Barça's 1x1 against Barbastro: Dominant Start, But Questions Remain

Barça emerged victorious once again, securing a 2-3 win over Barbastro in the Copa del Rey. However, despite the positive outcome, doubts still lingered as Xavi Hernández's men went from being dominant to being surpassed by a team from the Second RFEF.

From the start, Xavi's warning was evident with the lineup. Six players from the previous match against Las Palmas featured again, including the impressive performances of Iñaki Peña, Araujo, Koundé, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres. Héctor Fort, in a remarkable display, made his debut as a left back.

Barça demonstrated absolute control from the beginning, with Fermín opening the scoring at the 18-minute mark, capitalizing on a precise cross from Raphinha. There were opportunities for a second goal, but the team's pace slowed down and luck was not on their side when a Joao Félix goal was wrongly disallowed due to a non-existent offside.

The second half saw a dip in the Blaugranas' performance as Barbastro closed the gap on two occasions. Lewandowski, brought on as an 'emergency' substitution alongside Gündogan, managed to score from a penalty to secure the win.

Here is the 1x1 analysis of the FC Barcelona players against Barbastro:

Iñaki Peña (5): Made his presence known in the second half, making a few key saves. Could do little to stop Barbastro's goals and had no chance with the penalty.

Koundé (5): Active on the right wing and linked up well with Raphinha. Displayed some calmness in defense but still seemed uncertain at times.

Araujo (5): Had a mix of solid defensive actions and some questionable moments. Seemed to be going through a rough patch in form.

Christensen (5): Had a relatively uneventful game defensively, but his passing was accurate and reliable.

Héctor Fort (6): Impressed in his first-ever appearance as a left back, rewarded with a precise assist for Raphinha's goal. Provided stability in defense and delivered accurate crosses despite shoulder issues.

Oriol Romeu (5): Demonstrated physicality and had a decent first half, but his performance dropped after the break with a couple of costly mistakes leading to his substitution.

Fermín (7): Showed great intensity throughout the game and scored the opening goal. Moved well between the lines and actively contributed to the team's attack, earning a dubious penalty.

Frenkie de Jong (5): Orchestrated Barça's gameplay and had a strong involvement early on. However, like his teammates, he faded in the second half.

Raphinha (6): Made his mark with a goal and an assist, consistently appearing in dangerous areas. Although he made some mistakes, he was a key contributor to the team's attack.

Ferran Torres (5): Active and constantly looking for opportunities in attack, but luck was not on his side. Ended up playing on the wing and missed a clear chance.

Joao Félix (4): The least active of the forwards and frustrated Xavi with his individualistic approach. Scored an unfairly disallowed goal but committed a childish mistake leading to Barbastro's corner.

Iñigo Martínez (s.c.): Had to leave the field after just ten minutes due to discomfort, raising concerns about his fitness.

Vitor Roque (5): Still seeking his first goal for Barça, missed a clear one-on-one opportunity.

Lewandowski (5): Timely appearance as a substitute and converted from the penalty spot, incorporating his unique style into the execution.

Gündogan (5): Introduced to bring stability to the midfield, he fulfilled his role as Xavi aimed to restore control.

Sergi Roberto (5): Deployed on the wing after Iñigo's injury and Koundé's move to the center. Carried out his duties without any major issues.

Barça's performance against Barbastro was far from convincing, raising further questions about the team's consistency. They managed to progress in the Copa del Rey, but their level of play must improve if they aim to compete against stronger opponents moving forward.