Barcelona secured an important victory against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League after enduring a difficult patch in La Liga.
While the Catalan giants were hesitant to truly put their foot on the gas in the first half with controlled and sustained spells of possession, they upped the ante after proceedings.
The result was a chaotic game of pinball which ultimately ended 3-2 in Barcelona’s favour. Here are our player ratings from the game.
Inaki Pena: 6.5
He made a couple of excellent saves in the first half, though both chances were ultimately ruled offside. His proactive approach and ability to come off his line were commendable, but it backfired in the second half when he was caught in no man’s land, leaving the hosts with an open net.
Jules Kounde: 8
Dealt well with Jamie Gittens, offering defensive support in transition and linking well with Lamine Yamal in the final third. His touches under pressure were less laboured and he provided a few valuable crosses.
Pau Cubarsi: 6
Cubarsi’s ball distribution was always on point and he found solutions when Borussia Dortmund occasionally deployed pressing triggers. He and Inigo Martinez completely negated Serhou Guirassy’s threat in the first half.
Sadly, a very needless and uncharacteristic shove in the second half gifted Borussia Dortmund a penalty.
Inigo Martinez: 6.5
It was a mostly solid performance from the veteran center-back, but just like his partner in crime, a lapse enabled Borussia Dortmund to capitalize and score, as his misplaced pass allowed Guirassy to score Borussia’s second.
Alejandro Balde: 7.5
Balde was tasked to hold width on the left and did remarkably well overlapping. His explosive carrying also enabled Barcelona to be direct when they were often backed in a stagnated game state. However, his crossing, as usual, left much to be desired.
Marc Casado: 7.5
Closed down spaces effectively and imposed himself in duels. Moreover, Casado’s flawless body orientation allowed him to receive the ball calmly under pressure.
Pedri: 8
Pedri played a significant role in the first half, demonstrating solid control of the tempo. However, he occasionally appeared hesitant to release runners and fell short of his usual creative standards.
In his defense, the team prioritized creating chances through crosses rather than exploiting central areas. In the closing stages, the Canary Islander made a huge role in Ferran’s winner by marauding forward on the break.
Dani Olmo: 8.5
The Spaniard’s first touch is like a blade, effortlessly slicing through even the toughest surfaces. He was far more involved in the build-up compared to previous games while simultaneously proving to be a huge threat between the lines.
Instead of alienating him in the final third, giving Olmo more responsibility on the ball worked to Barcelona’s advantage, evidenced by his excellent assist for Raphinha.
Lamine Yamal: 8.5
Pulling a rabbit out of his hat every game has become the norm for Yamal. He once again created chances out of very little, playing trivelas and low-driven cutbacks. The youngster’s ability to control the team’s tempo in the final third is most impressive. Played a lovely assist for Ferran Torres to seal the victory.
Robert Lewandowski: 7
His hold-up play was solid and he looked composed with his back to goal. Still, the Polish talisman seldom made runs in behind the Borussia Dortmund defense, something Ferran Torres immediately outshone him in.
Raphinha: 8.5
Another day, another fantastic finish from the Brazilian. Raphinha made sensible decisions on the ball, pressed tirelessly, and scored a great goal after making a classic run in behind the defense.
Ferran Torres: 9
A blistering brace off the bench highlighted the value of Ferran’s profile. As frustrating as he may be in front of goal at times, his ability to eliminate the last line of defense with smart movements and poacher instincts allowed him to make the difference.
