“I have fond memories of the Bernabéu,” said Xavi Hernández and here was another one for the collection. “History,” he called it, and it might have given him even more satisfaction than all the other nights as a player. His first visit as Barcelona coach, the man who entrusted her recovery, saw a run of five in a row classical The defeats come to an end with an amazing 4-0 victory over their biggest rivals. An ideologue who was committed to his football faith, he always believed, but it still should not be so good so soon.
Two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and each from Ronald Araújo and Ferran Torres completed the goal but not the story. If Xavi liked to remember classical where Barcelona “played good football and won where we felt they survived”, this was the same thing that suggests a seismic shift for his club. With Madrid still 12 points ahead of them, it’s too late for this season – and that would have played its part – but maybe not for next year and beyond.
“We’re back!” Gerard Piqué said after the game in Barcelona produced a performance that says he was not far wrong. The contest, as far as it was concerned, was over an hour ago. Maybe even before the break, the stadium was almost quiet as they left during the break. Apart from that, it was from the high north-east corner, where about 300 Barcelona fans could be heard for a while, that Xavi serenaded himself and became involved in “Olés”.
From the Madrid fans, the little sound that it was came mostly in the form of whistles as they watched their team come together. Barcelona already had a 2-0 lead and complete control. Included as a means of protection against the threat of Vinícius Jr. and tested as the Brazilian set up Fede Valverde for the first shot of the night after four minutes, Araújo had instead in the second.
When Vinícius’ early run was a warning, it was a fleeting moment and an even better chance and rescue followed right at the other end when Aubameyang was stopped by Thibaut Courtois in the six-meter box and then the keeper saw Ousmane Dembélé turn down. Every week there is at least one great moment for the Madrid keeper; here were more. But for him in a series of misses, this could have been six or seven – a fact they stole on the Barcelona bench.
Madrid had more to calm down. The absence of Karim Benzema led to Luka Modric being substituted almost as wrong nine behind Vinícius and Rodrygo. If Carlo Ancelotti’s plan was designed to give them more control, it would not really work. If his move to three central defenders at the start of the second half would bring security, it would be an even greater failure.
Even before Barcelona took the lead, Torres fired a shot just wide of the post, and glorious footwork and a slammed ball from Pedri gave the former city striker a second chance as Casemiro slipped to block. Then, shortly before half-time, Aubameyang found a way out and added Dembélé’s super cross for his sixth league goal since joining from Arsenal.
There was a brief reminder of the threat from Madrid when they were suddenly broken, only to have Vinícius fall against Marc-André ter Stegen and the grip of Barcelona did not resolve. When Araújo jumped between David Alaba and Eder Militão to score the second, it already felt over and soon it was real.
Ancelotti made changes, but they did not work; they only made it worse, the second half was only 30 seconds when Torres left one-on-one with Courtois. He crept that shot past the post, but soon another, Barcelona opened Madrid again and again. Frenkie de Jong and Dembélé combined, Aubameyang heard the call and delivered a nice flick and Torres produced almost the same finish as he had two minutes earlier. Only he went to the post office.
The Fiver: Sign up and receive our daily soccer email.
Five minutes later it was over, Aubameyang cleaned up again and put it cool, gently over the goalkeeper and into the net. Initially ruled out for offside, a long wait for the VAR eventually led to the fourth from Barcelona, sending subs and staff to celebrate and fans going to the exit, just wanting to go home.
This was quite something to see, and one manita – a little hand, a goal for every finger – could have been followed quickly, just as a hat-trick like Aubameyang somehow disrupted Jordi Alba’s pass from close range. It could also have come as Courtois pushed Torres away, Dembélé somehow shot from six yards out and Memphis Depay was rejected by the keeper. Four must do: it’s definitely a start, Coach Xavi invites a new generation to feel like he did here.
Add Comment