Still waiting for new financial arrangements to allow the signing of Dani Olmo, the star signing of the summer, Barcelona is looking to La Masia. Barça started the match at Mestalla with three players over 18 years old: Lamine Yamal, Marc Bernal and Cubarsí, all 17 years old. They were joined by Balde (20) and Casadó (20). “I don’t care how many La Masia players are in the team, it’s incredible to have them because of the quality they have. The pre-season was not easy to prepare, there were many players out. And La Masia’s contribution during the summer was important. They have grown a lot during these six weeks. Today we see what they are capable of doing. They are fantastic and they help us a lot, both in the pre-season and at the start of the season,” said Hansi Flick, after Barcelona’s victories against Valencia (1-2). “We will work 100% to have the opportunities. Flick asks us to be intense and to play as we know how to play,” said Casadó. While waiting for the veterans, the youngsters take over.
1
Mamardashvili, Yarek Gasiorowski, Thierry Correia, Vazquez Mayor (Martin Tejon, min. 77), Cristhian Ibarguen, Rafa Mir (David Otorbi, min. 77), Pepelu, Diego Lopez (Foulquier, min. 66), Javi Guerra, Andre Almeida (Dani Gomez, min. 66) and Hugo Duro
2
Ter Stegen, Íñigo Martínez, Pau Cubarsí, Koundé, Alex Balde (Gerard Martín, min. 63), Lamine Yamal (Pau Victor, min. 85), Marc Bernal, Raphinha, Ferrán Torres (Pedri, min. 64), Marc Casado and Lewandowski
Goals 1-0 min. 43: Hugo Duro. 1-1 min. 48: Lewandowski. 1-2 min. 50: Lewandowski.
Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez
Yellow cards Pepelu (min. 38), Pau Cubarsí (min. 47), Vazquez Alcalde (min. 49), Baraja (min. 56), A. Christensen (min. 68) and Koundé (min. 80)
When Barcelona announced that Gündogan was not travelling to Valencia, suspicions began to surround the German. Sport Newspaper The club reported that the player had asked to leave, but those close to the player denied this. According to these sources, Gündogan had stayed in Barcelona because of the heavy blow he had received in the Gamper Trophy. “He suffered dizziness in training,” they explained. In any case, the sports department is opening the door for him to leave: “He is one of those who can leave.” But Gündogan does not want to hear anything: “I will not leave this summer.”
The presence of Pedri, added to the incorporation of Dani Olmo, leaves the position of attacking midfielder with overbooking. In the spotlight, then, is Gündogan, 33 years old (he will turn 34 in October), with one of the highest salaries in the squad. “I know him very well and I appreciate him very much as a footballer and as a person. What I talk about with him remains private,” said Flick. His departure would facilitate, precisely, the registration of Olmo, still outside the Barcelona list due to lack of fair play financial. A similar situation is that of Robert Lewandowski. The striker, who will turn 36 on August 21, is the highest-paid player in the squad. Although there was speculation at one point about his possible departure, the arrival of Flick (who shares an agent with the number 9, Pini Zahavi), no one is moving Lewandowski from Barcelona.
And Lewandowski erased the doubts of a quiet pre-season, with two goals to rescue Barcelona at Mestalla. The first to bring peace to the Blaugrana before the break. “It was very important to make it 1-1 before the end of the first half. We had the game under control in the last few minutes,” said the Pole, who sent Lamine Yamal’s pass into the net. To the difficulties, the winger responds with football. After his father was stabbed three times – he has already been discharged – Lamine asked to be in Valencia. “What calms me down is playing football,” Yamal replied, according to Relevo. And his football calms him, Flick and even receives recognition from Mestalla when he is replaced by Pau Víctor.
Without the experience of Gündogan, but with that of Lewandowski, Barcelona surrounded the Pole from La Masia. “It was a very difficult game, with a lot of young players and on a very difficult pitch. But the youngsters played very well today. The most important thing is that we leave with three points. Now we have the whole week to prepare for the next one,” said the number 9, who scored the opening goal and was also present in the net to seal the 1-2 from the penalty spot. “He is a professional. He is very important for us. He scored both goals and did a fantastic job defensively,” praised Flick to the Pole. And the number 9 replied: “My objective is to score goals. It is very important to start like this to have confidence. Next week we have three games and it is very important.” La Masia colonises Mestalla and fires up Lewandowski. A good formula while the injured players (Gavi, Fati, Araujo and De Jong) recover and the players in charge of creating play (Gündogan and Olmo) join in.
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