermin confidence boosts are all Ws

11. Shakhtar ran out of gas more in the end which was a good thing. They did the time wasting for us, and you can see the tired frustration on them when they conceded possession. (like comms trying to hype up by a Shakhtar attack only to get stopped midway because Shakhtar already gave the ball back)

    We had a good first half, and I think the 2nd half showed is how some of them may get exploited on defense like Romeu not having the legs to chase back.

    Also quite funny and interesting that its the two lads, Yamal and Fermin, having their shirts requested by the Shakhtar players.

    Finally, hopefully Ferran’s rib and Joao Felix will be fine. Xavi might as well manage the youth team if its something worse for two.

12. Horrible 2nd half, we are so lucky to get the win, considering how badly we played it.
    I think its insane to have a high press like that in the 2nd half, when Shakhtar was just pinging long balls to expose our midfield, defeating the press and leading to dangerous attacks. No adjustments whatsoever.

    Fermin did really well though, he was everywhere tonight. What a gem he is.

13. Complete dominance over them until their first goal. Things got shaky after that to say the least. We should have scored at least 4 goals today

14. Way to casually in the second half, which I can kind of understand with el Classico next up. The issue is we needed to make subs to bring some energy but we basically didn’t have anybody on the bench that could come on.

15. Second half was absolutely shocking outside of a ten minute stretch, first half was great.

    Hopefully Felix is okay

16. [Helena Condis](https://twitter.com/HelenaCondis/status/1717252953382215783)

    👉 @joaofelix70 He only has a contusion, a strong blow, according to the first sensations.

    In principle, he will be able to be in the Clásico.

17. CBs line breaking passes are so vital. Fermin’s goal came from another Iñigo great pass. With him and Christensen we can cook something good, liking the depth of our CBs.

18. I have 3 questions

    1. is romeu slower than busquets?
    2. why the fuck was ferran and araujo taking freekicks ahead of gundogan?
    3. and why they try to showboat too much and try to be too selfish?

    I will fucking take any shit wins with the players we got rn but they should stop trying to do too much alone

19. We did everything today but finish. Even with so many injuries we were still able to create so many chances suggests that we’re improving. Just the end product is required and we’re flying high. We trust in XAVIBALL. VISCA BARCA🔵🔴

20. 3 games in the champions League. Three wins. Top of the group. There’s not much to complain about there.

21. La Masia and inshallah

22. Glad we managed to defend the 1 goal lead against the mighty Shakhtar at home, was really worried for a moment.

23. Should’ve scored a lot more, team was both wasteful and unlucky. Played a great first half, but completely switched off in the second half. Made it way harder for ourselves than it needed to be, but a lot of things were going against us, so I can’t be too upset about the performance especially considering we pulled out a win. Fermin, what a baller. We are so lucky to have him. One more draw / win for qualification, let’s focus on El Clásico now 🔥. FORCA BARÇA

24. Didn’t see the game how did Barca play?

25. Fermin is a star in the making

26. I only saw the last 10-15 of the game. Did we play well overall? Also Pedri may be out for the clásico. I guess they really want to make sure he’s really healthy for the whole remainder of the season, as that’s when the pressure starts to ramp up

27. Looked like a perfect game after first half. Early 2-0 lead, everything leading up to some rest for key players. But ends up like a chaotic mess rest of the gam

    At least we get some talents out there today regardless, so that is the bright side. Not like Xavi had much choice. But definitely would have liked to prevent a nailbiter last 45 min. Looks like proper lack of focus or probably a attempt to slow it down to save energy that caused such eruption in the team. Which eventually backfired.

    But 3p, and a step closer. So can’t really complain too much. But it wasn’t a good second half.

28. I saw in livescore that he was subbed in late but how was Casado while he played? How did he look on the ball?

29. 💰3 wins in 3 games means Barça have made an extra €8.4m from the UEFA Champions League already.

    A draw in the next match, which is away vs Shakhtar in Hamburg, will be enough to seal Barcelona’s progression to the Round of 16 of the Champions League. 🏁