Barcelona clashed heads with Linares Deportivo at the Estadio Municipal de Linarejos earlier this evening as they hoped to pick up a win in the Copa del Rey. The Catalans made a poor start to the game and conceded the opening goal in the 19th minute when Hugo Dias scored with a good header. Barca failed to come up with an immediate response and went into the half-time break 1-0 down on the scoreline.
The visitors managed to equalise in the 63rd minute when Ousmane Dembele found the back of the net with a curled strike. Ferran Jutgla completed the turnaround for Barca just six minutes later as he scored with a good finish. The Catalan giants ended up winning the contest by a narrow 2-1 scoreline.
Let’s take a look at how each Barcelona player performed during the clash against Linares Deportivo.
GK: Neto – 6/10
The Barca keeper had to make one save in the game but won’t be pleased after conceding a goal inside the first quarter of the match.
CB: Oscar Mingueza – 6/10
Mingueza was pushed back inside his half at times. However, he stood strong and picked an assist for setting up Dembele’s goal.
CB: Eric Garcia – 6/10
The Spaniard went close to scoring but was denied by Brimah Razak. He did enough work defensively to limit the opposition from scoring more than once.
CB: Ronald Araujo – 7/10
Araujo was lively on the ball and was mostly solid at the back. He earned possession back a few times and read the danger well during the game.
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RM: Dani Alves – 6.5/10
The Brazilian veteran looked defensively vulnerable at times but created a few decent chances for his teammates in the final third.
CM: Sergio Busquets – 6.5/10
He retained possession really well for Barca but failed to create any real chance going forward.
CM: Riqui Puig – 6.5/10
Puig gave away the ball cheaply sometimes but managed to create some inviting opportunities for others around him in the first half.
LM: Jordi Alba – 6/10
The Spanish talent worked hard but failed to come up with anything meaningful in the attacking end of the field.
CAM: Nico Gonzalez – 7/10
He caused a few problems for the opposition defence and was responsible for setting up Jutgla’s matching winning goal in the 69th minute.
ST: Ilias Akhomach – 6/10
Akhomach offered very little in the first half and got replaced at half-time.
ST: Ferran Jutgla – 7.5/10
He was a constant menace in the final third and went close to scoring twice. He finally managed to find the back of the net in the 69th minute with a curled effort.
Substitutes:
ST: Ousmane Dembele – 7/10
He came on and scored the all-important equaliser for the Catalan outfit.
CM: Frenkie de Jong – 7/10
De Jong gave Barca more control in midfield.
CB: Gerard Pique – 7/10
The Spanish centre-back added some bite and steel to Xavi’s defence.
