Rating the Barcelona Players in Their 7-1 Victory over Thailand

Preseason friendlies are one of the biggest indicators for managers of where their squad is in preparation for the upcoming campaign. Tata Martino has completely assumed his role of Barcelona manager—and he's taken off in style.

With Barcelona’s 7-1 victory over Thailand comes a sense of hope. The entire squad looked strong, healthy and determined, but some players did outshine others.

In this article, we will look at the ratings for the Barcelona players and what this victory means for La Blaugrana going forward.

Always be sure to consult our handy rating key as well.

1—Absolutely awful

2—No production whatsoever

3—Very little production

4—Worse than average

5—Average performance

6—Above average

7—Good production

8—Very high production

9—Nearly perfect performance

10—Absolute perfection

The Goalkeepers

Victor Valdes: 6/10

It is hard to give Valdes a really high score as he really did not have much to deal with throughout the match. He did allow a penalty to be scored in the first half, but other than that was his usual self.

Jose Pinto: 6/10

Pinto was very much the same as Valdes. He had little to do from the moment he stepped onto the pitch to replace Valdes, but looked calm behind the Blaugrana defense. 

The Fullbacks

Dani Alves: 7/10

Without having much to do in defense, Alves spent the majority of the match on the attack. The Brazilian did not have much to do, but he linked up perfectly with his attacking partners.

Adriano: 6.5/10

Adriano is clearly trying to earn his place in the squad. He continues to show great work rate and a willingness to do whatever necessary for the club. He defended well and was calm throughout the match.

Martin Montoya: 7/10

The La Masia graduate is inching closer to taking over for Dani Alves. He showed why in this win. His ability to defend is greater than his attacking presence, but Montoya did both well in the second half.

Jordi Alba: 6/10

It was clear that Alba is still working to regain his top level of fitness. The Spanish international played rather well but just did not have much of an impact on the match besides the odd run forward. 

The Center-Backs

Gerard Pique: 7.5/10

The Barcelona defender dealt with chances very well, though they came rarely. Above all else, his ability to lead was on display. Pique proved to be the anchor of the back line against a weaker opponent.

Bagnack: 7/10

Bagnack is quickly making his case to be a part of the Barcelona first-team squad. The 18-year-old played at a level well beyond his years and showed great maturity to remain calm during every defensive stand. He would have a higher score had he not given away a penalty.

Marc Bartra: 7.5/10

It is very obvious that Marc Bartra is doing everything he can to be named a starter this season. He dealt with every chance that came his way and was a wall at the back while also distributing the ball with maturity.

Javier Mascherano: 6/10

The Argentine did not play badly, but he also did not play well. His challenges were a bit reckless and his positioning was rather suspect. Against a tougher opponent, he would have caused bigger problems for the Blaugrana defense.

The Midfielders

Cesc Fabregas: 8.5/10

If it weren’t for the Barcelona forwards, Fabregas would have been the man of the match. He was the brains and engine behind every attack and kept the tiki-taka rhythm going. The Catalan could have had four assists in the first 20 minutes, but did get one when Neymar opened the scoring.

Alex Song: 7/10

The Cameroonian international again showed that he is a very good player, but not a starter for Barcelona. He did well to win the ball back in dangerous situations but was unable to really be a force on the offensive end of things.

Sergi Roberto: 6.5/10

The La Masia graduate has been outstanding all summer, and was yet again against Thailand. However, he was overshadowed by the likes of Fabregas and played more of a behind-the-scenes role in this match.

Xavi: 7.5/10

When Xavi stepped onto the pitch, he did not miss a beat. The Catalan began to dictate play and pull the strings in attack and was one of the most exciting players on the night. His pace was not quite there, but he made up for it with his keen ability to read the game.

Sergio Busquets: 8/10

Busquets only played the second half of the match, but he showed why he is one of the best in the world at his position. He was in the right place before he even needed to be and did well to distribute the ball from deep. He was not flashy but was very, very good.

Andres Iniesta: 7.5/10

Iniesta, like Xavi, picked up right where he had left off. The Spanish international dragged defenders out of position and created space that allowed for more chances. His assist to Alexis Sanchez to end the match was sublime. 

The Wingers

Neymar: 7.5/10

Neymar opened up the scoring for Barcelona and looked very electrifying at times. However, the Brazilian is still adapting to the system and could have done more. Though he played exceptionally well, he was overshadowed by his fellow wingers.

Pedro: 9/10

The Spanish international still has his scoring boots laced up. Pedro finished the game with a hat-trick capped off with a lovely chip over the keeper. His night was nearly perfect and his work rate was incredible.

Alexis Sanchez: 8.5/10

Sanchez is in direct competition with Pedro for a starting role this season, and he certainly fought for his place in this match. No one worked quite as hard as Sanchez throughout the match and his goal to finish off the night was due to that work rate. 

The Strikers

Lionel Messi: 10/10

No doubt about it—Messi was perfect on the night. The Argentine scored two goals and gave just as many assists in only the first half and was completely unstoppable for 45 minutes. The defense did not have an answer for the Barcelona man who was involved in every single play.

Dongou: 6.5/10

Though Dongou featured more as a winger in this match, he is traditionally a striker. The Cameroonian did not look as comfortable when pushed out wide but did work hard and created a few chances. Though he played well, he never quite put his mark on the match.

Who were Barcelona's standout players? Who did not play their best? Leave your thoughts and comments below!

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