Low Block? No Problem. Lamine Yamal Gets a Brace in 5-0 Valencia Beatdown | 5 Headlines
Hansi Flick and his squad saw their first proper low block of the season against Valencia and it didn't stop La Liga's leaders. Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri and Fermín López all scored in the 5-0 decimation of Valencia. 0:00 Barcelona 5-0 Valencia 1:02 Lamine Yamal Looks Unstoppable 4:21 Attacking That Block 7:06 Valencia Wilts 8:35 Pedri's Turn 9:43 One More for Lamine Yamal Check out our merch in our store! - https://the-barcelona-podcast.creator-spring.com/ Listen to the full podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast ... Follow Me: Instagram ➔ https://www.instagram.com/thebarcelon ... Twitter ➔ https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod Facebook ➔ https://www.facebook.com/barcablog TikTok ➔ https://www.tiktok.com/@barcelonapodcast BlueWireVideo
Transcript
Four matches into La Liga season and Barcelona have a two-point lead atop the table. La Min Yamal, despite some contrarians, has fully entered the new season and Hansi Flick's team is a class above the rest so far. 17 goals scored and just two against in the league. Not much more preamble needed for this one, so welcome to episode 850 of The Barcelona Podcast, brought to you by the Blue Wire Podcast Network. I am Dan Hilton. We're still off for a few more weeks on Big Ups, so no watch-alongs to speak about, but all the action is happening here on the podcast app or on YouTube, so please subscribe. Also, join me on Patreon. I keep plugging it, but I'm going to start doing some Patreon exclusive content finally after all these years. If you want that, it's as low as $3 and you can also get these shows without the ads. So, that's all the incentives you need to support the show on Patreon or please help me out on the merch store. So, with all that out of the way, let's talk about it. We got a ton of goals, at least Barcelona goals, to speak about. Here are those five headlines from Barcelona's five-nothing win over Valencia. Headline one is La Min Yamal looks unstoppable. Before we do talk about the escapades of La Min Yamal and all his success, I do want to dive in a little bit into this starting 11. Because with a week off, sure, I kind of expected that Hansi Flick wouldn't have too many rotations in his I want to say this was a gala 11 today, but I did think we'd see one or two pieces shifted around considering that the Champions League kicks off on Wednesday against Feyenoord. On top of that, you add the fact that it was 40° C, which is around 104°, so it was said that it was more like a 92 to 95° F. Either way, it was a hot day, hence those cooling breaks. So, I did think that Hansi Flick would want to rotate a little bit, but that was not the case. Also want to make mention this is the first time this season that we've seen Barcelona go against a 5-4-1 low block. They hadn't seen that so far in La Liga. They've seen more medium blocks and even low blocks with four at the back. That said, for Valencia's five at the back and the reason why they might have a new manager in the coming days or weeks at Messiah, that five at the back only really has one true center back in Diakhaby. He's the only one I consider a natural center back. Arnau Martinez has been playing at center back since coming over from Girona, and before that, even in the second division, was playing at center back last season. And Pepelu is a defensive midfielder by trade, so he has some of the skills, but you could see that Valencia needed some natural CBs back there because they did consistently fail to track runners today. I want to lay the groundwork there cuz that sets us up for so many of the goals that would have followed, including the first one for Barcelona in the sixth minute. Outside of the boot special from Lamine Yamal, he danced into the box 2 minutes before that. Fermín, this time, was given time on the ball, perfectly lofted over the top into Lamine Yamal. It's a perfectly timed run between two of the center backs. He knocks it over the keeper with the outside of the boot dink, and Barcelona, very easily, I will say, up one nothing. In the eighth minute, Lamine Yamal quickly gets his second, or so we thought. It's left to right, Gordon to Pedri to Fermín to Lamine Yamal. Easy finish, too, as Lamine Yamal was allowed to find a look at goal from a reasonable angle, and the one-time finish is then taken off the board due to VAR. On the other side of the pitch, Valencia, they didn't have too many attacks. They did have some on the counter attack, and they all, as I'm going to expect teams will draw this up with Xavi being Espar the regular starting left back at this point, they're going to try to get into that space in behind Espar. It's not about attacking Espar because of any defensive issues that he might have. Yes, he is not the best defender, that's not why Hansi Flick is starting him as the starting left back. He's not elite in the defensive aspect of the game, but neither is Cancelo or the other options, and I guess that would be Balde. Balde's pretty good, but again, there are the things that he doesn't do for Hansi Flick's system, which is why he finds himself third on the depth chart. Either way, anything positive for Valencia in that first half came on dangerous crosses originating and coming from Espar's wing. With Spars stepping in the midfield because Fermín is the one who has to jump high into that high right interior space when Rodri is starting next to Pedri, it means there's a lot of space in behind and Gerard Martín then, of course, in particular has to use his I'm not going to say blistering pace but enough of what he has to cover that space. Which generally worked against Valencia but, as we know, may not work in a Champions League night against a team like PSG who are going to be a huge test for Barcelona. Headline two is attacking that box. Now, talking about the second goal here but before we even get to that, it's interesting that this was that first match-up for Barcelona. It felt like a bit of a warm-up against a low block with three center-backs because, as we know, Barcelona and Hansi Flick even said this in the post game that they do feel like they're missing a traditional target man. Hamza Albacoreen was given an official number with Barca Athletic. He's not ready just yet. He, just like Jessi Beseu when he gets healthy, are in between Barca Athletic and the first team this season, at least. But for Barcelona to not have that number nine, that big body to battle with the center-backs, that meant that Barcelona was going to have to expose the opposition with the tight spaces that they were given between the lines and really attack those half spaces. And you know what? They did that to almost perfection today and that's why the scoreline is what it was. So, for that second goal, it's Fermín getting the return from Lamine Yamal this time. Lamine Yamal trying to get past Vázquez and while it doesn't come off, three defenders gravitate towards him. Gordon picks up the loose ball, puts it on a platter for Fermín who finishes on a one-time touch. Fun fact from Mr. Chips, who always shouts out for these stats, Gordon's fifth assist in four matches. The last new La Liga player to grab five or more assists in the first four match days, that was Mañín. Do you know who that is? Probably not cuz he played for Racing Santander back in the 1939-40 season. As far as Gordon hitting the ground running in La Liga, I'd say it's a pretty good start. 25th minute, Lamine Yamal had the opportunity to make it three alone with a shot destined for the corner. It's saved by the keeper, probably his best save of the day. 29th minute, unfortunate news for Eric Garcia. Kounde comes on to replace him because it looks like he probably, well, they said it was a deviated septum, of course, but he probably broke his nose again. This time it's by friendly fire from Rodri, likely back to the mask, I would guess, in the coming weeks. 32nd minute, this is the worrisome defensive moment to speak about. Kounde makes a mistake, then Rodri makes another, and then Djuma is close if not for the intervention of Lamine Garcia, who we know has to come up with a big moment every game, and this time he does. It's Rodri working to also make up for his mistake and not committing the penalty. Valencia did ask for the PK, ref didn't give it, and we carry on. 38th minute, it's Fermin and Lamine Yamal, that combo again. Yamal got through traffic, but with pressure on his back, pushed it wide. 40th minute, this time it's Fermin who hits the post. Rodri gets away on the sideline. Fermin fakes one, then gets back to his right foot, unloads a quick shot under pressure, denied by the post. Late yellow for Cubarsi in the half, holding Danjuma. Probably a poor yellow for Cubarsi to pick up, and just making up for mistakes in that midfield if they give the ball away. Right at the end of the half, Maffeo was fortunate also to get a slight touch to the ball, not bringing down Raphinha, or else this match really would have been out of hand in the first half instead of having to wait for the second half. Headline three, this is where the headlines pick up the pace a little bit because at this point Valencia wilts. That's the headline. Lamine Yamal in the 49th minute gets away again, and the move ends with Gordan going wide. And in the very next minute, it's the 3-0. Lamine Yamal receives the ball on the wing. Fermin makes a lung-busting run into the half space. It's an easy tap-in for Raphinha at the back post. Not much more to say about that goal. Raphinha and Gordan, it felt like they weren't really totally in this match, but that's because so much of it was coming down Lamine Yamal and Fermin's side. A reminder again that against these low blocks, Fermin and Lamine Yamal, that is such a dangerous and deadly combo that Raphinha and Gordan, their task today was just kind of get on the end of balls if they could. Not necessarily even with shots, but just keep that ball moving. And I thought the whole team today kept that ball quickly on the ground. And Rodri is another huge part of that paired with Pedri. So, if they're going to play with that kind of confidence and not have any ball stoppers, nobody stepping on it, everybody just keeps moving, keeps doing their job. Once you get it, you either attack or you recycle it. Ball's constantly moving. And that meant that Barcelona was running rings around Valencia. 56th minute, Kounde's header is saved, bounced off the post. So, maybe that's the best save by the keeper. 62nd minute then, Bernal, Christensen, Adiyemi for Rodri, Cubarsi, and Gordon. And another close chance right after that, Lamine Yamal to Fermin to Raphinha again. Fermin looking for the goal, not the pass. And I love the fact that Barcelona, when they have other players who are looking for the pass, they have Fermin who is consistently, almost always, looking for that goal. Headline four is Pedri's turn. In the 75th minute, we get another sub. It's a fifth sub, but it's not going to be the last one. It's Olmo coming on for Fermin, so his day is done. And in that second half, as I'm saying, Olmo just adds to this with his close control. Barcelona taking the sting out of the game. Pedri, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, they all stayed on. Also, Pedri would come off in a few minutes after that. But with those three staying on for major minutes, it was wise for Barcelona in that heat to take down the intensity of the match, move the ball a bit slower there as the match carried on. And if Flick is going to keep that trio on as he did with Champions League on Wednesday, you got to take the sting out of the game, basically rest while you're playing, which I don't love, but that was the choice today. In the 79th minute, it just cuz they were in second gear did not stop from Barcelona scoring their fourth. And what a way to play between the lines. Valencia, once I said, okay, said it at the beginning, not tracking runners at all. Pedri in the midfield, no one presses him. So, he gives the ball to Olmo, who gives it right back to him. And he finishes across goal, getting on the score sheet. And with Pedri playing next to Rodri, even though Rodri had exited the game at that point, if he's going to push forward and play in higher position this season, I think his goal number is probably going to go up. Then headline five is one more for Lamine Yamal. Final substitution for Barcelona, which due to the head injury, I did forget this rule as many of us did. Due to the head injury in the first half to Eric Garcia, both teams then get a sixth sub, and that meant that it was the debut of Gabriel Jesus coming in for Pedri for the final about 15 minutes or so. The 5-0 soon after Gabriel Jesus came on. VAR did check for offside, so it took a little bit of the sting out of the celebrations. But Lamine Yamal coming back onside for the pretty diagonal ball from Olmo. This is two assists for Olmo as well. Lamine Yamal finishes again at the back post putting his leg through it. Yeah, it's 5-0. Two goals from Lamine Yamal. That is a special against Valencia who at home were put to the sword 5-0. Now yes, it's a good successful game. They navigated the heat. No injuries other than the accidental injury to Eric Garcia, but I would expect that he will be available to play on Wednesday if necessary. Obviously likely playing in a mask. But again, Feyenoord, they're not the hardest test in the Liga. Of course, it is not anybody from pot one. Not even somebody from pot two. So for Feyenoord, you'd think that Barcelona is going to have the fight against them. You think they're going to have the success against them. But with Hansi Flick already kind of choosing to go with the gala 11 against Valencia, I think he wanted to give his team to start the season as much confidence as humanly possible before they begin the Champions League campaign. So if that was the goal, I think it is mission accomplished. I will again have five headlines on Wednesday for that game against Feyenoord. They're somewhere in the evening. So do subscribe to the YouTube channel, podcast apps, Patreon, all that good stuff. Until then, I'll see you next time. Visca Barça.