Barcelona news: Manager Xavi has praised Ousmane Dembele after the Frenchman impressed in their win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League group stage.
The Catalan team started their 22/23 Champions League campaign with a bang, with a 5-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen.
Franck Kessie broke the tie in the 13th minute before Robert Lewandowksi made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Viktoria Plzen pulled one back in the 44th minute but Lewandowski restored Barcelona’s two-goal lead in the 45+3 minute.
Lewandowski then scored one more goal, his hat-trick for Barcelona, in the 67th minute. Ferran Torres completed Barcelona’s thrashing of Viktoria Plzen with a 71st-minute goal.
Barcelona news: Xavi lavishes praise on Ousmane Dembélé
Dembélé was impressive for Barcelona in the match, providing two assists. He became the supplier of Lewandowski’s second and Barcelona’s third. The 25-year-old first made a tackle to win the ball from the right and then sent a cross on goal that Lewandowski headed in.
Dembélé also assisted Torres’ goal, producing a sensational ball to set the Spaniard up for the fifth of the Barcelona game.
Speaking after the match, Xavi lavished praise on Dembélé. The Barça coach said that Dembélé is at the level of the best version of Neymar Jr. Xavi also said that Dembélé is making a difference and being decisive for the Catalan club.
“He (Dembélé) is happy, he provides assists, makes a difference, he is a dagger down the flank and he is being decisive. I have seen few players with that ability in one-on-one”, said Xavi.
The Barça coach added: “He is at the level of the best Neymar. He had suffered a lot in recent years and he deserves what he is now. There isn’t a pure winger who can come out on both sides like him.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona have had a great start to the season. After a disappointing goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano in their first game of the 22/23 LaLiga season, Barcelona have won every game they have played.
Barça sit second in the La Liga points table with 10 points from their first four matches. They are just two points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who have a 100% winning record so far this season.
Meanwhile, Barcelona take on Cádiz in an away encounter in their next game in the Spanish top flight.
