A much-changed Barcelona played like the strangers they are as battling basement boys Huesca dug out a 0-0 draw over La Liga’s champions-in-waiting.
There were full debuts for French defender Jean-Clair Todibo and La Masia youth product Riqui Puig in a side that had only retained keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from the 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League last Wednesday.
Save for Ousmane Dembele drawing a good save and Malcom hitting the post, there was little goalmouth action – but a few encouraging performances nonetheless. Read on for our Barca ratings …
BARCELONA (3-5-2)
Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Did far more watching than playing, though he won’t have minded the rest with Manchester United coming up on Wednesday. 6
Jeison Murillo – Touched the ball more than any other Barcelona player – has a composed playing style from the back which fits the side he joined last summer very nicely indeed. 7
Samuel Umtiti – Encouragingly for the Blaugrana, Umtiti dealt with what was thrown at him with consummate ease. A clean sheet against Huesca may not go a long way in helping him win his place back in the first-team, though. 6
Jean-Clair Todibo – Made one great last-ditch tackle in particular on a scarpering Chimy, which had to be timed to perfection. Small step to showing he can be key part of Barca’s next generation post-Pique 7
Arturo Vidal – A rare start against relegation-doomed Huesca isn’t how Vidal would have seen his season going by April when he agreed to head to Catalonia. Full of the usual vigour, but lacking incisiveness. 6
Riqui Puig – Sumptuous reverse pass for Dembele in the first half showed just why he is so highly rated at Camp Nou. A polished display from the 19-year-old. 7
Carles Alena – A couple of potshots aside, kept it too simple when his side needed inspiration. This type of game demanded more risk-taking – the 21-year-old will have better days. 5
Moussa Wague – A little ragged from Nigeria’s breakout World Cup star on debut. Got the chance to stretch his legs as a wing-back, but committed four fouls against a side that had very little possession. 5
Malcom – Swerving shot with the outside of his left boot thudded the post, but in truth that’s the only time he drew the attention of the Huesca defence. 5
Kevin-Prince Boateng – There is little wonder that Boateng has barely got a game – he hasn’t even appeared for two months – since joining Barcelona in January. Non-existent is too substantial a description. 3
Ousmane Dembele – The Frenchman was the brightest spark of a rather dim Barca performance against Huesca’s stubborn defence, making a couple of probing runs and passes on his first start in a month. 7
SUBSTITUTES
Philippe Coutinho (66′) – Ambled around for half an hour, as if he had a big European fixture in midweek in mind. Dangerous game to play given Dembele is back and looking lively. 5
Jordi Alba (66′) – On for Dembele as the game was coming to a rather anti-climactic end. Did little of note 5
Arthur (80′) – 1o-minute runaround, introduced to a match that had a training ground feel. N/A