The expectations have been excessive for Barcelona coming into the brand new season. The membership’s monetary maneuvers allowed for some high-profile signings that considerably boosted the squad after a trophyless marketing campaign with out Lionel Messi.
The new gamers carried out nicely within the preseason and Barcelona president Joan Laporta mentioned the membership would meet the Spanish league’s strict monetary honest play rules. Barcelona was again as a replacement, seen as a reference in world soccer once more, Laporta boasted a couple of days earlier than the league opener. But it didn’t take lengthy for the hype to show into extra disappointment, and the Catalan membership enters the second week of the season reeling and searching for methods to rebound. Another setback in a tricky go to to Real Sociedad on Sunday might depart the membership in a deep gap early on.
𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬. pic.twitter.com/b3Aw0lLQ4e
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 16, 2022
Laporta was not in a position to register all the brand new signings as he had anticipated forward of the opener, and on the sphere the group struggled but once more, starting its league marketing campaign with a 0-0 house draw in opposition to Rayo Vallecano on the newly renamed Spotify Camp Nou.
“I understand the disappointment. We had generated a lot of expectations,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández mentioned. “It’s disappointing but we have to be patient. We have faith in the project and we will keep working.” To make it worse, Barcelona’s closest rivals all gained their openers, with defending champion Real Madrid defeating promoted Almería and Atlético Madrid routing Getafe, each in away matches.
🧤 Good sport, @mterstegen1 pic.twitter.com/P6uYF2VC1z
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 13, 2022
It gained’t assist that Barcelona should face Sociedad with out veteran midfielder Sergio Busquets, who was despatched off in stoppage time in opposition to Rayo. It was additionally unclear if newly signed defender Jules Koundé can be allowed to be registered in time. Of the group’s prime signings, solely Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha have been added to the squad forward of the opener.
Sociedad additionally gained on the highway forward of its encounter with Barcelona, defeating Cádiz 1-0 with a aim and a terrific efficiency by Japanese attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo. “It’s like he’s been with us for three years already,” Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil mentioned of the 21-year-old Kubo, who arrived this season on mortgage from Madrid. Sociedad, led by veteran David Silva and with an assault spearheaded by Kubo and Alexander Isak, was close to the highest most of final season, ending in sixth place.
Pedri 😳#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/qUflXt4SWw
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 13, 2022
MADRID’S MOMENTUM
Madrid opened by coming from behind to win at Almería. The defending champions will keep on the highway on Saturday to go to a Celta Vigo group that blew a two-goal lead and conceded an equalizer eight minutes into stoppage time in opposition to Espanyol in its house opener.Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti could possibly depend on the return of proper again Dani Carvajal and ahead Rodrygo, who missed the primary match whereas nursing accidents.
MORATA’S TIME
With striker Álvaro Morata crimson scorching, Atlético hosts Villarreal on Sunday in a match between golf equipment that opened with massive victories — Atlético gained 3-0 at Getafe and Villarreal 3-0 at Valladolid. Real Betis was the one different group to open by successful by as many targets.Morata, again from his two-year mortgage with Juventus, scored twice in opposition to Getafe to virtually safe the beginning spot in assault over Antoine Griezmann. The France ahead scored the opposite aim on Sunday, with João Félix getting all three assists.
Villarreal coach Unai Emery could depend on Argentina midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who’s again on mortgage from Tottenham.
OTHER MATCHES
Sevilla, the fourth-place finisher final season, will attempt to rebound from its opening loss at Osasuna when it hosts Valladolid on Friday. Betis, fifth final season, travels to face Mallorca on Saturday.
Athletic Bilbao will search for its first win since coach Ernesto Valverde returned when it hosts Valencia on Sunday. Valencia opened with a win in opposition to Girona within the debut of coach Gennaro Gattuso.
