Barcelona’s international contingent is beginning to filter back to the city after a demanding break, with Karim Adeyemi returning from Germany duty having impressed without finding either a goal or a victory. Eric Garcia, meanwhile, has left the Spain camp early after discomfort in his left knee prompted a cautious decision.
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Adeyemi was among 17 Barcelona players called away by their national sides, and he featured prominently in Jürgen Klopp’s newly expanded Germany group of 44 players. Included in the first 22 selected for the matches against the Netherlands and Greece, the forward started both games.
Germany drew 1-1 with the Netherlands at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena, where Adeyemi played 80 minutes. He then began again in Augsburg, but Germany fell 1-0 to Greece at the WWK Arena. His second outing lasted 76 minutes.
Operating on the right side of a 4-2-3-1, the Barcelona winger was Germany’s liveliest attacking presence against Greece, repeatedly providing the changes of pace missing from a slow build-up. Yet he could not turn his display into a decisive contribution.
His best opening arrived after Greece had pushed forward for a corner. Germany recovered possession and Adeyemi carried the ball the length of the pitch before lifting his effort over goalkeeper Odysseas Tzolakis. Later, he struck a powerful, curling shot from outside the penalty area, only for Tzolakis to make an outstanding save and preserve Greece’s lead.
For João Cancelo, the international interval brought more encouraging results. The Barcelona defender started Portugal’s second successive match at right-back and completed the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 win away to Norway. It followed Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Wales, another match in which Cancelo began on the right side of the defence.
