USMNT's Sergiño Dest receives applause after commanding Barcelona performance

Despite going down 1-0 after five minutes at Camp Nou against Valencia on Sunday, Barcelona came back to secure a 3-1 victory in a game in which United States international Sergiño Dest proved decisive.

Dest played as a right winger for the game instead of his usual right back position and, thanks to his speed, generated plenty of options for Barcelona in attack. The 20-year-old Dutch-American played 87 minutes against Valencia, winning seven duels and completing four dribbles and closing his impressive performance with the assist for the third goal.

In a great individual move, the United States international enabled Philppe Coutinho to score the goal with which Barcelona sealed the victory and this convincing win will give the team encouragement to face Real Madrid in the first of three Clásicos this season (the pair will also meet in the four-team Spanish Super Cup in January as well as the two LaLiga meetings).

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Dest applauded by Barcelona fans

At the end of the game, the Camp Nou recognized the great contribution of Dest on the far right, with the USMNT player receiving a big ovation from the Barcelona fans.

In response, the young American reciprocated the applause and at the end of the match he gave his jersey to a delighted young Barcelona fan.

Koeman praises Dest

Speaking after Barca's 3-1 win against Valencia, coach Ronald Koeman was full of praise for Dest.

"I think he played a great game," he said. "He knows how to play as a winger, he had already done so in the past, he is used to it, and he has done it very well."

The US international has started seven of Barcelona’s eight LaLiga fixtures this season, in which he has provided two assists.

Arriving from Ajax in October 2020, Dest is becoming a fundamental figure of a Barcelona team looking to rebuild following the departure of Lionel Messi, and, along with Ansu Fati, Gavi and Pedri, is seen as a potential key pillar in the club’s future.