Crvena Zvezda vs Barcelona, Champions League: Final Score 2–5.
Barcelona has won their third consecutive League Phase encounter and will finish Matchday 4 in the Top 8 of the Champions League standings for the first time this season after a 5-2 victory over Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade on Wednesday night. Barça played a mature game to deal with one of the toughest environments in world football and gain three more points in Europe, and Hansi Flick’s side has now won seven consecutive games in all competitions.
FIRST HALF
Barça made a strong start, dominating the ball and creating early opportunities through good passing and movement. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed early chances, but Iñigo Martínez’s header from a free kick put the Blaugrana ahead 13 minutes in.
Red Star responded well to falling behind, using the crowd’s passion to press them forward in search of an equalizer. They struggled to beat Barça’s offside trap, but Silas eventually kept onside and lobbed Iñaki Peña on the half-hour mark, tying things up and sending the Marakana into frenzy.
The hosts dropped back to try to avoid conceding a second before halftime, while Barça continued to play well, but it appeared that the visitors would not score again until the 43rd minute, when Raphinha fired a rocket against the post and Robert Lewandowski was first to the rebound and scored an easy tap-in to put the away side back in front.
The halftime whistle signaled the end of a great period dominated by Barça, but Red Star remained in contention, and the second half promised to be highly interesting.
Second half
Barça improved their passing pace and intensity without the ball in the final period, and it was enough to seal the victory: two perfectly crafted attacks down the right wing resulted in two assists by Jules Kounde, the first for another Lewandowski tap-in and the second to find Raphinha, who scored a stunning goal to make it 4-1 shortly before the hour mark.
Barça faced a dangerous moment when Pau Cubarsí was kicked in the head by Red Star captain Uros Spajic. His teammates appeared concerned for a moment, but the young center-back walked off under his own power and was substituted by Sergi Domínguez took over with about 20 minutes remaining.
The Blaugrana had secured the victory and looked to stay firm at the back and maybe add additional goals on the counter, while the hosts had more possession and tried to find a second to spark an unexpected comeback. Barça’s lead was quadrupled after Kounde assisted Fermín López with a toe poke finish, despite their inability to create chances.
Red Star pulled one back with 10 minutes to go thanks to a spectacular curling attempt by Felicio Milson, but that was all the hosts would get in the dying seconds as the final whistle rang to secure Barça’s victory by a three-goal advantage. This was a strong, mature performance to manage the tough environment and win on the road. Barça stepped on the gas when necessary, and the fact that they can now manage and win games without having to play at full effort for 90 minutes is a positive development as Flick’s team evolves.
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