Smile when you feel like it: hot notes from Barça-Rayo

BarcelonaHard-fought victory for Barça against Rayo Vallecano in the League. Two goals from Raphinha and two from Lamine Yamal (5-2) decide it in favor of Hansi Flick's side to overcome a always combative opponent. Below, some hot takes.

Julián can wait. Gabriel Jesus did not miss a detail of Raphinha's new goal-scoring demonstration, who has only needed three league matches to become the top scorer with five goals, one more than Mbappé. The Barça captain will be the starting striker as long as his body holds up. He understands the job as if he had been doing it his whole life. And contrary to what might have been expected, he doesn't adapt winger qualities to the center of the attack to fulfill the role of a false nine, but rather expresses himself as a specialist capable of occupying the box, threatening in space, and sending any halfway decent ball that wanders into his area into the net. He had previously reminded us of Rivaldo, and, we say it again, now he aims to do the same with Ronaldo.

There's no need to pretend. It's nice to see Marc Márquez with a perpetual smile. It's also pleasant to witness Ronaldinho's apparent happiness every time a camera seeks him out. But it's difficult for both of them to be happy all the time, for their usual demeanor to consistently correspond to genuine and spontaneous friendliness. In some ways, those smiles that arrive after a few days with a sour face are more worthwhile. Joy is less perfunctory when a giggle is harder to come by. Let Lamine Yamal get serious when things aren't going his way. A smile shines brighter when it hasn't been displayed for a few days. Smile when you feel like it. Smile when you truly feel it. It will be because you have reasons to do so.

Much worse the inexpressiveness.Barça would have put a bow on him this summer for 50 or 60 million euros, but everything points to Kounde continuing for one more season at Camp Nou. However, seeing his performance against Rayo, it is understandable that Flick currently considers him a substitute for Eric Garcia at full-back and one more center-back in the rotation. Also that Deco and Laporta noticed the opportunity to fill the coffers with a player who has a market. The Frenchman is overflowing with talent in attack – more so than Eric himself – but when it comes to defending he has gaps that condemn him against any opponent. In Rayo's 0-1, Álvaro García had it too easy to win the byline. And the worst thing is that, when he makes a mistake, he has the same marble face as when he gets it right.

At this rate, Balde won't even smell it. Xavi Espart's breakthrough into the Barça first team can now be compared to some of his contemporaries at La Masia. The Maresme native has arrived to stay, as confirmed by his three starts in the League. Currently, his performance places him ahead of Cancelo, who did not have this competition, and also ahead of Balde, who has gone from being indisputable to seeing Flick and Mendes corner him to make him think. Espart is one of those kids who doesn't need to be fast, strong, or over-the-top to play fantastic football and win over the fans. If he doesn't get injured, there's a player for a decade.