Almeria vs. Barcelona: Winners and Losers from La Liga Game
Barcelona had to come from behind to avoid a third successive defeat in La Liga, before running out 2-1 winners over Almeria away from home on Saturday.
Neymar and Jordi Alba scored after the break for the Catalan side after Thievy Bifouma had run through to put Almeria ahead in a first half which the home side were clearly superior in and deserved their lead—though they couldn't hold out for the full 90.
Here are all our winners and losers from the game as Barcelona went back to the top of La Liga.
Winner: Luis Suarez
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We start with a man who only played 45 minutes but was the best on the park regardless—Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan occupied a much more central role after coming on at half-time and was a real danger throughout, with his sharp turning and ability to link play crucial in Barcelona's comeback victory. He set up both Neymar and Alba for close-range finishes with unselfish play.
He didn't manage to score himself—but thundered a volley against the crossbar as he went close.
Losers: Pedro and Munir El Haddadi
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Luis Enrique has rotated a lot in his opening months as Barcelona manager, so there would not have been too many eyebrows raised had he switched his front-line around a little.
When both Luis Suarez and Neymar were left on the bench, however, there were plenty of questions—especially since Munir El Haddadi and Pedro had not exactly pushed their own claims for a place of late.
The incoming duo continued that run of form with minimal impact from each; Munir had an early shot saved and clipped a cross in that Ivan Rakitic almost scored from, but did nothing else. Pedro, on the other hand, was almost entirely anonymous in a very poor first half from his team as a whole.
It was no surprise at all to see the pair hooked at the break.
Winner?: Luis Enrique
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Luis Enrique created his own problems in the match with his team selection, but he must also, therefore, be given credit for solving them early on with his double switch and decision to play Suarez centrally, with Messi withdrawn and from the right.
His team were poor in the first half, better after the break, but there is still much more work for him to do to end a worrying trend in recent weeks after a great start to the new campaign.
Enrique may well just look at it as three points and back on the winning track, and he's right, but tough fixtures are ahead after the international break where Barcelona will need to do more.
Loser: Lionel Messi
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It wasn't a poor display as such from Lionel Messi, but he clearly wasn't at his best and struggled to make a big impact on the match with his dribbling and creative work.
Often he was crowded out by the sheer numbers of Almeria players back defending, while he also struggled to find space in deeper areas in the second half.
Most pertinently of all, he is still waiting for that goalscoring record; he hit the bar twice with headers in the match and was denied by a late save by Ruben, leaving him three league games without a goal, the first time he has gone that long since January.
Winners: Soriano and Thievy
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Almeria lost the game in the end, but deserve a lot of credit for a first half where they really took the game to Barcelona and deservedly got themselves ahead.
Fernando Soriano was excellent in midfield, bullying Rafinha and Rakitic and setting up counter-attacking moves with short, incisive passes.
In attack, Thievy's movement and pace caused no end of problems with his darting runs in behind the Barcelona defence. His composure isn't always up to scratch with the final shot, but he showed no signs of that with a well-taken goal.
Naturally, such work rate from both meant they tired and had to be subbed—and it was after they both departed that Almeria were exposed and conceded the goals to lose.
