Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Ernesto Valverde picked up his first win as Barcelona manager last night as the 2017/18 La Liga campaign got underway for the Catalan giants. In what was undoubtedly an emotional evening after the events at Las Ramblas, the club paid tribute by having special shirts with just Barcelona on the back of them.
After a minutes silence was exceptionally adhered to, the game got underway and Barcelona looked to put the disappointment of their two early season El Clasico defeats to Real Madrid behind them as they missed out on a 13th Spanish Supercup success.
They would get their league season of to the ideal start with a 2-0 win over Real Betis, both goals coming before half time but from what you would consider the usual sources. Neither Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez found the score sheet last night.
The dimunitive Argentine international Messi who has been heavily linked with a move away from the club over the past couple of days would have to stand and back watch the action unfold around him while Luis Suarez missed the game through injury.
The deadlock would be broken on 36 minutes when summer siging Gerard Deloufeu crossed into the box and saw the ball deflected in off of Betis’s Alin Tosca. With their noses in front they would double their advantage just three minutes later when Sergi Roberto made it 2-0.
That would be the end of the proceedings in terms of goals in a game that Betis never really threatened, it was an expected win played in unfortunate circumstances with it fair to say that the city’s mind was not fully focussed on the football.
That said it would have at least bought some temporary relief to see there idols go on and win and pay their respects in the best possible fashion.
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