Barca’s recent victory against Rayo Vallecano was massively important. Flick’s men weren’t up to the mark offensively. Pedri shined, and Lewandowski scored the winner, but one man quietly stole the show.
I am talking about Barca’s best defender this season: Inigo Martinez. Here’s why the Spanish international was the real MVP in Barca’s recent thriller.
The Rayo Vallecano Test: Inigo Martinez Was Barca’s True Hero
The Rayo game had many heroes. Robert Lewandowski scored the decisive penalty, Pedri once again shined brighter than a diamond, and Szczesny also enjoyed the limelight. But none of these guys would have earned these appreciations if it hadn’t been for Martinez’s crucial defence.
The Catalan defence looked highly vulnerable against Rayo Vallecano. The Rayo wingers Jorge de Frutos and Alvaro Garcia threaded many wicked crosses into the Barca penalty area and struck shots on target. However, one Barca defender made sure to eliminate all those threats, and that was the omnipresent Inigo Martinez. Yes, he was Barca’s true hero against Rayo due to his match-winning defending.
How Inigo Martinez Silenced Rayo’s Attack
Martinez made seven match-winning clearances against Rayo yesterday and put in a really aggressive defensive display. The defender, who has been known for his fantastic progressive passes, has shown his defensive prowess deserves praise, too. He stood tall aerially as well and won three out of four aerial duels. Even the match-winning goal came through a penalty won by Inigo—what a player!
His biggest save of the night was the goal-line clearance near halftime when he heroically cleared a goal-bound shot off Szczesny’s line. Inigo’s physicality, positioning, and composure silenced Rayo’s attack and rendered them goalless.
Contract Renewal Incoming? Martinez has Proven his Worth in Flick’s Barca
Martinez has become an undisputed starter at defence alongside young Cubarsi, and with performances like these, Barca simply cannot afford to lose him. He is 33 but still brings strength, experience, and reliability to the Catalan backline. He perfectly pairs up with Cubarsi, and their duo has made headlines across Europe so many times.
Although a few reports claim his renewal is difficult, Martinez’s performances prove that Barca must value him. After all, performances like these do not come from just a random defender. They come from a true leader at the backline.