FC Barcelona got the win at home in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Los Cules got the victory thanks to a goal by Luis Suarez and a Lionel Messi brace. Despite the win, and being rescued by Messi, their backline core is nothing but shambles.
The Four Men That Failed
Barcelona’s back four were a headache for the team, to say the least. Mohamed Salah troubled Jordi Aba for the better part of the first half. Sadio Mane did the same going one on one against Sergi Roberto. Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet did not help much either. The Spanish defense seemed slow and out of place for the better part of the game. Luckily for them, their last line of defense was their lifeline
Ter Stegen
Marc-Andre ter Stegen came up big for Barcelona. The German goalkeeper showed secure hands behind the post. He was vital for the Catalan XI as Mane and Salah did not think twice about shooting on goal. Nonetheless, Ter Stegen kept the score intact.
Can Messi Save Them One More Time?
Performance aside, Barcelona is as close to the UCL final as it gets. All they need is to survive at Anfield to make it to the final. Messi and company will do so without a problem. Nonetheless, the Champions League final will be their downfall.
Soccer is a team sport. No team in the UCL semifinals does that better than Ajax. Barcelona would be extremely lucky to pull out a win against them in Madrid, Messi can only do so much. The worst performing Barça since their 2013 humiliation against Bayern Munich has arrived. Do not expect them to win it all this year.