Barcelona won a narrow victory against Leganes last week, and the three points were crucial. The game’s only goal came from a Leganes player (own goal), and Barca struggled to score. The main headlines of the game were about Inigo Martinez’s last-gasp save, but what deserved headlines was Raphinha’s lung-busting sprint in the last minute of the first half.
Raphinha’s Tackle> Inigo’s Save
Barca fans really appreciated Inigo Martinez’s warrior acrobatics. The Inigo save was highly regarded as a tackle that proved to be a match-winner and might also be a title decider. However, another save that deserved real credit was Raphinha’s first-half last-minute tackle that prevented a clear goal for Leganes.
Raphinha is known for his extreme work ethic in the Barca team. The Brazilian is quick and covers a lot of distance. This backward sprint is another big jet-heeled moment for him. He was exhausted after a first half full of effort and running, but still, the number 11 channelled his fighting spirit into a 70-meter backward sprint and made a game-deciding tackle.
Raphinha’s Defensive Contributions are a Lesson
Modern football is all about full-backs cleaning up the mess made up by attackers. As attacking full-backs have become more common, defensive wingers should also be a thing, and wingers must help out full-backs to maintain the balance.
Raphinha is a prime example of such a player. As a player who values the Barca badge and uses his spirit to win, he always gives his 100% while defending. This gives Flick an edge over other teams, as a forward tracking back lifts up the whole team. Antoine Griezmann is also a prime example of a defending forward.
The point of this blog is not to take credit away from Inigo Martinez’s amazing tackle. But to appreciate Raphinha’s defensive efforts. A complete team is one in which players do more than just their designated roles, and Raphinha is a great team player.
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