Barcelona were condemned to a 1-0 defeat against relegation-battlers Cadiz in La Liga on Monday.
Barcelona were riding on a seven-match winning streak in the league before welcoming relegation-battlers Cadiz to the Camp Nou. But things did not go according to plan as Lucas Perez’s goal three minutes after half-time gave the Pirates a crucial 1-0 win. This was Cadiz’s first-ever win away win against Barcelona in their 111-year history.
The Blaugrana came into the match following a heart-breaking UEFA Europa League quarter-final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. Many expected them to bounce back from the disappointment but it was not to be as they suffered an improbable defeat to increase Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the table to 15 points.
Cadiz, on the other hand, climbed out of the relegation zone with the upset. They moved to the 16th-spot in the La Liga table and now have 31 points in 32 matches, two more than 18th-placed RCD Mallorca.
Barcelona dominated the encounter, enjoying 76% of the possession while taking 18 shots on goal. However, it just was not their night as they failed to get a breakthrough, with Perez’s third La Liga strike of the season seing Cadiz through. Here’s how each Barcelona player fared in the match:
Marc-Andre ter Stegen: 7/10
The German shot-stopper was unlucky to come out without a clean sheet. He made two saves off Ruben Sobrino early in the second half, but Perez was aware enough to tap in the rebound. He made a total of three saves in the match and looked confident on the ball, completing all of his passes.
Sergino Dest: 7/10
Dest was a constant menace for Cadiz down Barcelona’s right flank. The right-back contributed on both ends of the pitch. He made a clearance and a tackle and won four of six ground duels. Attacking wise, Dest made a key pass, played in two crosses, completed both his dribbles and also had a shot blocked.
Eric Garcia: 7/10
? @ericgm3 talks about #BarçaCádiz pic.twitter.com/E7M7vUK3Se
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 18, 2022
The centre-back had a great game and was one of the busiest players on the pitch. He was rock-solid at the back, making two clearances, five interceptions and winning two tackles. He looked composed on the ball, completing 96% of his passes, including six long balls. Quite unlucky to go home with a defeat. He also had two shots on target.
Clement Lenglet: 6/10
Lenglet was clearly the weaker of the two central defenders. He made just one interception in the match and did not win any of his ground duels. However, he was decent aerially, winning both his duels in the air. He, too, was asked to charge high up the field and contribute to the attack as Barcelona searched for a breakthrough.
Jordi Alba: 7/10
Jordi Alba was his usual self. The left-back bombed up and down the flank, contributing heavily to the attack as well as defence. While he made two interceptions, three tackles and a clearance, he also completed 10 of 13 long balls attempted. Alba played in three crosses as well but none found his teammates. He created one big chance and took two shots as well.
Frenkie de Jong: 6/10
The Dutch midfielder could not affect the outcome of the match despite looking his usual composed self on the ball. He played in some pinpoint balls, three of which were key passes, but the Barcelona forwards could not capitalise on them.
Sergio Busquets: 7/10
Busquets produced yet another solid performance from the middle of the park. He shielded his defence well, making one clearance, two interceptions and two tackles. He won five ground duels and six aerial duels, along with playing three key passes. He was quite accurate with his long balls as well, completing nine of 11 attempts.
Gavi: 6/10
Gavi drove forward with the ball, making inroads into the Cadiz area and creating chances for the Barcelona forwards. He also won five ground duels and made three interceptions and two tackles. All four of his long balls found a teammate.
Ousmane Dembele: 8/10
⚠️ | QUICK STAT
Ousmane Dembélé successfully completed 13 dribbles against Cádiz last night – no other player completed more than 11 dribbles in a single match in the top 5 European leagues this season.
And it took him only 15 attempts to do it. ? pic.twitter.com/1RF0NDrk70
— SofaScore (@SofaScoreINT) April 19, 2022
Dembele was a livewire on the pitch for Barcelona. He was tricky to handle for the Cadiz defence, completing 13 of his 15 dribbles attempted. He played two key passes and also created a big chance. He also took seven shots but was unlucky to not get on the scoresheet.
Ferran Torres: 5/10
Torres was ineffective on the left flank for the Blaugrana. He could not create much and lost possession 15 times. He played in just one cross, which could not find his teammate.
Memphis Depay: 5/10
The Barcelona forward was disappointing in front of the goal. He could take just one shot and create one chance for his teammates. He was taken off for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 61st minute as Barcelona searched for an equaliser.
SUBSTITUTES
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 5/10
The former Arsenal striker came on for Memphis in the 61st minute but failed to find the goal that Barcelona had been looking for. He missed a great opportunity to equalise in the dying embers of the game, shooting straight at the Cadiz shot-stopper.
Adama Traore: 7/10
Traore was quite busy in his 13-minute stay on the pitch after coming on for Clement Lenglet. He completed all three of his dribbles and attempted seven crosses.
"We need to react"
— Xavi pic.twitter.com/dprJq4vkT8
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 18, 2022
Luuk de Jong: 5/10
Luuk de Jong took just three touches of the ball after replacing Frenkie de Jong in the 77th minute. He could have equalised right after coming on but failed with his shot.
Oscar Mingueza: N/A
Mingueza came on for Dest in the 90th minute and did not do enough to warrant a rating.
