FC Barcelona 3-2 Almeria: Sergi Roberto scores brace as Barca overcome a sturdy Almeria test, ends year on a high

FC Barcelona played out one of the thrilling matches this season against lowly Almeria as they gets past a stern test presented by the visitors, which almost made the hosts stumble as they were looking for another meagre stalemate. Thanks to skipper and Barca’s hero in 6-1 remontada victory against PSG years ago, Sergi Roberto scored a brace to keep Xavi’s men at bay, thus ending the year on a high.

A strong line-up for both sides

FC Barcelona might be the defending champions of La Liga, but they have been under fire for the first half of this season. Owing to their misfiring tactics and off-form for its strikers in the form of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha coupled with a hapless defensive sector and injuries, Xavi’s men have been scrutinized for their unexpectedly poor performances in the league. They have had a shambolic last week, with two losses in the hands of La Liga surprise leaders Girona and Royal Antwerp FC in their last game of UEFA Champions League, followed by a meagre stalemate against Valencia. With Xavi’s tactics and players’ performances under scanner, the Catalans had to make a statement before the year ends, and might have achieved in showcasing their might after a thrilling victory against minnows Almeria, who are winless the entire season.

Xavi had started with his traditional 4-3-3 formation, with some changes wringing in for him, as the defensive line-up comprised Cancelo, Araujo, Kounde and Balde with a midfield line-up having the perfect blend of youth and experience, with Gundogan and skipper Roberto leading the front along with La Masia star Fermin Lopez. Felix and Raphinha were vested with the responsibility of flanking a misfiring Lewandowski, as the Polish was marshalling his troops from the front.

On the other hand, Almeria started with a defense-heavy approach, as their 5-4-1 formation was enough to ensure that Barca’s forwards does not go past their five-throng defensive set-up, with Baptistao leading the team from the front.

Raphinha draws first blood

Although Barca had got several chances during the first ten minutes, they could not get past Almeria keeper Maximiano, who had a stellar night, thwarting several shots away from the throng of Barca attacks. Sergi Roberto showed glimpse of his old form with a direct header into the hands of Maximiano, which, if it got in, could have been the opener for his side, and a perfect time to start Barcelona’s party. Robert Lewandowski, who might be having a rough patch as the reigning Pichichi winner seems to have lost his touch, had the chance to fire on ahead, but indeed placed it in the hands of Maximiano, who was prompt enough to keep the score line at 0-0.

But, it took less than 35 minutes for Barca to go ahead as Raphinha drew the first blood from point blank range. It was a Gundogan corner who swung in directly in front of the goal, with defender Araujo rising above his marker to head towards the goal, which was initially stopped superbly by Maximiano, but the ball landed in front of Raphinha as he palmed it towards the Brazilian, who hit it straight into the top corner to break the deadlock, with Barca fans rejoicing the opener.

Baptistao pulls one back

Although Barca was pressing hard up front with their strikers and midfielders constantly knocking at Almeria’s defensive block, but at the end, Barcelona’s defensive frailties got exposed once again, as Baptistao scored the opener for Almeria just before half-time. It was Arribas who pounced upon the little gap in the midfield and went past the Catalans in aim of poking a pass beyond the defensive line. Baptistao fires himself into Barca box with their defenders struggling to get back, as he dinks a perfect goal over Pena, thus restoring the parity. Although an offside check was mandatory, it was finally shown that the goal stood, as both teams went into half-time with 1-1 score, poised for a brilliant second half.

Sergi Roberto pulls one back, restores lead

As the tams came out in the second half, Xavi had made few changes, with Kounde and Ferran taking the field. But, it was not until the hour mark that Barca found one more goal to restore the lead. This time, it was Raphinha whose corner was instrumental in helping Roberto to score his first of the night. The Brazilian delivered the ball towards the front post, with Roberto sprang forward to evade Chumi, and in attempt to do that, he glanced the ball in a lovely curler towards far post and achieved the lead for the Catalans, thus rejoicing the goal with fellow mates.

But, it seemed that Barca’s defensive woes were not ending as Almeria pulled one more goal, this time from a free-kick yards before the goal. In attempt to thwart the ball away, Araujo and Pena decided to come together and throw the ball to the far side, but unfortunately the ball landed in front of Gonzalez, who fired the shot in an open goal, as Almeria pulled one more to score the leveler, as Barca desperately tried to keep things in guard for the last few minutes.

Roberto and winning goal- a perfect match

Although Robert Lewandowski would be under fire to be unable to score any of his chances, he was pivotal in providing Roberto the assist for his brace. Gundogan feeds the ball towards Lewandowski, whose piercing floated pass across Almeria’s defensive line reached the feet of Roberto, who, after controlling the ball superbly, slotted the ball underneath Maximiano’s pacing legs, thus scoring the winner and restoring the lead for Barca, bringing back memories of his stunner few years back against PSG in the famous remontada game in UEFA Champions League, thus rekindling his sweet love story with scoring winners.

With this victory, Barca ends this year on a high note, as they would be finishing the year on either third or fourth position, as they fly off to Dallas to face off against Club America in a mid-season friendly, before spending a long Christmas holiday.