Samuel Chukwueze shows moments of promise, but he cannot hurt Barcelona

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  • Champions Barcelona moved back to the top of La Liga after Gerard Pique’s first-half header and Carles Alena’s fine finish earned a 2-0 win against struggling Villarreal.

    A number of football’s grandest names populated the home side at Camp Nou. But plenty of pre-match attention was centered on the Yellow Submarine’s Samuel Chukwueze.

    Here, we analyse the performance of the teenage winger.

    STATISTICS 

    Goals – 0

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 2

    Shots on target – 1

    Touches – 45

    Passes – 26

    Key passes – 1

    Dribbles – 5

    Dispossessed – 3

    30-SECOND REPORT

    Barca were expected to get back to winning ways domestically against opponents who sit just one place outside the drop zone.

    This prediction quickly came to fruition at Camp Nou. Pique rose highest to nod in erratic France winger Ousmane Dembele’s stab into the penalty box – at the second time of asking – on 36 minutes.

    Other chances came and went through Lionel Messi, prior to the Argentina icon turning provider with a spellbinding slide-rule pass to send midfielder Alena through to delicately chip in his first Barca goal on 87 minutes.

    GOT RIGHT

    Show no fear – Chukwueze only began playing for Villarreal’s first team this season. This rapid rise put him on a collision course with left-back Jordi Alba – potentially La Liga’s player of the season to date.

    Straight from the off, the fresh Nigeria cap had little regard for reputations. In just the second minute, he danced past several Barca challengers and put in a threatening cross.

    His five dribbles was three more than any team-mate. It also pegged back Alba, meaning he could only ping in two crosses and make no dribbles of his own.

    GOT WRONG

    Don’t make it so obvious – When Chukwueze picks up the ball and drives at the defence, his eventual destination is already known.

    The 18-year-old is determined to drive inside from the right flank and ping in a cross or shot with his heavily favoured left boot – already, he has two goals in eight first-team run-outs. It’s no wonder that comparisons are already being drawn to Netherlands great Arjen Robben.

    This does make him predictable, however. Chukwueze was dispossessed three times – Villarreal’s joint-second most.

    Also, none of his crosses found a team-mate. This could the fact his staccato cuts back mean defences get an extra second to reshape after his searing pace forces a gap.

    KEY MOMENTS

    2nd min CHANCE: Chukwueze does excellently to wriggle into space. His low cross is gobbled up by Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

    14th min CHANCE: It’s the same again from Chukwueze, whose combination of speed and skill earns space to centre out wide. This cross is repelled to safety by the scrambling Barca defence.

    18th min FOULED: French centre-back Clement Lenglet’s high boot floors Chukwueze and he is booked.

    50th min CHANCE: It takes a smart interception from Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic to stop Chukwueze’s low cross from finding a Villarreal player.

    68th min FOULED: Chile hard man Arturo Vidal flattens Chukwueze as he moves inside. Veteran midfielder Santi Cazorla’s free-kick drifts over.

    VERDICT

    There was more than enough from Chukwueze in Catalonia to show this is a talent worth watching.

    Opponents with grander reputations have caused far less worry for the peerless Alba.

    If he can work out how to effectually use his right boot, Chukwueze will become a double threat. Although, it’s absence has not, exactly, hindered Robben…

    RATING: 6/10

    All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com

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