Segunda División: CD Lugo 1-2 FC Barcelona B: Match Review

Barcelona B came back from a goal down late in the game to beat CD Lugo at Anxo Carro stadium. Former Sporting Gijón and Deportivo La Coruña midfielder Pablo Álvarez put the hosts in front, but two goals from on loan striker Sergio Araujo turned the game around and secured three points for the youngsters.

Starting XI: Jordi Masip, Patric, David Lomban, Carles Planas, Alejandro Grimaldo, Gustavo Ledes, Javier Espinosa, Rafinha, Cristian Lobato,Gerard Deulofeu, Luis Alberto

Bench: Miguel Bañuz, Ivan Balliu, Edgar Ie, Ilie Sanchez, Joan Angel Roman, Kiko Femenia, Sergio Araujo

With Oier Olazabal joining the first team in training Masip once again took the place in between the goalposts. In midfield Barça were missing Sergi Roberto who was out with a calf contusion and was replaced by Javier Espinosa. Dongou was once again out of lineup, but he could be available for the next game if he recovers in time from the Gluteus maximus injury. Other than those two changes the lineup was pretty much as expected.

From the opening whistle Lugo set the pace of the game and it was immediately evident that Barcelona B will have difficulties getting anything from this game. Barça are not used to playing without the ball, which is especially a problem because of their poor defensive record. However, the first good chance of the game went Barcelona's way when Deulofeu made a good run down the right wing. The ball came to Alberto on the edge of the box, but his shot was slowed down on its way to the goal and the keeper easily collected it.

Three minutes later, in the 20th minute, Lugo took the lead after a nice play on the right side. Rubén Durán sprung Manu who sent a good low cross to Álvarez who fired on goal. Masip appeared to be in a good position to make the save, but Lomban tried to clear the ball, but instead redirected it and sent it to the back of the net.

Calmed down by the opener Lugo played even better, creating several chances along the way and could've put the game out of reach in the first half. However, first Masip stopped a shot by Oscar Diaz and then Durán fired wide of the goal to spoil a terrific chance, leaving the score at 1-0 for the hosts at halftime.

Lugo took the same positive approach in the second half and were almost quickly rewarded, but Álvarez fired just wide of the goal. Patric also made a very good defensive play do disposes Durán who was going all alone toward Masip.

That missed chance proved to be the last for a while for Lugo as Barcelona started to turn the game around. Ten minutes after Araujo came on the pitch - in the 64th minute he replaced Espinosa - the Argentine started the comeback. Lobato brilliantly found the rushing Patric on the right wing who fired a first time cross to the 6-yard box where Araujo redirected it on goal for his first Blaugrana goal.

Eusebio's final two substitutions were highly dubious, because he took off the team's two biggest talents, Deulofeu and Rafinha, and replaced them with Kiko and Ilie, and it almost came back to haunt Barça. Pushing forward to complete the comeback the Catalans were left vulnerable at the back, something that Diego Tonetto exploited, but his goal was disallowed for an offside call that could've gone either way.

However, even though the hosts came so close to earning the three points, when the final whistle blew they were left without a single one. Three minute before the final whistle Grimaldo sent a perfect cross into the area where Araujo escaped his marker and with a great touch beat the keeper and secure the win for Barcelona B.

It wasn't an easy game for Barcelona B, but they persevered and showed that even when thing aren't going their way they can fight for the victory. The brightest story of the game has to be Araujo who just a couple weeks after being left out of the squad altogether came in of the bench and bag him a brace. Maybe that will give him the confidence he needs to develop as the team hoped he would.

Next game for Barcelona B is on Saturday when they host leading Segunda División side Elche.