Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol: Malcom needs more minutes plus art of Clement Lenglet

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Barcelona winger Malcom

    Lionel Messi surpassed 40 goals in a season for the 10th successive year as his brace secured Barcelona a 2-0 derby victory over Espanyol and consolidated their La Liga lead.

    The Argentine broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when his chipped free-kick attempt from the edge of the box was helped over the line by back-tracking Espanyol defender Victor Sanchez.

    Messi, who had been an injury doubt for the game, then turned in a cross from substitute Malcom to seal victory after 89 minutes.

    Here we analyse the three key talking points from a Barca perspective.

    MALCOM IN THE MIDDLE

    Lionel Messi celebrates his second with Malcom

    Lionel Messi celebrates his second with Malcom

    The most bizarre narrative for Barcelona this season is just how criminally underused Malcom is.

    Just 32 minutes of La Liga action have been attained in 2019 with all three appearances arriving from the bench. Yet you have to give credit to a player who despite the obvious frustration, is so desperate to flourish.

    If you contrast his determination to that of Philippe Coutinho, it should be obvious who is given the greater game time.

    Coutinho’s weak acceptance of his inability to fit into this Barca team should see Malcom vault ahead of him in the pecking order.

    The record-signing started against Espanyol on the left of a front trio but despite some early fizz, delivered another decidedly flat performance.

    Malcom arrived on the hour and immediately inflated the attack and should be no surprise because he’s shown plenty of times what enormous potential there is to be harnessed.

    When Ousmane Dembele is unavailable, the 22-year-old’s intensity and speed gives Barca a different dimension.

    He stands out every time he steps onto the pitch and it still doesn’t seem enough to convince Ernesto Valverde.

    In his 30-minute display, Malcom looked dangerous in possession and he picked the right pass option when required.

    And it’s just Malcom’s ability on the ball, but his natural width is only mirrored by Dembele. It’s the positioning which created the second as Malcom was right on the left touchline as Barca broke, giving Ivan Rakitic a massive corridor to fire a pass into.

    The Brazilian accelerated into the box, picked out Messi and the game was done.

    LENGLET APPRECIATION

    Clement Lenglet

    Clement Lenglet

    Barcelona possess many great artists.  Indeed, Leo could be either Da Vinci or Messi, but there is a renaissance man emerging from this team: Clement Lenglet.

    The art of defending is dying in football, but the Frenchman is proving that there is still plenty to appreciate.

    The 23-year-old is one of the great success stories for Valverde in 2018/19 having usurped his countryman and World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti as Gerard Pique’s centre-back partner.

    Umtiti’s future and injury record means Lenglet’s recent development has been absolutely critical for Barca.
    In truth, Lenglet probably wasn’t expected to have seen the minutes he has this season but he’s risen to the task, making the position his own.

    Dominant in the air, great on the ball and most importantly, cool headed, he is one of the present and future.

    He justified that sentiment with a fine display in the Catalan derby, producing an interception worthy of display in any museum.

    Javi Lopez fired in a threatening cross from the left and Lenglet, at full stretch denied Wu Lei, pivoting his body on the deck to then clear in one swift movement.

    Simply magnifique monsieur.

    DON’T FORGET MESSI

    Lionel Messi opens the scoring for Barcelona

    Lionel Messi opens the scoring for Barcelona

    It wouldn’t be much of an analysis if there were not words reserved for Messi.

    Taken within the context of Messi, he’s had better games and will enjoy better days. However, in the prism of this game, the Argentine was simply operating on an entirely different level.

    His team-mates seemed to be suffering from a lack of rhythm and that ultimately saw Barca struggle in the first half.

    Granted, he himself was even guilty of missing a fine opening early on and it’s a credit to his talent that a miss is the surprise as opposed to the absurd technique used for his opener from a set-piece right on the edge of the box.

    It was either a Paneka, chip or a caressed curler, but no matter the description, the end result when Messi stands over a free-kick is usually the same: goal.

    He got his second late on taking him through to 41 goals in competitions this season, a feat he’s managed in 10 consecutive seasons.

    Of that tally, 31 have arrived in La Liga and we’ve still got a quarter of the campaign left.

    For the very latest news, analysis and opinion download the Sport360 app

    Recommended