Barca hung on for dear life in the final 10 minutes to leave Prague with 3 points. Messi got on the score sheet early from a nifty Arthur pass, but the chance was created primarily by excellent team pressing from Griez, Suarez, Busi, FDJ, and Semedo:
View: https://streamable.com/xem2w
Barca dominated the first hour or so, but Prague definitely grew into the match. As the match wore on, I noticed Pique and Busi getting dragged out of position, and this bit them in minute 50:
View: https://streamable.com/jm4p0
Busi's not fast enough to bust his ass and get back. Not sure what Semedo is doing just watching the first man in the box.
Minutes later though, Suarez pulled Barca back out front with a quintessential 'hustle but also kinda crazy skill-technique' Luisito goal off a Messi FK:
View: https://streamable.com/ek6uf
Ernie's first sub was to take Griez off for Dembele. This meant that the front 3 would be doing minimal pressing and it also coincided with sustained pressure and dominance from Prague. If EV is trying to save Antoine's legs for...(checks notes) 12th place Valladolid next Tuesday (due to the Clasico postponement), then I'd be OK with this, but EV has been pretty set in not playing Dembele or Griez on the RW much. Since Messi drifts to the middle EVERY TIME, Semedo was stranded on the right flank for the last half hour for the bajillionth time.
Dembele came in and did his usual Jeckyl and Hyde act--he had bad turnovers and didn't put in much effort on defense, but galloped through open space with insane speed at times and created some good chances.
EV must've realized how bad Barca looked, yet waited about 10 minutes before bringing on ninja-turned-footballer Vidal for Busi. Vidal almost gave away a pen shortly thereafter. Rakitic came on for Arthur to confirm that EV recognized how shitastic the team looked down the stretch. Some huge MATS saves and last ditch defending from the CBs kept this one as a W for the Blaugrana.
TL;DR - the team is playing better compared to its dreadful early season performances, but EV still doesn't inspire confidence with his in-game adjustments.