Griezmann finds redemption in Barcelona win against Villarreal

Antoine Griezmann’s performance marked a new Barcelona as Blaugrana achieved an impressive 4-1 away win against Villarreal.

The visitors had collected two points from their last two matches and as a result dropped valuable points in La Liga’s title race. But a lot of unexpected events took place at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday night.

After being set up by Lionel Messi, Griezmann finally found the net in La Liga for the first time in more than four months, exactly 140 days and after 578 minutes of playing time.

The forward has not been getting enough minutes when you look at the €120 million paid to get him last summer. For a man who was seemingly in the prime of his career, the price tag seemed just right.

Therefore it’s surprising to see that the 2018 World Cup champion is half as productive as he was last campaign having scored only eight goals and provided four. He had a promising start, involving himself in five goals in his first five league games.

But that was as good as Griezmann’s performances were going to get as he has not been either creative or decisive, missing any signs of assists or goals since mid-February.

The pressure of a move to Barcelona comes with a different atmosphere and expectations, the 29-year-old no longer the focal point of his team’s attacking play.

The former Atletico Madrid man arrived at Camp Nou to become a positive addition, improve the football and most importantly help bring back the Champions League after four years of it predominantly heading to rivals Real Madrid.

Griezmann failed to achieve any of the above so far; since La Liga’s resumption he has only started three times with fleeting substitute appearances elsewhere. In both cases, the forward failed to prevail.

According to Spanish media, the player was even linked to moves in France and Italy.

As a player who reached his peak playing with freedom and occupying the centre, the demands of the player has now changed, Lionel Messi occupying the free role that Griezmann excelled in at Atletico.

Ex-coach at Real Sociedad Martin Lasarte, the man who gave him his debut at 18-years of age expressed his concern last week:

“What you see of Griezmann is like a caricature of himself. I see him sad, with his head down, running without much sense.”

The Uruguayan was not wrong, Griezmann looked empty and lacking personality on the pitch, he was simply not himself anymore.

Nevertheless, the exciting forward got his fourth start since the league returned and played with the vitality and confidence of a talisman who found the net every weekend. It was almost as if he was telling Lasarte, ‘’Don’t you worry boss, the Griezmann you know is back.’’

Manager Quique Setien had finally let his guard down and decided to give the former Sociedad forward the freedom he is used to, all while giving the squad a different shape.

Griezmann was seen involved in combinations with Messi and Luis Suarez as Barca fans had dreamt since his signing, and he was absolutely less marginalized than usual.

He was back indeed, his contagious energy and smile were all over the goal celebrations, his control of the game was on point and was acting naturally and lively for the first time in a while.

Griezmann was almost on the end of Jordi Alba’s cross for the opener, the goal eventually attributed as a Pau Torres own-goal.

Gerard Moreno equalised just over ten minutes later with a counter-attack that was finalised with a rebound from the in-form striker.

Suarez then put his teammates on top for the second time at the 20^th minute. A delightful curled shot from outside the box found the top left corner, while the ‘keeper stood in awe of the Samuel Eto’o-esque strike.

The third goal came from a brilliant combination between Messi and Griezmann, the Argentinian played a back-heel pass to his partner, who sent a magical chip goalbound just before half-time, replicating the Barca captain’s goal against Real Betis last year.

Griezmann was finally replaced by young Ansu Fati at the 72^nd minute who went on to score the fourth of the night for Barcelona.

The Frenchman completed the most amount of touches (56) in ten La Liga starts. He even exceeded some games where he had played the full 90 minutes.

Moreover, his heatmap on Sunday night was more similar to his season’s movements when he was an Atletico Madrid player than his overall for the current campaign.

 

 

It is worth mentioning that the hosts were not the easiest side to face as well, the Yellow Submarines have won five of their last six games conceding only two goals.

They possess La Liga’s third most creative and efficient players in Santi Cazorla with eight assists and Moreno with 15 goals, making him the highest-scoring Spaniard in the league.

As for Barcelona, this contest will be of massive importance.

In spite of the four points gap between them and Real Madrid, Setien will be more than satisfied with this win, and the style in which his men completed it.

The visitors’ gaffer might have also just removed another task off his plate with the obvious progression on Griezmann’s production.

The Frenchman looked rejuvenated on Sunday and will now be keen to reach the form that made him so coveted by Barca last summer.

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