Riqui Puig shined and was the best in the first half

The FC Barcelona could not begin his participation in the Rakuten Cup with victory and fell by 1-2 in front of Chelsea in his debut of pre-season. The culés played better in the second part and had more occasions to mark, but the English had better puntería. Abraham advanced to the 'blues' in the first-half and Barkley sentenced the crash in the second. Ivan Rakitic gave him something of emotion at the end of the meeting with a golazo by the square in the discount, but the barcelonistas fell in any case.

In spite of the defeat, Ernesto Valverde could extract several positive conclusions of the party. The first and probably the most important of all is that Riqui Puig​ already is asking place in the first team. The canterano was headline and showed in the first 45 minutes the immense quality that treasures in his boots. The midfield player was the best of the Barcelona in the first time and left crowd of details and of played of level.

The one of Matadepera did not leave to ask the balloon in the time that was on the lawn and from the pitido initial saw him active and with a lot of win to like. It saw him trusted and left drivings, controls and passes of the 'crack' that aims to be. In a centre of the field composed by Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto and by him same, went the still player of the filial the one who more incidence had in three chambers of field and was he the one who connected with the ones of up.

The arrival of Frenkie of Jong, that went out in the second part substituting to Busquets in the mediocentro defensive, could close him the step to Riqui, but with performances like this costs to think that Valverde do not go to give him more minutes that the past season. Arturo Vidal, Arthur, the own Dutch, Rakitic and Aleñá are by in front of him in the rotation, but the one of Matadepera is hungry and quality as to give him the turn to his situation.

Rafinha Also shined

Another of the players that shined in front of Chelsea was Rafinha. The canterano is in the door of exit and could finish playing in Valencia, but in front of the English showed that while it was in the Barça, goes to give it everything. It went out in the rest of 'false 9' by Antoine Griezmann and went the most active of the culés in the second time.

Had several arrivals of danger, associated well and always gave feeling of danger. It will be necessary to see which raisin with him when they incorporate Leo Messi and Luis Suárez, but if it follows like this is not descartable that was still in the staff after 31 August. It is a good option to play of false forward and if the Barcelona no fichan another '9' could be of utility for Valverde.