Barcelona genuinely had a great chance of winning it. What do they still lack for me? A more solid defence. At a collective level, when they face matches, they don't mind carrying the weight of the game.
"Barça Atlètic player Patricio Pacifico underwent successful surgery on Monday for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury he sustained during a match against UE Olot on April 19."
Barcelona had monitored the Rayo Vallecano defender last summer, but circumstances have shifted since then. The interest is now being viewed as a serious possibility, especially with uncertainty surrounding Jules Kounde.
Dani Olmo has essentially played two full seasons now, and the results of the experiment aren't exactly perfect: Olmo has certainly had spells of excellent play, and his ability to win duels in tight spaces as well as contribute with goals and assists have certainly given a boost to the Barça attack when he's been at his best.
Ferran Torres played a decisive role in the recent win over Espanyol, coming up with a crucial goal that effectively sealed the result. Deployed alongside Robert Lewandowski, Ferran showed sharp movement, timing his run perfectly to exploit space and finish with confidence.
The single man arriving at 57, with $130,000 and limited monthly income, is operating at the edge of what the city's cost structure permits, and the first two years are where that edge becomes visible.
