Cádiz vs Barcelona, La Liga: Final Score 0-1, João Félix scores spectacular winner as Barça escape with narrow victory on the road

Barcelona have reached the 70-point mark in La Liga this season and will finish the weekend in second place in the table thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Cádiz at the Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium on Saturday night. A Barça side filled with reserves and youngsters struggled against a team that’s always given them problems, but a spectacular goal by João Félix was enough to give the Catalans all three points and keep their remote title chances alive ahead of next week’s El Clásico.

FIRST HALF

Xavi Hernández and his brother and assistant Óscar made seven changes from the team that beat PSG, and the lack of cohesion showed from the beginning. A team full of youngsters and fringe players struggled to play with any real pace in the attack, with slow sideways passing and very little creativity up front.

Cádiz were comfortable sitting back and playing on the counter, but the home team didn’t really threaten the Barça goal which made for a very uneventful half. The Blaugrana struggled to get their front players involved, and it seemed like we were headed for a very boring goalless period.

Then with 10 minutes to go, a moment of rare individual brilliance changed the game: Marcos Alonso sent a corner into the box that was deflected at the near post, and the ball fell perfectly to João Félix who pulled off an amazing bicycle kick to find the back of the net and put the visitors in front.

The incredible opener gave Barça some energy and the Catalans started to play with more urgency and intensity, and they nearly doubled their lead just before halftime after a perfect lob pass by Félix and a very smart header from Sergi Roberto to find Fermín López all alone at the far post, but the young midfielder saw his sure-fire goal cleared off the line by Cádiz center-back Víctor Chust.

The halftime whistle came to end a first period that featured a whole lot of nothing for 35 minutes but had a fun finish after Félix’s special goal, and Barça needed to play better and be more clinical to secure the win in the second half.

SECOND HALF

The first 15 minutes of the final period belonged to Cádiz, who were in desperate need of a result in their fight against the drop and went all out for an early equalizer. They had the ball in the back of the net through Juanmi, but the goal was disallowed for a clear offside. It was a clear warning, however, and the hosts felt they had a real shot at a comeback.

Óscar Hernández made a triple change at the hour mark, with Jules Kounde, Pedri and Lamine Yamal all coming on looking to improve the team’s general play as well as their ability to create and finish chances in the final third.

The substitutions had a good impact on the visitors: Kounde was a calming presence at the back, Pedri controlled the pace in midfield and Yamal was his usual aggressive self on the right wing. The Blaugrana successfully regained control of the game and created some chances, but they still needed a second goal to make sure of the points as we reached the final 20 minutes.

Because Barça couldn’t put the game away Cádiz felt they still had a chance, and threw caution to the wind by making four attacking changes and sending everyone forward looking for a way back in the match. Marc-André ter Stegen made a fantastic save on a shot by Diadie Samassékou, and the home team was once again on top with 10 minutes to go.

Barça did a good job slowing down the home team’s momentum and managing the game in the dying seconds, and kept their clean sheet intact as the final whistle came to give the away side all three points.

This wasn’t pretty, and no one expected it to be given the previous clashes with Cádiz and all of the changes to the Barça team ahead of next week. Three points and no injuries were all that mattered tonight, and both tasks were completed successfully. Well done, boys!

Cádiz: Ledesma; Carcelén, Ousou, Chust (Pires 84’), Hernández; Sobrino, Fernández (Samassékou 77’), Alcaraz, Navarro (Machís 77’); Juanmi (Roger 77’), Ramos (Gómez 52’)

Goals: None

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Fort (Pedri 62’), Cubarsí, Christensen (Kounde 62’), Alonso; Romeu, Roberto; Ferran, Fermín (Raphinha 80’), Félix (Casadó 85’); Roque (Yamal 62’)

Goal: Félix (37’)