The positive trend at FC Barcelona continues: The narrow 1:0 win against Las Palmas meant the Catalans’ fourth competitive match win in a row. Despite being outnumbered for 65 minutes, it took a brilliant moment from joker Joao Felix to wrap up their 20th league win
FC Barcelona remain unbeaten for the eleventh consecutive competitive match, and the 1-0 win was their fourth in a row. The 1-0 win against Mallorca was followed by convincing victories against Napoli (3-1), which took them into the Champions League quarter-finals, and Atletico (3-0). However, without head coach Xavi, who was suspended, Barcelona’s offense ran on a low flame.
Barcelona got off to a lively start, with the ball in the net after just five minutes – but Lewandowski was offside before he scored. After a quarter of an hour, the Pole also tested keeper Valles for the first time (16′), who would come into focus shortly afterwards. The ball was in the net again shortly afterwards, but referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer again ruled the ball offside – goalscorer Raphinha (passively offside) found it difficult to live with this controversial decision (19′).
Valles pulls Raphinha off his feet
Valles and Raphinha then came into view together as the visiting keeper rushed out of his penalty area after a high pass and humorlessly hauled the Brazilian off his feet. The resulting red card also cost returnee Munir the game, who had to make way for substitute keeper Aaron (24′).
Barcelona had two good chances to take the lead before the break, but Lewandowski only hit the crossbar with his shoulder and Raphinha shot wide right (34, 45). Coco had the visitors’ best opportunity seconds before the end of the first period, but his free-kick hit the outside of the net (45.+3).
After the changeover, the game was a bit of a limp affair before Barcelona’s first substitution changed the statics of the game: Joao Felix, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, brilliantly lifted the ball out of nowhere to Raphinha, who headed over Aaron to make it 1:0 (59′).
Joao Felix hits the crossbar from four meters
In the final half-hour, the game was a bit of a stalemate before Gündogan played a perfect through ball to Koundé, who found Joao Felix in the box. However, the latter managed the feat of thundering the ball against the crossbar from four meters – from there it bounced to Aaron, the post and then out of play (78′).
Barcelona even came close to giving away the win, but Moleiro only hit the outside of the net after a fine solo run – ter Stegen scolded his colleagues like a banshee (87′). In the end, it was a deserved, albeit unglamorous 1-0 win for the home side, who underlined their position as Real’s closest rivals.
Xavi’s team’s next game is not until April 10, when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
