{"id":2234,"date":"2026-09-09T20:05:50","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=2234"},"modified":"2026-09-09T20:05:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:05:50","slug":"anthony-gordon-will-be-key-man-as-barcelona-set-for-champions-league-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=2234","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Gordon will be key man as Barcelona set for Champions League glory"},"content":{"rendered":"


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We imagine ourselves gathered in the seating area of Alan Partridge\u2019s caravan, reeling off spurious facts and being corrected by the increasingly frustrated protagonist when we think of our historic takes on Barcelona<\/a>\u2019s \u00a369m summer signing. \u201cStop getting Gordon wrong!\u201d we\u2019re told.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He\u2019s been a man in demand throughout his career. After one full season of senior football for Everton, Chelsea had bids of \u00a340m and then \u00a345m rejected by the Toffees in the summer of 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In January 2023 he moved to Newcastle for \u00a340m. After his first full season at St James\u2019 Park, Gordon very nearly moved to Liverpool for \u00a375m. This summer he went to actual Barcelona.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Why would Chelsea be offering \u00a345m for a player with six goal contributions in 35 games? Why would Newcastle pay \u00a340m for a player with nine goal contributions in 51 games? Why would Liverpool pay \u00a375m when they already had a superior left winger in Luis Diaz? The exact same question could have been asked of Bayern Munich when their interest emerged this summer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And finally, why were Barcelona baulking at \u00a326m for Rashford but were more than happy to pay nearly three times that sum for Gordon<\/a><\/strong>?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He\u2019s proving us wrong again. In four La Liga<\/a> games he has five assists, the standout of which was a superb back heel for Raphinha against Rayo Vallecano.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHis speed, his intensity\u2026 it\u2019s all very good for us and exactly what we were looking for in him,\u201d said head coach Hansi Flick after Gordon\u2019s first start against Athletic Club, during which the Nou Camp crowd were heard loud and clear chanting his name during a break in play.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gordon responded by tapping the Barcelona crest on his chest before being told by his teammates \u2013 according to The Athletic<\/em><\/a> \u2013 that such adoration so early in his career with the Catalans was \u2018not normal\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Conducting his first press conference in Spanish won\u2019t have hurt; neither will his commitment to speak to the fans in Catalan. It\u2019s been a brilliant start thanks to his work on and off the pitch. But not perfect.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI think as a striker, from his side, you want to score goals. He has had some chances and he missed them,\u201d Flick said ahead of Barcelona\u2019s Champions League clash with Feyenoord.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rested for the game, Gordon watched his replacement \u2013 Karim Adeyemi \u2013 score a quite brilliant goal to put Barcelona 2-0 up. The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund cut in from the left and curled a shot into the top corner from outside the box. \u201cEat my goal!\u201d he might have said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Raphinha had scored his seventh goal and later got his eighth of the season. Lamine Yamal scored a free-kick and Gabriel Jesus got off the mark for his new club by flicking Yamal\u2019s delightful cross into the far corner. It\u2019s the fourth time in five games that they\u2019ve scored five goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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With Rodri now stationed at the base of midfield behind Dani Olmo and Pedri, both making angles and finding unlikely passes, there\u2019s a case to made for Barcelona having the best midfield and forward line in Europe this season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Doubts over their ability to stay the course in the Champions League will be stem from their defence. Andreas Christensen \u2013 fine servant, top professional and all that \u2013 should not be at the heart of a defence planning to go all the way. Particularly when they look to play offside on the halfway line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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On several occasions they were sliced open by Feyenoord players running through them from deep. Stiffer opposition will highlight those deficiencies and make them pay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But they are at least among the challengers and can we just shock you? Gordon will be key to the challenge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He came on with half an hour to play here and while he failed to add to his assists haul and is still waiting for a first goal, it was the cameo of a footballer very much at ease with his surroundings; someone who knows where to go and what to do in Flick\u2019s demanding, high-pressing system, encouraged by a fanbase more than ready to applaud him at any given opportunity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What has always been and will remain a suspect defence has been rendered even less of a factor this season for this \u2018we\u2019ll just score more than you\u2019 outfit, thanks in no small part to Gordon and his near perfect start in Flick\u2019s imperfect but always entertaining Barcelona machine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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