MD4 FIFA Virus strikes agian

The FIFA virus. Over the years analysts have seen a trend as to how the first match after an international break goes and the outcome? The top clubs whose players go out to represent their nations to play friendlies and unnecessary matches perform so very underwhelmingly while the lower clubs get a 2 week break train hard and come fully prepared for the game. Barcelona is one such club which has faced over the last so many years shock defeats and upsets that can only be blamed on FIFA. Several players have come out to say that even in this pandemic time where they are already playing more games in a jam packed schedule FIFA expects them to travel thousands of miles for meaningless matches just to make some money on television rights. Some footballers even went as far as to say they were puppets being controlled by FIFA and to this point I completely agree.

By now you might have probably figured out that Barcelona lost, lost 1-0 to Getafe a side who had finished just above the relegation zone last season. Koeman tried his best to rest players by starting a previously unused starting line up but that move was soon to backfire as the team was really sloppy on the ball. A plethora of misplaced passes along with players like Dembele trying too hard taking on 4-5 defenders when passing would have been the better option and the lethargy on the all over the pitch all combined handing Barcelona their first defeat of the campaign. 

Barcelona conceded a penalty when Dakonam went down at the slightest of touches and Mata successfully converted the penalty just before the hour mark. One would think the team would decide to fight back going down but that was not to be. The players did not look bothered at all and did not show the urgency required. Getafe started playing physical out powering the Barcelona forwards and spoiling the attack as a whole. Messi did hit the post late on but even he was lack lusture understandably though having travelled all the way to Argentina and back. Koeman threw in substitutes to turn the game but it was too late and the game was long over.

This is a bad indication for all of Barcelona with an important week ahead of us. We face Real Madrid in the big clasico next week after starting out on the Champions league road midweek before the most hyped match Barcelona vs Juventus where Messi and Ronaldo will play against each other for the first time in over 2 years. But if this is how we continue to play we can kiss victories goodbye.