The Catalans put in yet another outstanding shift on Saturday, blowing Elche 3-0 at the Camp Nou in La Liga. 18-year-old Alejandro Balde, playing at left-back, left his manager Xavi Hernandez impressed yet again and even racked up two assists during the game.
The youngster has started in all of Barcelona’s Spanish top-flight fixtures since the opening day draw against Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou. As a result, he has relegated Barcelona veteran Jordi Alba to the bench and even new summer signing Marcos Alonso seems to be behind Balde in the pecking order for Xavi.
Handed his fifth league start against Elche on Saturday, Balde was impressive once again. The first two of Barcelona’s goals came thanks to his passes. The left-back got on the end of a wonderfully-weighted Pedri through ball on the left flank and delivered an inch-perfect left-footed low cross which Robert Lewandowski tucked into the net from close range to open the scoring in the game.
The Spaniard recorded his second assists when he received the ball on the left as usual but then cut back to his right foot and found Memphis Depay holding off a defender inside the penalty box with a superb pass. A silky turn and a thunderbolt of a strike followed as Depay’s glorious individual effort extended Barcelona’s lead to two in the first half.
The Catalan giants went on to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory through a second goal from Lewandowski early in the second half. They are still unbeaten in the league after six matches and have momentarily climbed to the top of the standings as Real Madrid take on Atletico Madrid in the hugely-anticipated Madrid derby late on Sunday night.
“I am happy for him. He has great quality and character. It never ceases to amaze me that an 18-year-old can play at that level.
Physically he is amazing and he is going to give us a lot. We have three left-backs at an extraordinary level, with Jordi and Marcos (Alonso) as well,”
Xavi told SPORT.
