The international break was good for Barcelona! In one of the derbies of the 9th round of the Spanish championship, the Catalan great beat Valencia 3:1, Nou Camp waited to finally greet Sergio Aguero with applause, while Phillipe Coutinho scored a goal after almost a year. Valencia was good, but with Man of the match, Ter Stegen at goal for Barca, they couldn’t do much. After the last two matches, an improvement is clear for Barca, and the presence of Ansu Fati is helpful. 68,7% – Since February 2020, Ansu Fati 🇪🇸 has scored 11 goals in his last 16 shots on target (68,7% of conversion rate), the second best percentage for a #LaLiga player after Cádiz’s Álex Fernández (75%), at least five goals. Efficacy@FCBarcelona #ansufati pic.twitter.com/oJjgfg9r74— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 17, 2021 Ronald Koeman gave a chance to Phillipe Coutinho, one of the highest-paid players in the club that Barcelona wants to get rid of. However, the Dutchman does not seem to care much about what the administration is planning, and it could happen that Koeman will take 20,000,000 euros out of the Catalans’ pockets. According to the contract between Liverpool and Barca, the Reds will get extra money when (or if) the Brazilian plays 100 matches for Barca. He is currently at 97. Coutinho came in instead of the young Ansu Fati and in the 81st minute, he had a nice chance to solve the game. He did everything himself, made room for a shot, but he didn’t shoot precisely enough. He didn’t use the first opportunity, but that’s why he did the second, only four minutes later.2011 – Sergio Agüero 🇦🇷 has returned @LaLigaEN more than ten years since his last game on 21st May 2011 when Gavi 🇪🇸, his current mate, was 6 years old & 289 days. Welcome@FCBarcelona #BarcelonaVsValencia pic.twitter.com/C6qGgu8uPF— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 17, 2021 According to statistical parameters – apart from the possession of the ball – Valencia was practically an equal rival. It started perfectly as Jose Gaya fired a ’rocket’ and surprised Ter Stegen – 0:1, 5th minute. Barcelona rushed immediately to equalize and were lucky to get it very quickly. The ’new’ Messi, number 10 Ansu Fati scored a nice goal in the 13th minute for 1-1. The key moment of the match happened at the end of the first half, when Fati was knocked down in the opponent’s penalty area, and the referee, after a long consultation with the VAR, decided to point to the spot. Memphis Depay took a short step back and blasted the ball for the lead. Barca managed to keep the score in the second half until Coutinho secured the win, although Ter Stegen did have a couple of excellent saves. A good and important victory ahead of the Champions League game against Dynamo Kiyv. What a goal from Ansu Fati, reminds me of Messi’s trait of making play giving it to a player to collect it back and finish 🤩#FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/FJEZdrewgF— Sreenivas (@S10Football) October 17, 2021 #BarçaValenciaMemphis Depay goal pic.twitter.com/9R4kCVFhzQ— 90Soccers (@9Soccers) October 17, 2021 #BarçaValencia #FCBarcelona #LaLigaBarcelona [3] – 1 Valencia | GOAL! Philippe CoutinhoFollow me to never miss any goal highlights pic.twitter.com/hLYANEFWou— Ronard Addo (@ronard_addo) October 17, 2021 LA LIGA – ROUND 9SaturdayLevante – Getafe 0-0Sociedad – Mallorca 1-0 (0-0)/Lobete 90/SundayRayo Vallecano – Elche 2-1 (0-1)/Hernandez 26, Nteka 65 – Boye 14/Celta- Sevilla 0-1 (0-0)/Mir 54/Villareal – Osasuna 1-2 (0-1)/Moreno 55 – Torro 26, Avila 87/Barcelona – Valencia 3-1 (2-1)/Fati 13, Depay 41(p), Coutinho 85 – Gaya 5/POSTPONED Granada CF – Atl. MadridPOSTPONED Real Madrid – Ath BilbaoMonday20:00: (3.50) Alaves (3.25) Betis (2.30)22:00: (1.75) Espanyol (3.60) Cadiz (5.60)
