A first-half strike from Arturo Vidal and a top performance from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen helped Barcelona beat Real Valladolid 0-1 on Saturday evening at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
The victory brings Barcelona back within a point of league leaders Real Madrid, but it was far from convincing. While the Catalans had a bright start, punctuated by Vidal's goal, they were largely left to suffer during the second half and, if not for the heroics of Ter Stegen, the headlines could have easily been different.
Quique Setien made the curious decision of benching Luis Suarez, while Riqui Puig was restored to the starting XI. Nevertheless, Barcelona enjoyed a very sharp start and were handsomely rewarded for their bright play with Vidal's opener.
Messi won back a ball deep in the Valladolid half and found the Chilean with a little chip past two Valladolid defenders, allowing Vidal to fire a shot that slammed off the far and post and in for a 0-1 lead.
Antoine Griezmann should have made it two just a few minutes later after a fine cross from Nelson Semedo, but the French striker produced a finish that will surely be shown on all of the end-of-season blooper reels.
Valladolid began to grow into the match and a ball over the top led to a breakaway chance for Kike Perez, but the midfielder was never able to get a clean shot off and Ter Stegen made the save.
Setien did not hesitate to make a change during the break, hauling off the out-of-sync Griezmann and bringing on Suarez. Later on, it was yellow-carded centre-back Clement Lenglet and Riqui Puig yielding their spots to Ronald Araujo and Ivan Rakitic respectively.
But it was Valladolid who looked the better side to start the second half almost got the next goal, as an Enes Unal header from a free-kick forced Ter Stegen into a diving save.
Setien did some further reshuffling by replacing Sergio Busquets with Junior Firpo as Barcelona clung to their one-goal advantage. Still, it was all Valladolid in the second half and the home side had the Catalans pegged back deep in their own area as full-time neared.
Valladolid's best look at an equaliser arrived in stoppage time through former Barcelona player Sandro Ramirez, however Ter Stegen once again was on top of things and made the stop to secure the Barcelona victory.
Match Sheet:
0.- Valladolid: Masip, Moyano, Javi Sanchez, Olivas, Joaquin (Hervias, min. 46), Raul Carnero (Nacho, min. 25), San Emeterio, Alcaraz (Enes Unal, min. 46), Kike Perez, Oscar Plano (Waldo, min. 80), Sergi Guardiola (Sandro, min. 61).
1.- Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Pique, Lenglet (Araujo, min. 57), Semedo, Busquets (Junior Firpo, min. 74), Sergi Roberto, Riqui Puig (Rakitic, min. 57), Vidal, Messi, Griezmann (Suarez, min. 46).
Goals: 0-1, min. 15: Vidal.
Referee: Mateu Lahoz (Valencian).
Yellow cards: Lenglet (Min. 40) for Barcelona, Busquets (Min. 60) for Barcelona, Kike Perez (Min. 65) for Valladolid, Jordi Alba (Min. 78) for Barcelona.
Red cards: None.
Stadium: Jose Zorrilla.
Attendance: 0.
Messi-goat10
0
If it wasn't for Ter stegen Barรงa fans would have been like this
[image]
Chelsea kid got his diapers wet?? ๐
Messi-goat10
0
if wasn't for Sheffield United u wouldn't be like that๐๐๐๐
savage ๐๐
Sivarockz
0
Messi is not a midfielder.setien using Messi as midfield so he can't score he cannot find space ,he looses the ball quickly
Sivarockz
2
Messi should concentrate only in the attack position but he always roaming in the midfield areas so Barca can't get more goals and Messi too
Dukadimtuz
0
setien is not fit to be coach...... winning the match doesn't mean you r good coach even if I'm a coach of Barca I assure I can win every match. What kind of formation is he doing? I think setien and sarabia is mentally ill. substitute without any mission. The most worse coach I haven't seen either winning or losing we don't deserve your formation
Busi and lenglet sub for yellow card they want them in next game hoping RM loses pint in next game,griez performance poor in first half that sub anyone can see coming and piug that sub is questionable
Jubcdotuy
1
please don't die
Dukadimtuz
2
Better you get ur insurance done while watching barca match in closing minutes every minute equal to heart attack
Boskpruz
2
the worse team of Barca
Wiblnrtuyz
0
Cant Messi score anymore!?
timmyjahzmania
0
messi,Griezmann and suarez keep it up
Yaybcenpu
2
I can't imagine why Braithwaith isn't getting minutes in this average team.
iloveyou3000thtime
0
happy to see barca fan ๐๐๐๐
kakabiconti
0
i mean ONce there waS a BarCa whEn they Killed Every match with Atleast 3 or 2 gOals And... i M Realy sad FOr THem beiNg A Rival ๐
oh yeah that is true
AaBiDIQrA
0
yes it is not just accept that we need to improve
i mean ONce there waS a BarCa whEn they Killed Every match with Atleast 3 or 2 gOals And... i M Realy sad FOr THem beiNg A Rival ๐
Lenbdnorsy
0
Quique isnt the man for Barcelona
Sabadeikls
0
if wasn't for Sheffield United u wouldn't be like that๐๐๐๐
๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐๐killed me bro
SouTHeE
2
Mathematically Barca can't win
akashkumar1187
1
the headline of the article is same as given sentence: person having cancer died but not my cancer
bichooo
1
1 min silence for Madrid fans including myself who was expecting an equalizer from valladolid so that barca would drop points
Yeah bro me to
alota-ae
1
Barca players are all tired please replace all these players next season. I think a replacement for Messi too should be prepared.
shimtheikumrah96
1
setien is not fit to be coach...... winning the match doesn't mean you r good coach even if I'm a coach of Barca I assure I can win every match. What kind of formation is he doing? I think setien and sarabia is mentally ill. substitute without any mission. The most worse coach I haven't seen either winning or losing we don't deserve your formation
MrSadat
1
Suarez is in off form now, play griezman as a CF and ansu fati as lw, messi at Rw and puig busquets and roberto in mid.. they will be beast.. just give this squad a chance
MrSadat
2
Barcelona should focus on ucl rather than la liga... if they played like this, sorry to say, they cant beat napoli..
Kiwailmouy
2
As a BARCA fan, I will always prefer Benzema to Suarez because BARCA style of play needs players who know how to CONTROL BALL and AS well as a player who can DRIBBLE VERY WELL. And as we can see Suarez and Vidal don't have ball control & Doesn't know how to Dribble So any time a Coach start these 2 players (Suarez & Vidal) in a match I just consider we are player 10 AGAINST 11 because Suarez will spoil all the CHANCES Messi and Co. will create for him because he don't know how to Dribble & Vidal always loses the ball also because he don't know how to Control ball very Well and don't know how to Dribble past opponent and NO CREATIVE. . My wish 2021 is that these Players should leave Barca and here are the Names (Pique, Umtiti, Vidal, Suarez, Rakitic, Busquets and Arthur) and give chances to LA MASIA PLAYERS [100percent]
wakbdekps
0
The worst team of Barรงa i 've ever seen. no tactics, without strategies to win games. hope Napoli will continue in UCL with more goals. the team doesn't guarantee barรงa fans that there is hope to continue in UCL.
Jayjay749
0
Suarez at the moment lucks pace,agility,focus,he looks soo old n fragile๐คฆ๐ฝโโ๏ธ
17mulla
0
85:45 mins commentator be like Today Messi looks like a normal human
Nutcdrtz
0
ter stegen will always be the best goalkeeper for me
Kiecdkopy
0
u guys are complaining they are old and slow and what what can u play 3 games in 12 days and still be fresh. talking is really cheap
Jayjay749
0
Suarez is just useless these days๐๐๐๐
lowlowโฝโฝโฝ
0
BARCA and ARSENAL are ONE these days coz EXPECTATIONS are always HIGH but PERFORMANCE is LOW
Jayjay749
0
I knew we would be sluggish when i saw the lineup because how on earth would you strike messi and suarez together i dont know why setien have being taking unnecessary risks...i just cant wait to see dembele n fati in the left and right flanks Barcelona really luck width
Akeel_Ar
0
1 min silence for Madrid fans including myself who was expecting an equalizer from valladolid so that barca would drop points
I was expecting more likes lol
Piydlosy
0
Hell yeah, nowadays barca fans are only talking about referee and var. Better keep an eye on your own team folks ๐ช
Literally every football fan is talking about var. Not just barca fans
Chinyumba
0
Watching my Team hurts ๐
piyadilmno
0
Useless useless useless.... Nothing lasts forever.. Barcelona is now doomed.. No pace at the counter attacks, always playing back passes and no one has guts to shot the ball.. Possession without goals is useless... So u wan dribble to a point of dribbling even the opposition goalkeeper?? The truth is we are heading for a trophless season..
We are not playing our kind of soccer in fact our players are no longer interested
Akashgaur
0
Barcelona Won But Suffer!
[image]
Yeah,can't understand that every game that we win we suffer(according to the media)..๐
lowlowโฝโฝโฝ
1
BARCA players are OLD and SLOW,in our generation speed is more CONSISTENT than normal PASSES coz players are more ACTIVE MENTALLY than PHYSICALLY...As a FAN i tell other BARCA fan to SUPPORT but not to EXPECT Anything
Akashgaur
1
if wasn't for Sheffield United u wouldn't be like that๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ Chelsea were thrashed.
yuwakmps
2
Why won't barca suffer, while you play Roberto and bisque in the middle, how on earth can you play both players who can make a run, in this game rakitic should have started, for Roberto to be benched, look at his changes, instead of getting Vidal and Robert off, he rather charge the young piung, living Vidal who only play all his game for 20 minutes, this chouch is a cowboy
zitcdmnpuz
2
Barcelona champions
pugazh_vendhan
1
Messi and Terstegen once again saved Barca from bitter defeat
MuntasirMiraj
2
Hell yeah, nowadays barca fans are only talking about referee and var. Better keep an eye on your own team folks ๐ช
Championsword00
3
One win with penalty the other with hard work
piyadilmno
1
Thanks to the goal keeper, this team of ours has lost its identity
NellEristhee
3
If it wasn't for Ter stegen Barรงa fans would have been like this
[image]
if wasn't for Sheffield United u wouldn't be like that๐๐๐๐
BigmanF
5
Useless useless useless.... Nothing lasts forever.. Barcelona is now doomed.. No pace at the counter attacks, always playing back passes and no one has guts to shot the ball.. Possession without goals is useless... So u wan dribble to a point of dribbling even the opposition goalkeeper?? The truth is we are heading for a trophless season..
Somechelzyfans
2
If it wasn't for Ter stegen Barรงa fans would have been like this
Zascdmnsu
2
Messi is just walking around