Barcelona’s emphatic 4-1 derby win solidifies their La Liga lead. Despite resting a couple of key players, Flick’s men once again scored heavily and dominated the game. Lewandowski was once again clutch, with de Jong and Pedri pulling the strings in midfield. Here’s what defined this convincing Catalan clash.
Pichichi Lewandowski is Aging Like Fine Wine
Robert Lewandowski once again gave Barca the lead today with his sensational, predatory instincts. He extended his pichichi lead with a brilliant brace today against Girona, and both of his goals were very important. The first goal was a deadly finish from a looming Fermin’s header, and it really showed how acrobatic the 36-year-old still is.
The second goal was a clinical finish off Frenkie’s brilliant progressive run. The Polish striker has now scored 25 goals in La Liga and continues with his cold-blooded finishes. The best part about Lewandowski is his elite fitness and work rate. We could see him still hungry for a hat trick in the 90th minute.
Eric Garcia’s Midfield Masterclass Against Girona
After de Jong’s adductor issue and Olmo’s injury, Flick handed Eric Garcia the important pivot position today. He once again showed an error-prone performance. Eric has reinvented himself as a midfielder, and what a performance he put on today. It was his 100th appearance with Barca today, and he made sure it was a memorable one.
Garcia completed 94% of his passes and played a fantastic role in breaking up Girona’s counterattacks. He also acted as defender whenever needed and played high up the pitch to build attacks as well. Garcia’s great pass set up Lewandowski’s second goal, and his composure makes him an excellent choice for Flick.
The Shark is not Stopping: Another off-the-bench Masterclass
Ferran Torres scored another off-the-bench goal today, and it was a cherry on top. He started off the season slow but is in red-hot form right now. The shark has 15 goals and three assists in only 1218 minutes ( a contribution every 68 minutes), making the Spaniard statistically the most efficient attacker in La Liga.
Ferran’s explosiveness off the bench is suddenly making him a fan favorite. Flick has again used him as a hybrid with Lewandowski, and this strategy has worked out well. Ferran is turning into a brilliant secondary weapon for Barca, and if he continues like this, he might become the primary one.
Honorable mentions from today’s match were Yamal, Pedri and de Jong. Yamal was once again pivotal as his deflected goal gave Barca the lead today. The victory against Girona was promising as the Catalans continue their unbeaten run. Visca Barca!