Barcelona's Slow Champions League Start Is Nothing to Be Concerned About
Barcelona may well have come away from the Italian capital disappointed.
Disappointed because they had almost 70 percent of the possession, per WhoScored.com, against AS Roma and didn't win the game.
Disappointed that Rafinha may well be out of action for some time after a scything tackle from Radja Nainggolan ended his evening just a couple of minutes after coming on as a substitute for Ivan Rakitic.
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Per an interview with beIN Sports via Dermot Corrigan of ESPN, Luis Enrique noted:
"It is a very ugly injury. That is the bad news from this round. There will be more tests tomorrow, but it doesn't look good.
The injury has affected the game, and the spirit of the players. It was already difficult in the first half, with their goal, and the then the second half with the injury.
"
Barca may also be disappointed at the manner in which they conceded, but the reality is Marc-Andre ter Stegen's positioning was correct and neither he nor anyone else would've expected such a speculative effort from Alessandro Florenzi to find its way into the net.
"Morning everyone! Have you seen Alessandro Florenzi's goal against Barcelona last night?? https://t.co/CGSd5yyZbG
— Toals Bookmakers (@ToalsBookmakers) September 17, 2015"
It isn't the first time that the Catalans have been tested from long range this season either. Graham Hunter of ESPN noted:
"Judging by Barcelona's 4-0 defeat to Athletic Club and Malaga's performance at the Camp Nou on Saturday, teams are making it part of their prematch tactical briefing that if they pick up possession anywhere within 60 metres of the Barcelona goal when a Barcelona move breaks down, they are free to shoot.
Mikel San Jose scored an absolute belter of a long-distance half-volley in the Spanish Supercup, and when Sergio Busquets accidentally gave the ball away against Malaga, Juan Carlos hit a first-time lob over Bravo that landed on the roof of the net. Two embarrassing moments.
"
Despite this, neither Ter Stegen nor Barcelona will panic. And nor should they.
This was a reasonable performance from Barcelona. An efficient one in many respects. Just not the spectacular variety we have come to expect.
It's worth bearing in mind that this is likely to be the stiffest test Barca face in the group stages of the competition and they didn't lose.
Roma had two shots on target in the whole match. Florenzi's wonder-strike and a tame 87th-minute effort from Edin Dzeko.
With a little extra luck, three points would be in the bag. Lionel Messi's late shot on to the crossbar was the seventh game in succession where the woodwork has saved the opposition from a Barca goal.
Luis Enrique and his players are continuing to do the right things, and do them well. The four games they have played so far this season in La Liga and the Champions League are, arguably, among their toughest of the season and they remain unscathed.
Bayer Leverkusen are their next opponents in Europe, a team that currently sit 13th in the Bundesliga after a less-than-average start to their campaign domestically.
A 4-1 victory over Group E whipping boys BATE Borisov is more a statement of how poor the Belarus team are than how much of a threat the Germans will present.
Roma were compact and defensive for a large portion of their match against Barca and as such, Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez found it difficult to find their usual rhythm and space in between the lines.
Rakitic wasn't really at the races at any point and when has that been said about the Croatian since his move to Catalonia?
Future opponents might well take heart from the same. Play a certain way and Barca are vulnerable.
But with the greatest of respect, Leverkusen and BATE are no Roma. If the Catalans win their next three games, which will surely be the expectation, then they'll have either already qualified to the knockout stages with two games to spare or be close to doing so.
Rudi Garcia's side deserve kudos for the way in which they went about attacking Barca but trying to author the same style at Camp Nou in matchweek five could be fatal for Roma's own hopes of topping the group.
In any event, there remains much to admire about Enrique's Barca this season, including from the Roma match. Squad-depth issues aside, Barca's passing has been on point and the movement and inter-play has again been first class.
Alluding to Bayern Munich's 7-1 win at this venue last season means little because Pep Guardiola's side were undone when it really mattered.
Champions League's aren't won in the first group game and knee-jerk reactions are unnecessary and unhelpful. When the going gets tough again this season, Barca will be there at the coal face.
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