{"id":69909,"date":"2022-09-08T14:52:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T14:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/five-talking-points-from-barcelona-5-1-viktoria-plzen\/"},"modified":"2022-09-08T14:52:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T14:52:58","slug":"five-talking-points-from-barcelona-5-1-viktoria-plzen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/five-talking-points-from-barcelona-5-1-viktoria-plzen\/","title":{"rendered":"Five talking points from Barcelona 5-1 Viktoria Plzen"},"content":{"rendered":"
Xavi promised to rotate his squad for this one and was as good as his word, making six changes to his starting XI and handing plenty of players some much-needed minutes.<\/p>\n
In defense there were starts for Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba, and Andreas Christensen as Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, and Alejandro Balde were rested.<\/p>\n
Franck Kessie made his first competitive start and needed just 13 minutes to score, while Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati were also back in the starting XI.<\/p>\n
We also got to see Gerard Pique off the bench for the first time this season, and there was also a Champions League debut for Pablo Torre.<\/p>\n
It was the perfect game for Xavi to freshen up his squad and offered a host of players the chance to shine. The coach admitted as much after the match but did warn against overconfidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictories bring confidence, they improve morale. Many players will go home tonight knowing that they had top games,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it remains a difficult group, there’s no place for euphoria – this only wins us three points.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert Lewandowski continued his incredible goalscoring form with a hat-trick for Barcelona in another classy performance. Barca’s top scorers last season were Auba and Memphis with 13 each, Lewandowski has eight and it’s only the start of September.<\/p>\n
His goals were superb but it wasn’t just that. Lewandowski also impresses with his work-rate, desire, link-up play and his presence also seems to raise the level of his team-mates. He’s already added so much to Barcelona in his short time at the club and it’s obvious that having such a ruthless, clinical presence in attack makes life so much easier.<\/p>\n
Sergi Roberto said as much after the game, describing the new signing as \u201ca gift.\u201d Xavi called him \u201ccompletely insatiable,\u201d while the man of the moment took home the match ball and humbly dedicated the goals to his wife on her birthday.<\/p>\n
We all know there will be far tougher tests to come in the Champions League, not least against Bayern next time out, but Lewandowski is looking razor-sharp ahead of his return to the Allianz Arena.<\/p>\n
Ousmane Dembele is also looking in fine form ahead of the trip to Germany. The French forward seems a man reborn at the moment both on the pitch and off it. <\/p>\n
We rarely hear from the forward but he gave several interviews ahead of the game, opening up about his injury problems and the impact Xavi has had on his career since taking over at Barcelona.<\/p>\n
\nOusmane Dembele’s game by numbers vs. Victoria Plzen:<\/p>\n
100% tackles won
89% pass accuracy
86 touches
11\/15 ground duel won
6\/9 dribbles completed
6 key passes
4\/8 crosses completed
2 chances created
2 assists <\/p>\nPut in another incredible performance. pic.twitter.com\/4QenJdtuFV<\/a><\/p>\n