This was the moment Malcom had waited so long for.
Apart from this month’s Copa del Rey clash against minnows Cultural Leonesa, the summer signing from Bordeaux had last featured for Barcelona in September.
Within two minutes of coming off the bench at Inter Milan in the Champions League, his powerful skimmed shot broke the deadlock. The 21-year-old’s opening Barca goal would not be enough to gain all three points in Group B, however, thanks to Argentina striker Mauro Icardi’s predatory leveller from close range – this was the host’s only attempt on target.
Here, we analyse the performance of the forgotten Brazilian winger:
STATISTICS
Goals – 1
Assists – 0
Shots – 1
Shots on target – 1
Touches – 11
Passes – 7
Key passes – 0
Dribbles – 0
Dispossessed – 0
30-SECOND REPORT
Malcom would have travelled to Milan in hope, rather than expectation.
When the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark, he must have wondered whether another fixture was about to pass him by.
But Barca needed a goal and Valverde turned to his underused signing on 81 minutes. Moments later, the ball was in the back of the net and an emotional Malcom appeared to be crying in celebration.
GOT RIGHT
Take your chance – In a squad blessed with attacking depth, chances don’t come around too often – as Malcom knows only too well.
But everyone at Barca must have been impressed by the way he controlled a cross, beat his marker and unflinchingly converted.
KEY MOMENTS
81st min SUBSTITUTED ON: Malcom’s number comes up and France winger Ousmane Dembele comes off.
83rd min GOAL: The ball is fed to Malcom by ex-Inter youngster Philippe Coutinho, a neat piece of skill sees left-back Kwadwo Asamoah’s tackle evaded and a low shot is struck with such venom – on a wet pitch – that the blindsided goalkeeper, Samir Handanovic, cannot react.
VERDICT
Malcom needed a chance to impress – and he grabbed this one with both hands.
An excellent feint earned space and his powerful shot skipped past Handanovic.
Whether it is enough to impress Valverde, we’ll find out in the weeks ahead.
RATING: 7/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com