Barcelona 1-0 Valencia: Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi combine to take Copa del Rey advantage
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Luis Suarez’s second half header gave Barcelona a one-goal lead over Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-final ahead of next week’s second leg.
The first half was a tight affair as Valencia set up to try and get a draw to take home to Mestalla.
The breakthrough eventually came in the 66th minute when Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi worked their way in down the left, with the latter scooping a cross to Suarez at the back post, who dived in to head home.
Here are the five key talking points…
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: AFP)
(Image: REUTERS)
1. Coutinho brings Barcelona spark
Despite being the club record signing, Ernesto Valverde is giving Philippe Coutinho no privileges.
Brought on in the 58th minute from the bench, the coach showed the Brazilian he will have to play his way into contention rather than just waltzing into the side.
Coutinho brought Barcelona to life, putting the cat among the pigeons in the Valencia defence, which instantly looked less sure of themselves than before.
(Image: REUTERS)
Although Coutinho’s presence was not directly necessary for Suarez’s opener, after he was introduced the game opened up and that helped Barcelona create more chances.
The Brazilian saw a long-range strike beaten away by Jaume Domenech too—one of his goals will be to help Barcelona increase their scoring rate from long distance.
2. Suarez slower, but still scoring
Luis Suarez celebrated his 31st birthday last week and it’s impossible to deny that his age has taken a toll on his physical attributes.
The Uruguayan is no longer as fast as he was, as Messi and Coutinho have found out with through-balls that were expertly placed but ran too far ahead of the striker.
However to make up for it, he’s causing extra havoc with his bodyweight in the box.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Suarez left Valencia defenders on the deck multiple times, using his powerful backside to bounce them away from him.
The battler got his rewards in the 66th minute, when he flung himself through the air to head home Messi’s lofted cross to the back post.
That was his 16th goal in 16 games and right now there is no centre forward more deadly in world football.
3. Rain, rain, go away
Camp Nou officially had 50,959 spectators for this game but it looked like fewer.
The grand old stadium was half full for a cup semi-final, which is ludicrous, especially when you consider Messi was playing.
Now 30, any chance you get to savour the Argentine playmaker in the flesh must be taken.
(Image: REUTERS)
So why did so few people show up? This was the second worst attendance of the season.
Although by kick-off the skies were clear, Barcelona endured heavy rain on Thursday.
Obviously in England that wouldn’t dissuade anybody from going to the game, but the Catalans are used to far more pleasant weather — and a lot the stadium does not have shelter from the elements.
Between that, high ticket prices, a 9.30pm kick-off, and the fact that the key part of this game will not take place until next week at Mestalla thanks to the cup’s outdated format, the shoddy attendance can be explained.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: AFP)
4. Semedo snub
Ernesto Valverde is finding it hard to make up his mind over Nelson Semedo .
The Portuguese defender comes and in out of his plans and is frequently substituted when he is given a start.
On this occasion Semedo was left out of the squad entirely, with Sergi Roberto given his spot at right-back and Aleix Vidal used on the wing.
It nearly ended in disaster for Roberto after a high, late tackle on Andreas Pereira in a sensitive area which left the Valencia midfielder in pain on the floor.
Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez booked Roberto and on another day it might have been a red card.
5. Promising Pereira
The Manchester United loanee was impressive on the left side of midfield for Valencia, giving Roberto more problems than in any other game he’s played this season.
The Brazilian, 22, is not a fixture in Marcelino’s side but the coach trusts him to perform, as he did here, and he has been useful in Los Che’s rise to third in La Liga and the Copa del Rey semi-final.
(Image: AFP)
It’s clear he’s ready for Premier League football, although with Manchester United boasting various attacking options, including new boy Alexis Sanchez, he may never get the chance to shine at Old Trafford.
Unfortunately he was kicked out of this game — Marcelino had to replace him with Maksimovic at half-time after Roberto’s heavy challenge left him in pain.