In his first official match for Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski failed to outdo the humanity of North Macedonian goalkeeper Dimitrievski. Photo: Pau BARRENA / AFP.
First game and first disappointment: the FC Barcelonawhere his new star debuted in an official match Robert Lewandowskihe could only draw 0-0 at home against Rayo Vallecano, this Saturday on the first day of the Spanish league.
The Camp Nou expected goals and a first celebration, but you will have to wait.
“I understand that there is disappointment, the expectations were high”, admitted the Barça coach. Xavi Hernandez. “We will analyze the game to improve. We have to continue to believe in the model and keep working,” she said.
Lewandowski started and repeatedly tried to debut his scoring account with his new colors. His next chance will be next weekend, against Real Sociedad in San Sebastián.
‘Lewy’ was active in attack, along with Rafhinha and Ousmane Dembélé, but not enough to break Rayo’s wall.
The best action of the Polish scorer it was at the 13th minutewhen a cross from Dembélé was used by the former Bayern Munich striker to override Stole Dimitrievski and open the scoring, but the goal was immediately disallowed for offside.
Then he had a good chance in 82, but his left foot shot was not well directed.
Lewandowski against Dimitrievski, constant postcard of the match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano. Photo: REUTERS / Albert Gea.
Barça sweated cold even in the final discount of the match, when Salvi Sánchez scored (90 + 5) for Rayo, but the goal was canceled, even for offside. The action took place after the expulsion of Sergio Busquetwent to the showers in the final moments of the match after nudging an opponent in an attempt to protect the ball.
Raphina, arrived at Barça of Leeds, he often ran into the host defense, without finding spaces.
The other signings of the Catalan club They didn’t particularly shine in this league debut: Andreas Christensen started in the center of defense and gave way to Sergi Roberto in game time, while Franck Kessié, who entered 73rd, barely showed himself.
Frenchman Jules Koundé (ex Sevilla), the other signing of the team, followed the game from the stands as for the moment it was not possible to join because the club he must first lower his salary, which he plans to do in the next few days.
Rayo Vallecano is confirmed a very uncomfortable team for Barcelonawho lost twice to rival Madrid last season.
Villarreal wins and draw for Celta de Coudet
In the other matches on Saturday, a large victory (3-0) of the Villarreal visiting the newly promoted Valladolid.
Senegalese Nicolas Jackson (49) scored the first goal for the ‘Yellow Submarine’ at the José Zorrilla stadium, before Alejandro Baena (81, 90) put the sentence on the scoreboard.
This win encourages Villarreal before hosting Hajduk Split on Thursday in the first leg of the playoffs for access to the group stage of the Conference League, Europe’s third most important competition.
Villarreal earned the right to play in that “playoff” by finishing seventh last season in the league.
Valladolid, chaired by former Brazilian footballer Ronaldo Nazario, returned to the first division with this defeat after spending a year in the second.
In the first match on Saturday Celta de Vigo and Espanyol drew 2-2 in Balaídos.
Celta took the lead by two goals thanks to goals from Iago Aspas (45 + 2) and the Portuguese Gonçalo Paciencia (63), but the Catalans managed to save a point with the goals of Edu Expósito (72) and, above all , by Joselu Sanmartín (90 + 8 penalties).
On Friday, Sevilla, fourth in last season’s league, opened the new season with a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna.
On Sunday, the first day in Spain continues with three games, among which the visit of the defending champion, Real Madrid, to the promoted Almería stands out.
Real Madrid played that game in Andalusia four days after being crowned European Super Cup champion, beating Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in Helsinki.
Source: AFP
Source: Clarin
