Taking the blame for his side’s shocking 1-2 defeat at the hands of recently-promoted Deportivo Alaves, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has pointed out that number of changes in the squad led to the present circumstances.
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Coming off the global break and just three days before their Champions League opener, Luis Enrique fielded somewhat of a “B-team” with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Samuel Umtiti all starting on the bench.
Barca are three points behind leaders Real Madrid, who beat Osasuna 5-2 earlier on Saturday in Ronaldo’s first game back from injury.
Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves will play their third game of the La Liga season at Camp Nou on Saturday, 10th September.
Atletico Madrid are fifth on five points after beating Celta Vigo 4-0 to earn their first win of the season.
The Frenchman should have scored a second goal minutes later, but he somehow fired wide from close range after another corner.
Andres Iniesta has also returned to training following a knee injury and will battle Arda Turan and Denis Suarez for a place in midfield as both have impressed early in the campaign.
While the loss of Messi is surely a big one, Barcelona have been boosted by the return of Neymar from worldwide duty and the Olympic champion will be lining up alongside the duo of Luis Suarez and Arda Turan to form a deadly attack.
Mathieu then ought to have bagged his brace as another corner fell to him in the penalty area, yet he blasted the ball off-target from a couple of yards out in a true, defender’s finish.
“I am the one ultimately responsible for all the bad things that happen”, said the Barca boss after suffering just his fifth home league defeat in three seasons in charge at the Camp Nou.
His wholesale changes backfired as Barca failed to unlock Alaves’s mass ranks of defence before the break and went behind when Deyverson turned Kiko Femenia’s cross past Jasper Cillessen on his Barca debut. It’s a privilege for me, I will give it everything I’ve got and will try to score goals, which is what’s expected of a striker.
Griezmman, who was named the best player at this summer’s European Championship for leading France to the final, continues to edge his way into the conversation of the Spanish league’s most valuable player.
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In the day’s other game Villarreal won 2-0 away at Malaga with goals from Jaume Costa and Nicola Sansone.
