In what should have been a straightforward victory, Barcelona faced unexpected challenges and struggled against a determined Barbastro side. Despite securing their place in the round of 16, Barça's performance raises concerns as they were unable to comfortably defeat a team several divisions below them. This is not an encouraging sign as they prepare for upcoming matches, including the upcoming competition in Arabia.
The match took place in a nostalgic setting reminiscent of the 80s, with a worn-out pitch adorned with advertisements for mundane local businesses. The Barça squad, accustomed to grandeur, experienced a humbling day. Barbastro, the capital of Somontano, embraced the spirit of the occasion, welcoming the global powerhouse club with open arms.
Despite the favorable conditions, manager Xavi did not take any risks with the lineup. He fielded a starting eleven heavily composed of regular starters, with only Héctor Fort serving as an outlier. Fort, who made his debut in Antwerp, replicated his performance in the Copa del Rey. The debut of Vitor Roque in the starting lineup will have to wait for another day.
From the start, Barcelona commanded possession, while Barbastro defended resolutely. The first clear chance fell to Ferran, who found himself one-on-one with the courageous Arnau Fàbrega, Barbastro's goalkeeper. Fàbrega, already a hero in the previous match against Almería, made his mark once again in the opening 20 minutes. Xavi's strategy was evident – quick ball circulation and penetration in search of space.
In the 18th minute, Fermín scored the opening goal, his third with the Barça first team, with an assist from Raphinha. The script remained unchanged in Somontano's capital, with Barcelona dominating possession and Barbastro chasing the ball relentlessly. Although Ferran had a couple of good opportunities, he failed to find the target.
In an ironic twist, a controversial moment took place just before halftime. Joao Félix's header from Raphinha's cross appeared to cross the goal line, but the assistant referee raised the flag incorrectly. Upon review, it was evident that the goal was wrongly disallowed. Despite leading 1-0, Barcelona allowed their opponents to stay in contention.
In the 51st minute, Raphinha found the back of the net at the far post from a cross by Héctor Fort, seemingly putting Barcelona in a comfortable position with a 2-0 lead. However, their lack of clinical finishing continued to haunt them. A dead ball situation resulted in a rebounded goal by La Masia graduate, De Mesa, scoring for Barbastro and narrowing the gap to 2-1. The Municipal de Barbastro erupted in celebration, singing the famous chant of "yes we can."
Xavi decided to introduce Vitor Roque into the game soon after. Roque, who had previously played 12 minutes against Las Palmas, gained 26 minutes of playing time in this match. Koundé came close to extending the lead to 3-1 from a corner, but once again, Arnau made a remarkable save.
Barcelona's nerves began to show, and the support of the home crowd fueled Barbastro's belief. A penalty was awarded for an innocuous handball in the local area, duly converted by Pulido Santana. However, Barbastro's hopes were short-lived as Lewandowski, and Gündogan, who were brought on to calm Barcelona's confusion, combined to make it 3-1, seemingly sealing the result. But this Barça team proved incapable of securing a victory, unable to close out a game even with a two-goal advantage. Marc Prat's goal from another soft penalty by Fermín brought the score to 3-2.
As the match concluded in Huesca, the players departed with displeased expressions. They are well aware that significant improvements need to be made swiftly if they are to reach the lofty standards they aspire to.