Messi gives coach Setien successful debut as C Barcelona won the first game under their new coach Quique Setién. The Catalans beat Granada 1-0 (0-0) and defended the championship lead ahead of Real Madrid, which is tied with 43 points. Lionel Messi scored the decisive goal (76th minute).
Setién has been a Barça coach for a few days; his predecessor Ernesto Valverde was released last Monday after Barcelona's 2: 3 loss to Atlético Madrid in the Supercopa semi-final. Compared to the cup out, Setién switched to three positions - but of necessity. Ivan Rakitic replaced the red-barred Frenkie de Jong, while the injured Luis Suárez was replaced by the 17-year-old Ansu Fati in the series with Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. Regular goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen returned to the goal, his substitute Neto plays in the national cup competitions.
Barcelona had the most dangerous chance of the first half just before the break. The hosts combined from the midfield on the left wing, Jordi Alba fit into the center, but Lionel Messi only hit the outside net with his shot (44th).
Messi gives coach Setien successful debut
Good luck for Barcelona
The second half started better for FC Barcelona, who had three chances early on through Messi (50th), Rakitic (52nd) and Vidal (53th). However, Granada had the greatest opportunity to lead when Yan Eteki only hit the inside post with a low shot from a distance (66.). Shortly thereafter, however, there was a setback for the outsider. Germán Sánchez got his second yellow card after a foul on Messi and was sent off (70th).
Barcelona took the lead six minutes later. Messi passed in front of the penalty area to Griezmann, who passed the ball on to Arturo Vidal. Vidal put on sole for Messi and the Argentinian pushed in the penalty area to 1-0 (76.). He thus ensured the first three points under the new trainer Setién.
Barça presented himself little differently than last under ex-coach Valverde. Barcelona had a lot of possession, but didn't create many big chances. The combination football desired by Setién was nevertheless evident when Messi hit. Setién is a big fan of Johan Cruyff's football philosophy, which shaped FC Barcelona. Barça has also committed Setién to return from Valverde's efficient style to the more handsome combination football. The new trainer will be measured against this in the future.
However, Setien has already won the first comparison with Valverde. The first leg against Granada had lost Barcelona under Valverde 0-2 last year.
In the first game after Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona does not play a fundamentally different football. At least with Lionel Messi's hit, what the new coach wants to see flashes.
Against Hertha there is no pace
Thiago jumped over the gang, ran towards the marathon gate. Five Munich players came after the Spaniard, hugged him, celebrated exuberantly. There followed loud vocals from the Bayern curve. In addition, floodlights, a now dark sky, a sold-out Olympic stadium. There was a hint of the cup final in the Berlin air.
But what Bayern celebrated in those moments was not a title win. It was not even an important goal because the away game at Hertha BSC was already decided with the 2-0 win by Robert Lewandowski. Nevertheless, after the third goal by Thiago, the exuberant cheers followed. This 4-0 (0-0) success was important for Bayern, very important indeed.
There was a lot of discussion this winter in Munich. About the bad luck. About the lack of quality across the board. About possible reinforcements. About the new role as the pursuer of RB Leipzig. Victories were not taken for granted after the first half of the season, as was the lead in the standings.
Bayern start confidently in the second half of the season. Müller and Perisic each prepared a goal for each other. The performance of the wingers also stands for the looming problems against top teams.
But now: a safe success at the start of the second half of the season, an "optimal start", as Thomas Müller thought. He played against Hertha on the right wing and was instrumental in the victory in Berlin with Ivan Perisic on the left wing: Müller and Perisic each prepared a goal, including the important 1-0. And yet the wing play of Bayern in Berlin showed why Munich could have problems against stronger opponents.
Speed out instead of one against one
Because a Bayern game with Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman and a Bayern game without them - these are two very different things. Gnabry, who came on after an injury in the 87th minute in Berlin, and Coman (missing injured) interpret the wing play very differently from Müller and Perisic, because their speed also gives them completely different options. Then there are many sprints, deep passes, one-on-one duels. It was different in Berlin.
The 14th minute: Robert Lewandowski puts the ball out on Müller, who has some space and only a direct opponent. But instead of moving into the penalty area, Müller avoids the running duel, stops, turns towards the center and then plays a bad pass.
Perisic and Müller were well involved in the game, Thiago and Philippe Coutinho often played freely. However, the two wingers kept turning away, slowing down the pace, playing across the board, Hertha was able to tidy up easily. Müller in particular tried several times to help himself with flanks from the half field, often with left, mostly imprecise. So the Berliners were safe in the first half, keeping the center compact because they were not so challenged on the outside. Bayern lacked the risk of scoring.
But there is also the other Thomas Müller. This is this often praised interpreter of space, who moves to the center with unconventional walking paths. It is no coincidence that the Munich leadership emerged as a co-production of the wingers when both left their actual positions: Perisic put a cross from Goretzka in the box from the head, Müller shot in (60th minute). Müller then prepared the goal for 4-0 through Perisic from the outside with a precise cross, but in a phase in which Hertha got tired and had little resistance (84.).
That Bayern scored four times was not as important to Müller as not being conceded. However, it was more due to Hertha than to the weakened, but hardly demanded Munich line of defense. After losing the ball, the guests showed counter-protection in some scenes, which many teams in the Champions League would be delighted with. But: Hertha didn't know what to do with it.
What if it goes against Leipzig?
And this knowledge is part of the conclusion of this game. Hertha may have big plans with investor Lars Windhorst and trainer Jürgen Klinsmann. At the moment it is simply a team in the Bundesliga relegation battle - with only two points ahead of the relegation place. And FC Bayern is too strong for this even without speed on the outside positions and with many defenses in defense.
But what if it goes against Leipzig (February 9)? Or against Chelsea (February 25th and March 18th)? When the load gets higher again in the English weeks? Then the FCB will actually need a wider squad. Even after the successful start, the club is concerned with whether and with whom FCB wants and can strengthen themselves in winter.
Müller humorously tried to avoid the question of whether transfers were necessary. “If the results were right over the next few weeks, we shouldn't have strengthened. If the results are not that good, we should have strengthened, ”he said. Hansi Flick would like to have new players, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic once again emphasized in Berlin how difficult it is to find accesses in winter that help Bayern immediately. Hope rests on Gnabry and Coman.