Neymar Still in Poor Form Despite Barcelona's Mauling of Sporting Gijon
CAMP NOU, Barcelona — It might seem wrong to criticise Neymar after he scored in a 6-0 thumping that put Barcelona top of the Primera Division table, but the star's performance against Sporting Gijon exposed his lack of confidence and poor form.
Anyone who saw him ripping opponents to shreds last season, leaving top-class defenders for dead without breaking a sweat, will know something is not right with the Brazilian star.
It has been this way for a while. When was the last time Neymar truly played well? Arguably, it was the last time Barcelona played well too, with the exception of the 8-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Barcelona beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Camp Nou on March 16 in the UEFA Champions League. After that, things went terribly wrong. Even in that game, there were signs of what was to come, with the Blaugrana unable to hit top gear.
A 2-2 draw with Villarreal followed, with the team throwing away a two-goal lead. Neymar scored, but he turned in a subdued display.
Then came defeats by Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Valencia, as well as a 3-2 aggregate defeat over two legs by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
That was a five-match spell in which Neymar didn't score, generally looking tired, frustrated and unable to generate chances or finish them himself when his team-mates provided them.
It wasn't just Neymar's form having a detrimental effect Barcelona because all the players suffered during the dip, but practically losing the player ranked third best in the world at January's Ballon d'Or ceremony hurt.
On Wednesday night, he looked a bit better and scored, after good work by Luis Suarez to set him up, ending a goal drought of 579 minutes before he converted a penalty in Saturday's clash.
Lionel Messi and Suarez let him have it, and the Brazilian dispatched it down the middle. The action of a confident man, no? But his overall performance hinted at anything but.
In the first half, he wasted two golden opportunities after works-of-art Messi passes. The first saw him forced into a diagonal as he ran into the box, by three defenders, eventually releasing the ball to Suarez, whose shot was blocked.
It was good thinking by Neymar to set up his team-mate, but the Neymar from last season and the first half of this one would have found a way to squeeze off a shot while in the danger zone.
The second chance saw him dally on the ball after Messi sent him through, and goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar denied him.
After the break, he charged toward the box and opted to pass to Messi, who was under pressure, instead of homing in on goal himself.
Minutes later, worse still. When seven yards out with a clear shot of goal, he hesitated, looking for the pass that didn’t materialise and ended up firing straight at the stopper.
How could a player who scored in both quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final of last year’s Champions League be so tentative in front of goal?
Neymar is not in good form, and there’s no doubt about it despite his goals in the last two games.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique backed him after the game, saying: “He showed character to take the penalty, to keep taking people on [and] to press opponents when we lose the ball. That is why he is a top player. Others end up participating less in the game.
“The fans were singing his name, which strengthens the player when he needs it.”
He was right—Barcelona supporters backed Neymar in a difficult moment after he missed a hugely presentable chance.
Fans at the Camp Nou are often fickle, getting on the team’s back when the players need support. But in this game, and in the previous one, against Valencia, they have backed their side to the hilt. They are pushing Barcelona onward as best they can.
The Catalans have four fixtures left this season, three in the top flight and the Copa del Rey final, and the wonderful form of Suarez and Messi’s brilliance may drag them through those matches to an impressive double.
But things would be a lot easier in their remaining fixtures if Neymar could snap out of his malaise—or overcome his fatigue, which would be harder to beat—and help fire Barcelona to glory in the league and cup.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise indicated.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
