DBasia.news – Liverpool are required to reverse the aggregate goal 0-3 when they host Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal second leg at Anfield on Wednesday (8/5) early morning Western Indonesian Time. A distant aggregate goal and a tough task await the Reds.
Barcelona indeed won with a landslide score 3-0. But from the side of the game, it seems difficult to believe Barcelona can win with three goals without reply. Scores that describe an unbalanced fight. The reality on the pitch is very opposite.
Barcelona’s landslide victory was not because of the attractive attacking game that Barca usually exhibited. Almost more than half of the game, Liverpool can be said to be more dominant and able to make it difficult for the host.
It was also the spotlight from Marca, who said there were at least four aspects that should be of concern to coach Ernesto Valverde.
Those four things are what must be addressed by Valverde’s troops if they don’t want a surprising result at Anfield later. Moreover, Liverpool will appear at Anfield, a place that can whip Liverpool’s spirit twice.
Ball possession
In the first leg, the ball possession actually more in the hands of Liverpool. Barcelona too often lets opponents dominate possession.
This situation if repeated will invite danger for Barca. As revealed by Lionel Messi after the first leg match. “We are not used to not controlling the ball and that is rather detrimental to us.”
Miss-Pass
Very rare when appearing at Camp Nou Barcelona lost in terms of releasing crosses. But this is what happened when they hosted Liverpool.
The guest team recorded 593 releases which 482 were successful. While Barcelona recorded 545 passes, 457 to target. In other words, the pressure made by Liverpool was able to make Barca release 88 inaccurate passes. This is interesting because this tactic characterizes Barcelona so far.
In the first leg, Valverde preferred Arturo Vidal to Arthur Melo in the starting line-up. This is what might make Barcelona’s performance decline. As a result, Ivan Rakitic was barely involved in the attacking movement.
Guarding Mohamed Salah
At Camp Mou, Mohamed Salah regularly threatened the Barca defense. Clement Lenglet had difficulty overshadowing the movement of the Egyptian striker. One is very free to move in that match.
Luckily for Barca, Salah failed to capitalize on several opportunities despite having made the Barcelona defense frantic.
Getting out of pressure
Pressure with Liverpool’s high defensive line made it difficult for Barca. The Liverpool player even pressed Barcelona to the penalty area. Barcelona just overwhelmed with their usual strategy.
Especially in the second half, Barcelona’s difficulties out of pressure resulted in a continuous attack from Liverpool. If this happens at Anfield, Barca could not be as lucky as at Camp Nou.
In the first leg, Barcelona could not get out of the pressure of Liverpool and instead appeared nervous before Messi created two goals.