It was a win yes, but that performance has to be from the bottom of the barrel. It surely can’t get any worse for Barcelona, can it?
The application from Ernesto Valverde’s side for the most part at Butarque was their worst of the coach’s reign, and perhaps even their worst for years.
A lack of first-choice full-backs is no excuse for such sub-standard fare, throughout the side.
Let’s start at the top end.
An attack worth a mere 500 million euros didn’t dominate a defence that, prior to Saturday lunchtime’s game had let in 22 goals — the second worst in the entire division.