Barça B - Match report: Atlético Baleares

Víctor Sánchez was again available because Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola didn't select him for the first team. Thiago took one of the three expensive midfield spots. Oier and Víctor Vázquez had their first start of the season.

Oier, Córcoles, Joni (77 Xavi Torres), Víctor Sánchez, Espasandín, Thiago (45 Gai), Rueda, Longás (72 Abraham), Víctor Vázquez, Maric, Nolito

See the further match stats and the league table here

Barcelona dominated the game from the beginning until the end but didn't have it easy against a very defensive oppponent. Barcelona had ball possession from the start and the pressure of the whole team didn't allow Baleares to come out regularly. A strong Víctor Sánchez eliminated all potential danger.

All the ticking nevertheless didn't lead to a lot of chances, with crosses not arriving and shots going largely wide. All actions initially started from Nolito on the left side. When Víctor Vázquez got involved on the other wing, the danger started coming. A first cross went into corner but a few minutes later, in the 38th minute, a sharp centre of Víctor Vázquez lead to a goal by Nolito.

One minute before half-time, Baleares scored the equalizer out of their first real opportunity of the game, when Jose scored after a throw-in and a nice inside pass.

Luis Enrique decided to let Gai Assulin start the second half, making his season's debut. The Israel youth international began with two good actions in the first five minutes and gave the team more depth. At the hour, a shot by Maric went just wide and a hard shot by Víctor Vázquez was saved, like was a shot of Rueda.

Barcelona kept Baleares in their box for the last fifteen minutes, but the goal didn't fall, with one great chance, two other balls saved from the line and a possible penalty not awarded. Five minutes before the end, Maric headed an excellent cross from Abraham strongly into the goal. In extra-time, a free kick of Baleares went wide.


Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique said at the press conference after the match that it was a difficult game: "We knew that it wouldn't be easy and they indeed kept a lot of players behind the ball. We planned to play fluently and to give the opponent no chance. When we scored the first goal we thought things would change and there would be more space. But that wasn't the case. A childish error costed us the equalizer and we had to start all over again.

We started the second half with a lot of motivaton to play well, both technically and physically. We created a lot of chances, three or four real scoring chances, and we came closer to the objective. We got our second home victory after suffering a lot. It's good to keep up the positive series at home.

We suffered a lot. For the first time this season, I have been suffering. I try to look at the game with a cool head so I can make the analysis and see what's best for the team but this time the circumstances made me suffer very much.

I will keep on rotating. We have 21 key players in this squad. The players respond well to the rotating. I see they're all involved, those who play, those who sit on the bench and those who aren't called up. They live and do everything together. That's one more reason why I like this squad a lot although we still have to work hard and get better.

I liked Gai, he was very good. It was the first time he played, we want to have him at his top, his physical level got a lot better but he still needs some more. He contributes a lot, he's decisive in one-on-one, he scores easily and he's only 17. Can you ask more? Today he played on the right wing, but it shouldn't always be like that.

Víctor Vázquez is technically superior, top quality. He can play on the wing, in the centre or as attacking midfielder. He's very motivated and I liked his game a lot. He participated in the first goal and, like the others, he's a key player.

Thiago is a spectacular player, another youth product that could go very far, but has still some steps to make. The fact that I took him off after the first half doesn't mean he had a bad game. It wasn't a punishment, on the contrary."