Barcelona did not get further than a goalless draw against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday evening: 0-0. Also in the second game with Xavi on the bench, three days after his debut in the city derby against Espanyol (1-0), it became clear that the unproductiveness continues to hinder the Catalans. In the last eight matches, Barcelona only once scored at least two goals (3-3 against Celta de Vigo): in the other matches, goals were scored or not. After the 0-0 against Benfica, the media in Spain point to Memphis Depay, among others. He played unlucky, but he can’t do it alone, is the conclusion.
“Xavi has the manual, but he can’t also score the goals,” reads the telling headline above an analysis of marca. “He can’t be faulted after two games, insofar as something can be expected of him in such a short time. Barcelona play better football and meet the demands of modern Barcelona… until it has to be decided in the last meters. Perhaps it is time to say that Depay should not be the right person to score the goals at a club like Barcelona. Or that the youth academy produces wonderful talents, but they also don’t score goals.”
“Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi are gone and with them the attacking power of Barcelona over the past ten years,” emphasizes the best-selling sports newspaper. “Hope is pinned on a footballer like Ousmane Dembélé, as talented as he is fragile. It says enough about the huge problem Barcelona faces in a place where matches are decided. Xavi can still do his best, but this problem does not seem to have a solution.” The analysis also includes a subheading with el mentiroso as title, ‘the liar’. “Depay looks like an attacker from a top club, but he is not. He’s a good footballer, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s not a footballer who can make a difference.”
“A complementary footballer, but not the star footballer with which Barcelona must want to solve its lack of scoring ability. Barcelona should not want that. Against Benfica, Depay played another disappointing game, apart from killing some good chances.” There are also few positive comments about the assessments, to which no figures are linked, of the Madrid daily. “It is Depay’s goal to score for Barcelona in the Champions League as well. But Nicolás Otamendi was his shadow. Depay was way too static. inaccurate. Often invisible. Much more is expected of him.”
Memphis Depay hasn’t had a shot on target in five #UCL matches or Barca’s La Liga matches against Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. 23 in his other 11 La Liga games.
— Kevin Chroust (@kevinchroust) Nov 23, 2021
The criticism of Depay among the fans is also not tender on social media. Journalist Manu Carreño emphasizes via Twitter that ‘miracles cannot be expected from Xavi’. “Football depends on the players you have at your disposal. It is very unfair to compare Xavi to Pep Guardiola. One had Thierry Henry, David Villa and Lionel Messi. Xavi now has Depay.” Salient: Depay did not have a single goal attempt in his five Champions League appearances for Barcelona, just like in the league matches with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. In the other 11 matches, the Dutchman, on the other hand, was good for 23 focused attempts on goal.
Sport hands three failings to Barcelona’s basic forces: a five for both Clément Lenglet and Jordi Alba and the lowest rating is for Depay, a four. “Barcelona lacked attacking power against Benfica because the number nine was anything but careful in the last meters,” the Catalan sports newspaper writes. “He didn’t handle the opportunities he was given well. After almost an hour of play, he came face to face with goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos, but then it became dark before his eyes. He lacked self-confidence, while that is one of his qualities.”
Also ASH raises big question marks after Depay’s actions against Benfica. “Light and darkness in Depay’s game. He was good when the game needed to be built and he offered himself. But he was unfortunate towards the goal, apart from the fact that he had few chances. However, the few opportunities he got were not for him. It will be a while before he will play a real top game for Barcelona.” Mundo Deportivo points out that Depay lost a good chance because ‘he still wants to hit the ball one too many times’. “It lacked precision at certain moments when Barcelona seemed to have an advantage and when he had the chance to lead his team. He was also offside too often.”