BARCELONA: Barcelona showed against Bayern Munich on Tuesday that the worst may be behind for them but have not yet managed to pull level with football’s elite in the quest for the Champions League glory.
Julian Nagelsmann’s Bundesliga champions rode their luck at the Allianz Arena in the first half but improved after the break to dispatch a spirited, but ultimately frustrated, Barcelona 2-0 with goals from Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane.
The Catalans last won the Champions League in 2015, beating Bayern in the semifinals on the way to their triumph in Berlin, but have now suffered five consecutive defeats against the Bavarians.
Last season Barca, reeling from the departure of Lionel Messi, were twice defeated comprehensively by Bayern, contributing to a humiliating group stage exit.
The previous season they suffered a brutal 8-2 dissection at the hands of the Bavarians which demonstrated how far they had fallen from the game’s summit.
In Munich on Tuesday Barcelona had the better of the first half, with former Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski spurning a handful of opportunities on his return to Germany, but two goals in a five-minute second-half salvo whisked the game away from them.
“We will take the positives and even though it was a negative result, we can learn from the errors,” said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández.
“It’s a step back. We did enough to draw, if not to win. A defeat is not deserved, but we made mistakes in the two boxes.”
Lewandowski blasted over and had a close-range header parried away by Manuel Neuer in the first half, before dallying on the ball in the box when he might have squeezed off a shot first-time.
La Liga’s top scorer seemed unusually indecisive in front of goal on his return to the Allianz Arena, the scene of so many of his successes over the past eight seasons before his summer switch to Camp Nou.
“When we talk about competing, we’re talking about doing it at a corner, or in a transition,” said Xavi, referring to defensive errors for Bayern’s two goals.
“It’s also about efficiency. You get in front of the goalkeeper and you should score.
“We did not score despite having seven clear chances, we have to put them away. I am angry but proud.”
Barcelona midfielder Pedri was also denied by the impeccable Neuer when well placed and hit the post with another good opportunity.
“In the first half we had a lot of chances but if you don’t take them against teams like this, you end up paying,” he added.
At the other end, Marcos Alonso failed to track Hernandez at a corner for the opening goal, while Sane glided away from him and the rest of Barcelona’s defense for the second goal without facing a robust challenge at any point.
“We can say that we were better, but it’s about winning,” Xavi. “The first came from a corner and the second from not stopping a counter-attack, we have to do that.
“They are a fully-fledged team, while we are at the beginning. We have to improve in both boxes.”
New-look Barcelona show positive signs in defeat to Bayern
https://arab.news/v8nmm
New-look Barcelona show positive signs in defeat to Bayern
- "We will take the positives and even though it was a negative result, we can learn from the errors," said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández
- "We can say that we were better, but it's about winning"
Chelsea paid for costly errors in Arsenal defeat, says Rosenior
LONDON: Liam Rosenior admitted Chelsea paid the price for costly mistakes after Arsenal took advantage of his side’s blunders to win 3-2 in the League Cup semifinal first leg on Wednesday.
Rosenior’s team face a tough task to set up a final against either Manchester City or Newcastle following their error-strewn display in their new manager’s first home match.
Chelsea were guilty of sloppy marking for Ben White’s early headed opener before goalkeeper Robert Sanchez gifted striker Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal’s second goal after half-time.
Alejandro Garnacho got one back for Chelsea but Martin Zubimendi then netted for Arsenal after more lacklustre defending from Rosenior’s men.
Substitute Garnacho’s second goal gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium in February.
“Disappointed to concede from a corner. Disappointed with the third goal as well because we were right back in the game and we were on top at that moment,” Rosenior said.
“We switched off from a restart from a central free-kick but I can’t fault the players.
“We need to make sure we perform well individually and we don’t concede as many goals.”
Rosenior was without a host of key players, including Cole Palmer, Reece James and Liam Delap, due to injuries and illness.
‘It’s another step’
In his second game since replacing Enzo Maresca as Blues boss, the 41-year-old took heart from the way Chelsea kept fighting to find a way back into the tie.
“We’ve had illness in the squad, we’ve picked up a few knocks this week but what the squad has shown is that they are willing to run and fight for each other,” he said.
Rosenior, who oversaw a 5-1 FA Cup third-round win at Charlton in his debut last weekend, refused to condemn Sanchez for the latest in a long line of shaky performances.
“Rob’s a very good goalkeeper. He made an outstanding save at 3-1 to keep us in the tie, so for me load of things to improve but the overall attitude of the team I liked,” Rosenior said.
“Hopefully, we get a few bodies back for Brentford on Saturday.”
Arsenal are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions as they moved a step closer to their first silverware since the 2020 FA Cup.
The Gunners had lost their previous four semifinals across a variety of competitions, including the League Cup last year.
Mikel Arteta was impressed with Arsenal’s ability to subdue Chelsea for long periods, but he was left to rue their failure to kill off their London rivals.
“I have to praise the players for the performance against a really good opponents. It’s a really tough place to come. That’s why I really value what the team has done again,” Arteta said.
“We had two massive chances to score the fourth one and the result would have been very different. At that moment they created a chance and scored a goal. So it is a very different feeling. It’s game on.”
As well as leading the Premier League, Arsenal are also still chasing Champions League and FA Cup glory.
But after so many last-four failures in the recent past, Arteta won’t take anything for granted.
“It’s another step. It’s just half-time. We know the big fight we are going to have at the Emirates in a few weeks because they are a top side,” he said.
“What we’re doing every three days is impressive.”
