Barça survives a night of errors in Prague

BarcelonaBarça secured three points in Prague and remain optimistic heading into the final Champions League matchday, where they will fight for a top-eight finish and to avoid the Round of 32 play-offs. However, the joy was tempered by errors on a night where they conceded two goals from corners and lost Pedri to a muscle injury (2-4).

Just as Barça came close in Bruges, they nearly did so again in Prague. It seems that, lately, Hansi Flick's players perform better against top-tier teams than against lower-league opponents. Slavia, who hadn't won a single match in this Champions League group stage, gave the Blaugrana a real scare. In the end, the three points flew back to Barcelona, ​​but the victory wasn't accompanied by the rout needed to extend their lead.average and increase the chances of entering the top 8.

It took Barça half an hour to understand what the match required. Probably because they expected Slavia to sit back instead of a daring opponent pressing high up the pitch. The home players' physical exertion was at its peak in the opening minutes, during which they were fortunate to score the first goal of the game from a corner. Holes's flick-on was met by Kusej, who, having beaten De Jong's marking, ended up inadvertently backheeling the ball in as he lost his balance.

A starting eleven with Roony and Gerard Martín

The goal spurred Slavia on while sowing doubt in a Barça side that looked uncomfortable on a freezing night in Prague, with temperatures of -5 degrees Celsius, and a pitch that was far from ideal. Without Lamine Yamal or Ferran Torres, Flick had entrusted the right flank of the attack to Roony. The young winger failed to impress and was eventually substituted by Rashford. Behind him, the big surprise was Gerard Martín, who took Cubarsi's place. Unlike other performances, Gerard Martín had an off night: weak in his marking and erratic with the ball at his feet.

When the home side's energy began to wane, Barça rediscovered their most recognizable form. Long, unhurried attacks, moving the ball around and overwhelming a team that maintained its courage but lacked individual skill. When the ball moved quickly, the defense struggled to shift its position. And while everyone was focused on the wings, Barça inflicted damage through the middle. Fermín, who had already had an early chance that he blasted high over the bar, received a great through ball from De Jong and equalized with a powerful shot at the near post. Perhaps the goalkeeper could have done better. Just as the defense left Fermín unmarked, who, eight minutes later, turned the game around with a trademark low shot from the edge of the box.

It seemed the worst was over, but Lewandowski, from a corner in the final minute of the first half, scored an own goal uncharacteristic of a veteran like him: lowering his head in the center, losing sight of the ball, and ending up heading it in with his shoulder. The Pole had a bad night, although he redeemed himself in the second half. First, with a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. And then, with a goal that gave some breathing room to a Barça side that had just lost Pedri to injury.

Pedri gets injured in the second half

The Canary Islands midfielder went down, suffering a thigh muscle injury. He left the field with tears in his eyes. Olmo came on in his place and, with his first touch, curled a shot into the top corner to make it 2-3. With the fourth goal on the scoreboard and the victory seemingly secured, Flick brought on fresh legs with the introduction of Araujo and Bernal. The Uruguayan center-back, now recovered from his mental health issues, continued to accumulate minutes and confidence, winning two individual duels as the last man back.

The match felt long for Barça. The accumulation of minutes, travel, and competitions eventually took its toll on the team, who lacked the sharpness to extend their lead when the Czech side eased off in the final stages. In the end, they achieved their main objective. Next week will be another battle.