Cádiz CF 2-1 FC Barcelona
Bug and psyche
Barça loses again based on errors and mental blocks
Cádiz achieves a historic victory and is already fifth in La Liga
Cádiz celebrates the final 2-1 before the resignation of Barcelona (Marca)
Barcelona's disenchantment at Ramón de Carranza (2-1) was another chapter in the horror story that the Barça team is building in this league. An episode titled Error and Psyche. Those of Ronald Koeman maintained the league tradition of losing matches (4 defeats in 10 games), of doing it based on errors and of mentally blocking themselves when it was time to put the ball into the opposing goal.
And it is that the stumble began to culminate with a new defensive error. As in Vitoria, as against Atlético de Madrid or as in the visit of Sevilla. On this occasion, the brand-new Óscar Mingueza fired friendly fire by pushing the ball into Ter Stegen's goal in a corner. Álvaro Gímenez would end up introducing Barça the ball and, worse still, a new disadvantage on the scoreboard. A new eight thousand. Barça were back in the spotlight from behind for the fifth time in ten league games.
Of course there was a lot left. But with what players like Philippe Coutinho offered, there was nothing to hold on to. The Brazilian embodied Barça's already worrying offensive blocking against withdrawn teams. Like de Jong or Griezmann, he was always slow, horizontal and predictable. Not so Messi and Braithwaite in the only occasion culé of the first half: delicious service of the Argentine to the space so that the Danish, with little angle, bump into the local goalkeeper.
After the first 45 minutes, the Barça interests were clamoring for the entry of two players. A corkscrew and a mixer. A more upright player than Coutinho and one more agitator than Griezmann. Pedri and Dembélé. And Koeman replied. He gave entry to both, instead of the same Coutinho and the central Mingueza. But it would not be enough.
More gunpowder above, less clothing below
With de Jong installed as center-back, the team went cold. The withdrawal of Cádiz catapulted multiple yellow cons. And all came to fruition. That yes, the goal of the Barcelona tie threatened to spoil the Cadiz party. He also arrived with friendly fire -in this case, at Pedro Alcalá's own door-, in a good combination of Dembélé and Alba. But it was an oasis within the great defensive performance and ambition of Cádiz.
Álvaro Cervera's team was really focused. And he continued to carry out counterattacks. In one of those, the ball was lost down the sideline. Apparently, little danger for a Barça that simply had to remove the ball from the area to transfer it, again, to the Cadista field. Less danger than in the corner of Anfield. But same result. Same lack of concentration. Same disaster.
Jordi Alba took out and got Lenglet into a problem, who did the same with Ter Stegen by letting the ball pass while the newly entered Álvaro Negredo was just a few meters away. In the attempt to clear the Mongolian goalkeeper, Negredo took the ball, made de Jong dribble Maradona against Madrid, and put his team back ahead of the scoreboard.
Cádiz began to believe the possibility of obtaining the three points against the other giant of Spanish football - after having knocked Real Madrid down 0-1 a month and a half ago. And the Barça continued smearing with his psyche. Very barking dog, but little biting. A lot of possession, but little punch. When Messi does not come to the rescue as he used to do throughout his sporting life, it seems complicated. When those around you lack reliability, it seems impossible. Not even the entry of an electric Pjanić allowed Barça to have more freshness and judgment.
Cádiz celebrates a historic victory: the first for Barça since 1991 (EFE)
That it is the worst Barcelona in recent times is evidence. Not even the statistics hide it. That the league title escapes him, it begins to be too. Having already played a quarter of the league, he is 12 points behind a very serious Atlético de Madrid. The sensation even suggests that the distance will be more susceptible to widening than shortening.
And that Real Madrid, Real Sociedad or Villarreal are superior in terms of play and, for now, regularity. There are four defeats in ten games for a Barça whose worst asset is the sensations. When Messi is not there, nobody knows how to raise his hand. Pedri is the most daring, but that will never be enough.
In each Barça defeat, the universe of responsibilities expands even more. Despite having arrived after two defensive errors, today's was not the fault of one or two players. Not the coach. The problem is the psyche. Barça has a serious mentality and attitude deficit. A deficit that explains Rome, Anfield, 2-8 ... and that could be doing the same, for now, with the 2020/2021 League championship.
As long as the club does not acquire a new course with the election of a new president, it will continue adrift in the seas of Josep Maria Bartomeu. A disastrous inheritance in virtually every respect, which has created an off-center and off-kilter team. If in recent years the sinks were limited to excursions outside the Spanish borders, this year they are also beginning to happen within. And if Barça remains in the trend of error and bad psyche, it will even suffer for finishing in the top four positions.
DATA SHEET
Cádiz (2) : Ledesma; Carcelén, Fali, Marcos Mauro (Alcalá, m.30), Espino; Bodiger, Jonsson (Augusto, m.79), Álex Fernández, Perea (Alejo, m.79), Jairo (Adenkaye, m.79); and Álvaro Giménez (Negredo, m.61).
Barcelona (1) : Ter Stegen; Dest (Trincao, m.76), Mingueza (Pedri, m.46), Lenglet, Alba; Busquets (Pjanic, m.76), De Jong; Messi, Griezmann, Coutinho (Dembelé, m.46); and Braithwaite.
Referee : Soto Grado (Riojano Committee). He admonished Lenglet (m.61) and Jordi Alba (m.86) with yellow cardboard.
Goals : 1-0, 9 ': Álvaro Giménez. 1-1, 58 ': Alcalá, own goal. 2-1, 63 ': Negredo.
Incidents : Match day 12 of the First Division, played at the Ramón de Carranza stadium without the presence of the public.