Antoine Griezmann will be one of the references of Barcelona’s attack in the Super Cup match this Sunday against Athletic. It will be the first final of the French international with the cute shirt and it is measured against a team that has not scored for a long time. Questioned almost since he arrived at the Camp Nou a year and a half ago, the Frenchman must improve his current general records against a tough rival.
In the last eight crosses with the Basque team, he has not managed to celebrate any goal. The Barca attacker has been measured in 22 games, 21 in LaLiga and 1 in the Copa del Rey, against the rojiblanco block and has scored eight goals. But the last goal against those of San Mamés dates from January 22, 2017. That is, for almost four years he has not surpassed the wall of lions. The goal then of the team that Ernesto Valverde trained was Gorka Iraizoz and his target meant the final tie to two.
In this period of time, Griezmann has met in 8 games against Athletic, last year he played two in the domestic tournament and one in the KO competition but he has not had any fortune in front of the door. In his first final with Barcelona, the French international can break that streak and also improve his offensive numbers this season. The former Real Sociedad player has scored seven goals this season in 22 games. He opened his locker in the seventh game he played, achieved five in the next seven games, and in the last 10 he has signed another two, those achieved against Granada in the match corresponding to day 18. He also adds four assists, one of them in the semifinal of the Super Cup against Real Sociedad. His was the ball that De Jong finished off last Wednesday against those of Imanol.
Almost since he arrived at the Camp Nou, upon payment of his 120 million buyout clause, Griezmann has been the subject of scrupulous scrutiny for his performance. This season, his numbers are being better than in his debut, in which he required time and a process of adaptation, to the dressing room, the team, the scheme, and his position. These months he has already achieved half the goals of the entire past year. In the previous six seasons, however, he had always scored more than 20 goals.
What is not yet clear is in which demarcation the clue footballer will move in the final, whose offensive contribution goes beyond his scoring records, since this season he has moved through all positions of the Barça attack zone. He, however, feels more comfortable playing in the center. Everything will depend, to a large extent, on whether Messi finally plays. In any case, it seems that Ronald Koeman will continue to maintain the 4-3-3 of the last games that have provided good results.
