Ansu Fati 'sacrificed' by Xavi after hitting the post and a heated debate

Sunday brought another opportunity for Ansu Fati after not starting in Barcelona's last three games. He did not start at Old Trafford against Manchester United or last Thursday against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. He enjoyed minutes in both games, but he missed the Almeria game in the middle due to discomfort.

The Barça '10' left the field against Valencia, though, without scoring despite having shot three times at goal, one of them against the post. And he left angrily after the argument he had with Ferran Torres over who would take a penalty which was eventually missed by Ferran.

Xavi opted to return to the formula of the three forwards for the 1-0 win over Valencia and Ansu played on the left flank, sharing it with Balde and up against Foulquier and Thierry Correia.

Although Barça attacked much more on the right flank with Raphinha, Ansu was able to get a couple of shots on goal in the first half. The first, after 18 minutes, with a low, soft shot that did not trouble Mamardashvili. The second, in the 37th minute, with a header from a great cross by Raphinha.

At the start of the second half, the argument with Ferran came. Ansu has not scored in La Liga since Oct. 20 against Villarreal. Ferran hasn't scored since Nov. 1 in the Champions League. Both are anxious to score again. This explains the dispute that the two players had when Alberola Rojas pointed out a penalty in favour of Barça following Hugo Guillamón's handball.

With interventions from Araujo and Raphinha, the ball was eventually awarded to Ferran, who was the designated player to take the spot-kick, but he sent the ball against the post. Ansu immediately went to encourage his teammate.

The action, far from leaving Ansu feeling shaken, was an extra motivation for the home-grown striker, who minutes later, after a good combination with Raphinha, was on the verge of scoring. His fine right-footed shot beat the Valencia goalkeeper but hit the woodwork.

SACRIFICED

Ansu was now at his best moment in the match, but soon after he was sacrificed by Xavi. Araujo's sending-off forced the coach to reshuffle the team. Marcos Alonso came in at centre-back and Ansu went to the bench.

He did so with a grim look on his face and received a standing ovation from the crowd that filled the Spotify Camp Nou, who could not understand that after everything that had happened, it was him and not Ferran who had been replaced.