Date & Time: Friday 24^th September 2021 – 21:00

Competition: Primera RFEF Grupo II

Venue: Estadi Johan Cruyff

Author: Les McKee

After last weekend’s hugely disappointing performance and result in the derby against Algeciras the Balona fans could have been forgiven for having a lie in this morning. However, at 6am as the players and staff were leaving La Linea for the airport they were greeted by singing, banners, flares and fireworks.

The banner stating the fans were still with the side no matter what. This will have pleased Romerito and his charges as they attempt to break new ground.

Never have Barça B faced Balona in official competition and never before have Balona graced the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Several week’s ago I wrote an article about the impact of Lionel Messi’s departure on Barça B and anyone who watched Cádiz draw 0-0 with FC Barcelona last night will have spotted Gavi and Demir in the starting line-up. Nico also came off the bench and Iñaki Peña was an unused substitute.

Balde who played against Granada on Monday went off with a back injury. There are 5 names you would have expected to figure for Barça B when this fixture was originally announced.

Manager Sergi Barjuan has called up 3 players from the U-18 squad as his squad has been depleted by players being called up to the first team and injuries.  

Last week Barça B secured their first win of the season. They beat Sabadell 3-1. On loan UD Ibiza striker Ángel Rodado bagged a brace. Brazilian Matheus Pereira came off the bench to secure victory with an excellent finish from the edge of the box.

A big morale boost for Sergi’s side ahead of the visit of Balona.

Let’s be frank, last week was a disaster for Balona but the players have not hidden. They have apologised and taken ownership of everything that was wrong in the performance, which is fantastic for the fans to hear.

Today’s early morning pyrotechnic display will certainly have pumped the lads up even further.

Sadly, Ivan Martin is still missing so once more we will look to Gerard Oliva to provide goals. The big man needs to stand tall, draw the others into play and get himself into positions to get chances.

The skipper is also missing once more but despite being out the lads will feel they owe him a victory after falling badly against his old club last Sunday.

This is a big game make no mistake and we need big game players. Those with ambitions of playing at a higher level have the perfect shop window tonight. A big television audience is expected and with FC Barcelona’s massive fan base it’s a chance for more people than ever to know the names of those with the Linense badge emblazoned upon their chest.

The fans gave the team their response before sunrise this morning. Fans of Balona in Catalunya have also been reported to be visiting the team hotel leaving messages of support.

The message is clear the fans are with you – you are not alone.

Romerito has indicated there will be a couple of changes in personnel that start the game. Rumours are circulating of a more central role for Alhassan Koroma. This would be great to see as he was a bystander for large parts of Sunday and the fans call to get the ball to our best players may well be answered.

Despite their young age and many missing players, the subsidiary side of FC Barcelona will have expectations to go get a victory in front of their fans.

For Balona they are back to the role of underdogs once again. Let’s see if that works in our favour once more.

Algeciras run in four to claim first win in El Clásico.

Real Balompédica Linense 0-4 Algecrias C.F.

Romerito said Algeciras’ need for victory was greater than Balona’s. His words came back to haunt him as the albirrojos tore Linense apart from first whistle to last in a very one-sided derby encounter.

This will have been a painful defeat for La Recia, Victor Mena and Nacho Miras were quick to offer apologies for the performance to the fans who were in great voice throughout the game despite watching their worst nightmare unfolding in front of their eyes.

The absence of captain Ñito González was a hammer blow for Balona with Victor Mena taking over the armband for the day. Antoñito’s leadership qualities were badly missed in this one. We will never know if having him on the pitch would have sparked a different reaction to conceding early.

The decision of Iván Ania to start Álvaro Leiva was a masterstroke and the 18-year-old Algeciras native didn’t take long to deliver for his club. It was his through ball in the third minute that split Morante and Jesús Muñoz. Roni was onto it in a flash to prod the ball past the on-rushing Nacho Miras.

Leiva’s celebration in front of his fans was more animated than the goalscorer himself and there was more to come.

Álvaro Leiva turned Loren and ran to the byline. Loren was trying to get back to him but using his stocky frame he easily held off the makeshift right back. Leiva’s pull back went to Jesús Muñoz whose feeble clearance landed flush for Romero to smash home the second goal.

Jesús Muñoz was all at sea in the second half too. A ball knocked over the top of Borja Lopez saw Roni bearing down on goal. His shot was going well wide, but Muñoz back heeled it and as it skipped up Alvaro Romero spectacularly over head kicked the ball into the gaping goal.

Two failures to clear the lines properly had led to two goals. Algeciras were firmly in control.

And the fourth was a direct result of yet another failed attempt to clear the ball. This time Fran Morante was the culprit. As he sliced his clearance straight into the path of Morilla who shot past Nacho Miras. By this stage the body language of the home side was one of complete dejection and surrender.

There were so many failings by Balona in this game. Gerard Oliva was a lonely figure up front, Alhassan Kormoa and Coulibaly who have been receiving plaudits all season failed to get on the ball.

Balona resorted to long balls that simply did not stick. Loren met his match in Leiva. Morante and Muñoz played like strangers.

For everytime Roni, Leiva or Romero wanted to run in behind it looked as though they were thoroughbred racehorses up against the Balona defenders, the beach donkeys.

Did Balona get ideas above their station after the great start to the season? Were Algeciras hungrier for success? Why did Romerito try to play down the intensity of the derby with his words in the build up?

It’s been reported that the Balona president entered the dressing room after the game and he was fuming. Hardly surprising when he saw how toothless his side had been against their fiercest rival.

To give credit to the Balona players that have spoken out since to the press and on social media. They have not hidden, they have not made excuses for the performance. They are taking their medicine like men and for that we can be hopeful that this level of performance will not be repeated.

Gerard Oliva needs a goal. We cannot rely on midfielders to get the goals it’s the job of the striker to deliver the goals.

Leiva stole Koroma’s thunder and if I was a club from La Liga Smartbank or La Liga looking for an exciting winger based on yesterday’s performance, I’d be ringing Leiva’s agent.

The great news for Koroma is it is Barca B up next. A real chance to once again be the key player in black and white in a game that will have a huge audience.

The team will be hurting, and they will learn from the experience. The happiness of the first three games cannot be forgotten either. Time to go back to 100% commitment and effort and playing to the strengths of the players that wear the Balona shirt.