Roma’s incredible revival to beat Barcelona 3-0 at home to make the Champions League semi-finals on away goals stunned the footballing world.
From Barcelona’s perspective though it was a shameful elimination with certain aspects of it especially disappointing…
MESSI’S MORTAL MOMENT
Barcelona fans have come to expect the extraordinary from Lionel Messi and really, the Argentine only has himself to blame. He’s been their ‘Messiah’ on so many occasions that a particularly underwhelming display at the Stadio Olimpico was difficult for his faithful following to process.
Not only was the five-time Ballon d’Or winner unable to save his side from elimination, but following a 40th career hat-trick against Leganes over the weekend, he was wholly ineffective and that’s difficult sight to digest.
He uncharacteristically relinquished possession an alarming 19 times, while his count of 62 touches in the game was only 13 more than goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen registered.
Lionel Messi
COMPROMISED VALUES
Over the last 15 years or so, we’ve grown accustomed to a certain brand of football from Barcelona. They’ve not always been an all-conquering force over that time but their ability to dominate possession, attack the opposition and create a host of chances has never eluded them.
Ernesto Valverde has transformed them into a more compact unit but in Rome, caution turned to passivity and composure switched to anxiety. While the defeat and subsequent elimination is a heavy blow, the manner of it is far more disconcerting. Holding a three-goal advantage from the first leg, it’s understandable that the Catalans were not inclined to go on the front foot, but they almost entirely spared Alisson’s goal of any threat.
Leaving Ousmane Dembele on the bench until the 85th minute when Philippe Coutinho wasn’t available either, was a baffling call from Valverde. The manager’s failure to respond to his side’s obvious troubles by utilising his bench was also hard to comprehend.
Ernesto Valverde.
DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Given Barcelona’s reluctance to commit bodies forward and force a way through Roma’s defence, one would have imagined that would at least hold them in good stead at the back, but that was hardly the case.
Despite their impressive defensive record this season, Valverde’s side were consistently put under pressure by a pretty fundamental – albeit excellently executed – approach. They were caught out by balls over the top far too easily and seemed ill-equipped to contend with crosses, particularly ones that targeted their full-backs as the likes of Edin Dzeko and Patrik Schick got plenty of joy.
Their improvement at the back is something Barcelona have prided themselves upon this season but even that aspect of their game evaded them on this occasion, leaving Valverde with nothing to hang his hat on.
Gerard Pique (r) and Barcelona struggled defensively.